Browns Drop Another, But Draft Stakes Rise After Week 14 Loss to Titans
As the NFL calendar turns to the home stretch of the regular season, not every game is about playoff pushes or seeding battles. For teams like the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, Week 14 was more about positioning for the 2026 NFL Draft than postseason dreams. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t something worth watching - especially with rookie quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward squaring off in a head-to-head that could shape how front offices view them moving forward.
Sanders, the Browns’ young signal-caller, looked the part. He outplayed Ward on the stat sheet and in the eye test, showing poise in the pocket and flashes of the arm talent that made him a top prospect. But even with Sanders showing promise, the Browns still couldn’t get it done, falling to the Titans in a game that tightened the race for the No. 1 overall pick.
Draft Order Watch: Cleveland Climbs (or Falls?) Into Top 4
Heading into Week 14, Cleveland held the fifth overall pick in the 2026 draft - a spot that already had fans eyeing potential franchise-changers. They also own a second first-rounder via the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was sitting at No. 26 before Sunday’s slate of games. After the dust settled, only one result truly broke Cleveland’s way: the New Orleans Saints notching their third win of the season.
That small shift was enough to bump the Browns up a spot. As of now, they’re slotted at No. 4 overall, while the Jaguars - sitting at 9-4 - have seen their pick drop to No. 27.
Here’s how the top of the draft board looks after Week 14:
- New York Giants (2-11)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
- Tennessee Titans (2-11)
- Cleveland Browns (3-10)
- New Orleans Saints (3-10)
- Washington Commanders (3-10)
- New York Jets (3-10)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-9) → Pick goes to the Rams
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
There’s a logjam of 3-10 teams just behind the trio of 2-11 squads, meaning a single win or loss could swing the draft order dramatically over the next few weeks. Strength of schedule will be the key tiebreaker, and right now, Cleveland’s path to the top pick is very much alive.
The Road Ahead: Browns Could Be in the Driver’s Seat
Looking at the Browns’ remaining schedule, it’s not hard to imagine them finishing 3-14. The matchups are tough, and unless Sanders pulls off a late-season surge, wins will be hard to come by. That puts Cleveland in a fascinating position: if the Giants, Raiders, or Titans manage to steal one more win, the Browns could sneak into the No. 1 spot - especially with favorable strength-of-schedule math.
That’s the kind of scenario that changes a franchise. The top pick means full control of the board. Whether it’s a quarterback, a game-wrecking edge rusher, or a trade-down haul, the options are endless - and potentially franchise-altering.
Bonus Pick: Jacksonville’s Success Dims Browns’ Second First-Rounder
The Jaguars, meanwhile, continue to roll. At 9-4, they’re tied with several teams in the playoff hunt, which has pushed their first-rounder - owned by Cleveland - down to No.
- That pick may not be as high as Browns fans once hoped, but having two first-rounders is still a valuable asset, especially in a draft class loaded with talent at premium positions.
Big Picture: A Loss That Could Lead to a Win
It’s never easy to watch your team lose, especially when your rookie quarterback is showing signs of real potential. But for the Browns, Sunday’s loss might actually be a long-term win. If Sanders continues to develop and the front office lands a top-tier talent at the top of the draft, this rough season could become the foundation of something much bigger.
So, where will the Browns end up picking come April? That’s still up in the air. But one thing’s clear - they’re right in the thick of a draft race that could shape the next decade of football in Cleveland.