Cleveland Browns Eye Keylan Rutledge as Interior Line Fix in 2026 Draft

The Cleveland Browns are hoping to turn the page on one of the league's most porous offensive lines, and in Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge, they may have found a rugged solution in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cleveland finished the previous season ranked 31st in offensive line performance — a ranking that general manager Andrew Berry made a clear priority during free agency, adding several bodies to compete and contribute across the interior. But with rosters requiring around ten players in any given offensive line room, Berry knows that drafting smart, durable talent is just as critical as signing established names.

Rutledge fits the profile of someone who can come in and immediately absorb punishment. At 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds, the Georgia Tech product brings an imposing frame and a demeanor to match. His calling card is efficient zone run-blocking — he gets to his landmark quickly, establishes a wide base, and consistently creates push at the point of attack. Scouts rave about his powerful hands and his nastiness as a finisher; he simply does not let defenders out of blocks easily.

His 40-yard dash time of 5.05 seconds is more than adequate for a player expected to operate in a phone booth rather than open space, and his experience across 48 career games — including snaps at center — gives him positional versatility that NFL coaches value highly. He is also a willing and effective puller, a trait that translates well to play-action heavy schemes.

The accolades back up the film. Rutledge earned First Team All-American honors and was a two-time First Team All-ACC selection, adding a First Team All-Conference USA nod from his 2023 season. He also won the Piccolo Award, a testament to his leadership and impact within the program.

That said, Rutledge is not a polished product. His pad level tends to rise as a game wears on, a technical flaw that savvy interior rushers will exploit at the next level. He struggles with rip moves and can find himself in poor leverage positions against power rushers, occasionally losing balance when asked to anchor in pass protection. His body control needs sharpening, and he will need coaching to clean up his hand placement before he can be trusted in a full-time starting role.

The draft projection places Rutledge in Round 3, with Cleveland holding the 70th overall pick. Given where the Browns are in their roster construction, that is a sensible landing spot — a player with the physical tools and temperament to develop into a reliable starter in a zone-based, play-action scheme, while offering immediate depth as a swing interior backup.

For a franchise still searching for offensive line stability, Rutledge is exactly the kind of high-floor, high-effort player worth investing a mid-round pick in.