Browns NFL draft Week 12 rooting guide: Steelers win adds more names to list

NFL draft positioning is up in the air after Browns beat the Steelers in Week 12’s Thursday Night Football

The Cleveland Browns knocked off the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 12 of the NFL’s 2024 regular season. While we had fun looking at how the Browns could make a miraculous run to the playoffs, a high pick in the 2025 NFL draft is the more likely outcome.

Even the NFL sees little hope for Cleveland, as well as the Cincinnati Bengals, as they’ve flexed their game out of primetime later this year. They are more likely to be spoilers for playoff contenders the rest of this year.

While Saturday is all about college football, including the 2 vs 5 matchup between Ohio State and Indiana, some of those players will become Sunday stars via the NFL draft. Our Week 12 Browns NFL draft rooting guide has more names involved now that Cleveland has won already this week.

While it only matters for a few days, the Browns are currently slotted with the seventh overall selection.

Here are the games and teams Cleveland fans should be rooting for in Week 12’s matchups:

1 PM Week 12 matchups that matter for NFL draft spots

• Bears over the Vikings
• Patriots over the Dolphins - Interesting game with New England at three wins and Miami at four
• Giants over the Bucs - New York one of four teams with just two wins, maybe a “play for Daniel Jones” game
• Cowboys over the Commanders
• Panthers over the Chiefs - Anything is possible
• Titans over the Texans

4 PM Week 12 matchups that matter for NFL draft spots

• Raiders over the Broncos

Important teams on a bye in Week 12: Jaguars (2-9), Jets (3-8), Saints (4-7), Bengals (4-7)

While it is highly unlikely many of these games go the Browns way, getting more teams to three wins and others to four is the best situation for Cleveland. Some of the games are also beneficial if the Browns are rooting for a playoff miracle.