The Cleveland Browns (2–6) visit the New York Jets (1–7) this weekend in a matchup light on playoff stakes but heavy with future implications — a preview of what could become the defining draft rivalry of 2026 and beyond.
Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets: Game Preview and Draft-Day Arms Race
Browns’ Quarterback Carousel and Draft Capital
The Browns spent the entire last offseason trying — and failing — to secure a long-term answer at quarterback. General manager Andrew Berry took three swings and, so far, none have cleared the fence.
First came the trade for former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, acquired from Philadelphia for a fifth-rounder. Pickett lasted only through the preseason before Berry flipped him to the Raiders — again for a fifth-round pick. The Browns then doubled down in the draft, selecting Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth.
Gabriel has started four games this season and will again take the field Sunday against the Jets, with Sanders serving as his backup after returning from a minor back injury. Browns fans, weary of déjà vu at quarterback, are eager to see Shedeur get a few starts over the final nine games — if only to evaluate what they truly have. But for now, it’s hard to see either young passer as a definitive long-term solution.
Berry did, however, land an important piece for the franchise’s future: an additional 2026 first-round pick from Jacksonville. That means Cleveland will enter the next draft cycle with two first-rounders — a potentially vital asset in a quarterback race that could once again define the AFC’s future.
Jets Detonate Roster, Stockpile Picks for the Future
If the Browns took a cautious approach, the Jets went nuclear.
In one of the most aggressive midseason resets in recent memory, New York dealt away two of its biggest defensive stars before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. The first shockwave came when cornerback Sauce Gardner, the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year, was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks and a conditional Day-2 selection. Hours later, All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-rounder, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
When the dust settled, the Jets emerged with three first-round picks in 2027 — their own plus two acquired in trades — and a second-rounder in 2026. General manager Joe Douglas now controls one of the deepest draft war chests in the league, giving him the flexibility to chase a franchise quarterback or overhaul multiple positions at once. The Jets’ rebuild has officially gone nuclear.
Browns Stay the Course, But Questions Remain
Meanwhile, Cleveland stood pat at the deadline. Despite speculation surrounding David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, and Wyatt Teller, Berry’s lone transaction was a minor one — sending defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and a seventh-round pick to Chicago for a sixth.
At 2–6, the Browns’ offense continues to sputter, and their quarterback situation remains unsettled. Berry’s restraint could signal confidence in the current roster — or simply an absence of enticing trade offers for Cleveland’s veterans. Either way, the team’s 2026 hopes hinge on finally stabilizing the most important position in football.
Quarterback Market Looks Thin
Both teams could be gunning for the same prize next spring: a franchise quarterback. Early evaluations suggest that this year’s draft class lacks a can’t-miss prospect, echoing the thin group of 2024. That makes draft position and capital even more crucial — and with both Cleveland and New York likely finishing near the bottom of the standings, every loss could prove valuable in the long run.
Ironically, the winner of Sunday’s game might be the loser in the 2026 Draft sweepstakes. Then again, considering both teams’ checkered history of drafting quarterbacks, maybe picking second isn’t such a bad thing.
The Game Before the Storm
For now, there’s still a football game to play.
The Jets’ depleted defense — missing its top lineman and best corner — gives Gabriel a chance to finally complete a few passes beyond ten yards. But the Browns’ own offensive struggles, combined with the Jets’ resilience, could make this another grind-it-out defensive slugfest.
Can Myles Garrett follow up his five-sack performance with another multi-sack game? Can Cleveland’s young quarterbacks show flashes of hope? And, in the strangest twist of all — could the loser on Sunday end up being the real winner when April’s draft rolls around?
For two teams searching for a future, this game might be less about who wins on Sunday — and more about who wins in 2026.
Main Image: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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