Let's take a look at which teams are in contention to make the first pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Leader in the clubhouse
With Week 13 games officially in the book and the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys each picking up Ws, the Cleveland Browns have become the clear front-runner to end up with the first pick of the draft.
Sure, all precincts are not in and it is too early to officially call it, but the Browns have been beaten by 21 points or more in three of their last four contests and have given up 30-plus points in five consecutive games.
The Browns have games remaining at Seattle and Kansas City. As well as home tilts against San Francisco (this weekend) and Pittsburgh in the last week of the season. The 49ers game is winnable, but San Francisco has played quality football in back-to-back weeks including their overtime road win in Chicago last week.
Still a possibility at No. 1
The Tennessee Titans' strength of schedule is extremely low, which is important to consider since the first tiebreaker for draft positioning is lowest strength of schedule. If the Browns were to win this weekend and Tennessee lose out, the Titans would end up with the first pick of the 2016 draft by way of the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker (as it stands now).
While three of the four remaining games on the Titans' schedule are road games, winning in Indianapolis isn't out of the question and beating Houston in Nashville is a possibility as well -- especially if Mariota plays well.
Likely to pick inside top three
Since their bye in week 10, the San Diego Chargers have losses of 30 and 14 points, and three of their four remaining matchups take place on the road against the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos. I do expect the Chargers to win at home against Miami in two weeks, however.
Had the Baltimore Ravens failed to run a blocked field goal in for the win against the Browns last Monday night, they might have been in the lead for the first pick considering how tough their remaining schedule is.
The Ravens have three games at home, but those games are against Seattle, Kansas City and Pittsburgh, while their road tilt is in Cincinnati. Good luck with that. Matt Schaub's breathtaking string of pick sixes isn't making life any easier on the Ravens.
After their win against the Redskins on Monday Night Football, it is unlikely that the Dallas Cowboys end up inside the top two picks. However, with a schedule packed with teams fighting for a playoff berth and a continuing difficulty to score actual touchdowns, Dallas is still a possibility to end up inside the top three.
Follow Lance Zierlein on Twitter @LanceZierlein.
