Welcome to my weekly Cleveland Browns rooting guide looking at the best outcomes for the Cleveland Browns. With many of the top quarterbacks in the league not being selected in the first three picks, the Browns winning games isn't a bad thing, it shows the roster is loaded and able to continue improving with another offseason.
What we will cover weekly in this article:
- Current AFC Playoff Games
- AFC North Odds
- AFC Playoff Odds
- Rooting Guide For Key Games
- Current Draft Order
- Odds For The First Overall Pick
- Browns 2027 Draft Picks
- Consensus Draft Board
- Weekly Mock Draft
Current AFC Playoff Games
If the season ended now, the current AFC playoff games would be:
Bye: Chiefs
Raiders @ Ravens
Patriots @ Jaguars
Broncos @ Bills
AFC North Odds
Making the playoffs would be great, winning the division would be better, here are the odds:
AFC Playoff Odds
Who do the sportbooks think is the Browns main competitor for the playoffs?
Rooting Guide For Key Games
I have broken these into three groups moving forward, the ones that are more likely than not to go how the Browns want, those that are possible and then the holding out for a miracle group.
Likely
Texans vs Jaguars (-2.5) - A Jaguars win would be helpful as we want less teams in the AFC wildcard race, with the Jags leading their division they are not threat to the Browns making the playoffs currently.
Bills (-4.5) @ Raiders - I am surprised this line is so close based on recent years. But the Raiders remain a wildcard competitor, so them losing to a clear division leader is favorable.
Possible
Steelers (-2.5) @ Buccaneers - It will be tough for the Buccaneers to win with a backup quarterback, but hopefully they can get a win. If the Browns can defeat the Ravens then the Browns could be the only team winning in the division with the Bengals on a bye week.
Hoping For A Miracle
Jets @ Patriots (-7.5) - We might need divine intervention here for the Jets to win but you never know in the NFL.
Titans @ Colts (-6.5) - I won't be holding my breath but the Titans finnaly winning in week six would help as it is against a wildcard competitor.
Current Draft Order
Here is the draft order within the league as things stand if the season ended today per Tankathon:
Odds For The First Overall Pick
Here are the odds for the the ten most likely teams to finish with the worst record. Each week I will track this so we can see teams entering and dropping out of the top ten too. Green shows most likely to get the first pick. Grey is outside the top ten that week. Red is the Browns odds if they are outside the top ten.
Browns 2027 Draft Picks
Here are the Cleveland Browns 2027 draft picks:
Round 1 (Browns)
Round 1 (Rams) - Myles Garrett trade
Round 2 (Browns)
Round 3 (Browns)
Round 4 (Browns)
Round 4 (Giants) - Draft trade
Round 4 (Seahawks) - Draft trade
Round 5 (Browns)
Round 5 (Texans) - Draft trade
(No 6th rounder, traded to the Texans for Cam Robinson)
Round 7 (Browns)
Round 7 (Texans or Chargers) - Cam Robinson trade
Consensus Draft Board
Here we will look at the top ten players on the NFL Mock Draft Database's Consensus Big Board:
1 - Jeremiah Smith, WR (Ohio State)
2 - Arch Manning, QB (Texas)
3 - Colin Simmons, EDGE (Texas)
4 - Leonard Moore, CB (Notre Dame)
5 - Drew Mestemaker, QB (Oklahoma State)
6 - Dante Moore, QB (Oregon)
7 - Darian Mensah, QB (Miami)
8 - Dylan Stewart, EDGE (South Carolina)
9 - Trevor Goosby, OT (Texas)
10 - Charlie Becker, WR (Indiana)
Weekly Mock Draft
What I want to do each week is a day 1/2 mock draft based working off the current draft order so it changes more week to week. The players selected runs off the consensus big board on Mock Draft Database, no trades, no players sliding. As I always say with drafts, don't worry too much about them until free agency has happened but let's have some fun! Age is always a factor for me, so check out the latest 2027 Age Guardrails Draft Board, exclusively for OBR VIPs.
Round 1 (Rams) - #13 CJ Carr, QB (Notre Dame)
While Trinidad Chambliss is higher on MDD's board, I am going to select Carr. He is having a fantastic season currently and the Cleveland Browns biggest long term need is quarterback. You get that right and this young roster is set to thrive.
Round 1 (Browns) - #17 Ashton Hampton, CB (Clemson)
Taking a cornerback this high feels like a luxury pick, the Browns can get away with just adding a pure slot in free agency. But this is about giving yourself security at a premium position over several more years. You need three high quality starting cornerbacks else teams just target the weakest of the group.
Round 2 (Browns) - #49 Reed Harris, WR (Arizona State)
I can fill a lot of holes on the team by adding more talent in free agency, wide receiver is one of the hardest to find in that market. So add more draft talent.
Round 3 (Browns) - #81 John Henry Daley, ED (Michigan)
He is a pass rushing monster and the Browns desperately need more help along the line. Pair him with Verse, then have either Wright or McGuire and then finish the room by potentially brining back Barnett. You have a pass rushing powerhouse for Mike Rutenberg to work with.