The New England Patriots were in the driver’s seat to locking up the #1 overall pick before their Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
CLEVELAND — For 18 long weeks, the Cleveland Browns matched poor play with bad luck leading to one of the worst seasons in franchise history. One day after the merciful end of their 2024-25 season, the ball finally bounced their way.
The New England Patriots controlled their own destiny going into Sunday’s slate of Week 18 games. Lose and secure the #1 overall pick, locking the Browns into the #3 slot.
Stunningly, the Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 23-16, allowing the Browns to jump up one spot to the #2 overall pick.
That jump could mean all the difference in the world for the asset-strapped Browns as they enter the 2025 Draft with their own first round pick for the first time since acquiring QB Deshaun Watson nearly three years ago.
QB draft classes year by year are often volatile as the draft inches closer and closer to reality, but if this truly is a two-QB draft at the top end of the first round, the Browns have guaranteed their right to pick one of those two quarterbacks (Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward).