The Cleveland Browns are not going to make the post-season in 2024. It has been a roller coaster of a season. They defeated very good teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens and yet lost to horrible opponents such as the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Football Giants, and Dallas Cowboys.
Now that the season is lost, they could end up in the Top-5 of next April’s college draft. Can they get the first overall pick? What is in their way?
The Browns have a first-round pick for the first time in three years now that the Deshaun Watson trade guidelines have expired. So, if Cleveland is going to have a bad season, this year would be the one to do it.
Let’s examine what the other teams are doing, and who has the best chance of getting the Number 1 overall pick. Last weekend, the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans and shook up the Top 10. Six clubs currently have a 3-10-0 record, including the Browns.
At the bottom after Week 14
#32. Las Vegas Raiders 2-11-0
Last five games: 0-5. Potential beatable opponents: Jaguars, Saints
Should lose to: Falcons, Chargers
Last place finish probability: 10.2% (down 1.5%)
Last week: #30
Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
#31. New York Football Giants 2-11-0
Last five games: 0-5. Potential beatable opponents: Colts
Should lose to: Ravens, Falcons, Eagles
Last place finish probability: 41.0% (up 21.8%)
Last week: no change
#30. New England Patriots 3-10-0
Last five games: 1-4. Potential beatable opponents: none
Should lose to: Cardinals, Bills (twice), Chargers
Last place finish probability: 23.5% (up 8.6%)
Last week: #29
#29. Carolina Panthers 3-10-0
Last five games: 2-3. Potential beatable opponents: Cowboys
Should lose to: Buccaneers, Eagles, Cardinals, Falcons
Last place finish probability: 10.5% (up 2.2%)
Last week: #28
#28. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-10-0
Last five games: 1-4. Potential beatable opponents: Titans, Jets, Raiders, Colts
Should lose to: Texans
Last place finish probability: 5.6% (down 10.7%)
Last week: #32
NFL: DEC 08 Browns at Steelers Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
#27. Tennessee Titans 3-10-0
Last five games: 1-4. Potential beatable opponents: Jaguars, Bengals, Colts
Should lose to: Texans
Last place finish probability: 3.9% (down 10.8%)
Last week: no change
#26. New York Jets 3-10-0
Last five games: 1-4. Potential beatable opponents: Dolphins, Jaguars
Should lose to: Rams, Bills
Last place finish probability: 2.3% (up 0.4%)
Last week: no change
#25. Cleveland Browns 3-10-0
Last five games: 1-4. Potential beatable opponents: Bengals, Dolphins
Should lose to: Chiefs, Ravens
Last place finish probability: 2.9% (down 6.0%)
Last week: no change
Week 15 looking ahead: Results that could help the Browns
Sunday
Chiefs over Browns
Titans over Bengals
Cleveland Browns v Denver Broncos Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Saints over Commanders
Giants over Ravens
Panthers over Cowboys
Jaguars over Jets
Dolphins over Texans
Colts over Broncos
Patriots over Cardinals
Monday
Bears over Vikings
Raiders over Falcons
A lot of big games this week that could impact the NFL draft order at the end of the season, where do you think the Browns sit after Week 15?