Through nine games, the eye test would tell you that Spencer Fano is off to a strong start to his Cleveland Browns career. For a player who spent his final two collegiate seasons as a right tackle, his transition to the left side feels like it’s trending in the right direction.
Fano has, however, struggled against the stout defensive fronts of the Steelers and Saints in recent weeks. Those were two of his least efficient games as a young pro, according to Pro Football Focus.
Other analytics sites are painting a much more concerning picture.
Citing Next Gen Stats, FOX Sports reporter Henry McKenna shared the NFL leaders in pressures allowed among offensive tackles entering Week 10, and he included a trigger line for Browns fans:
“And man, do I have bad news for the Browns…”
Here's a look at the worst 10 starting tackles in the NFL right now when it comes to pressures allowed.
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) November 11, 2026
And man, do I have bad news for the Browns... pic.twitter.com/Mby8wczjTd
Per the NGS data, Fano has allowed an NFL-leading 52 QB pressures, which ranks last in the NFL. The player right behind him? Veteran Browns right tackle Tytus Howard with 43.
Not great, but like almost any NFL argument, context is required here.
Browns' QB time to throw adds crucial context to Spencer Fano's pressure numbers
As McKenna noted in the comments section of his post, pressures aren’t a standalone stat. Howard, for example, has an average time to pressure (TTP) of 3.4 seconds — which is an eternity in the modern NFL. Fano’s TTP is a respectable 2.9 seconds.
“Tytus Howard’s time to pressure, which is 3.4, helps show the problem isn’t solely with him. QBs are generally taught to get the ball out within 3 seconds... give or take a few fractions of a second,” McKenna wrote.
With Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Cleveland’s offense has been grossly inconsistent. When the veteran is decisive and gets the ball out quickly, the passing game has actually been effective.
But in games where Watson holds onto the football and constantly looks to evade the rush, the efficiency numbers plummet. No quarterback has been sacked more than Watson’s 33 times on the season — and he just sat out Week 9 with a concussion.
Per Pro Football Reference, Watson’s pocket time — the average time the quarterback has in the pocket between the snap and throw, or when pressure collapses the pocket — is 2.3 seconds. That ranks in a tie for 15th in the league.
So Watson’s facing average pressure relative to the league. That puts the onus on him to help Fano, Howard, and his other offensive linemen out at times.
No one should be panicking about Fano or wondering if he should be kicked inside to guard. Fans can find stats to fit any argument, like PFF ranking Fano 39th among 71 qualifying tackles in its seasonlong pass-block grade. McKenna wasn’t pushing an anti-Browns agenda in sharing those NGS stats. They are what they are.
Sunday’s matchup with Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and a Houston defense that suddenly shares the NFL lead in sacks will be telling. Fano could definitely use a get-right game. This week's spot represents an opportunity.
But the No. 9 overall pick has more than held his own as a rookie left tackle this season. He won’t be winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026, but is he still trending toward being a franchise player at that position? Absolutely.
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