University of Kwazulu-Natal

Browns Win Over Steelers Just Changed Everything For 2026 Draft Order

Bonisiwe Shabane
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browns win over steelers just changed everything for 2026 draft order

With two weeks remaining in the 2025 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns were “fighting” for the top spot in the 2026 NFL draft order. Two wins later, versus AFC North rivals, and the fight was actually on the field, not just for draft positioning. Week 18’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, after knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, kept the Browns from moving up in the draft order but secured a two-win improvement from last season... DE Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record (with DT Shelby Harris showing how hilarious he is) and K Andre Szmyt found redemption from his Week 1 miss. Following the completion of the early slate of Sunday games in Week 18, Cleveland is currently slotted to select sixth overall, after a Washington Commanders win against the Philadelphia Eagles moved the pick one... Los Angeles Rams (from the Atlanta Falcons)

New York Jets (from the Indianapolis Colts) With a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 28, the Browns dropped from the third overall pick to No. 6 if the draft were to happen right now. Things shifted further after the Toilet Bowl on Sunday afternoon. The what now, you say?

Well, it was none other than the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, the holders of the Nos. 1 and 2 picks in the draft coming into the week. A win by the puts the Raiders in the No. 1 spot but they don't have the pick locked down quite yet. We'll update order after each slate of games today to give a clearer picture of the draft order so check back this evening. Here are the top 18 picks in the 2026 NFL draft.

Picks 19-32 are determined by order of elimination in the playoffs: The Cleveland Browns finally gave their fans something to enjoy on Sunday with a hard-fought 13-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a season filled with frustration, injuries, and constant debate, beating a division rival at home still matters. But as is often the case with lost seasons, every win comes with a ripple effect. This time, that ripple showed up in the 2026 NFL Draft order. Following Sunday’s victory, the Browns slid back to No.6 overall, after previously holding the No.3 overall pick.

A look at the current 2026 NFL Draft order after the Browns win. They also own the Jaguars 1st round pick. pic.twitter.com/tclfSdr9pf Browns Beat Steelers, Shift AFC North-and Their Draft Future The Cleveland Browns didn’t just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday-they shook up both the AFC North standings and their own future in the 2026 NFL Draft. With a gritty 13-6 win, the Browns handed the Steelers a costly loss, setting up a high-stakes Week 18 showdown between Pittsburgh and Baltimore for the division crown.

Meanwhile, Cleveland will close out its regular season on the road against the Bengals. They’re out of the playoff picture, but that doesn’t mean their final game is meaningless. Far from it. The Browns are now playing for draft position, and Sunday’s win might’ve just changed the trajectory of their offseason. Heading into Sunday, Cleveland was sitting in prime position to land a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There was even a path to the No.

1 overall selection. But with that fourth win now in the books, the Browns have slid down the draft board, currently holding the No. 6 pick. CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shedeur Sanders not only helped himself with a nice mix of passes and efficiency during Sunday’s 13-6 victory over the Steelers, he also made it more difficult for the Browns to... The victory dropped the Browns from No. 3 to No.

6 in NFL Draft order, which could take them out of the mix for the one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Alabama’s Ty... As it is, the Browns were eliminated from landing the No. 1 pick with the win, which left them at 4-12 heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Bengals. If the Browns lose to the 6-10 Bengals in Cincinnati, they could climb all the way to No. 2 in draft order, but the chances of that are miniscule. The Browns would need the Giants, Jets, Titans and Cardinals all to win for that to happen.

The good news for the Browns is that the worst they can do is No. 7, with No. 6 being the most likely landing spot. Browns may no longer be in contention for an elite QB in the first round Shedeur Sanders continues to make a case for his place as the Cleveland Browns' quarterback of the future. The rookie out of Colorado delivered his most commanding performance to date on Sunday, leading the Browns to a hard-fought 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, despite throwing two interceptions. The win was Cleveland's fourth of the season, and while it does nothing for the franchise but give them some pride, it significantly shifts the outlook for the upcoming NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season to continue their recent home dominance over their AFC North rival. An ugly game with some rain and wind impacting the play, QB Aaron Rodgers did everything he could to keep DE Myles Garrett from getting the single-season sack record, succeeding in that goal but... For the Browns, their fourth victory coming over their division rival is huge but impacts their 2026 NFL draft order positioning. With a big game coming between the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland is now out of the running for the first overall pick.

The Browns are certain to be selecting inside the Top 10 next year and currently sit with the sixth overall pick and will receive the Jacksonville Jaguars first-round selection, currently slotted 27th, but the... Los Angeles Rams (from the Atlanta Falcons) New York Jets (from the Indianapolis Colts) The Cleveland Browns had an AFC North altering win on Sunday, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6. Now, with one week left in the regular season, the Steeelrs will play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 for the division crown. The Browns, on the other hand, will finish their season with a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals. While Cleveland isn’t playing for a playoff spot, the team’s results do affect another important position.

That position is draft position in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns entered Sunday with a chance to move into the top two, and could’ve possibly ended the season with the No. 1 overall pick. However, the huge win over Pittsburgh on Sunday put that to bed, as Cleveland tumbled outside of the top five in the 2026 Draft. Cleveland entered Sunday slotted at the No. 3 pick in the draft, however, after picking up the team’s fourth win, the franchise is now sitting at pick No.

6. With a few more results left to unfold in Week 17, and all of Week 18, that could change, but the Browns won’t finish the year with a top-two pick. With the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders playing on Sunday, the Giants picked up their third win ahead of Week 18. That will lead to a chaotic final week where the top 10 could be completely rearranged based on season-finale results. The Browns, however, have removed themselves out the race for No. 1 with four wins.

When they take the field in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals, they will either move down to No. 7, or a couple spots up. Browns may no longer be in contention for an elite QB in the first round Shedeur Sanders continues to make a case for his place as the Cleveland Browns' quarterback of the future. The rookie out of Colorado delivered his most commanding performance to date on Sunday, leading the Browns to a hard-fought 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, despite throwing two interceptions. The win was Cleveland's fourth of the season, and while it does nothing for the franchise but give them some pride, it significantly shifts the outlook for the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns had an AFC North altering win on Sunday, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6.

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