If the NFL season ended today, the Cleveland Browns would be holding not one, but two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft-fifth and 25th overall. That second pick is courtesy of last year’s draft-day trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But let’s be honest: if the season were wrapping up right now, it would mean something went seriously off the rails in Cleveland. Thankfully, there’s still time on the clock.
Still, with each loss, the conversation around draft position becomes a little louder-and a little more relevant.
This was always going to be a grind-it-out kind of season for the Browns. Expectations were tempered from the jump, but that doesn’t make the weekly setbacks any easier to watch. What fans are left clinging to now is the same thing that’s kept every struggling franchise going for decades: the promise of the NFL Draft.
For teams stuck in the mud, the draft is more than just a date on the calendar-it’s the lifeline. It’s the place where rosters get rebuilt, futures get reshaped, and hope gets a fresh coat of paint. Right now, hope is all over the Browns’ draft outlook.
According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, Cleveland is sitting in prime position to land another top-tier prospect next April. His latest projections have the Browns with a 98.7% chance of landing a top-10 pick, and a strong 71% chance of cracking the top five. Only the Titans, Raiders, and Saints are currently projected to pick ahead of them.
That’s not exactly the leaderboard you want to be climbing, but for a front office looking to retool, it’s a golden opportunity. And here's where things get really interesting: the Browns face the Titans this week. That’s right-the team currently projected to pick first overall is lining up across from Cleveland in what could quietly become one of the most consequential games of the season… just not in the way either team hoped back in September.
Fans may find themselves in a strange spot emotionally. On one hand, you never root against your team.
On the other, a loss could help secure a foundational piece in next year’s draft. It’s the kind of internal tug-of-war that only football fans truly understand.
Looking ahead, the Browns’ remaining schedule doesn’t do them many favors. They’ll head to Chicago to face the Bears, then return home for back-to-back matchups with the Bills and Steelers before closing out the season in Cincinnati. Not exactly a soft landing.
Meanwhile, the Giants-one of the Browns’ main competitors in the draft order-have a lighter slate post-bye, with games against the Commanders, Vikings, and Raiders before finishing up against the Cowboys. That schedule could give Cleveland a leg up in the race to move up the board.
So yes, it’s been a tough year in the Land. But each week brings the Browns one step closer to a reset.
The current stretch may feel like a long, painful injection, but the healing process is already underway. And with two first-round picks in hand, there’s reason to believe the next chapter could look a whole lot different.
Hang in there, Dawg Pound. The pain might not be over just yet-but the payoff could be right around the corner.