The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here, and the Cleveland Browns continue to be one of the most intriguing teams leading up to the highly anticipated event.
With two first-round picks in this year's draft, general manager Andrew Berry could easily target multiple offensive needs on Day One, including the left tackle position. One name that has been linked to the struggling franchise is Alabama's Kadyn Proctor, who has quickly become a polarizing prospect.
When asked about Proctor on the Pat McAfee Show, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban stated that Proctor's issue will come when he is not in the building.
"The issue with [Proctor] is--he's not a bad person," Saban stated on Wednesday. "He'll do whatever you ask him to, once you get him in the building. But when he's not in the building, he might get a little overweight, he might not come in in the best shape, and those are the things you have to manage with him. But I think they're manageable. He's not exactly a self-starter who will get in great shape and come to camp like you want him. But if you can get him to come to camp, [once] you got him there, you can get him ready to go. So, I don't think that's a huge negative for the guy."
"People look for reasons not to draft guys..Kadyn Proctor is so talented and he can move..I think he's gonna be a really good player in the NFL" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/H3SsCyRhDX
Proctor, after spending the majority of his college career with the Crimson Tide, has put together an incredible resume before the upcoming draft. Throughout his time in the SEC, the 20-year-old prospect logged 2,435 offensive snaps, while also finishing the 2025 season with an 86.1 PFF grade. During his last season with Alabama, Proctor allowed just two sacks and 15 quarterback hurries, which was enough for him to receive strong first-round consideration in the 2026 Draft cycle.
However, there have been plenty of concerns regarding the former five-star recruit out of high school. Saban's comments on Proctor, along with his struggles against some of the top EDGE rushers in this year's draft class, could be the key contributors to why he may fall on Thursday night. When matched up against a fellow prospect in Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas, Proctor failed to have a consistent anchor against the star pass rusher, leading many draft analysts to believe that he is a raw prospect.
Still, his elite physical traits and his young age could be enticing for Berry in the later parts of round one. Depending on how the Browns use the No. 6 pick, Proctor is definitely a name to keep an eye on for pick No. 24.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: Nick Saban has concerns about target Kadyn Proctor