Browns Draft Breakdown Rounds 5-7
Round 5, No. 246: Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
The Browns continued adding depth to their offensive line by drafting Alabama’s Parker Brailsford with the 146th pick. Originally playing for the University of Washington, Brailsford transferred in 2023
Last season, Brailsford was one of the nation’s best centers. He allowed just 10 QB pressures and surrendered only one sack en route to earning third-team All-SEC honors.
Even with his impressive resumè, most draft experts are doubtful that Brailsford’s play will translate on a pro level. The former Crimson Tide star stands at 6’1, 289 lbs, significantly smaller than most NFL centers. This size deficit could prove difficult to overcome when facing bigger, stronger defensive players. Standing against Baltimore’s Johnathan Allen, Cincinnati’s Dexter Lawrence, and Pittsburgh’s Cam Heyward twice a season is a difficult task for any lineman, let alone a 5th round rookie.
Round 5, No. 149: Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
Three picks after the Brailsford selection, the Browns drafted his teammate with the Crimson Tide, LB Justin Jefferson.
Much like his teammate at Alabama, Parker Brailsford, Jefferson comes into the NFL noticeably undersized. His 6’0, 223 lbs frame is less than ideal for an NFL linebacker, but he makes up for this with his athleticism and versatility. Last season, he allowed a 74.3 passer rating when targeted in coverage. He also accounted for five PBUs and one interception, showing his skills defending against the pass.
Since the unfortunate neck injury to Pro Bowl LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and the uncertainty of his playing again, Cleveland has needed depth in the off-ball linebacker position. While I doubt Jefferson is the long-term answer, he should provide crucial depth to the linebacker group, as well as offering value in special teams.
Round 5, No. 170: Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
With the departure of TE David Njoku in free agency, Cleveland found itself with a sudden need for a backup tight end. With their final pick in the fifth round, they kept it in Ohio by selecting Cincinnati’s Joe Royer. A transfer from Ohio State, Royer, had his most productive year in 2024, where he had 521 receiving yards and three touchdowns to go along with 50 receptions. His performance saw him set the school record for receptions by a tight end, surpassing Bearcat legend Travis Kelce.
While his stats aren’t eye-popping at first glance, his effort and efficiency are what made Royer stand out. He accounted for 257 yards after the catch, all while not having a single dropped pass this season.
Plenty of people would have preferred if Cleveland had picked a TE earlier, but for where Royer was projected to go, this is a solid pick.
Round 6, No. 182: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Shortly after the 2026 NFL Combine, Arkansas QB Taylen Green was given a relative athleticism score of 9.99. Since 1987, only five players have tested higher than Green. That list includes 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton and former top-5 draft pick Anthony Richardson. That stat should give an insight into Green’s athleticism and the potential that it comes with.
He may be as athletic as the previously mentioned QBs, but that’s where the comparisons stop. He doesn’t have Richardson’s howitzer of an arm or anywhere near Newton’s overall abilities as a quarterback.
As a pure passer, he has a lot of room for improvement. His 60.7% completion percentage ranked last among SEC quarterbacks with at least 150 pass attempts. The former Razorbacks QB was also highly turnover-prone. He was picked off on 3.4% of all his passes, the eighth-highest percentage in the country.
Green’s NFL future might be dependent on a position change to WR. With his 6’6 235 lbs frame, and 4.3 speed, it’s possible he could develop into a serious threat receiver.
If he chooses to stay at QB, he’ll need to be developed over multiple seasons to reach his potential. Given Cleveland’s track record with developing quarterbacks, however, this may not be the best decision. If he were to switch to WR, it’d be anyone’s guess as to his production. A good example of how he’d work at WR is former Browns WR Terrelle Pryor. Pryor, a former star quarterback for Ohio State, transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver in the NFL. He recorded 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns with Cleveland in 2016. For Taylen Green, this certainly is a possible route for him to stay on the roster if he can’t cut it under center.
With his athletic profile, he could be the next Randy Moss, but that’s highly doubtful due to his lack of experience at wideout.
Round 7, No. 248 Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU
With their last pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Cleveland selected TE Carsen Ryan out of BYU. After receiving sparse playing time while with UCLA and Utah, Ryan transferred to BYU, where he would have his best season. He had 35 receptions for 472 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
More of an old-school tight end, Ryan specializes in blocking. The former BYU Cougar earned a 75.3 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025.
Carsen Ryan was obviously a good collegiate football player. His position-leading 82.6 PFF grade while in Provo is a testament to his skills and impact. The main factor working against Ryan is his archetype. Blocking TEs who aren’t featured in the pass game don’t have the same value they had 15-20 years ago. At this point, I’d expect minimal from him outside of spot contributions to special teams. Personally, I’m rooting for him, but much as the same with most seventh-round picks, Ryan might not be on the roster this time next year.
