Cleveland’s attention is drifting toward the draft more than the playoff race right now, even though the Browns are tied for the final AFC seed after nine weeks. Two straight losses will do that - especially when one is a blowout and the other comes against a bad team.
Before the Browns can really sort out the bigger picture, there’s the immediate business of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Then comes the quarterback question. HC Todd Monken has to decide whether Deshaun Watson gets his starting job back after missing a week with a concussion, or whether Shedeur Sanders did enough in Week 9 to keep the role.
The longer-term angle for Browns fans has been tied to the Los Angeles Rams all season because of the Myles Garrett trade, and Week 9 brought another hit to that storyline. The Rams, already dealing with a pile of injuries, saw another key piece go down while trying to close out a win.
This time it was Puka Nacua, who suffered multiple ligament injuries and turf toe.
There’s still no update on how long Nacua will be sidelined. That leaves the Rams, who sit ninth in the NFC, staring at a tough stretch ahead after their Week 10 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, with the Wednesday game for Thanksgiving week coming next.
With the deadline approaching, Los Angeles has options because of the injuries. One of them could be adding help at receiver to make up for the losses of Adams and Nacua.
For Cleveland, the most important part is still the draft capital coming back. Right now, the Rams are projected to hold the 18th overall pick in the 2027 NFL draft, and that selection would belong to the Browns.
In Other News...
Browns Quarterback Uncertainty Just Got More Frustrating
After the loss to New Orleans, the Browns are back in the familiar spot of waiting on a quarterback call, and this one carries even more weight with Houston up next. Todd Monken said the decision is still open, leaving the current starter and the backup both in the mix as Cleveland tries to steady itself after another uneven showing.
The uncertainty lands at a rough time for a team already dealing with broader performance issues, especially on defense, and it only adds to the frustration around a quarterback situation that has lingered too long. For a Browns roster trying to find some traction, the next move under center now feels like part of a much bigger search for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Defense Flashed Again But One Late Problem Wont Go Away
The Browns defense kept doing what it has done all season, showing up with a disruptive front and enough depth to survive another game without Maliek Collins. Cleveland leaned on a rotation that included Myles Garrett, Cameron Thomas, and a busy group of linebackers and defensive backs, and the snap counts reflected a unit that had to keep grinding through the afternoon against the Saints.
What stood out again, though, was the same late-game issue that has followed this defense at times: the closing stretch still gets messy. Even with individual production up front and solid work from the cornerbacks, the Browns could not fully put the final stamp on the game the way they would have liked, leaving one familiar problem hanging over an otherwise encouraging defensive performance. [Read more 🡒]
Browns QB Uncertainty Is Suddenly Fueling A New Shedeur Sanders Debate
Todd Monken has left the Browns in a familiar but uncomfortable spot heading into Week 10, with no confirmation yet on whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders will get the start at quarterback. Cleveland is carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster, which has only added to the sense that the position room is crowded and the next move could matter well beyond one game.
The uncertainty has also stirred up new debate around Sanders, whose role now sits at the center of a larger roster conversation. With the NFL trade deadline in play and speculation building about possible quarterback movement, the Browns have not announced any decisions or trades, leaving the situation open and the questions very much alive. [Read more 🡒]