Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has a tall task ahead of him in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The club still needs a starting-caliber left tackle, a wide receiver who can catch the ball and then do something with it, and, if it is not too much trouble, an actual NFL starting quarterback.
Those are just the top-of-mind needs, and they should be taken care of, outside of the quarterback, in the first round, where Cleveland currently holds two selections.
But other parts of the roster need to be addressed,
and Berry needs to make the most of the Day 2 selections when the Browns are on the board in the second round (selection No. 39 overall) and third round (selection No. 70 overall).
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what some of the national mock drafts have the Browns doing with their second-round selection.
SB Nation’s Doug Farrar: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
(Head coach Todd) Monken has espoused an open competition for that position, and you know how it is — a new head coach will want at least one quarterback he likes, as opposed to those he may have inherited. Monken was also open to bringing in an outsider to compete for reps, and this is where someone like Alabama’s Ty Simpson could come in.
Because on the surface, Simpson seems to have it all on the ball, especially for a guy who only started one year in college. In 2025 for the Crimson Tide, the 6-foot-1 ⅛”, 211-pound Simpson completed 306 of 474 passes for 3,561 yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 102.5. He also ran the ball 70 times for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 26 of 62 passes of 20 or more air yards last season for 784 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 101.2, and when under pressure, he managed 58 of 111 passes for 703 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 75.0. Now, when blitzed, Simpson was amazing — 121 completions in 208 attempts for 1,409 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 95.6. He also adds functionality to one’s offense as a runner on designed runs and scrambles, and he’s very good outside the pocket.
I recently did a longer-form video about my concerns regarding Simpson’s NFL future, but I also don’t think that any of the things he needs to work on are unmanageable — they just require more coaching. And that’s something that Monken can certainly do.
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness: Zion Young, DE, Missouri
McGuiness did not give a summary of why the Browns should select Young, so let’s turn to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein for an overview of the 6-foot-6 and 262-pound Young, who Zierlein compares to former Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith:
Long, well-built edge rusher with the size, strength, and temperament engineered for trench battles at the next level. Young is a fiery alpha who brings immense energy to the field and locker room. He majors in block destruction using base power and aggression to play through opponents. He extends and locks out as an edge-setter and sheds when needed, but his pursuit speed and range are average. He has the power to bull rush or drive through edges, but lacks instincts and variety in his rush approach. His NFL pressure production will lag behind without better go-to moves and counters. Young’s physical tools and rugged demeanor give him a chance to be an instant run-stopping upgrade with average rush.
CBS Sports Josh Edwards: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Likewise, no reasoning from Edwards on the selection, so let’s see what CBS has to say about Bisontis:
Chase Bisontis is a strong, versatile, and dependable three-year starter with more than 1,950 snaps at both guard and center. He was arguably the most consistent performer on a solid Aggies offensive line and has the ability to thrive in both zone and gap schemes. Bisontis shows quick, active feet to cut off backside defenders and climb smoothly to the second level. He plays with a finishing demeanor and excellent functional strength. Still a young prospect, Bisontis has the tools to develop into a starter at either center or guard, and that versatility could help him stick in the league for a long time. The one concern: he committed 16 penalties over the past two seasons.
A to Z Sports Brandon Little: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
I keep coming back to Ponds being the pick here for the Browns in a best player available situation. Ponds’ height may end up limiting him to the slot, which is fine because it’s an increasingly important position in the NFL. The Browns adding a potentially elite nickel to an already very good defense only takes the unit to another level.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Reuter does not provide a reason, but here is the draft profile on the 5-foot-11 and 186-pound Terrell from Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
Avieon shares the same bloodlines and coverage temperament as his brother, A.J., a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Avieon Terrell is an athletic, fluid mover with clean transitions and enough speed to stay in phase on most vertical routes. He’s most effective in press-man coverage, where he mirrors releases with timing and discipline, staying crowded to the route. He concedes 50/50s to bigger targets at times, but is a constant catch irritant with good technique on all three levels. He can play wide or inside and is willing in run support, but he lacks ideal size. Terrell projects as an early starter thanks to his polish, ball skills, and coverage versatility.
What do you think, Browns fans? Would you like to see the Browns select any of these players in Round 2? Or would you go in a different direction? Share your thoughts in the comments.
