Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order
It took the Bears until Week 18 for the No. 1 draft slot to become a reality; the Panthers did not make them wait that long this year. Carolina’s struggles will give Chicago the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight year. How the Bears will proceed with that pick will become one of the NFL’s defining 2024 storylines.
The Cardinals’ unexpected conquest in Philadelphia knocked them down two slots in the 2024 draft order. As a result, the Commanders — who resided in the fourth position before the Patriots’ Christmas Eve upset ended the Russell Wilson era in Denver — hold the No. 2 pick going into the regular season’s final Sunday.
The Commanders benched Sam Howell in back-to-back weeks and were set to, prior to a midweek Jacoby Brissett setback, shelve him for Week 17 as well. The Ron Rivera era is in its final days, with front office changes likely as well. A Commanders-Caleb Williams connection has emerged, which would make Washington quite interested in what Chicago does at No. 1 overall — or key another round of Bears talks about dropping from 1 to 2, which took place with the Texans this offseason. With the Bears likely considering another Justin Fields season and the Cardinals having Kyler Murray tied to a $46.1MM-per-year contract, the Commanders are suddenly a team to watch regarding a QB investment.
Bill Belichick is also perched as a key 2024 domino, but with the legendary HC not eager to leave New England, one of the most important decisions in franchise history awaits Robert Kraft. Belichick or his replacement could hold a top-three pick in 2024, though another Pats win — they have the Jets in Week 18 — would complicate an effort to land a top-tier QB prospect.
Entering Week 18, here is how the 2024 draft order looks:
- Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
- Washington Commanders: 4-12
- New England Patriots: 4-12
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-12
- New York Giants: 5-11
- Los Angeles Chargers: 5-11
- Tennessee Titans: 5-11
- New York Jets: 6-10
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-9
- Chicago Bears: 7-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 7-9
- Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
- New Orleans Saints: 8-8
- Denver Broncos: 8-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-8
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
- Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
- Green Bay Packers: 8-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
- Indianapolis Colts: 9-7
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7
- Los Angeles Rams: 9-7
- Buffalo Bills: 10-6
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5
- Detroit Lions: 11-5
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Miami Dolphins: 11-5
- Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
- San Francisco 49ers: 12-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/23
Here are today’s minor transactions and callups for the remainder of the Week 17 matchups:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: CB Bobby Price
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: OL John Leglue
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Elevated: S Andrew Adams, OLB Jeremiah Moon
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G J.D. DiRenzo, CB AJ Parker
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: WR Collin Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis, LB Buddy Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: WR Michael Bandy
- Elevated: WR Phillip Dorsett, OLB Ronnie Perkins
- Placed on reserve/non-football illness list: RB Dwayne Washington
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: TE Anthony Firkser
- Elevated: DL Tyson Alualu, DE Bruce Irvin
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: LB Liam Anderson, WR Ethan Fernea
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB Keaontay Ingram, NT Mike Pennel
- Waived: DT Matt Dickerson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: DT Matthew Butler, TE Cole Fotheringham
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: WR Keelan Doss
- Elevated: DT Christopher Hinton, OL Austen Pleasants
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: OLB Melvin Ingram
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: DL T.J. Smith, LB Nick Vigil
- Elevated: WR Lucky Jackson, CB Jaylin Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Troy Dye
New England Patriots
- Elevated: TE Matt Sokol, OL Andrew Stueber
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Darrian Beavers
- Elevated: K Mason Crosby, WR Dennis Houston
- Placed on IR: TE Lawrence Cager
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LB Brandon Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Myles Jack, S Eric Rowe
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Erik Harris, WR Tay Martin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: CB Derrek Pitts, TE David Wells
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: DT Ross Blacklock
- Elevated: LB Tae Crowder, CB Kendall Sheffield
- Placed on IR: TE Josh Whyle
Alualu is set to make his Lions debut after signing earlier this month. Given the injury issues Detroit has faced up front, the 36-year-old has the chance to see playing time through the close of the regular season and into the playoffs. Alualu expressed a desire to continue playing with the Steelers this offseason, but he remained a free agent deep into the year. His tenure in the Motor City could help boost his free agent stock if he wishes to remain in the league in 2024, though.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/23
Friday’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Lions): LB Trevor Nowaske
- Placed on IR: DE Jonathan Ledbetter (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: G Gabe Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: DE Sam Kamara
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: K Michael Badgley
- Waived: FB Jason Cabinda
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: FB Jakob Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to the active roster: LB Anthony Barr
Badgley has officially been tabbed as the leg to depend on for the remainder of the season as well as for the Lions’ first playoff run since 2016. Detroit waived Riley Patterson two weeks ago, allowing Badgley to stake his claim on the job once again.
The Cabinda departure is a little surprising, considering the Lions just utilized one of their injured reserve activations on the former linebacker yesterday. Because of that investment, it would make sense to see Cabinda return to Detroit on a practice squad deal here in the next few days.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/23
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: OL Germain Ifedi
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off 49ers practice squad: OT Ilm Manning
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: P Matt Haack, K Riley Patterson
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DB Chase Lucas, LB Trevor Nowaske
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reverted to IR: CB Christian Braswell
New York Jets
- Promoted: RB Nick Bawden, DT Bruce Hector
Germain Ifedi‘s underwhelming stint with the Bills has come to an end. The veteran offensive lineman joined the Bills this past offseason and was expected to provide some experienced depth. Instead, Ifedi was inactive for every game this season, and the Bills have decided his roster spot could be put to better use. ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg believes this move will likely open a spot for defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/23
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to the active roster: DT Phil Hoskins
- Designated to return from IR: DT Leki Fotu
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: OLB Amare Barno
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed off Bengals’ practice squad: TE Zach Gentry
- Placed on IR: TE Jesper Horsted
- Waived: T Justin Herron
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE T.J. Hockenson (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Matt Pryor
- Designated to return from IR: WR Danny Gray
- Waived: RB Jeremy McNichols
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: DL Mike Greene
Washington Commanders
- Designated to return from IR: LB De’Jon Harris
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/27/23
Here are today’s post-holiday practice squad adjustments:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson, DT Jacob Slade
- Released: TE John Samuel Shenker
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: T Ryan Swoboda
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from practice squad IR: RB Tarik Cohen
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Keidron Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Troy Pride
- Released: WR Davion Davis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: QB Max Duggan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Nate Meadors
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Sebastian Gutierrez, WR Willie Snead
- Released: OL Ilm Manning
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from practice squad IR: LB Levi Bell
Brian Burns Wants To Remain With Panthers
The top offseason priority for the Panthers will be working out a contract with edge rusher Brian Burns. No new progress on that front will take place until after the 2023 campaign has ended, but there is a mutual interest in reaching an agreement. 
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Burns stated his desire to remain in Carolina in 2024 and beyond (video link via ESPN’s David Newton). The two-time Pro Bowler is playing on his $16MM fifth-year option this season, but his future is uncertain due to the lack of progress on negotiations for what will be a lucrative long-term extension.
The Panthers have turned down trade offers on several occasions, including the 2023 deadline when multiple teams inquired about his availability. Despite making it clear the former first-rounder was not on the market, Carolina was not able to gain much traction during offseason negotiations. After this year’s trade deadline passed, a new round of talks did not take place.
As a result, the franchise tag looms as a backup option for the team if no multi-year deal can be worked out. As things stand, the one-year tag is the likeliest course of action, and using it as at least a placeholder would come as no surprise given the alternative of allowing Burns to depart in free agency. The 25-year-old has developed into a cornerstone for the rebuilding franchise, recording at least nine sacks each season from 2020-22.
Burns’ sack total this year (six) represents a step back, but the team has dealt with a number of injuries along the edge amidst its overall struggles. As he noted today, however, his preference would be to avoid needing to start a new chapter of his career in a new environment. It will be interesting to see how much that mutual interest in striking a deal will result in progress on contract talks in the near future.
The Florida State alum has been attached to an asking price near the record-setting $34MM AAV Nick Bosa got on his 2023 49ers extension. The Panthers, by contrast, have eyed a package closer to the back end of the top 10 in terms of annual compensation amongst edge rushers. The position Burns is classified as (defensive end vs. outside linebacker) in the event he receives the franchise tag could also become a sticking point, given the projected $3MM difference in value between the two.
Negotiations with Burns will be a major storyline for Carolina after a disappointing season which resulted in a coaching change. The degree to which his stated desire to remain with the Panthers holds true will be worth watching closely when talks resume.
Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order
While the Panthers, Cardinals and Commanders continued their losing ways in Week 16, the Patriots’ effort in Denver shook up the top of the 2024 draft. New England has dropped from second to fourth in the ’24 order.
In a strange spot in which Broncos fans and and undoubtedly many Pats supporters wanted the Russell Wilson-driven comeback to succeed, Chad Ryland‘s 56-yard game-winning field goal dropped New England out of the No. 2 spot, injecting doubt about the team’s ability to nab a top-flight QB prospect without trading up next year.
The Bears (via the Panthers) remain atop the table, holding a one-game lead on the Cardinals. Carolina closes its season with two games against eight-win teams — the Jaguars and Buccaneers. Arizona will face Philadelphia and Seattle, and with Carolina’s strength of schedule at .522 and Arizona’s at .561, the draft-order tiebreaker reaffirms the Bears’ placement on the doorstep of entering a second straight offseason holding a No. 1 overall pick. The Justin Fields matter remains an important big-picture NFL topic, but GM Ryan Poles is close to having his pick of the 2024 QB prospects.
It is not clear if the Commanders will be interested in a quarterback in the first round, but they will have a new regime running the show. The last time Washington held a top-three pick (2020), it passed on Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert due to having drafted Dwayne Haskins in the 2019 first round. With Sam Howell struggling as of late, Josh Harris‘ next set of decision-makers may want to bring in their own prospect. The Cardinals could stand in the Commanders’ way, via another trade in the top three, but suddenly Washington could be a player for a 2024 first-round QB.
Ahead of Week 17, here is how the 2024 draft order looks:
- Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-12
- Washington Commanders: 4-11
- New England Patriots: 4-11
- New York Giants: 5-10
- Los Angeles Chargers: 5-10
- Tennessee Titans: 5-10
- Chicago Bears: 6-9
- New York Jets: 6-9
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-8
- New Orleans Saints: 7-8
- Green Bay Packers: 7-8
- Las Vegas Raiders: 7-8
- Denver Broncos: 7-8
- Minnesota Vikings: 7-8
- Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-7
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-7
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-7
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-7
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-7
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-7
- Los Angeles Rams: 8-7
- Buffalo Bills: 9-6
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 10-5
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Detroit Lions: 11-4
- Miami Dolphins: 11-4
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11-4
- San Francisco 49ers: 11-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 12-3
Chargers Frontrunner For Jim Harbaugh; HC Contemplating Michigan Extension
Jim Harbaugh remains at the heart of speculation and reporting with respect to the upcoming NFL hiring cycle. His future remains in doubt, but a leader has emerged in terms of an NFL destination if he elects to return to the pros. 
The Chargers are the frontrunners to land the former 49ers head coach, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports. That comes as little surprise given the degree to which the two parties have been linked recently. Los Angeles made an informal inquiry about Harbaugh, whose candidacy for a second NFL HC gig has not been damaged by the pair of three-game suspensions he has served this year. To no surprise, though, Pauline notes Harbaugh is currently focused squarely on Michigan’s upcoming CFP semifinal.
Once the Wolverines’ season has come to a close, a new deal could await Harbaugh. The 60-year-old has received a 10-year, $125MM offer from Michigan, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport writes. The pact would include a clause precluding Harbaugh from taking an NFL job in 2024, but no such restrictions would apply beyond next year. A new Michigan contract has been in the works for some time now, but Harbaugh has yet to make a final decision. Rapoport adds another, shorter offer with an annual average value of roughly $11MM is also on the table.
Both versions of the potential extension could check in below Harbaugh’s asking price on an NFL deal, which Pauline pegs at $15MM per year or more. His track record both at Michigan and in San Francisco before that would give the former Super Bowl runner up plenty of leverage in negotiations on a return to the pro level, and the degree to which he would be involved in roster decisions will no doubt be a key talking point. Budgetary concerns have been raised regarding the Chargers’ search for a Brandon Staley replacement, but multiple reports have indicated they are prepared to spend big in search of a long-term answer on the sidelines.
Given the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert, many have pointed to Los Angeles as an attractive destination for veteran coaching candidates. A mutual interest is believed to exist, however, between the Chargers and Lions OC Ben Johnson, one of the league’s top up-and-coming offensive minds. Johnson will be a highly sought-after staffer, and he profiles as a much different option than Harbaugh. Los Angeles could very well lean toward the latter if the team’s desire for a proven option holds true, though.
Harbaugh has seemed to be on the verge of an NFL return over the past two offseasons, interviewing with the Vikings and Broncos during that time. While the Chargers are certainly a team to watch in this year’s cycle, one which appears to be out of the running is the Panthers. Carolina owner David Tepper is not believed to be interested in Harbaugh, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini (subscription required). The Panthers are expected to make a strong run at Johnson, something which would be particularly interesting if highly-regarded defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero were to be retained through a potential GM change.
Even if the Panthers are out of the running for Harbaugh, he will remain a signficant domino this season, as he has in years past. His willingness to commit to a new Michigan pact (or a lack thereof) will be particularly impactful for the Chargers as they undertake an organizational reset.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/23
Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, WR Kaden Davis
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: FB Keith Smith
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: P Pat O’Donnell, OL John Leglue
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: RB Leonard Fournette
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Gabe Jackson, G J.D. DiRenzo
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: WR Collin Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: S Tanner McCalister, LB Charlie Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis, RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Ben DiNucci, OLB Ronnie Perkins
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley (story), TE Anthony Firkser
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: WR Bo Melton, S Benny Sapp
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Ethan Fernea
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: CB Ethan Bonner, OLB Melvin Ingram
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Lucky Jackson, CB Jaylin Williams
New York Jets
- Elevated: FB Nick Bawden, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Kelvin Joseph, S Ty Okada
Tennessee Titans
- DB Shyheim Carter, CB Tay Gowan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, OL Nolan Laufenberg
The Bills will not have depth running back Ty Johnson available for tonight’s game, leading to the decision to elevate Fournette. The former Super Bowl champion will thus make his Buffalo debut, although with lead back James Cook in the lineup, Fournette will likely not receive many looks on offense. The latter has already returned a kickoff for the first time in his career, however.
Signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad last week, Ingram will also make his 2023 debut in Week 16. The 34-year-old last played during his Miami stint in 2022, during which time he started three games and recorded six sacks. With Jaelan Phillips out for the year, Ingram will look to once again give the Dolphins a rotational presence off the edge.