Browns' Draft Success: High Stakes in 2026

On March 27th, the Cleveland Browns have built a reputation around the NFL draft over the past decade, especially after trading away three first round.

Picks for a quarterback to Sean Watson in recent years.

With the 2026 draft just a month away, fans are buzzing about repeating the success of their strong 2025 class, where Rookie stepped up as starters right away.

Looking back, the 2017 draft gave them Miles Garrett with the number one overall pick, turning him into a defensive powerhouse and elevating the whole union.

They also grabbed Taita and David and Joku, and safety Jibrill Peppers in the first round, though when Joku has since moved on to another team.

In 2018, after a winless season, the Browns-Nag quarterback Baker Mayfield and quarterback Denzel Ward early, plus running back Nick, Chubb and Round 2.

Those three sparked the team's first playoff run in 18 years back in 2020, which Chubb's career ended early due to a bad knee injury, and he left in free agency before last season.

Ward still anchors the secondary as a homegrown star.

More recently, the 2021 class brought quarterback Greg Newsom, who got traded to Jacksonville and linebacker Jeremiah Ousukor Moa, whose hard-hitting style, shown until a serious neck injury, sidelineed him.

Last year's 2025 picks, like running backs, Quincheon Judkins and Dylan Samson, quarterback Shadour Sanders, linebacker Carson, Schwestinger, who won defensive rookie of the year, and Taita and Harold Fanon have already filled key gaps and boosted the roster.

As Cleveland eyes more hits in 2026 with its deep talent pool, these past drafts remind everyone how high the stakes are for building a contender.