“There’s a gleam, men… Let’s get the gleam.”
The famous, unique, and slightly confusing line from former Cleveland Browns HC Marty Schottenheimer has always stuck out. It is very Cleveland to have a line that doesn’t exactly fit modern vernacular (even for when he said it back in the 1980s), but resonates with a fanbase.
Browns fans have a gleam of hope after the 2026 NFL draft. As fans know, hope has a breeding ground in NFL offseasons, where fans look for a reset and reasons their team will be better.
Cleveland fans have often been waiting for next year, with each offseason bringing in a level of optimism that had been depleted the season prior.
The 2026 season may not be the Browns year when it comes to competing for any kind of championship, but the belief is that the very good 2025 NFL draft class has gotten another winner with the 2026 class.
A number of NFL Power Rankings have been released after this year’s draft, with Cleveland moving up in all of the ones that are tracking that movement. That doesn’t mean the Browns are highly (power) ranked:
- #30, up from #32
The Browns didn’t make a major receiver signing in free agency but double-dipped in the draft, selecting two wideouts with top-40 picks. KC Concepcion (No. 24) is a dynamic pass-catcher; 79% of his receptions resulted in a first down, which ranked 17th in the FBS last season. Denzel Boston (No. 39) is a big-bodied target who should complement Concepcion well; Boston’s 24 contested catches since 2024 were 10th most in the FBS.
- #27, up from #28
I think it’s time we acknowledge that Andrew Berry has a great feel for the draft. After last year’s banner class, the bar was set pretty darned high, but none of Cleveland’s 10 picks drew side-eye from me. Not a single one. The Browns needed to bolster the offensive line, and they did exactly that. They added two receivers who should very much be in the top-four mix in Year 1, perhaps even starting. Trading up for safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was savvy.
But boy, it’s been fun watching them draft over the past couple years.
- #30, up from #31
Let the offensive rebuild begin with a much-needed tackle (Spencer Fano at No. 9) and two talented receivers (KC Concepcion at No. 24 and Denzel Boston in Round 2). So, whoever their QB is will have help. Oh, and competition, since Cleveland took yet another QB — Arkansas’ Taylen Green in Round 6. That’s three in two drafts!
Sports Illustrated/Conor Orr’s NFL Power Rankings
- #26
Some movement, not a lot, in the upward direction is a sign that Browns fans are alone in their hope and hype coming out of this year’s draft. Unfortunately, with back-to-back seasons selecting near the top of the NFL draft, Cleveland has a long way to go before there is a lot of power in their rankings.
In what range would you rank the Browns at this point in time after the NFL draft and a couple of months before the start of training camp?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below
