Browns NFL Draft: Dane Brugler reveals concern with Cleveland and WRs

With less than two weeks to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, many fans are still questioning what the Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry will do in this year's draft.

While the struggling franchise has a slew of issues on the offensive side of the ball, the fanbase is anxious to see what the Browns do to address the wide receiver position. Luckily for Cleveland, Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate could be available at pick No. 6, and is one of the top players in the draft that fans desire for the organization.

However, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler recently appeared on the BIGPLAY Cleveland Show and dropped some insight on the Tate and Browns connection.

"I think it's funny with Carnell Tate, one of the reasons they passed on [Tetairoa] McMillan last year in the top 10 and they went with Mason Graham, was because they had an incomplete testing profile on McMillan," Brugler said. All he did was a 40-yard dash the entire process, and he ran a 4.53. What did Carnell Tate do? All he did in this process was run a 40, and he ran a 4.53."

Brugler would then go on to discuss how it could affect the Browns' draft strategy this year, stating that it would be interesting to see if Berry views Tate in a similar light.

"I think it's interesting when you look at it from that lens; would the Browns, seeing the success of McMillan had last year with the Panthers as an NFL rookie...would they look at the situation the same with Tate?"

Could the Browns select Tate in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Tate, after an impressive three-year stint with the Buckeyes, has quickly become a polarizing prospect in this year's draft class. Throughout his time in Columbus, the highly-touted pass catcher recorded 1,872 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 121 receptions. Despite playing behind the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jeremiah Smith, Tate managed to carve out a role on offense while also enjoying a breakout season with Ohio State in 2025, where he ended the year with 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Still, there are plenty of concerns with Tate leading up to the upcoming draft. During the 2026 NFL Combine, the 6-foot-3, 192 lbs. receiver ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, which became a major red flag to some NFL Draft analysts. While Tate may not have top-end speed, his ability to consistently win contested catches, combined with his smooth route running, should allow him to carry his success into the NFL.

Ultimately, the Browns' decision to select Tate will come down to whether or not the organization moves down from pick No. 6. NFL insider Albert Breer reported earlier this week that Cleveland is one of five teams looking to trade down in the draft, so if Berry moves out of the top-10, the franchise will likely be out of range.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: Dane Brugler reveals concern with Cleveland and WRs