Back in Week 5, the Cleveland Browns dropped a game many expected them to win against the New York Jets. Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans had that same "trap game" feel to it.
Not so fast, football gods. These are not the same old Browns.
While it was glorious to see Cleveland pull out victories few expected against the Buccaneers, Steelers, and Ravens, fans needed to see the Browns put away an inferior opponent. Now, I won't sit here and say they made it easy on the ol' ticker, but when the clock hit triple zeros, the Browns had more points than the Titans. So, mission accomplished.
As with every game this season, that result was in no small part because of the Browns' brimming rookie class.
From genuine breakout performances from some to more muted but still important contributions from others, GM Andrew Berry has done it again. The franchise's 2026 draft class (along with head coach Todd Monken, a 60-year-old head coaching rookie) may just be the catalyst for change Cleveland needed.
The Cleveland Browns had their best offensive game of the season behind strong contributions from their rookie class
Left tackle Spencer Fano
Fano is only seven games into what will assuredly be a long and illustrious career. In any case, Sunday was his magnum opus. Pro Football Focus charged Fano with just two pressures allowed on an afternoon when the Browns had 41 dropbacks. He played all 70 snaps and hasn't missed one this season.
What's most impressive is his team-leading 92.2 offensive grade for the game. Rush attempts that went outside to the left — Fano's domain — averaged a whopping 9.0 yards per carry. For a team that struggled mightily to run the ball this season, this was a massive development.
While there will surely be hiccups along the way, Fano is fulfilling all the promise expected of the ninth overall pick — and then some.
Verdict: Stock just crashed through the ceiling and left a mountain of rubble in its wake.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion
Concepcion has been rock-solid all season long. On Sunday, it appears he and Fano were particularly intent on making the Titans feel some pain. Concepcion had his best game of the season (and his career), corralling eight of his team-leading 10 targets for an emphatic 129 yards. He also carried the ball three times for 23 yards.
Consequently, he was PFF's second-highest-graded player on offense with a sterling 87.6.
While he did have one bad drop, he made up for it by forcing two missed tackles and gaining more than 60 percent of his yards after the catch. The consummate teammate, Concepcion would likely never say that this one meant a little more after several explosive Denzel Boston performances this season led some to question the Browns' decision to select him with their 24th overall pick.
Regardless, it's good to see him prove himself on this level. For what it's worth, the Titans entered this game with a roughly league-average pass defense, at least in terms of passer rating allowed. Concepcion deserves his props.
Verdict: A previously volatile stock has taken a rocket ship to the moon.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston
As they often say in football circles, there's only one ball. Boston had a quiet day with just three receptions for 27 yards. It wasn't for a lack of trying either, as the wideout was targeted eight times on the afternoon. Unfortunately, one of those targets was intercepted and another was dropped.
This led to Boston finishing 16th among the 18 players who logged snaps on offense by PFF grade. Peaks and valleys are to be expected with any rookie player, so this isn't a cause for a freak-out. Boston will have a chance to get right against Pittsburgh after Titans receiver Carnell Tate passed him on the rookie receiving yards leaderboard.
Verdict: Stock continues to dip.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
A week after playing 54 defensive snaps in relief of veteran safety Grant Delpit, EMW took a backseat with just 19 snaps on Sunday. He recorded three tackles (one for loss) and allowed the lone target in his coverage area to be completed, though it was for just 6 yards. He was the Browns' fifth-ranked defender out of 19 participants with a 74.3 overall grade.
It's somewhat surprising to see McNeil-Warren log his fewest snaps since Week 3 in Tampa Bay. Evidently, the Tennessee game plan from Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg entailed heavier defensive personnel to counter the Titans' run game. It wasn't necessarily effective, as Tennessee ran for a season-high 141 yards.
Hopefully there's an uptick in EMW snaps in Week 8 against Pittsburgh. He's proven to be a difference-maker, and if the Browns are to upset the Steelers (again), they're going to need all the firepower they have.
Verdict: Stock unchanged despite curious usage.
Right guard Austin Barber
Barber didn't have his best day at the office on Sunday, though that is partially to be expected against Tennessee's all-world menace defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Despite allowing just one pressure on the afternoon, PFF wasn't sold on his performance. He finished the game with the offense's 13th-ranked overall grade at 56.0.
Barber did have one penalty, though it's admittedly hard to see how that would leave him with such a mediocre grade. In any case, the task doesn't get easier next week against Pittsburgh's Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. In the NFL, there are no off-weeks. Barber will try to rebound in another tough environment.
Verdict: Stock is dipping without cause for concern.
Tight end Carsen Ryan
Update: Ryan was waived by the team on Monday to clear a roster spot for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who was activated off injured reserve. Ryan could potentially rejoin the team via the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Ryan played just eight snaps, all of them on special teams. He didn't record any official statistics in the game, either. Of the 35 players to participate on special teams, Ryan ranked 32nd with a 56.7 grade in that department.
Expectations are naturally low for seventh-round picks, and a tiny role is usually to be expected. At least he's been able to get on the field. Center Parker Brailsford, linebacker Justin Jefferson, and quarterback Taylen Green were inactive for the contest. Fellow rookie tight end Joe Royer continues his stint on the non-football illness list with details mired in secrecy.
Verdict: Stock remains uninspiring.
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