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How Spencer Fano fits with Browns in 2026 and beyond
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- How Spencer Fano fits with Browns in 2026 and beyond
After a long offseason full of drama and rumors, the Cleveland Browns ultimately decided to select Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Andrew Berry kicked off the night by trading down from the No. 6 pick with the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the No. 9, No. 74, and No. 141. This led to the struggling franchise taking a swing on Fano, who was widely considered one of the top offensive tackles in this year's draft class. In his final season with the Utes , the 21-year-old lineman allowed five quarterback hurries and zero sacks over the course of 382 pass blocking snaps.
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How Fano fits with the Browns
Earlier this offseason, Berry focused a majority of his attention on the offensive line by signing multiple linemen in free agency, such as guards Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins . In addition to Johnson and Jenkins, the Browns also traded for former Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard , leaving the left tackle position one of the top needs heading into the draft.
However, the selection of Fano brings an interesting twist to how Cleveland's starting offensive line will look in 2026 and beyond.
Fano began his career at Utah playing on the left side of the line, logging a total of 542 snaps in 2023. But this was not the case in his last two seasons with the program, as he eventually converted to the right tackle position. And with Howard playing the same position for a majority of his NFL career, the question now becomes whether or not the Browns will convert Fano to the left tackle position in 2026.
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Berry has made it clear that he believes the offensive tackle position is interchangeable, and the selection of the star Big 12 lineman supports his claims. Still, if there was any prospect in this year's class that could make the move, it would be Fano. His athleticism and footwork allow him to be a fluid mover on the line of scrimmage, and despite his smaller stature, Fano's skillset offers a perfect baseline for the Browns.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: How Spencer Fano fits with Browns in 2026 and beyond
