The Cleveland Browns made an aggressive move on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading up from pick No. 70 to No. 58 with the San Francisco 49ers to select Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a prospect many analysts had pegged as a potential first-round talent.
The trade sent Cleveland’s picks No. 70 and No. 107 to San Francisco, with the Browns receiving back No. 58 and No. 152 in return. It marks the Browns’ second trade of draft weekend, following Thursday night’s deal with the Kansas City Chiefs where Cleveland moved back from No. 6 to No. 9 and stockpiled additional picks. General manager Andrew Berry clearly had his eye on McNeil-Warren and wasn’t willing to risk him falling further into the third round.
With the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Browns select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
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— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2026
It’s clear why. McNeil-Warren is a big guy, standing 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds with arms that are more than 32-inches long. He was a star at Toledo for four years. He had 214 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 13 passes defended, five interceptions, and an amazing nine forced fumbles in 35 career starts with the Rockets. This shows that he has an elite instinct for attacking the football. In 2025, his senior year, he had the best year of his life. He made the third-team All-American team and the first-team All-MAC team with 77 tackles, 6 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions.
But in Cleveland, those are flaws that can be fixed. The Browns have now built a strong foundation through Day 2, adding McNeil-Warren to their roster along with first-round picks Spencer Fano and KC Concepcion, as well as wide receiver Denzel Boston at No. 39. Berry is drafting with purpose, and McNeil-Warren, a tough enforcer who changes the mood of a defense, fits perfectly with the culture Cleveland wants to create.
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