Like most NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns found the third round of the NFL Draft to be a mixed bag when it came to drafting players.
For every Dave Logan, Charlie Hall or Harold Fanning Jr., there’s a Siaki Ika, Anthony Schwartz or Travis Wilson.
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General manager Andrew Berry has a chance to impact the franchise’s status quo with two first-round picks and a second-round pick at No. 39 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But it would be beneficial if Berry could draft a player in the third round with the 70th pick who could at least make a meaningful contribution.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some national mock drafts to see who the Browns could select in the third round of this year’s draft. Players selected by the Browns in the first two rounds are included in each simulation to add some context.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com: Christen Miller, defensive tackle, Georgia
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R1: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (6th overall)
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R1: Jordin Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State (No. 22 after trade with Los Angeles Chargers)
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R2: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson (No. 39 overall)
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The 6-foot-4, 321-pound Miller played four seasons for the Bulldogs, appearing in 43 games and totaling 64 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s draft profile:
Miller is a nose tackle who can rattle the pads and get early advantages on offense. He has good stacking and delivery ability against one-man defense, but lacks the typical quality of a space-eater. He loses his anchor at times with double teams and strong angle blocks. He’s average at combining quickness with lateral movement, but generally understands play design and rushes through gaps to squeeze running routes. He will continue to add muscle and should become a quality starter who is more consistent in the paint rather than dominant.
PFSN: Sam Hecht, center, Kansas State
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R1: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (6th overall)
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R1: Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State (No. 24 overall)
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R2: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (39th overall)
The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Hecht spent four years with the Wildcats and played in 42 career games. He may need to add some strength, but he is considered a very skilled player, which is a good thing for a center.
According to PFSN:
Cleveland acquired guard/center Elgton Jenkins from Green Bay as a free agent on a two-year contract. I think using their fourth overall pick in this draft on potential future center in Sam Hecht is a promising decision.
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
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R1: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (6th overall)
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R1: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana (24th overall)
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R2: Zion Young, Missouri, Delaware (39th overall)
Payton started just one year for the Bison and attempted just 58 passes in the four seasons before that. He had a good 2025 season with a 72% completion rate, 2,719 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, only 4 interceptions, and 894 rushing yards.
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According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, the 6-foot-3, 232-pound Payton is:
…Dual-threat, single-season FCS starter, good size. He’s a lefty with poor mechanics and poor arm talent, but he’s still able to throw touch pitches at all three levels. However, he lacks the quickness to throw the ball into tight windows and may not have enough time to outwit career zone defenders. He’s not crafty, but is good when short yardage is needed and can build up velocity for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as QB3 and will need to package games to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself as a useful pocket passer.
Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune: D’Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana
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R1: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech (6th overall)
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R1: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (No. 24 overall)
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R2: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (No. 39 overall)
At 5-foot-9, Ponds may be a little short for the position, but he makes up for it with an efficient performance, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted in his draft profile:
Pounds is an effective outside cornerback on the smaller side, but he doesn’t lack for confidence or coverage toughness. He is very competitive and wins seem to follow him at every stop. He matches press releases with good sliding speed and is on pace with his speed as the route travels vertically. Eye discipline, instincts and trigger speed facilitate his zone work and catch distractions. Size limitations will likely push him toward nickel, and the mismatch with a larger frame and physical challenges in the running game will test his organization/endurance. Ponds is likely a Day 2 pick and will be an above-average starting nickelback in the NFL.
Chris Easterling of the Beacon Journal: Connor Lew, center, Auburn
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R1: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (6th overall)
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R1: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (No. 24 overall)
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R2: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee (39th overall)
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Lue appeared in 30 games in three seasons with the Tigers. He is also recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last October, so his playing time is on hold.
According to Easterlin:
A true center is not something the Browns acquire in the first week of free agency, although Elgton Jenkins certainly can and has played in that role before. They also continue to talk about Luke Wippler, but his rookie contract is also set to expire at the end of this season. With Lue being the top center on the board when the pick comes up, it makes sense to at least try to provide some youth on defense.
Browns fans, what do you think? Would you like to see the Browns select any of these players in the third round? Or would you go in a different direction? Share your thoughts in the comments.