The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with a few glaring needs, and based on what Todd Monken said recently, center is most likely one of them.
Yes, the team signed Elgton Jenkins in free agency, but it’s fairly obvious that the coaching staff would prefer him to play offensive guard in Cleveland. The current free agent market is pretty underwhelming when it comes to the center position, and there’s a very good chance that the Browns select a center within the first four rounds
of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida C Jake Slaughter has been incredibly consistent throughout his collegiate career, and he might be one of Cleveland’s top options later this month.
Name: Jake Slaughter
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’5”, 303 pounds
College: Florida Gators
2025 Stats: Started 12 games at center, only allowed 1 sack in 421 pass protection snaps.
Career Stats: 51 games, 33 starts – Consistently ranked as one of the top centers in CFB each year.
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 103rd overall, projected fourth round
What an expert is saying
Two-year team captain and three-year starter with plenty of game experience against high-end talent. Slaughter lacks desired build/mass but plays with adequate play strength and solid technique. He’s consistent at finding and sustaining his outside zone blocks. He works to neutralize opponents on downhill blocks but is unlikely to move pro bodies around. He has the feet for gap control in pass pro but will struggle some against pure bull rushers. What he lacks in traits he makes up for with awareness and football IQ, which gives him a chance to become an NFL backup.
What an expert is saying (bonus round):
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report:
Jake Slaughter is an efficient, battle-tested blocker who operates with solid movement skills, play strength, and urgency to cover up, re-leverage, and seal off defenders. Slaughter won’t overwhelm NFL defenders, but he has enough traits to compete for a pivot job during his rookie contract and become a functional starter.
Fit with the Browns
Slaughter is a very similar player to Ethan Pocic back when he was in his prime. He’s almost identical in size, is an excellent mover, and has been a top-notch pass blocker over the past two years as a full-time starter for Florida.
He has above-average athleticism for the position as well, and he shows the ability to be effective in multiple different blocking schemes at the NFL level. Having an interior trio of Elgton Jenkins, Jake Slaughter, and Zion Johnson would vastly improve an underwhelming run game that’s been hindering the Browns’ offense for two seasons now.
Browns player drafting could impact
Elgton Jenkins. As of right now, Jenkins could be seen as the team’s starting center, but as mentioned earlier, Monken basically said that he wants him to play guard. If Cleveland takes someone like Jake Slaughter on day three, this would likely mean that Jenkins would “officially” be bumping over to guard for 2026.
Priority: 7/10
What are your thoughts on Jake Slaughter? Should the Browns take a gamble on him? Let us know in the comments!
