Browns receive high praise from Mel Kiper for 'impressive work' in Round 1 of NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns made three significant moves on draft night in Round 1, with a trade down with the Kansas City Chiefs being what kick-started their night.
After that move down, they selected offensive tackle Spencer Fano and then selected wide receiver KC Concepcion at pick No. 24. Those were some great picks for the Browns to begin the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. agrees, as he called the moves from the Browns "impressive work" for Andrew Berry and company, as their first-round activity was among the winners of Day 1 for Kiper.
"Everyone talked about how the Browns had to leave Round 1 with an offensive tackle and a wide receiver. But doing that and picking up extra middle-round picks after trading back from No. 6? That's impressive work by general manager Andrew Berry," Kiper writes.
Cleveland moved down, picked up a pair of picks, including the 74th selection in the draft, to move down three spots and still take the best offensive lineman in the class.
Berry and the Browns' front office did exactly what they needed to do in the draft, adding a wide receiver in Concepcion and an offensive tackle in Fano. But, they also added a pair of picks, one in the middle of Day 2 and another early on Day 3.
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The Browns did all they needed to do, and they even got bonus picks afterwards. It's hard to have a better first round than what the Browns did this year.
As Kiper writes, "... I have to give Cleveland praise for hitting its two big needs and getting some picks back in a trade."
Kiper gave the Browns high praise, and it's well deserved. Adding such talent while picking up more picks is about as good as it gets for Cleveland.
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