Browns selected Cincinnati TE Joe Royer with the No. 170 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

25 April 2026

24 years old and coming off a five-year college career, Royer (6’5/247) spent three invisible seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Cincinnati and catching 50 balls in 2024. That number declined to 29 in 2025 despite appearing in one more game, though his yardage total fell “only” 105 yards from 521 to 416. Praised for his physicality at the catch point, Royer has a projectable skill-set as a blocker. A short-area threat who can do some damage on schemed looks, Royer will look to carve out a role as a rotational pass catcher who can hopefully improve his blocking to the point he can be on the field more often than not.