With the 2026 NFL season right around the corner, it’s time to take a deep dive into the Cleveland Browns’ rookie class and how they will perform in their first year with the struggling organization.
General manager Andrew Berry’s 2026 NFL Draft class features a total of 10 rookies, with most of the group residing on the offensive side of the ball. One name that sticks out of the group is the Browns‘ first pick in the draft, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano. The young lineman will join a completely overhauled offensive line unit and is projected to be the team’s starting left tackle for the 2026 season.
Here’s everything you need to know about Fano before the beginning of the regular season.
Overview of Fano
After moving back three spots in the most recent draft, the Browns used their first pick on Fano in hopes that he would become a cornerstone piece of the offensive line.
Throughout his time with the Utah Utes, the talented offensive tackle displayed terrific athleticism off the line of scrimmage, allowing him to go head-to-head against some of the best college pass rushers. In his three seasons as a starter at the college level, Fano allowed a total of seven quarterback hits and three sacks, while also posting an average PFF offensive grade of 78.4.
One of the main knocks on Fano coming out of Utah was his size, as multiple NFL scouts believed he could have kicked inside to the guard position before the recent draft. However, despite his smaller stature and his anchor issues against powerful pass rushers, he still managed to prove himself as an adequate run blocker, finishing with a 79.9 PFF run blocking grade in 2025.
Fano’s role with Browns
As a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s clear that Fano will instantly become a starting tackle for the Browns during his rookie season. But since he is projected to play on the left side of the line, the 21-year-old will experience some turbulence throughout the course of the season.
Fano played a majority of his snaps at the right tackle position for Utah. Still, he did spend his 2023 season at left tackle, giving him some familiarity heading into his rookie year. Unfortunately for the Browns, his 2023 campaign was easily his worst season with the Utes, which could cause him to struggle with his new role at the NFL level.
Will Fano’s move to the left side of the line affect his career with the Browns? No. But will his rookie season be a huge learning curve? Definitely. The sky is the ceiling for Fano’s potential in the NFL, and he could easily be a franchise cornerstone in Cleveland for years to come.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns’ 2026 rookie preview: LT Spencer Fano
