The Cleveland Browns are in contention for the top of something; it’s not the NFL power rankings, but the 2026 NFL Draft board as they take on the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
And the Kansas City Chiefs continue to help them out.
With quarterback Patrick Mahomes already out for the season with a torn ACL, the Browns are banking on the Tennessee Titans, who stand ahead of them in the draft order, to take down the Gardner Minshew-led Chiefs. As it turns out, Mahomes is far from the only Chiefs starter who will not face the Titans.
The Chiefs have also ruled out starting wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thorton, starting cornerback Trent McDuffie, starting linebacker Leo Chenal, offensive tackles Jaylon Moore and Jawaan Taylor, and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi are among the other players who will not play in this game.
If the Browns lose out, they are already guaranteed a top-three pick. If the Browns lose out and the Titans beat the Chiefs, they are guaranteed a top-two pick. This would put them in contention to land one of the two quarterbacks, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore.
This game carries heavy implications for the Browns.