Browns rumors: Cleveland reportedly targeting Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor with surprise No. 6 pick in 2026 draft
The Cleveland Browns, holding the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, are drawing serious league-wide attention after sources told ESPN that the rebuilding franchise has its eyes firmly set on Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor — a choice that would stun most draft analysts.
- League sources say Cleveland “really likes” Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor and could select him at No. 6 overall.
- The Browns hold two first-round picks — No. 6 and No. 24 — and must address both offensive tackle and wide receiver.
- Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate remains in play if Cleveland fears a shortage of pass catchers later in round one.
- The 2026 NFL draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh.
The surprise intel from the league
According to ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid, writing in ESPN’s latest draft buzz roundup, people inside the league feel Cleveland “really likes” Proctor and could move on him with its first pick. That would be a significant departure from the consensus, which has pegged the Browns as a prime landing spot for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.
Reid flagged the Browns at No. 6 as the pick he is “most uncertain” on heading into the final two weeks before draft night. The decision reportedly hinges on which position — offensive tackle or wide receiver — Cleveland’s front office believes has more depth later in round one.
Why Proctor at No. 6 would be a shock
Kadyn Proctor ranks No. 37 overall on Bleacher Report’s post-combine big board — well outside the range where most teams would justify a top-six selection. His NFL combine testing drew positive reviews, with evaluators praising elite size and high-end explosiveness, but the main knock on the Alabama tackle is inconsistency in his technique, which has left him exposed against speed rushers at times.
Per Bleacher Report, Proctor carries genuine upside as a potential high-level starter under proper coaching — but whether that ceiling justifies a pick where teams traditionally seek near-certain contributors is a debate Cleveland’s front office will wrestle with privately until draft night.
The Carnell Tate alternative
If Cleveland determines that the wide receiver market thins out dangerously by the time pick No. 24 arrives, Tate becomes the likely target at No. 6 instead. The Ohio State wideout has been the most popular Browns mock-draft pick in recent weeks and would slot in immediately alongside Jerry Jeudy and tight end Harold Fanin as a legitimate trio of pass catchers.
Reid noted that Utah’s Spencer Fano and Georgia’s Monroe Freeling are also in the conversation as tackle options for Cleveland if Proctor does not get the call.
Cleveland’s offensive line overhaul
The Browns are operating from a near-blank slate along the offensive line. All five starters from last season are gone, according to a review cited in the Bleacher Report analysis. General manager Andrew Berry addressed the void in free agency by bringing in Zion Johnson, Teven Jenkins, and Tytus Howard, with Jenkins returning on a one-year deal after making four starts last season.
Left tackle Dawand Jones is the current projected starter at that spot but missed nearly the entire 2025 campaign after suffering a knee injury in week three. Adding a long-term answer at the position — ideally a Day 1 starter — remains Cleveland’s most pressing structural need heading into the draft.
Trade-back still on the table
Reid also raised the possibility that Berry replicates last year’s strategy and trades back from No. 6, generating additional capital rather than committing to a player who may not fully warrant that slot. Cleveland moved back from the No. 2 pick in 2025, so the playbook for that kind of move is already written.
The 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 in Pittsburgh. For the latest on all 32 teams’ first-round plans, see ESPN’s full draft intel roundup.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed April 10, 2026.
