Browns get bad news from ESPN's 9% prediction for OL help at No. 24

The Cleveland Browns own the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. With those two picks, the odds of the Browns taking a wide receiver and an offensive tackle are very high.

The only question for much of the offseason has been which position the Browns go with first. OT vs. WR is a big debate in this year's draft, as there are varying ranges for prospects in a weaker class that could spell trouble for Cleveland.

And as ESPN's Seth Walder shared, the Browns got some tough news with just a nine-percent chance that one of the top offensive linemen was to make it to No. 24 overall.

Browns get tough 9% news from ESPN predictor

There are four offensive linemen in the first tier or two of the tackles in this year's class. Miami's Francis Mauigoa, Utah's Spencer Fano, Alabama's Kaydn Proctor, and Georgia's Monroe Freeling are the four OL who are likely to go early.

All four would be great options for the Browns. But Walder notes that if the Browns want one of those four linemen, "then No. 24 is likely too late. There is only a 9% chance any of those four players slips to No. 24."

Cleveland is eyeing an offensive lineman or two in this year's draft. So, with such a clear need, landing one of the top four linemen makes the most sense.

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However, if the Browns try to go one of the top WRs in Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, or Makai Lemon early in the draft, there's more than a 90% chance that they will miss one of those top four offensive tackles with their second first-rounder.

With such a small figure, of just nine-percent, the Browns have a clear target with their earliest first-round pick: offensive tackle.

This was already seeming like the case with the strong WR draft class, but this context from ESPN will only make things even more apparent that the Browns need to go OT early if they want one of those four top linemen this year.

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