The 2026 NFL Draft's first round delivered plenty of drama, and one of the most intriguing moments came when the Cleveland Browns were on the clock at pick No. 9. The Dallas Cowboys, eager to move up, made a bold offer to the Browns—but Cleveland wasn't interested.
According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, the Cowboys proposed a deal that would have sent picks No. 12 and No. 20, plus a fifth-rounder, to Cleveland in exchange for picks No. 9 and No. 24. The Browns rejected the offer, choosing to stay put and trust their draft board.
Dallas didn't waste time. They quickly pivoted, striking a deal with the Miami Dolphins to move up from No. 12 to No. 11, where they selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The Browns, meanwhile, kept their focus and used the ninth overall pick to select offensive tackle Spencer Fano from Utah.
The Browns were among the most active teams on draft night, using two first-round picks to add impact players to a roster in need of reinforcements. They set the tone early by making the first trade of the evening, moving down from No. 6 to No. 9 in a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs—who used their new pick to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. That trade gave Cleveland extra flexibility, and according to a recent ESPN video, the Browns' general manager revealed the team had already zeroed in on a small group of players they were targeting at No. 9.
Before the trade-down, Fano was one of three names firmly in Cleveland's sights. The other two were wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (who went eighth overall to the New Orleans Saints) and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (selected tenth overall by the New York Giants). In the end, the Browns got their man—and then some.
Head coach Todd Monken couldn't hide his excitement, announcing that the team plans to start Fano at left tackle. "We're jacked about trading down, picking up extra picks, and still getting the player we wanted," Monken said. For a team looking to build for the future, that kind of draft-night win is exactly what the doctor ordered.