The Cleveland Browns have the fifth pick in the NFL draft heading into Championship Weekend. Last week’s Rivalry Week was everything it was billed to be. It was an enjoyable hate weekend, which saw some minor shakeups in the playoff rankings. College Saturday was a good reminder that there’s good football still being played in Ohio. The Browns’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers was embarrassing. It sent the Browns back to the top of the draft order. It also showed the areas the Browns need to improve if they want to compete against Super Bowl contenders.The Browns need an infusion of offensive talent. The team cannot generate points, and they’re constantly putting the defense on its heels. The Browns will need to overhaul their entire offense this offseason. All while managing the Deshaun Watson playing and cap situations. If the Browns are serious about tanking, they should play Watson to end the season. He’s been a horrible quarterback since he got here. There’s no way he has the running ability, his only strength in Cleveland, after tearing his Achilles twice in three months. The Browns need a cleanse at the quarterback position. The team needs to invest a draft pick in one of the quarterbacks in the upcoming class. In this 2026 seven-round mock draft, the Browns will be highlighting the best players playing this weekend. 1.05 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Fernando Mendoza entered the season relatively unheralded. The redshirt junior started his career at Cal. He played most of his sophomore year and started every game of his junior season. Mendoza transferred to Indiana after watching Hoosiers’ head coach Curt Cignettti turn them into playoff contenders. Mendoza turned down a lot of money from much bigger programs to take Indiana from playoff hopeful to National Championship contender. Mendoza has flourished under Cignetti’s coaching. He’s the favorite to win the Heisman.Mendoza is a prototypical pocket passer. The quarterback is listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. Mendoza isn’t a statue in the pocket. He’s a good enough athlete, and his long legs keep him ahead of defenders chasing him behind the line of scrimmage. Mendoza does the most damage in the pocket. He attacks all three levels of the field. He loves going deep when he confirms that the post-snap coverage stayed the same. He’s a brilliant quarterback who wins with his brain. He has a good, but not great, arm. He’s an accurate passer with good touch to layer the ball over defenders. Mendoza’s football intelligence, anticipation, arm strength, and accuracy hide any singular blemish in his game.Mendoza’s main weakness is his lack of film. The quarterback should play in well over 30 games in his career, surpassing Bill Parcells’ quarterback threshold – an antiquated method that’s seeing a renaissance after the recent failures of inexperienced quarterbacks chosen in the first round. Mendoza is the only first-round quarterback prospect who exceeds the threshold. Mendoza’s experience and lack of top-end physical traits could make him the second quarterback chosen. Mendoza has the perfect opportunity to claim the first pick in the draft. He’s facing off against Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship. The winning quarterback will likely be named the Heisman winner as voting is open during the games on Saturday. No matter the results on Saturday, Mendoza will lead Indiana to the playoffs. The strict and disciplined team should be a favorite to win the National Championship. Mendoza has the brains and brawn to lead them there. Mendoza has a chance to silence his critics for good and write his name in college football’s history books.1.22 Monroe Freeling, OT, GeorgiaMonroe Freeling is the junior left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs. Freeling is a mauler with prototypical size for the position. The 6-foot-6 tackle was a top-40 recruit in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Freeling has played a lot at Georgia during his three years. He started his career as an extra offensive lineman in jumbo packages and as a primary backup to a few positions. Georgia gave him the starting job this year, and he’s been running people over ever since. Freeling is a mauler who loves to hunt down defenders. He’s looking to pancake anyone who gets in his way. He has a big game against Alabama and their tough defensive front. Freeling is a talented and aggressive prospect. He has excellent size and athleticism for the position. He’s a weapon in the run game. He’s a dangerous puller who looks for work when clearing lanes. He can reach across gaps on down blocks. He’s crafty at sealing off defenders to create a rushing lane. Monroe’s weakness is his rawness as a pass blocker. He struggles at the point of attack. He strikes with two hands, causing him to lunge. Quick pass rushers can brush his hands off and get around him. Freeling’s dominance in the run game will translate to pass blocking. He must learn to play with independent hands and to pace his blocks. Freeling has a lot of potential to develop into a top tackle. He has the demeanor, size, and athleticism to play the position.2.39 Germie Bernard, WR, AlabamaGermie Bernard is a no-nonsense receiver for Alabama. The 6-foot receiver is incredibly reliable and low-maintenance. The Crimson Tide’s passing attack has stuttered and stalled as the season progresses. However, when they need a big play, they can just get it to Bernard. He will help them deliver. Whether it’s in the first quarter or fourth, he’s always ready to make a play. Bernard is a true professional at the position. He’s a smooth route runner and a focused pass catcher. Bernard is a big-play ready to happen. Alabama will need him to convert clutch moments as they take on the Georgia Bulldogs.Bernard has the makings of a fan favorite in the NFL. He’s a tough receiver who does the dirty work. As the NFL has started to feature these players in its passing attacks, Bernard has a pathway to develop into a top receiver. He has an average size, with great agility, good speed, and explosiveness. Bernard’s football intelligence, route-running ability, and tracking skills make him a dangerous receiving prospect. He can disguise his routes and get open against a variety of coverages. Bernard would be perfect for the Browns. His consistency and professionalism are needed in the receiving room.3.70 Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE, Ohio StateKenyatta Jackson is one of the best pass-rushing prospects. Jackson has all the tools to develop into a dangerous defensive end in the NFL. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defender has the size, athleticism, and flexibility to become a top player. Jackson is overshadowed by all the talent on Ohio State’s defense. He had one of his best games of the season against Michigan. Jackson will carry that momentum against Indiana in the Big Ten championship. He’ll be a top target for NFL teams lacking juice on the edge. The Browns love to take fliers on highly athletic defensive ends in the third and fourth rounds. They’ve had great success developing Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire. Jackson should be the next to join that group. Jackson has excellent size, strength, and athleticism. He can set the edge against the run or bend around the top of the pocket. Jackson must refine his technique to beat blocks at the next level consistently. Jackson is a disciplined player who needs to be cut loose more. He would be a great fit in the Browns’ attacking system.4. Brian Parker II, C, DukeBrian Parker II is one of the top center prospects in the country. Fans wanting to check him out in the ACC Championship game will want to watch the right tackle for Duke. The 6-foot-5 offensive tackle lacks the size, strength, and foot speed to protect the edges of the pocket reliably. Parker is an above-average athlete with good agility. Condensing him inside will bring out the strengths of his game. Parker is a projected center due to his football intelligence. Parker is a brilliant player. His eyes are always committed to threat analysis. Parker is a great technician and an exceptionally skilled hand-fighter. Parker loves to fake a jab to get pass rushers to engage early. Parker employs the snap track to pancake defensive linemen. Parker is a highly skilled prospect. He’s a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. He doesn’t have the physical traits to turn into a dominant lineman. However, he’ll have a long career in the NFL as a crafty veteran. Hopefully, it’s with the Browns, who are looking to rebuild their offensive line’s interior. 5. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin Charles Demmings is one of the best cornerbacks in the FCS. The 6-foot Stephen F. Austin product is a physical freak with top-notch ball-hawking skills. Demmings has eight career interceptions. He’s excellent at getting his head turned around and locating the ball. Demmings does his best work at the line of scrimmage. He’s a top press cornerback who smothers receivers at the line of scrimmage. Once Demmings reroutes a receiver, he doesn’t stop bullying them. He’ll run them into the ground if he can. Demmings is a gifted player, but his lack of tape against similarly talented prospects could knock him to day three of the draft. Teams should always invest in premium positions, such as cornerbacks. The Browns are no different. Demmings is a talented prospect who will be an excellent investment for a team. 5 (via the Raiders). Isaiah Jatta, OT, BYUIsaiah Jatta is one of the diamonds in the rough. The 6-foot-6 junior college product started his career by protecting Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders at Colorado in 2023. Jatta was a top junior college recruit but didn’t play much because of his lack of technique. Jatta has developed a lot under BYU. The Cougars have turned Jatta into an offensive weapon, especially in the run game. Jatta’s combination of athleticism and power helps him clear lanes in the run game. Jatta’s chaos translates negatively to pass protection. He doesn’t play in control, and he loses balance easily. Jatta will need time to develop in the NFL. He has all the traits to become a starting offensive tackle. 5 (via the Bengals). Jacob Thomas, S, James MadisonJacob Thomas is the star safety for James Madison. Thomas is a weapon for the Dukes. He lines up across the defensive backfield. He does his best work near the ball. He’s forced one fumble, picked off two passes, and made two sacks. Thomas is an instinctual defender who can make plays at all three levels. Thomas is an average athlete of average size. But he plays hard. His intelligence and intensity make up for his lack of top-end traits. Thomas has all the skills to become an adequate defensive back and the resolve to develop into a special-teams ace. 6 (via the Bears). Braxton, Fely, DT, Boise StateBraxton Fely is one of the stars in the group of five conferences. The defensive tackle has been a force in the middle for Boise State. Fely had opportunities to transfer to a Power Four school. Instead, Fely remained with the Broncos. Fely is a hard worker, and his loyalty was rewarded with another Mountain West Championship. Fely is on the smaller side at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds. He’s an agile defensive tackle who causes chaos when he can shoot through gaps. While Fely lacks in size, he’s an adequate run defender. It’s an area he’ll have to work on in the NFL. Fely is a determined player and has the talent to develop into a serviceable role player.7 (via the Seahawks). Tay Yanta II, C, North TexasTay Yanta II is the starting center at North Texas. Yanta has bounced around college football. He started his career at Mary-Hardin Baylor in 2020. In 2021, he joined Texas Tech for a season. Yanta found a home at Abilene Christian. He was the starting center there for three seasons before joining the Mean Green. Yanta is a bright and strong center. At 6-foot-3, 330 pounds, he’s a big lineman. He’ll need to lose weight to be successful in the NFL. He’s a relatively athletic player with bad weight. It causes him to have a poor blocking technique. Yanta is a good developmental piece in this year’s deep interior offensive line class. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns overhaul offense in latest 2026 7-round mock draft