Cleveland Browns fans know the drill this time of year. Since “The Return” in 1999, the Browns franchise has been significantly better at being bad than any other team in the NFL. The current iteration has such a slim margin for error that the two-year rebuild process is more likely to take three to get them back into the conversation for the playoffs.
What does that leave Cleveland fans to do? Focus on the 2026 NFL draft order, the changes each week, and what games they are rooting for or against
certain teams for positioning.
Week 14’s matchup between the Browns and the Tennessee Titans is one that could have a dramatic impact on the upcoming draft’s selection order. With the Titans currently slotted into the top spot, as the lone one-win team, and Cleveland sitting fifth, the loser of this game can see their first pick odds go up close to double.
According to the New York Times, if the Browns lose this week, their chances of picking at the top of the 2026 NFL draft are 8%. A win, less than 1%. If Cleveland were to lose the rest of their games, the paper gives it a 44% chance of having the first overall pick.
According to the Times, Tennessee currently has a 49% chance at the top pick with a loss to the Browns pushing that up to 60% but a win cutting their odds in half, down to 25%.
ESPN’s analytics have slightly different numbers but similar big changes for both teams:
With three victories already, Cleveland will find it difficult to get all the way to the top of this year’s draft order. Seven other teams have the same or fewer wins than the Browns. With three other teams sitting at 4-8 to start the year, a victory in Week 14 all but eliminates the chance that Cleveland will have the first choice next year.
A loss for the Titans pushes their chance much higher, with a victory pulling them back to the pack of bad teams this season.
