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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Carnell Tate of Ohio State poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Cleveland Browns will be on the clock pretty quickly. After a quiet but productive free agency period, the team still has holes on the roster that need to be addressed. The offensive line, mainly the left tackle spot, is still an issue, and the team needs to address the wide receiver room. The defensive back room, mainly the slot cornerback spot, is also a position group that needs to be addressed.
As we’ve seen throughout the years, some, if not most, teams are pivoting in terms of their draft strategies. Best player available (BPA) drafting is the practice of taking the best player that’s available on the board, mainly due to where they rank on the big board and how valuable their position is.
We’ve seen many teams do this before, and it’s something that the Browns could consider doing once again.
Does Cleveland have holes on their roster that need to be filled? Yes. Could the team choose to go the best player available route if they aren’t in “love” with a prospect? Yes. It’s not a guarantee that the Browns stay at #6 or that they take a player to fulfill a roster hole. In last year’s draft, the Browns traded down, and they took defensive tackle Mason Graham. Graham turned out to be pretty good, and he was the best player for the Browns to take at that time.
Some argued that the team could’ve taken current Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter, but the team received an offer from the Jaguars that they couldn’t pass up.
This current draft class is not necessarily high quality in terms of top-end talent, but the possibility of the team opting to pick the best player that’s available should be considered a possibility. Could the team choose to take Ohio State SAF Caleb Downs at #6 if he’s available? Could they double up on defense or go offense/defense, but in an unconventional way? Let’s say they choose to draft an offensive lineman at #6 but pick another defensive lineman at #24? Monroe Freeling and Peter Woods (if he falls) or opt for a safety/offensive lineman duo?
We’ve seen teams overdraft to fill roster holes, and it’s not necessarily a smart team-building strategy. Is Ohio State WR Carnell Tate worth taking at #6? Some would argue yes because Cleveland has a glaring hole at the receiver position. Others would argue that Tate isn’t a prospect that you should take that high. Tate could still be a top-tier receiver in the league, but the Bucekeye is also someone who could fall in the top 15 range and if the Browns have the opportunity to trade up from #24, they could.
Going into the draft with wanting to fill the roster holes is not the right mindset to have; instead, being open to taking the best player that’s out there is the option that most, if not all, fans should consider.
