Can the Browns get the No. 1 pick? Cleveland's scenarios, odds in 2025 NFL draft order
25, 16, 4.
That's not a combination for a safe, locker, or even the winning lottery numbers tonight. Instead, those numbers tell the story of the Cleveland Browns. Representing a place known as the "Mistake by the Lake," the "dawg pound" is often whimpering by season's end.
The NFL has played 25 seasons since the world entered a new millennium, introduced by the Y2K scare that was supposed to end society as we know it. While that never came to fruition, perhaps the Browns fans would've preferred the alternative since the numbers are ugly.
They've spent 16 of those 25 seasons in last place, including 2024, and have managed just four winning seasons. There was the Hue Jackson era that brought an 0-16 season. There were No. 1 picks like Baker Mayfield, who has become one of the league's better starters since joining the Buccaneers.
There's been the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade and Dorian Thompson-Robinson averaging 4.5 points per game as a starter this season in between Jameis Winston's funky monologues. At the very least, Winston's giddiness can be a welcome sight for a team that can make even the most optimistic people a pessimist.
Maybe there's something to knowing your place. The Browns sure do. There's something admirable about knowing where you belong. For this Cleveland NFL team, that's been in the basement. Despite what they say in "Ted Lasso," hope is a good thing. Perhaps the Browns can someday be the Lions, rising to heights previously thought impossible.
Getting it right in the draft is a good way to get started. Here's how the Browns can secure the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Can the Browns get the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft?
The Browns can still secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft if things break their way in Week 18. Believe it or not, they're not asking for much. Here's what has to happen:
- Browns loss (at BAL)
- Patriots win (vs. BUF)
- Titans win (vs. HOU)
Thanks to strength of schedule tiebreakers in the draft order, the Browns will need to finish with fewer wins than both the Patriots and Titans.
New England is playing a Buffalo team that already clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC, giving them nothing to play for. Considering the Bills are a division rival, it makes sense for them to take it easy in Week 18 and attempt to ruin the Patriots' pick.
The Titans welcome the Texans, who also have nothing to play for this week. The Texans, ravaged by injuries, will be looking to avoid further damage heading into the playoffs, giving the Titans a great opportunity to notch a win before the season concludes.
Out of that group, the Browns are the only team with a matchup that means something for playoff seeding. The Ravens need a win to clinch the AFC North, so all the motivation is on Baltimore's side while Cleveland prepares for a long offseason.
Browns No. 1 pick odds
While there aren't odds available for a team to secure the No. 1 pick, we can parlay the necessary outcomes if you believe the Browns will get the No. 1 pick. A Ravens, Patriots and Titans parlay pays at +309 on BetMGM.
2025 NFL draft order
Here's how the draft order shakes out entering Week 18 according to Tankathon.com:
- New England Patriots: 3-13 record; .467 strength of schedule
- Tennessee Titans: 3-13; .515 SOS
- Cleveland Browns: 3-13; .540 SOS
- New York Giants: 3-13; .551 SOS
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12; .474 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 4-12; .496 SOS
- New York Jets: 4-12; .500 SOS
- Las Vegas Raiders: 4-12; .544 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 4-12; .555 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 5-11; .507 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 6-10; .566 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts: 7-9; .460 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-9; .518 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 7-9; .537 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 8-8; .415 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8; .478 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons: 8-8; .518 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 9-7; .504 SOS
- Houston Texans: 9-7; .485 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 9-7; .500 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7; .504 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6; .467 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 10-6; .504 SOS
- Green Bay Packers: 11-5; .533 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6; .496 SOS
- Washington Commanders: 11-5; .434 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 11-5; .533 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3; .460 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 13-3; .460 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 14-2; .471 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 14-2; .522 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1; .487 SOS
2025 NFL draft: Who are the top prospects?
Below is a look at the consensus top 40 prospects in the 2025 NFL draft as of mid-December, per Paste BN Sports' Ayrton Ostly:
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Will Campbell, OL, LSU
- Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
- Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
- Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
- Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
- Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
- Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
- Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
- Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
- JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
- Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
- Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
- Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
- Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon