Browns rivals: Players you don’t want AFC North teams to add in the 2026 NFL draft

TL;DR

The Cleveland Browns are not currently prioritizing their AFC North rivals in decision-making for the 2026 NFL Draft. Key prospects include WR Carnell Tate, but the focus is on what players the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers might add that could impact the Browns.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: A general view of the video board on stage with The Pick Is In for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For now, the Cleveland Browns are not at a point where focusing on what other teams in the AFC North or the AFC in general is a priority in their decision-making. At the point in the future where the team is competing for an AFC Championship, some decisions might be made to combat whatever the other contenders are doing.

In the 2026 NFL draft, the Browns are deciding between a number of top prospects as well as the possibility of trading down. Cleveland podcasts are mostly focused on the Browns selecting WR Carnell Tate, but he’s far from a certain selection.

While Tate might be the favorite of fans and media, today’s Question of the Day is about what you do not want to see from the AFC North rivals. The Cincinnati Bengals have the 10th pick, the Baltimore Ravens follow with the 14th selection, and the Pittsburgh Steelers select 21st.

SB Nation’s most recent 1st round NFL mock draft has the following first-round picks for those three teams:

Bengals – OT Francis Mauigoa
Ravens – OL Olaivavega Ioane
Steelers – QB Ty Simpson

Whether it is those selections or someone else, who would you hate to see the rest of the AFC North come away with in this year’s NFL draft?

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