Browns predicted to add Alabama star for key Shedeur Sanders reason

Matthew Wadleigh

Browns predicted to add Alabama star for key Shedeur Sanders reason image

The Cleveland Browns traded down from No. 2 in the first round, passing on Travis Hunter for some assets. Then, the Browns passed on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders multiple times before finally ending his NFL Draft slide in the fifth round. 

Seeing Sanders not get selected until Day 3 was one of the most surprising turn of events in recent draft history. Moreover, the Browns also selected QB Dillon Gabriel, traded for Kenny Pickett, and signed Joe Flacco, so the QB room in Cleveland is jam-packed. 

Nonetheless, it's never too early to look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, and Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News had the Browns selecting an Alabama star. 

The mock draft has the Browns selecting Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 2 overall pick. 

The Browns will go through some lumps again in their rebuild, but here's thinking that Shedeur Sanders might solve their post-Deshaun Watson QB problems and the next step will go back to the well for a dominant tackle to better protect him in the pocket.

Adding a top-end tackle such as Proctor would be huge for the Brows - and Sanders if he ends up being the QB of the future in Cleveland. Of course, the Browns having the No. 1 pick could lead them to selecting Texas QB Arch Manning, so there are plenty of scenarios here. 

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Matthew Wadleigh

Matthew Wadleigh is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He was born and raised in Southern California and grew up a San Diego sports fan (yes, it’s tough, except for Aztecs hoops). Matthew went to Fresno State as a journalism major and got to see Davante Adams, Derek Carr, Paul George and Aaron Judge in person. Matthew has written for publications including ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Fansided, Trojans Wire, UCLA Wire and Buffaloes Wire.