How Browns addressed their big nickel safety hole on Day 2 of the draft
Andrew Berry trades up for just the third time.
How Browns addressed their big nickel safety hole on Day 2 of the draft originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry executed one of his uncommon maneuvers on Friday, moving up from No.
70 to No. 58 overall to choose Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns traded selections 70 and 107 to the San Francisco 49ers and obtained selection 58 and selection 152 back.
This marks only the third occasion during Berry's tenure that he has moved up to select a player, with the earlier instances being linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the previous year's draft. McNeil-Warren specifically targets a position need: the third-safety role in Cleveland's big nickel sets, which Rayshawn Jenkins occupied in 2025 before leaving in free agency. 2026 NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available Toledo's McNeil-Warren occupies a spot the Browns couldn't leave vacant McNeil-Warren measures 6-foot-3 and weighs 203 pounds, having been a starter for three seasons at Toledo, where he played mainly as a boundary safety while also taking on nickel and deep-half positions throughout his college career.
Dane Brugler from The Athletic placed him as the third-best safety in this class and the 23rd overall prospect before the weekend. He slipped past the first round, and Cleveland takes action when it becomes evident he remains available. The Browns are comfortable with Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman in the two starting positions.