Yesterday’s Panthers-Bears game carried signficant draft implications, as many noted in the build-up to the primetime matchup. With Carolina having dealt its 2024 first-round pick to Chicago as part of the deal involving last year’s No. 1 selection, the Bears were able to boost their chances of picking first in April with a win.
Owning the top selection in a draft touted for having multiple high-end options at the quarterback spot would of course add further to the speculation surrounding Justin Fields. The Bears gave the 24-year-old a vote of confidence last spring by trading out of the No. 1 slot, but he has yet to develop as hoped this season. Chicago could opt for a fresh start under center (particularly if they declined Fields’ fifth-year option) this spring while also having the opportunity to add help elsewhere on the roster with their own first-rounder, which seems destined to fall within the top 10 or perhaps even top five selections.
Of course, teams like the Giants, Cardinals and Patriots have experienced signficant troubles of their own this year. A continuation of their first half performances could leave them in pole position for the Caleb Williams–Drake Maye sweepstakes. All three teams face potential uncertainty with respect to their current passers’ futures, despite each having term remaining on their respective contracts.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. With plenty still to be sorted out over the coming months, here is an early look at the current draft order:
- Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
- Arizona Cardinals: 1-8
- New York Giants: 2-7
- New England Patriots: 2-7
- Chicago Bears: 3-7
- Los Angeles Rams: 3-6
- Green Bay Packers: 3-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-5
- Denver Broncos: 3-5
- Tennessee Titans: 3-5
- Atlanta Falcons: 4-5
- Washington Commanders: 4-5
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-5
- Las Vegas Raiders: 4-5
- Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
- New York Jets: 4-4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 4-4
- Buffalo Bills: 5-4
- New Orleans Saints: 5-4
- Minnesota Vikings: 5-4
- Dallas Cowboys: 5-3
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-3
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Cincinnati Bengals: 5-3
- Seattle Seahawks: 5-3
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-3
- Miami Dolphins: 6-3
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-2
- Detroit Lions: 6-2
- Baltimore Ravens: 7-2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 7-2
- Philadelphia Eagles: 8-1
Hahaha. Bears are terrible.
Not as bad as Carolina! They just lost to a UDFA and have no picks again this offseason. Read somewhere today ‘Carolina has a D Tepper problem’ yep.
I always wonder what is wrong with people who think it’s funny that another team is losing. Something wrong there.
I always wonder what is wrong with people who can’t find humor in anything. Something wrong there.
That’s a bad take, imo, unless you are hoping all 32 teams win in the same week.
Wait till you hear the new secret!! Vegas hates it!! but call now and we’ll tell you what everyone is talking about. all 32 teams winning this weekend!
A body wishes their team would pick in top 5-10 yet picking @ 32 has its own reward. Kind of a blah feeling when the team you follow continues to land in the late teens.
Nitpicky advice that you didn’t ask for: when order is important in a list, such as the draft order in this article, it’s beneficial to have a numbered list instead of a bulleted list. As is, people need to count the items above their favorite team to see what pick number they would be, instead of just seeing the number directly in the list.
Thank you for all that you do!
@rk. I’d agree, however, the list may not be very statistically in depth for toe breakers etc. It’s reads to highlight the top 5 decisions more than anything
I’m so excited to see who picks Harrison jr or Penix. I think Penix could really help the patriots move forward. Harrison JR would be a threat with Mahomes.
Harrison Jr isn’t gonna last till kcs pick. Packers bears cardinals titans all could take him somewhere prior to that. Unless kc wants to trade multiple 1sts and other picks to move up.
I was thinking KC can afford to barter to move up. Other than a reliable deep threat what are they actually missing? If not them, patriots cardinals colts falcons(doubt it) panthers raiders ravens could all be in slot to move
You must be new to sports. GB doesn’t pick wr’s in the first round. Gotta be a DB or they’ll trade out of the first, then trade what they got in that deal, plus a sweetener, to move back into the first round, and draft a 3rd round graded QB or TE.
True
MHJ would be a threat with me throwing to him.
I was really hoping for a tie last night. That would of tossed a monkey wrench into the draft order.
I’m pretty sure the Bears could have drafted Tom Brady and found a way to screw it up.
I don’t think so. Tom made Bill look like the GOAT after all.
“Tom made Bill look like the GOAT” is probably going to appear on arty’s headstone….lol.