Some fireworks came in regarding the draft order on the NFL’s final regular-season day. The Bears upended the Texans for the No. 1 pick, reeling in a team that held that top slot for much of the season. The Bears last made a pick at No. 1 overall in 1947. Their former head coach — Lovie Smith, whom the Texans just fired — oversaw this final-day flip-flop. Clarity on the rest of the non-playoff-bound teams’ draft slots emerged as well.
The Jaguars’ rally to win the AFC South moves them into a postseason spot, and the Titans’ seven-game losing streak to end the season drops them to their highest selection since 2017. Tennessee’s next general manager will have the opportunity to make a pick at No. 11 or deal from that draft position, while Jacksonville will hold its lowest selection since 2018. The Texans will hold two top-12 picks in April, thanks to the Browns’ Week 18 loss to the Steelers, while the Lions will have two in the top 20 as well.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2022 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is how the draft order looks at the regular season’s close:
- Chicago Bears: 3-14
- Houston Texans: 3-13-1
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-13
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-12-1
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-11
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
- Carolina Panthers: 7-10
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Tennessee Titans: 7-10
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- New York Jets: 7-10
- New England Patriots: 8-9
- Green Bay Packers: 8-9
- Washington Commanders: 8-8-1
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-8
- Detroit Lions: 9-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9
- Seattle Seahawks: 9-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
- New York Giants: 9-7-1
- Baltimore Ravens: 10-7
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 12-4
- Minnesota Vikings: 13-4
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers)
- Buffalo Bills: 13-3
- Kansas City Chiefs: 14-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3
This year’s draft will feature a 31-pick first round. The Dolphins’ penalty for the Tom Brady–Sean Payton tampering scandal cost them their 2023 first-round choice
Houston…how? All they had to do is what they do best.
Cause Jeff Saturday
I think Lovie felt like he owed Chiraq a final gift
It doesn’t matter. Houston needs a QB and the Bears are set with one, so they’ll both get the picks they want regardless of who goes first.
But if the Texans had their hearts set on one QB (Young or Stroud), the Bears could trade the #1 pick to a team that takes that QB.
Also, maybe Bears trade Fields and take a QB ?
@Shawn – exactly. Could draft one of the kids and move Fields or trade the pick to a team that has multiple firsts and needs a QB (Seattle).
Twice since 2000 has a team traded away the 1st overall pick. Probably ain’t happening here either
Unless another team trades up ahead of Houston to land that number one pick from Chicago…
I don’t see the Bears wanting to move too far down in the draft. They’ll probably take best player available but I couldn’t see them trading and dropping below the 5th pick in the draft. That just leaves the Colts in the top 5 who they would consider trading with
Colts don’t need to trade up unless AZ trades out to a QB needy team. They’re still in position to get the 2nd best QB at 4
The Bears have options. They could trade that pick and get multiple picks back.
@smd
You do not understand the value of the pick and a possibility of trading it.
It absolutely makes a difference
I understand it, I just don’t think they’ll do it.
Texans and Lions mentioned as having 2 picks in the Top 20; so does Seattle, for now.
it sucks my eagles have the 10th pick all b/c NO had to win 3 straight BS GAMES in WK #15,16,17.
It sucks “your eagles” could’ve won one of those 3 games to help themselves with that pick and put the #1 seed to bed early.
How dare they not tank for your Eagles. The nerve of them to play to win a division that was up for grabs. Eagles had a great year and now have 2 first round picks…great place to be.
Love that Lovie smith stuck it to them on way out the door. LMAO
Wonder if that was the final straw or if it was decided before the game? I hate that he went for two. Dude only got hired because Flores added houston to his lawsuit.
Sam, thanks for the write-up. Listing the pick number (1 through 31) would be helpful so that people don’t need to count each time. Just a recommendation.
I guess when talking about the Bears it really should come as no surprise they’d be dumb enough to unknowingly trade the #32 pick to the Steelers when you could have potentially drafted the best receiver there cheaper and with more years of team control. Poles you are an idiot.
the bears need a lot of help after tanking. they have a QB that runs a lot and to me I see him getting injured a lot . so do they stick with him and trade the pick for a host of picks ? there are a lot of QB need teams some have two firsts in this draft. or do they stay n pick best available? if I was in there shoes I’d trade the pick . get a hugh haul of picks for the one pick. . the bears need more picks so y not make one pick a bunch of picks
Jets get to watch Trevor Lawrence play a playoff game. All they had to do was lose.