Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
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
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/23
Today’s minor transactions heading into the final Sunday of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: DL Eric Banks, RB Ty’Son Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Hunter Bradley, S Josh Thomas
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Ali
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Tylan Wallace, CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Brett Hundley, DT Rayshad Nichols
- Released: TE Nick Boyle, WR DeSean Jackson
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR John Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: C Sam Tecklenburg, WR Preston Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Phil Hoskins, CB Josh Norman
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: S Adrian Colbert, CB Greg Stroman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Jake Browning
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Storey Jackson, LB Sam Kamara
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Wyatt Ray, LB Ray Wilborn
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jermar Jefferson, CB Jarren Williams
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Johnny Johnson III
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, S Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Coy Cronk
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT David Moa, RB Larry Rountree
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Mike Glennon, LB Brennan Scarlett
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: DL Jonathan Bullard, TE Irv Smith (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ryan Connelly, G Kyle Hinton
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Calvin Munson, TE Matt Sokol
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Jack Heflin, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: DE Bradlee Anae, WR Irvin Charles, OL Adam Pankey, S Will Parks, OL Eric Smith
- Placed on IR: OL Duane Brown, CB Brandin Echols, OL George Fant, OL Nate Herbig, S Lamarcus Joyner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Renell Wren
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: RB Elijah Mitchell (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Michael Dwumfour, CB Janoris Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Josh Onujiogu
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Alexander Johnson, WR Cade Johnson
- Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo, T Justin Skule
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
As the NFL determines how it will proceed with the postponed Bills-Bengals game, Week 18 is on as scheduled. The No. 1 overall pick remains in doubt, and seven teams enter the final week either 6-10 or 7-9. Several games will impact how the top 10 shakes out.
Having lost nine straight, the Bears (3-13) are a half-game behind the Texans (2-13-1) for the No. 1 overall pick. Houston last held that draft slot in 2014, while Chicago has not picked first since 1947. The Texans are also playing a Colts team they tied in Week 1; Indianapolis enters Week 18 on a six-game skid. Conversely, the Bears face a Vikings squad that still has a path to the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
Week 17 also brought clarity on the NFC South. Although the Buccaneers have disappointed, their comeback win over the Panthers secured the franchise’s third straight playoff berth. That will mean Tampa Bay’s pick will check in no higher than 18th overall, while the Carolina and New Orleans slots could land in the top 10. The loser of Saturday’s Jaguars-Titans game would also see their draft slot rise several positions. Four of the five traded picks remain in the top 12, with the Seahawks’ spot (via the Broncos) still slotting highest — behind only the Texans and Bears’ positions.
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 18:
- Houston Texans: 2-13-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-13
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-12
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-11-1
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-10
- Carolina Panthers: 6-10
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Tennessee Titans: 7-9
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- New York Jets: 7-9
- Washington Commanders: 7-8-1
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-8
- Green Bay Packers: 8-8
- Detroit Lions: 8-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
- New England Patriots: 8-8
- New York Giants: 9-6-1
- Baltimore Ravens: 10-6
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6
- Cincinnati Bengals: 11-4
- Minnesota Vikings: 12-4
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-4
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers)
- Buffalo Bills: 12-3
- Kansas City Chiefs: 13-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/23
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Signed off Jets practice squad: S Jared Mayden
- Waived: CB Xavier Rhodes
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: CB Josh Blackwell, G Teven Jenkins, OT Michael Schofield III
- Signed to active roster: LB DeMarquis Gates, DE Jalyn Holmes, LB Terrell Lewis
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return: G Matt Farniok
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: CB Chase Lucas
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: CB Kenny Moore II
- Signed off Jaguars practice squad: DE Rashod Berry
Minnesota Vikings
- Designated for return: DL Jonathan Bullard
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on NFI: RB Dwayne Washington
- Signed to active roster: WR Keith Kirkwood
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: TE Tyler Mabry
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: LB De’Jon Harris
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/2/23
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Taco Charlton
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Nate Meadors
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/31/22
Today’s roster moves heading into gameday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Hunter Bradley, S Josh Thomas
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: S Micah Abernathy
- Activated from IR: OL Matt Hennessy
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Ali
- Placed on IR: T Chuma Edoga, S Jovante Moffatt
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: QB Anthony Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andy Isabella, DT Rayshad Nichols
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: WR Andre Roberts
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Josh Norman, C Sam Tecklenburg
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: LB DeMarquis Gates, CB Greg Stroman
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: K Ramiz Ahmed, RB Tyler Goodson
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, LB Segun Olubi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: T Coy Cronk
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: QB Chase Garbers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Ike Brown, T Sebastian Gutierrez
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: T Chandler Brewer
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jared Pinkney
- Waived: G Bobby Evans
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: T Kendall Lamm
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Josiah Bronson, LB Brennan Scarlett
- Placed on IR: DT Justin Zimmer
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: G Kyle Hinton, DL T.J. Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Tae Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Quandre Mosely, TE Matt Sokol
- Placed on IR: CB Jack Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: G Josh Andrews, WR Keith Kirkwood
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: T Cedric Ogbuehi
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Chris Streveler
- Placed on IR: WR Jeff Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: P Brett Kern
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Renell Wren
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tay Martin, DL Kemoko Turay
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Vi Jones
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cade Johnson, TE Tyler Mabry
- Placed on IR: WR Marquise Goodwin
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: DT David Bada
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Troy Apke, RB Jaret Patterson
- Waived: DT Daniel Wise
Notable Incentives Still In Play For 2022
As we head into Week 17, a number of players still have key incentives available. Here is a handful of the notable escalators in reach — many involving Smiths — courtesy of SI.com’s Albert Breer.
- Justin Houston, OLB (Ravens): Already collecting $1MM by reaching 7.5 sacks, the 12th-year pass rusher (nine sacks) can move that number to $1.5MM by getting to 10.
- Christian Kirk, WR (Jaguars): The big-ticket Jags signing can collect $500K by hitting 80 receptions, with another $500K available if he reaches 90. Kirk has 76 catches. The ex-Cardinal (988 receiving yards) can also collect $1MM by surpassing 1,100.
- Raheem Mostert, RB (Dolphins): The offseason addition will almost certainly add $1MM to his 2022 earnings. By clearing 900 scrimmage yards, Mostert needs only the Dolphins to stay in the top 25 in total offense. Considering Miami ranks ninth, it is a good bet the ex-49er — who signed for one year and $2.2MM — will cash in.
- Geno Smith, QB (Seahawks): After already collecting $1MM for hitting playing-time incentives and $500K by making the Pro Bowl, Smith is likely to add another $1MM by eclipsing 4,000 passing yards for the first time. Smith, who signed for one year and $3.5MM, has 3,886 yards through 15 games.
- Preston Smith, OLB (Packers): Sitting on 8.5 sacks, the veteran edge rusher can collect $1MM by ballooning that number to 10. Another $1MM would be in play for Smith if he reached 12 sacks this season.
- Za’Darius Smith, OLB (Vikings): The 2022 Minnesota signee can up his incentive package to either $750K by hitting 10.5 sacks or $1MM by reaching 12.5. The veteran edge has 10 sacks through 15 games.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR (Chiefs): Leading Chiefs wideouts in receiving yards (877) by a wide margin, Smith-Schuster is likely to enhance his already-impressive incentive collection by topping 900 receiving yards. That would put the ex-Steeler at $3MM in total incentives earned. Signing a one-year deal worth $3.76MM, Smith-Schuster has already collected $2.5MM in escalators.
- J.J. Watt, DL (Cardinals): Lastly, the retiring D-lineman collected $900K by reaching nine sacks (9.5); he can bump that number to $1MM by tallying a 10th sack over the team’s final two games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/22
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Pharoh Cooper, DL Manny Jones
- Placed on IR: S Budda Baker (story), DT Trysten Hill
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return: WR Jared Bernhardt
- Placed on IR: OL Chuma Edoga
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: WR Tylan Wallace
Detroit Lions
- Reverted to season-ending IR: WR Quintez Cephus
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB Isaiah Rodgers Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DE Isaac Rochell, LB Harvey Langi
- Placed on IR: DE Chandler Jones, LB Denzel Perryman (story)
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): OL Wyatt Davis
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: LB Jarrad Davis
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux
- Waived: TE Chris Myarick
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: CB Isaiah Dunn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Designated for return: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, TE Armani Rogers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Hunter Bradley, CB Jordan Miller, CB Chris Wilcox
- Activated from practice squad IR: OL Lachavious Simmons
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Nate Hairston
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from practice squad IR: WR Jared Bernhardt, OL Justin Shaffer
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
- Terminated: RB Tyler Badie
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB Greg Stroman Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB David Vereen
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: C Garrison Sanborn
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Trent Harris
- Activated from practice squad IR: OL Vitaliy Gurman
- Released: WR Albert Wilson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/27/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: FB Clint Ratkovich
- Released: TE Tucker Fisk, WR Ra’Shaun Henry
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Josh Bynes
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Delonte Hood, TE Dalton Keene
- Released: RB Devine Ozigbo
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LS Garrison Sanborn
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: RB Jerrion Ealy
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro
- Released: G Willie Wright
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Tae Hayes
- Placed on practice squad/IR: TE Scotty Washington
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Kawaan Baker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Scott Nelson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Curtis Robinson
- Released: CB Tre Swilling
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Dylan Cook, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo