The Cleveland Browns are sitting in a spot that would have sounded far-fetched a few weeks ago: a playoff berth if the season ended today, and a draft position that’s suddenly looking more useful than anyone expected.
After six weeks, Todd Monken’s team keeps finding ways to win, even in games where it looks like they’re trying to hand things away. And with the Los Angeles Rams stumbling, the 2027 NFL Draft picture has already turned messy. Early mock drafts have taken a beating, and top names like Arch Manning sliding down consensus boards have only added to the uncertainty.
What does seem likely, though, is that Cleveland will be shopping for a quarterback with one of its two first-round picks.
In NFL Spin Zone’s latest mock draft, Sayre Bedinger projected the Browns to use both of their top-20 selections to address major needs on each side of the ball. Bedinger sent Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to Cleveland at No. 13, then had the Browns grab Alabama defensive tackle Devan Thompkins at No. 17, a pick acquired through the Rams.
That setup is enough to suggest one thing clearly: despite the Rams’ struggles, the Browns are benefiting from the early shape of the season.
Thompkins is viewed as a flexible defensive lineman who can move around and handle different roles. That kind of versatility could matter if Cleveland decides not to bring back Isaiah McGuire or Maliek Collins. In Bedinger’s scenario, Thompkins could either play opposite Jared Verse on the edge or work alongside Mason Graham on the interior.
For defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, that mix of size, power, and adaptability could make Thompkins a tempting fit. Of course, not everyone would prefer a player who can wear multiple hats instead of a more defined specialist.
The quarterback conversation is even trickier. Whether the Browns keep Deshaun Watson around for another bridge year is only part of the equation.
Chambliss, at least on paper, fits Monken’s offense well. He brings mobility, a live arm, and enough athletic juice to make defenders miss once he’s in space. But there are real questions attached to the profile.
He would be a 25-year-old rookie after suing his way back into college to earn a sixth year of eligibility. And while the tools are obvious, the history of 6-foot quarterbacks in the NFL is not exactly reassuring. Teams, as the old draft line goes, draft traits, not stats.
Still, this is all very early. The board is going to keep changing, and the Browns’ own pick will hopefully be in better shape than No. 13 by the time the real draft picture settles.
For now, though, Cleveland can at least enjoy the reality that six weeks into the season, the Rams’ first-rounder is looking like a valuable piece - and the Browns’ hot start is making the whole thing look a lot more promising.
In Other News...
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A handful of former Browns are already making their mark, or in some cases finding themselves on the outside looking in, with new teams around the league. David Njoku has spent most of his time on injured reserve with the Chargers, while Dalvin Tomlinson has surfaced as a possible trade candidate, giving Cleveland fans a chance to wonder what might have been or what could still change next.
Martin Emerson Jr. has settled in well with the Saints, Wyatt Teller has been benched by the Texans, and Devin Bush has been playing at a strong level for the Bears. It is the kind of mixed bag that turns a routine look-around into something a little more pointed for Browns followers, because the further these players get from Cleveland, the more their new situations say about how the teams recent talent has been valued elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Believe In This Team Again But Still Expect Drama
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A survey showed 87 percent of Browns fans expect Cleveland to beat Tennessee this week, though plenty still see it as the kind of game that comes down late. Around the league, fans are also sounding off about the seasons officiating, with 79 percent saying there have been too many penalties called. For Browns supporters, the larger question is not whether this team can attract belief anymore, but whether it can keep that trust intact when the next round of drama shows up. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Get A Crucial Titans Boost As New Depth Questions Emerge
The Browns got a little healthier heading into Week 7, activating running back Dylan Sampson from injured reserve and elevating defensive tackle Sam Kamara from the practice squad before facing the Tennessee Titans. Those moves matter for a Cleveland roster that has been juggling availability all week, and they come with some much-needed help on the defensive side while the offense tries to settle its pieces going into Sunday.
Teven Jenkins landing on injured reserve because of a back injury adds another layer to the depth picture up front, where every available body can matter in a hurry. On the other side of the ledger, safety Grant Delpit clearing concussion protocol and being expected to play gives the Browns a boost in the secondary, leaving Cleveland with a more stable outlook in some spots even as it continues to manage the roster around the edges. [Read more 🡒]