The Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL offseason has been a good one, overall. The big decisions were around revamping the Browns offensive line, the departures of TE David Njoku and OL Wyatt Teller, the expected retirement of OL Joel Bitonio, and the 2026 NFL draft class.
It is still possible that Cleveland’s biggest move could be on the horizon with the potential selection of QB Brendan Sorsby in the NFL’s Supplemental Draft and/or trading DE Myles Garrett.
For now, the Browns future looks bright, even without
certainty at the quarterback position. Having already seen the 2025 NFL draft class produce and having high hopes for this year’s version, Cleveland fans are right to be excited, even if with some caution.
According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, the Browns “smartest move” (at least that was what the email was titled) was trading down in the first round and still getting OL Spencer Fano:
This move is less about Spencer Fano, the prospect Cleveland drafted at No. 9, and more about the Browns’ maneuvering to address massive issues on the offensive line. The team had already acquired veteran lineman Tytus Howard, among other reinforcements, heading into the draft. The Browns still needed all the line help they could get in the draft but still showed patience in the first round, maximizing value.
Whether it was the team’s smartest move or just Sando’s favorite move they made (what the title of the article actually is), trading down and still getting the first offensive tackle off the board is solid work by GM Andrew Berry. Cleveland got the process right; now, Fano must prove to be a foundational piece of an offense as the team’s left tackle for the next decade or so.
What Browns offseason move would you consider their “smartest”? Which is your “favorite”?
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