With the Jacksonville Jaguars officially eliminated from the playoffs following their 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns now know that their second first-round pick will fall within the 19-to-24 range.
In the NFL Draft, all teams eliminated in the Wild Card round are grouped together and ordered based on their regular-season records. Since Jacksonville finished with a division winning 13-4 record, they are currently at the back end of this group.
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Here is how the scenarios shake out for that pick based on the remaining games this weekend:
1. The Most Likely Scenario: Pick No. 24
Jacksonville’s 13-wins make them the most likely candidate for the final spot in that group. That would give Cleveland the 24th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to go along with their own at pick at No. 6.
Current "Loser Pool" Records:
Jacksonville Jaguars: 13–4 (Lost Sunday)
Green Bay Packers: 9–7–1 (Lost Saturday)
Carolina Panthers: 8–9 (Lost Saturday)
Likely Outcome: Even if every remaining favorite loses (Eagles, Patriots, Steelers), none of them have a better record than 13-4, except for the Patriots.
2. Browns Best Case Scenario: Pick No. 23
There is only one way for the Jaguars' pick to move up to 23. This would require a team with a better regular-season record than Jacksonville to also lose in the Wild Card round.
The Key Game: New England Patriots (14–3) vs. LA Chargers (11–6) Saturday night.
The Scenario: If the Patriots are defeated, they would enter the Wild Card loser pool with a 14–3 record. Because New England's win total would trump the Jaguars, the Pats would take the No. 24 pick, and the Jags pick (owned by Cleveland) would move up to No. 23.
The Browns acquired Jacksonville's 2026 first round selection in a draft day trade last April.
"Cleveland traded the second overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, as well as the 104th overall pick in the fourth round and 200th overall pick in the sixth round to the Jaguars in exchange for the fifth overall pick in the first round, the 36th overall pick in the second round and 126th overall pick in the fourth round." (Via clevelandbrowns.com).
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