Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry did some maneuvering in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading back before taking offensive tackle Spencer Fano with the ninth overall pick. Fano was believed to be their preferred selection anyway, so Berry was praised for picking up some extra draft capital.
After a strong preseason, Fano is making Berry look even smarter. He's made the transition to right tackle seamlessly and looks like a long-term starter for Cleveland. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic loved what he saw from Fano this preseason, naming him one of the biggest rookie standouts.
Baumgardner said, "After playing mainly right tackle at Utah, Fano has had no trouble adjusting to the left side. He’s such a perfect fit for Todd Monken’s offense, and though he’s still feeling his way around NFL power, Fano will be a day-one starter. I loved this pick — and still do."
OT Spencer Fano is giving the Browns everything they hoped for
Fano only took the field for one preseason game, but that's all he needed. He played 33 snaps on offense against the Chicago Bears, and while he allowed two pressures, neither turned into a sack. The rookie was strong in the running game and quickly wrapped up the competition for the starting left tackle job. Arm length concerns are already starting to feel like a distant memory.
The rookie tackle is already earning praise from his teammates. Star edge rusher Jared Verse, who competes with Fano every day in practice, has already noticed significant growth.
"Going against him, he’s gotten so much better in these past couple of weeks. And because he’s getting better, it’s getting to the point where I’m starting to learn things from him," Verse said.
Fano doesn't get the ramp-up period that many rookies would. He's immediately being thrust into the starting lineup, tasked with protecting Deshaun Watson's blindside. To make things even more difficult, he's joining an offensive line that has been completely remade this offseason, eliminating any sense of consistency or existing chemistry.
With some matchups against dangerous edge rushers across the first month of the season, the rookie will be thrown into the fire. Fano has every reason to get off to a slow start in 2026.
But at least so far, he's given Browns fans every reason to believe that he can overcome the challenge. With each passing day, Fano is making Berry's draft gymnastics look better and better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google