That thing about the Browns not drafting for need?
Fuggetaboutit.
Above anything else, the Browns needed a left tackle and a wide receiver with their top two picks on the first round of the draft, and that’s what they selected – in that order.
The evening started with the Browns choosing Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano at No. 9 after a trade-down from No. 6 with Kansas City, and ended with them selecting Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion with the No. 24 pick.
The trade with the Chiefs netted the Browns the 74th overall pick in the third round and 148th overall in the fifth round.
It means the Browns head into Friday’s second night of the draft with three picks – one in the second round (No. 39) and two in the third (No. 70 and No. 74). The extra third-round pick might give GM Andrew Berry the ammunition to fill the remaining hole on the offensive line at center. The top centers in the draft are projected to go in the third round.
“We may not be done with the O-line,” Berry said.
Fano (6-5 ½ and 311 pounds, with a 4.91 40-time) was the first offensive lineman chosen. It began a run of seven linemen taken over 13 picks.
Coach Todd Monken said Fano was the player the Browns targeted from the start. Monken was the first Browns official to emphatically state that the position-versatile Fano would be the Browns’ new left tackle.
Fano played left tackle his first season at Utah and then was switched to right tackle for his last two seasons. Because of shorter arm measurements, some NFL teams considered him a better prospect at guard. He also volunteered to take snaps at center at the NFL Combine, which conjured some speculation that he could be the best center in the draft.
“I don’t care where you put him, I think he’s going to be an elite player,” Monken said.
Fano said, “I have been taking snaps at every position because depending on the team that chose me, I could have been any one of them. I am super grateful to be left tackle with the Cleveland Browns. I am pumped. I am so pumped.”
Monken was elated with the pick.
“I think the expectations that we will have for him won’t even match that he has for himself,” Monken said. “His athleticism, his toughness … I mean, when you want to start off the first year of your [coaching] regime, you talk about what you want: character, toughness, athleticism. He has it all.”
Browns fans were hoping to see a receiver taken first, particularly Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Berry was spared from being second-guessed, however, because Tate was surprisingly taken fourth by the Tennessee Titans.
Tate was the first of four Buckeyes chosen in the first round Linebacker Arvell Reese went fifth to the New York Giants, linebacker Sonny Styles was chosen seventh by the Washington Commanders, and safety Caleb Downs was picked 11th by the Dallas Cowboys.
When the Browns got to their second pick, No. 24 overall, the top receivers on the board were Concepcion, Washington’s Denzel Boston, and Indian’s Omar Cooper.
Berry said he chose Concepcion because “he’s dynamic … he’s, you know, an outstanding separator, really good with the ball in his hands, [and] honestly, probably the best punt returner in this class.”
Concepcion (5-11 5/8, 196), who grew up mostly in Charlotte, NC, played two years at North Carolina State and transferred in 2025 to Texas A&M, where he had his best season (61 receptions, 919 yards, 9 touchdowns). He also averaged 16.2 yards per punt return in his college career with two return touchdowns in 2025. Berry said Concepcion’s return ability was “an added bonus” but not the reason he was chosen over the other receivers on the board.
The biggest negative about Concepcion is his high rate of drops – 19 in three college seasons.
“Every receiver, besides maybe Larry Fitzgerald, has a couple drops,” Berry said. “KC, he’s been a dynamic producer at N.C. State, Texas A&M. He’s electric with the ball in his hands, and we’re looking forward to having him.
“I know [the drops] gets talked about, but he has natural dexterity. You know, it’s nothing extreme or nothing out of, I guess, it’s not an outlier relative to other receivers in the draft class. I know that’s been the primary talking point, but we’re comfortable with KC’s hands.”
On a conference call, Concepcion said, “I am going to work non stop to fix that.”
He also said his message to Browns fans was “Get the popcorn ready. I’m ready right now. I’m ready to play. I’m ready to change the organization.”