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You can hardly say that the result of last week's Monday night game was unexpected, but at least with Jameis Winston under center, the Brownies look like they have a spark about them. In fact, outside of the Chargers and Saints games, the Browns have been in most of these games since Deshaun Watson's season-ending injury. If the team continues to play better, Winston might be forcing Cleveland's front office into a change.
As promised, we'll be taking a look at possible picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to shore up the Browns' talent pool, first-round EDGE players this week.
Cleveland Browns (3-9) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Kickoff - 1p CBS
Line - PIT -6.5 O/u 43.5
Series - Steelers 81-64-1
Last meeting - Browns 24-19 November 21, 2024
Draft Look-ahead
It's the worst kept secret that the Browns are desperately trying to get out from under Deshaun Watson's awful contract and put the last three years in the rearview mirror. To fully do that, they'll need a new QB and of the expected crop of QBs for the 2025 NFL Draft, none are really blowing me away with either their potential or their measurables. Because of that, I think the Browns should hold off on drafting a QB until 2026 when the top QB will (likely) include Nico Iamaleava and the scion of the Manning family, the next in line, Arch Manning.
So, with that in mind we'll be assuming a draft position of 7 given that they have a near 90% chance of a Top 10 pick but only a 33.1% chance of a Top 5 slot.
At that slot, the Browns would have a shot at the top prospect at every position but CB, WR, IDL, OT, and TE. That means that the QB1 of this draft (Shedeur Sanders is the consensus) is conceivably still in play, but I've already said my bit about QBs. My needs for the Browns are, in order, OT, EDGE, CB, and RB.
I'm starting with EDGE as the Browns have been searching for a bookend to play opposite Myles Garrett since they drafted him, well, now they have the opportunity. There are three in this draft that are sorta bunched up between 11 and 17 with Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton leading the pack ahead of Abdul Carter (Penn State) and Mykel Williams (Georgia).
Scourton would be my first choice followed up by Williams and Carter but any of those players might be enough to boost the line's production with regards to getting to the opposing QB. Here are some highlight reels to let you make up your own mind though.
I'm using 2023 highlights so that you'll be able to see them going against players who are 2024 NFL rookies.
Injury Report
Browns
Jedrick Wills - OT - OUT/IR (Knee)
Sam Kamara - DE - OUT (Concussion)
Maurice Hurst II - DT - OUT (Concussion)
Cedrick Tillman - WR - OUT (Concussion)
Juan Thornhill - S - Questionable (Calf)
Jamari Thrash - WR - Questionable (Shoulder)
Elijah Moore - WR - Questionable (Shoulder)
Steelers
Montavious Adams - DT - OUT/IR (Knee)
George Pickens - WR - Questionable (Hamstring)
Alex Highsmith - LB - Questionable (Ankle)
Calvin Austin III - WR - Questionable (Concussion)
Fantasy Advice
Coming off of a pair of games (sandwiched around the Pittsburgh game), Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku have taken off and really shined with Jeudy averaging well over a hundred yards per game in the last three with two tuddies to boot. Njoku has done well too snagging 19 of 31 targets and a pair of TDs in the game last Monday. Look for the Browns to find a way to make Njoku a bigger part of the game plan after being held to just a single catch in the Week 12 game. Kadarius Toney is being added to the active roster after being claimed off of waivers last September, he may be a viable option, but he couldn't make it work with Patrick Mahomes, so. . .yeah.
Expect a better performance out of Russell Wilson this go-round than two weeks ago. Not that Wilson played poorly, but he only managed a single touchdown through the air as the Steelers chose to keep the ball on the ground, rushing a combined 34 times as a team.
Prediction
Steelers 27-21
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