# Greg Auman: Auman argues the Browns should release Deshaun Watson immediately, and expects Cleveland to be positioned to draft a quarterback at or near the top of the 2027 NFL Draft.

**Claimed:** Aug 23, 2026
**Pundit:** Greg Auman — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/greg-auman
**Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/the-browns-should-cut-deshaun-watson

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> The Browns are poised to take a quarterback at or near the top of the 2027 NFL Draft

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Cleveland Browns to pick “at or near the top of the 2027 NFL Draft”**
  - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns

## What others said about the same people

- Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on Cleveland Browns: Prisco picks every Week 3 game with exact scores, highlighting upsets by Tampa Bay over Minnesota and Cleveland over Carolina, and expects the Giants to rally behind Jameis Winston. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb02dfa-79dd-43a1-87d8-db7e5140af6c (scored 100)
- Nick Pedone on Isaiah Bond: Previewing the Browns' preseason finale, Pedone says five receivers — Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace — are very likely to make Cleveland's 53-man roster, leaving one final spot open for Luke Floriea and others. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b7401a6b-fdaf-4d71-84f3-d96262d88dcd (scored 100)
- Nick Pedone on K.C. Concepcion: Reading the Browns' first depth chart, Pedone projects Deshaun Watson as the Week 1 starting quarterback, lays out the full projected starting offensive line with Parker Brailsford as backup center, expects KT Leveston to make the roster as guard depth, and names Jeudy, Concepcion, Boston and Bond as roster locks with Tylan Wallace as the fifth receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1ad89afe-570a-4067-b536-6940a8533619 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Carsen Ryan: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Jacob Richard on Deshaun Watson: Richard predicts the Browns will keep Deshaun Watson as their starter through the season, that Shedeur Sanders will get a handful of starts, and that Dillon Gabriel is the most likely of the four quarterbacks to be moved off the roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/833363b9-6043-48f9-8636-76b2da931669 (scored 0)

## More team draft slot calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Jake Riepma on Detroit Lions: Filling in on Locked On Lions, Jake Reitma dismisses ESPN's suggestion that Sam LaPorta could be traded, saying LaPorta stays in Detroit as part of the core four. He also breaks down the edge class ahead of the Lions' pick at No. 17, calling David Bailey the class's top edge prospect with Reuben Bain Jr. next, and picks the Pistons as the NBA's best team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ece8f439-040b-4b4d-bfb3-d443e4129200 (scored 100)
- David Harrison on New York Jets: Harrison proposes and defends a hypothetical trade sending Daron Payne plus a third- and sixth-round pick to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, plus a follow-up trade of the No. 7 pick to the Jets for picks 16 and 33. He also states Fernando Mendoza is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders, and floats the Jets taking David Bailey at No. 7 if they trade up. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/926fe128-ea39-4ffd-8704-90791347ee9e (scored 100)
- Kent Swanson on Cincinnati Bengals: After the Chiefs' 14-12 loss to the Raiders, Kent laid out the resulting draft order: Kansas City picking ninth overall (and 40th in round two) in the 2026 draft, with New Orleans eighth, Cincinnati tenth, and the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f65d9763-b3d3-476d-9f92-941deb6957ca (scored 26.11)
- Chris Brockman on New York Giants: Chris Brockman said Baker Mayfield will finish no lower than third in MVP voting, named Kyle Shanahan the coach of the year front-runner, and predicted both the Giants and Jets will pick in the top five of next year's draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cdde2d01-017b-4967-b1e9-ecfac647e306 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on New York Jets: Rich Eisen reaffirmed his pick of the Lions to win the NFC while insisting the Eagles remain the team to beat, predicted the Colts beat the Cardinals on a last-second field goal, said the Chargers will not miss the playoffs, and expects Jake Browning to keep starting in Cincinnati and JJ McCarthy to return as Minnesota's starter. He also praised Jonathan Taylor as the best running back and OPOY-caliber, called Emeka Abuka the offensive rookie of the year, agreed Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the year front-runner, and said the Jets will pick in the top five. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bdb0846e-88b6-4111-b16c-586fd6fc0435 (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman on Cincinnati Bengals: Brockman argued only about five teams can realistically win the Super Bowl, naming the Bills, Eagles, Ravens and Chargers among them; he also picked Justin Herbert as MVP through three weeks, called the Colts a top-five team with Daniel Jones as an MVP finalist, said the Bears will finish top two in the NFC North, said the Bengals' season is cooked and they'll pick in the top 10, said the Rams are the only NFC threat to the Eagles, and said the Bucs have a team-of-destiny feel. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9a980b3d-dd79-4893-80c6-4ee9d9dcd028 (scored 26.11)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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