2026 Cleveland Browns in Three Players
The offseason is upon us. Let's take a look at all 32 teams.
The 8th part of our new series is here!
Instead of reviewing all 32 drafts and adding casual commentary, I will be doing this instead.
We will go through every single team, in alphabetical order, and quickly discuss three players:
a favorite free agent signing
a favorite draft pick
and a player already entrenched on the roster
Not necessarily the best, or the top, or the one's who will play the biggest role, just one of choice.
Onto the Cleveland Browns.
Free Agent Signing
OL Elgton Jenkins
Jenkins signed a 2 year, $24m contract with Cleveland this offseason as a part of their offensive line overhaul.
Jenkins is a former Pro Bowler who has experience playing all 5 positions on the offensive line, most recently becoming a full-time center.
His time with the Packers ended because they did not agree to an extension, as Jenkins wanted to be compensated as the elite versatile piece he was, and not just as a center. He then suffered a brutal leg fracture in Week 10, officially ending his Green Bay tenure.
Here is a cut-up of some of Jenkins work at center from 2025. He's wearing 74.
Elgton Jenkins appears to be the Browns unquestioned starter at center going into the year.
The other choice is really only rookie Parker Brailsford, a 5th rounder out of Alabama.
And I believe Jenkins is the right choice.
There will be questions about his health, and those are valid.
Jenkins suffered a torn ACL back in 2021, but recovered and was playing good football up until his leg fracture last season.
A 30 year old with two major lower leg injuries is a legitimate concern.
Especially because I didn't view Jenkins as an elite or fluid mover on film last year, so who knows what he'll look like after this injury.
However, Jenkins said he should be ready for Week 1.
The Browns underwent an offensive line overhaul this offseason.
Traded for and extended Tytus Howard, who can play RG or RT.
Gave former 1st round pick LG Zion Johnson a large contract.
Paid Elgton Jenkins, who can play all 5 spots on the offensive line.
Drafted Spencer Fano in Round 1, in addition to Brailsford in Round 5 and OT Austin Barber in Round 3.
There are two reasons I believe Jenkins is central to this Browns new offensive line.
The first being that I believe he can be the guy who can solidify things around him as the center.
The second being that, if the Browns love what Brailsford shows them in training camp and preseason, Jenkins can still contribute by kicking out to guard. Or, in a worst case scenario, if Spencer Fano is overwhelmed and not a legitimate NFL LT, Jenkins can slide out there and hold down the fort.
I do believe Jenkins is a very steady center who can make the quarterback's life easier.
The negatives are that, he's not actually that experienced at the center position, playing less than 2 full seasons at the position. And, even before this past injury, he's no longer an elite athlete or super fluid mover in space.
However, I would not say he's a bad mover. He's adequate, plus provides a kick of power in his blocking.
And his strength is his technique. He's technically sound enough to block in space, using his long arms to reach guys and turn them the way he needs them to go.
This shows up when he's asked to block defensive lineman lined up as nose tackles. Jenkins is quick to move his feet, and can turn NTs away from the running lane, taking them out of the play.
And, as a former OT, Jenkins is sound in pass protection. He can pass off a stunt, hold his own in one-on-one matchups, and is fairly cerebral. This shows up in the fact that Jenkins picks up blitzing LBs at a high clip, and handles their attempts at pass rushing with ease.
Jenkins clearly has a football mind.
Besides picking up blitzers, you can see it when he's reaching the second level on run blocking. He knows when he needs to double, and when he just needs to pick up the pace to reach the LB before the running back.
The Elgton Jenkins signing was a good one for Cleveland, as he provides versatility on an offensive line that enters the year with lots of options, but no definitive answers at each position.
If he recovers fully from his leg fracture, I have no doubt that Jenkins will provide steady play to the Browns' center position.
Draftee
WR Denzel Boston
Boston was a 2nd round pick, taken with the 39th selection overall out of the University of Washington.
Boston spent all 4 years at Washington, starting his final two where he racked up 1715 yards and 20 TDs in 125 receptions.
Here is a cut-up of what Boston can do from 2025, courtesy of @BengalsBrews on Twitter/X.
Boston is a nearly 6'4, 215lb outside weapon who is a sneaky good route runner.
And the Browns have been suffering with a below average WR room since the Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry days.
Adding Boston and 1st round WR K.C Concepcion is a necessary attempt to rebuild the WR room for whoever their future franchise QB ends up being.
Cleveland's leading receivers at the WR position in 2025:
Jerry Jeudy - 602 yards on 106 targets
Isaiah Bond - 338 yards on 44 targets
Cedric Tillman - 270 yards on 39 targets
I really liked Bond, who went undrafted after a legal issue.
But Jeudy has bad hands, and Tillman hasn't really progressed since his rookie year.
Concepcion and Boston are essentially the replacements for those two, in a quicker WR and a bigger bodied WR.
This is why we are focusing on Boston right now. If the Browns can hit on their big bodied WR, it can eventually create a floor for their offense for a long time.
Denzel Boston converted on 10 of 13 contested catch opportunities last season. And it's not just because he's a big body playing against college kids.
Boston has decent body control combined with length and strong hands, and those are things that can translate to the next level.
My favorite part about Boston's game at UW is how he looks with the ball in his hands.
He returned punts, gathering 104 yards and 1 TD on 8 returns last year, and it shows. On the bubble screens he would get thrown, you can see the vision as he reads the blockers in front of him. Boston also showed some tackle breaking ability, as he just obliterates arm tackles from DBs.
I think Boston has the toughness that is required to survive in the NFL, particularly over the middle.
We will see how much of Boston's game translates to the NFL, but regardless, he should see lots of playing time in this Browns receiving room.
In-House Player
DT Mason Graham
Graham was the Browns 1st round pick in 2025, going 5th overall out of the University of Michigan.
He was statistically underwhelming, posting just a 0.5 sack and 7 TFLs in a full-time role.
Let's see if that was representative of his play.
Here's a cut-up of Mason Graham from his rookie season.
Reviewing another second year player, let alone another year two defensive lineman in this series.
But I believe Graham's performance in this upcoming 2026 season is arguably the most important of anyone on this Cleveland roster, especially considering his status as a top 5 pick.
It's a shame Graham won't get to grow in his career alongside Myles Garrett, but he does still get to line up directly next to veteran Maliek Collins.
Graham and Collins had a good rapport in 2025. The Browns would even have those two run interior stunts, and they would blow up opposing interior offensive lines.
Graham had 34 pressures, which is really solid, ranking in the top 15 among all interior rushers last season. This came at just an 8.1% pressure rate, which is not quite as good, but still solid, ranking just outside the top 20.
A lot of these do come on the stunts.
Graham has incredible athleticism. He can bend enough to maneuver his way through open rushing lanes and dart through pulling offensive lineman. But Graham also has enough bull ball within him to be the one to open up the lanes for his fellow defensive linemen.
He really is a great pass rusher, something I didn't expect him to be right away.
He has good hand placement, which offsets the offensive lineman's initial punch, and allows Graham to use his athleticism to slither into the backfield.
I wouldn't say Graham is a "pass rush first" defensive tackle, but it's certainly his strength.
He relies on his quickness in the run game more than you would like, but it's still effective. Graham senses the movement of the offensive line and darts in to cause havoc.
He can get bullied a little when he doesn't win the leverage battle and get the first step, but it's not a problem.
Graham weighed in at under 300lbs at the NFL combine, but the Browns currently have him listed at 315lbs.
I think, especially for a rookie, Graham definitely held his own at the point of attack when holding off defenders to stand his ground in the run game.
It's hard to say that the sacks will come for Graham, considering the Browns just traded away the greatest defensive end on Earth, but he has all the making of a future Pro Bowler. A top pick with the movement skills to inevitably create negative plays will get his recognition.
Thanks for reading through our 8th edition of previewing all 32 teams in 3 players! We are making up ground to get through this series by the end of training camp!
Let me know who else on the Browns is worth monitoring this season, good or bad!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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