Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
Christmas Day’s Broncos-Rams matchup will pit two of the league’s most disappointing teams against one another, and the Seahawks and Lions will have a vested interest in this contest. The loser of this game will give one of the latter teams — via the Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford trades — a better chance of landing a top-three pick in next year’s draft.
At 1-12-1, the Texans are cruising home. The Bears are on their heels, potentially set to become the team that selects the 2023 draft’s first non-quarterback. But eight four- or five-win teams reside behind these two, providing some intrigue for fanbases whose squads are not moving toward the playoffs.
The NFC South’s plunge toward becoming perhaps the worst division in NFL history carries draft stakes as well. The Falcons, Saints and Panthers each have five wins, and Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia (via the Saints’ pre-draft trade this year) would see those picks land in the top 10 as of now. The division-leading Buccaneers would see their draft slot check in no higher than 19th. Should one of Tampa Bay’s challengers vault the current first-place team in the standings, the Bucs would see their 2023 first-round slot rise considerably.
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 entering Week 16:
- Houston Texans: 1-12-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-11
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-10
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-9-1
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-9
- Carolina Panthers: 5-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-8
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 6-8
- Green Bay Packers: 6-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 7-7
- New England Patriots: 7-7
- New York Jets: 7-7
- Detroit Lions: 7-7
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-8
- Tennessee Titans: 7-7
- Washington Commanders: 7-6-1
- Los Angeles Chargers: 8-6
- New York Giants: 8-5-1
- Baltimore Ravens: 9-5
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers through Dolphins)
- Dallas Cowboys: 10-4
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 11-3
- Minnesota Vikings: 11-3
- Buffalo Bills: 11-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-1
Next 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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/22
Today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: T Christian DiLauro
- Placed on IR: LB Dakota Allen
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: RB Patrick Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: CB Gregory Junior
- Waived: S Tyree Gillespie
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Earnest Brown IV, DE T.J. Carter
Packers Waive WR Sammy Watkins
After an underwhelming tenure in Green Bay, Sammy Watkins is headed elsewhere to finish the season. The Packers are waiving the veteran wideout, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). The team has since confirmed the move.
Watkins, 29, has bounced around in recent years while struggling to stay healthy. He spent last season in Baltimore, after signing a one-year deal to provide the Ravens with a veteran pass-catcher while rebuilding his free agent value. He was unable to replicate his more productive campaigns with the Bills, however, leading him to join Green Bay in April on another one-year contract.
Watkins’ arrival came after an offseason in which the Packers traded away Davante Adams and saw Marquez Valdes-Scantling depart in free agency. That left an opening for the veteran to take on at least a rotational role in a new-look WR room led by Allen Lazard and multiple rookies. His first two weeks as a Packer were promising, but another hamstring issue led to an early IR stint. Overall, Watkins has totaled just 206 scoreless yards on 13 receptions in 2022.
The move comes as Romeo Doubs is ready to return from an ankle injury. The fourth-rounder has yet to play since Week 9, but could compliment leading receivers Lazard and fellow rookie Christian Watson now that he is back in the fold. Randall Cobb is also available as a veteran pass-catcher who has out-performed Watkins so far this season.
Watkins will now go on waivers, making him available for any teams looking for late-season wideout depth. Any acquiring team would be responsible for the remainder of his contract, which includes just over $186K in base salary and modest games-played bonuses (Twitter link via Pelissero). Should he go unclaimed, the former fourth overall pick will become a free agent – something which would give him an open choice of destinations for the remainder of this season as he continues to search for a permanent NFL home.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur Wants Aaron Rodgers To Return In 2023
Things have not gone according to plan for the Packers in 2022, leading to serious speculation about their future at a number of positions. One of those is quarterback, but if head coach Matt LaFleur has his way, the top of the depth chart will remain the same next year. 
Aaron Rodgers entered the year with significant expectations given not only his personal accolades, but the lucrative new deal he signed in the offseason. That contract is believed to allow the reigning MVP to operate on a year-to-year basis with respect to his retirement decision, though it would not be until 2025 that the Packers would see any cap relief with a trade or release given its structure.
The 39-year-old’s performance has – like Green Bay’s offense as a whole – been underwhelming to date, with Rodgers dealing with multiple injuries. That led to speculation that a quarterback change would be in order, but an extended look for backup Jordan Love is not expected to take place in at least the near future. To little surprise, then, LaFleur’s has stated a continued commitment to the four-time All-Pro moving forward.
When asked about his desire to have Rodgers back in 2023, he said, via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons, “Yeah, absolutely. Of course.” He added, on the subject of Love’s presence and his relative lack of playing time given his draft pedigree, “I think we’ve got a great problem in terms of when you have confidence in multiple people.
“I do think, just thinking about expectations, and certainly people expect – we all expect – a certain level from [Rodgers] every time and especially when you’re coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. I think you’ve got to be realistic about the situation, too, in terms of, you’re losing almost your entire receiving corps and there’s a lot of new pieces around [him].”
With Green Bay sitting at 5-8 on the campaign and unlikely to make a playoff push, the idea of shutting Rodgers down for the rest of the year has been floated. The team’s bye week represented a logical time to do hand the reins over to Love, but the veteran is expected to play at least until a postseason berth is no longer attainable. The closing stages of their season begin tomorrow night against the Rams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/22
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: CB Jace Whittaker, TE Maxx Williams
- Placed on IR: QB Kyler Murray (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: LB Jermaine Carter
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: T Terence Steele (story)
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: OLB Randy Gregory, T Billy Turner
- Placed on IR: OLB Jacob Martin
- Signed off Dolphins practice squad: WR Freddie Swain
Green Bay Packers
- Activated of non-football injury list: T Caleb Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: QB Jeff Driskel
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed off Dolphins practice squad: CB Kalon Barnes
- Signed to active roster: LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: T Blake Brandel
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: DT Christian Barmore
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DL Ryder Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: DL Chris Wormley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: CB Anthony Chesley
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return: LB Zach Cunningham
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Carson Strong
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Nate Landman
- Released: OL Parker Ferguson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Cole Beasley (story)
- Released: WR Marquez Stevenson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tae Hayes
- Released: RB Nate McCrary
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Storey Jackson
Denver Broncos
- Released: DL McTelvin Agim
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OT Jean Delance, C Michal Menet
- Released: DL Jack Heflin, WR Dede Westbrook
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks, WR D.J. Montgomery
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Robert Foster
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga, OT Willie Wright
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Marquiss Spencer
- Placed on IR: LB Marcell Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Anthony Harris, P Brett Kern
- Released: S Marquise Blair, WR Auden Tate
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Kevin Hogan, OL Zach McCloud, G Jordan Roos, WR Jonathan Ward
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
The NFL now has its first teams eliminated from playoff contention. The Texans and Bears, as they essentially have been doing throughout this season, are playing for next year. Other eliminations will soon follow, as the league’s playoff picture heats up.
Through that lens, the 2023 draft order will become an increasingly more pertinent topic. The 2023 draft will present an interesting subplot near its outset. Traded picks are set to produce early selections for the Seahawks, Lions and Eagles. Each of those picks currently land in the top five, as the teams on the other end of those trades — the Broncos, Rams and Saints — have disappointed, spectacularly so in Los Angeles and Denver’s cases.
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 would look entering Week 14:
- Houston Texans: 1-10-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-9
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Carolina Panthers: 4-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-8
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-8
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-8-1
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-8
- Green Bay Packers: 5-8
- Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-7
- Detroit Lions: 5-7
- Los Angeles Chargers: 6-6
- New England Patriots: 6-6
- Washington Commanders: 7-5-1
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-6*
- Seattle Seahawks: 7-5*
- Tennessee Titans: 7-5*
- New York Jets: 7-5*
- New York Giants: 7-4-1*
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers through Dolphins)*
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-4*
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-4*
- Dallas Cowboys: 9-3*
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-3*
- Minnesota Vikings: 10-2*
- Buffalo Bills: 9-3*
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11-1*
* = Denotes playoff team
The 2023 first round will resemble 2008 and 2016, when the Patriots were docked their Round 1 pick for their respective “gate” scandals. This year’s Dolphins saga never developed “gate” status, but the team lost a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-rounder due to the Tom Brady–Sean Payton tampering case. Thus, a 31-pick first round will commence.
While the Broncos, Rams and Browns lost their first-round picks due to trades for quarterbacks, the Saints passed theirs to the Eagles in this year’s pre-draft trade that allowed New Orleans a path toward moving up for Chris Olave. The No. 16 pick which was initially transferred from the Colts to the Eagles in 2021’s Carson Wentz trade was then moved to the Saints, netting Philadelphia a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second.
Packers, Aaron Rodgers To Discuss Potential 2022 Shutdown
Aaron Rodgers has spent much of the 2022 season at less than full health owing to a broken thumb, and, more recently, a rib injury. That, coupled with the Packers’ slim playoff chances, has led to questions about how much longer he will be on the field in 2022. 
The recently-turned 39-year-old was in the lineup today against the Bears, staying in line with his and Green Bay’s plans for the immediate future. Today’s contest served as a means to evaluate Rodgers’ status from a pain management standpoint, especially with the team’s bye looming in Week 14. Even in the likely event the Packers find themselves mathematically eliminated from the playoffs soon, though, Rodgers may still operate as the starter.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport writes that no decision has been made yet with respect to when (if at all) Rodgers will be shut down for the rest of the campaign. He adds that Rodgers will have a large say in upcoming discussions on the matter, with the possibility of turning the offense over to Jordan Love looming. The 2020 first-rounder has hardly seen the field in the NFL, and his Packers future has been the subject of plenty of speculation given Rodgers’ extension signed this summer.
That deal has since been understood as essentially a year-to-year accord, though, leaving the reigning MVP’s future in the air as well. Rapoport adds that if Rodgers is physically able to continue playing, it is “a good bet” he remains as the No. 1. Rodgers himself has admitted that things could change in the near future, however.
“I’d love to finish the season out,” he said recently on the subject of a potential QB swap, “but I understand this is a business and there’s a lot of us kind of older guys who play a decent amount, and they might want to see some younger guys play. Hopefully we don’t have to have that conversation, but if that conversation comes up, I’ll approach it with an open mind without any bitterness or resentment.”
Rodgers threw for 182 yards and one touchdown during a 28-19 win over Chicago, bringing the Packers’ record to 5-8. That may delay talk of a quarterback change temporarily, but, especially depending on his ability to heal over the course of the bye week, Rodgers’ remaining time this season could be limited.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/22
Here are the league’s minor transactions leading into the Sunday-slate of Week 13 games:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Quinton Bell, C Jonotthan Harrison
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: WR Binjimen Victor
- Promoted from practice squad: WR DeSean Jackson, S Ar’Darius Washington
- Placed on IR: WR Tylan Wallace
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: P Drue Chrisman
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: S Mike Brown
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: T Aviante Collins
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Micah Abernathy, RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Jacobi Francis
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Forrest Rhyne
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: S Zayne Anderson, WR Cornell Powell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: T Zack Bailey
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: OLB Keir Thomas, WR Austin Trammell
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Malcolm Brown, DE T.J. Carter
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: OL James Empey, T Kendall Lamm
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: LB William Kwenkeu
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: RB Elijah Mitchell (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Vi Jones, WR Laquon Treadwell
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Julius Chestnut, CB Davontae Harris
- Waived: K Caleb Shudak
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Alex Erickson
Packers LT David Bakhtiari Out For Week 13; Aaron Rodgers Cleared To Start
The Packers announced on Friday that left tackle David Bakhtiari underwent an appendectomy earlier today. As a result, he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Bears. 
The 31-year-old tweeted an encouraging update with respect to the procedure being a success. That will likely limit the length of his latest absence, but this news nevertheless marks another reason for Bakhtiari to be sidelined. His career has been greatly hampered by a 2020 ACL tear.
That injury cost him all but one game last season, and led to multiple operations aimed at returning him to full health. He and the team hoped for a Week 1 appearance in 2022, but his season debut ultimately had to wait until two weeks later. Even after he returned, the three-time Pro Bowler did so in a rotational capacity for two of his first three games, and followed an unusual practice schedule.
Overall, though, Bakhtiari has regained his elite form of previous years, earning a PFF grade of 82.1 so far this season. Pass protection in particular has, as usual, been a strongpoint for him individually, though the Packers have been mediocre through the air collectively. This will mark his second missed game since returning to action, leaving Green Bay with fourth-round rookie Zach Tom and starting right tackle Yosuah Nijman among the options to play on the blindside.
Regardless of who is blocking in that position on Sunday, the team’s signal-caller will be a familiar one. Aaron Rodgers was once again a limited participant in practice today, and he does not have an injury designation for Sunday’s contest. That clears the way for him to start, as both he and the team have expected to happen. He will be dealing with thumb and rib injuries when he takes on a Bears team which will welcome back Justin Fields, a passer who is himself coming back from a dislocated shoulder.