Tag: draft order

2025 NFL Draft order is a complete mess after Week 9

2025 NFL Draft order is a complete mess after Week 9, with 7 teams tied for the No. 1 spot

If you’re someone who likes to track mock drafts, or even create your own, figuring out the 2025 NFL Draft order right now is an exercise in chaos. That’s because there is currently a 7-way tie for the top spot.

The outcomes of Week 9 left seven teams with identical 2-7 records. The current tiebreakers leave the New England Patriots in the top spot, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. That is subject to some very radical swings in the coming weeks, however.

The current top seven, based on the identical-record tiebreakers outlined by the NFL:
1. New England Patriots
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Carolina Panthers
5. Cleveland Browns
6. Las Vegas Raiders
7. New York Giants

Just to keep things interesting, the next two spots are occupied by two teams that are 2-6 after Week 9, the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.

At No. 10 are the New York Jets, the only 3-6 team. Dallas is currently slotted at No. 11 with their 3-5 record. Then there are four teams with 4-5 records and three more at 4-4:

12. Indianapolis Colts
13. Cincinnati Bengals
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Seattle Seahawks

16. Los Angeles Rams
17. San Francisco 49ers
18. Chicago Bears

That wraps the non-playoff teams. It will all change after Week 10, but for now–at the (mostly) halfway point of the season, this is how the draft order looks.

[lawrence-related id=656234]

Here’s where the Patriots would draft if the season ended today

The Patriots would be sitting pretty on the draft board if the season ended today

If the season ended today, the New England Patriots would own the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, per Tankathon.

That obviously isn’t a great reflection of the current state of the team. They are sitting at 2-7 on the season, following Sunday’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The Patriots have multiple needs that could be filled with a top pick in the draft, including wide receiver, offensive tackle and defensive tackle. They could also draft another top cornerback to pair with Christian Gonzalez to create an impenetrable defensive backfield.

The Patriots would much rather be winning football games and not be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. They finished 4-13 last season and selected quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

Now that they’re set at the quarterback position, their focus should be on winning football games and upgrading the talent around Maye.

Talk of tanking should be a thing of the past for New England.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Broncos’ updated order of NFL draft picks after Baron Browning trade

Following the Baron Browning trade, the Broncos now hold seven picks in the 2025 NFL draft.

After agreeing to trade pass rusher Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick on Monday, the Denver Broncos now hold seven picks in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Broncos have their own picks in the first four rounds for the first time since the Russell Wilson trade, and they now have three picks in the sixth round following the Browning trade.

Here’s a look at the team’s order of picks in next year’s NFL draft, with help from prosportstransactions.com.

Broncos order of picks in 2025 NFL draft

Denver does not hold a fifth-round pick after trading that pick and pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins in 2022 in exchange for running back Chase Edmonds and first- and fourth-round draft picks. (The Broncos later used that first-round pick to acquire coach Sean Payton in 2023.)

Denver also does not hold a seventh-round pick after trading that selection and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Where the Saints are picking in the 2025 NFL draft after Week 8

The Saints are closer to locking in a top-5 draft pick than making the playoffs. Here’s where they are picking in the 2025 NFL draft order after Week 8:

It’s okay to look to the 2025 NFL draft for hope when the New Orleans Saints aren’t giving you reasons to cheer for their work on the field. The Saints are closer to locking in a top-five draft pick than they are to qualifying for the playoffs. After losing to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, they’re 2-6 and stuck in the longest losing streak since the 2005 season impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

But if there’s a silver lining to such a poor start, it’s the possibility of an improved outlook next season, starting with the NFL draft. If the selection event started today the Saints would be picking sixth overall. That’s a great opportunity to add an impact player at a position of need, and New Orleans clearly needs the help.

Things will change, but here’s where the Saints are slotted in after Week 8 according to the full draft order projection from Tankathon:

  • Round 1, Pick 6 (6th overall)
  • Round 2, Pick 5 (37th overall)
  • Round 3, Pick 4 (68th overall)
  • Round 4, Pick 3 (104th overall)
  • Round 5, Pick 8 (146th overall)
  • Round 7, Pick 21 (238th overall, via Washington Commanders from Atlanta Falcons)
  • Round 7, Pick 36 (253rd overall, projected compensatory for Isaac Yiadom)

Remember, the Saints traded their sixth rounder to Washington for defensive tackle John Ridgeway III this preseason, but they got a seventh-round pick back in that deal. It replaced the seventh rounder they traded to the Philadelphia Eagles a few years back with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Washington owns multiple seventh-round draft picks but the Saints should get one of the least-valuable selections out of the bunch.

Will the Saints turn it around? That remains to be seen, but history isn’t on their side. If they keep losing, at least fans can hope for better days ahead with a top college football prospect on the horizon.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Broncos’ order of picks in 2025 NFL draft

The Broncos hold six picks in the 2025 NFL draft, including their own selections in the first four rounds.

Following the trades for quarterback Russell Wilson and coach Sean Payton in back-to-back offseasons, the Denver Broncos are scheduled to have first-, second- and third-round draft picks in 2025 for the first time since 2021.

Denver also holds its own fourth-round pick next year. Not until the fifth round will the Broncos have any pick swaps coming into play (pending future trades).

Here’s a look at the team’s order of picks in next year’s NFL draft, with help from prosportstransactions.com.

Broncos order of picks in 2025 NFL draft

Denver does not hold a fifth-round pick after trading that pick and pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins in 2022 in exchange for running back Chase Edmonds and first- and fourth-round draft picks. (The Broncos later used that first-round pick to acquire Payton in 2023.)

Denver also does not hold a seventh-round pick after trading that selection and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

NFL awards 34 total compensatory draft picks for 2024

NFL awards 34 total compensatory draft picks for 2024, including two special comp picks

The 2024 NFL draft order is finally complete. On Friday, the NFL revealed the compensatory draft picks awarded for the upcoming draft.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams who lose players in free agency. They are scaled based on the net loss of total contract value for the players who leave for another team.

There are the typical 32 compensatory picks that are traditionally added for net losses in free agency. In addition, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers received special comp picks for minority hirings from their organizations.

The comp picks begin at the end of the third round, with the Jacksonville Jaguars earning the No. 96 overall pick. The numbering is off due to the Miami Dolphins forfeiting their third-round pick (No. 86) for tampering violations involving Tom Brady and Sean Payton.

Third round

96 – Jaguars

97 – Eagles

98 – Rams (special comp)

99 – 49ers (special comp)

Fourth round

132 – 49ers

133 – Bills

134 – Ravens

Fifth round

167 – Saints

168 – Packers

169 – Saints

170 – Eagles

171 – Eagles

172 – Chiefs

173 – Cowboys

174 – Saints

175 – 49ers

Sixth round

208 – Bengals

209 – Rams

210 – Eagles

211 – 49ers

212 – Jaguars

213 – Rams

214 – Bengals

215 – 49ers

216 – Cowboys

217 – Rams

218 – Jets

219 – Packers

220 – Buccaneers

Seventh round

253 – Chargers

254 – Rams

255 – Packers

256 – Jets

257 – Jets

 

The Jets will make the Mr. Irrelevant pick with the final comp pick. Note that these picks are eligible to be traded.

Patriots draft position officially announced for 2024

The Patriots are officially locked into their draft position

The New England Patriots will be picking third overall in the 2024 NFL draft. The announcement was made official on Monday.

New England could have the opportunity to select some of college football’s elite players. Former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and former USC quarterback Caleb Williams could all be options as New England looks to rebuild and rebound from a 4-13 season.

The third overall selection is the highest draft spot for a Patriots pick since 2001. New England drafted Richard Seymour with the sixth overall selection that year.

This draft could drastically improve the future of the franchise. There is plenty of talent in what is being considered a deep draft class at multiple positions.

Now, it’ll be up to the Patriots to make sure they land the talent.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

2024 NFL draft order: Where Chargers are projected to pick after Week 17

How the loss to the Broncos impacted the Chargers’ current draft positioning.

The Chargers fell to 5-11 after losing to the Broncos.

After the loss, Los Angeles is still projected to have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Here is a look at the top 10 selections after Week 17:

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR, 2-14)

Panthers’ strength of schedule: .518

2. Washington Commanders (4-12)

Strength of schedule: .515

3. New England Patriots (4-12)

Strength of schedule: .518

4. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)

Strength of schedule: .562

5. New York Giants (5-11)

Strength of schedule: .514

6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)

Strength of schedule: .526

7. Tennessee Titans (5-11)

Strength of schedule: .529

8. New York Jets (6-10)

Strength of schedule: .507

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

Strength of schedule: .423

10. Chicago Bears (7-9)

Strength of schedule: .463

Several teams enter Week 17 capable of either the playoffs or a top-10 draft slot

Several teams enter Week 17 capable of either making the playoffs or earning a top-10 draft slot

With two weeks left on the NFL’s regular-season calendar, several fan bases find themselves in an unusual situation. There are 14 teams with records of either 8-7 or 7-8. All of them still have viable playoff aspirations, but nearly all of them could also find their way into a top-10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, too.

It’s an especially pronounced phenomenon in the South divisions of both conferences.

In the NFC, Tampa Bay leads the South at 8-7, with the Falcons and Saints each 7-8. New Orleans plays each of its division foes in the final two weeks; if the Saints win out, they’re in decent shape for a playoff berth and perhaps a division title. But if they lose both, a top-10 pick is very much in the cards.

The AFC South is just as contrived. Houston, Indianapolis and Jacksonville are all 8-7. If the Texans win out, they’re guaranteed a playoff berth. Lose out and they’re in real contention for a top-10 pick — which they’ve already traded to Arizona.

Here’s the current draft slot and order of the cluster of 7-8 teams. Note the Packers and Vikings play one another in Week 17, with the winner looking good for a wild card berth and the loser looking good to seize a top-12 pick.

10. Falcons

11. Saints

12. Packers

13. Raiders

14. Broncos

15. Vikings

Now for the teams entering the final two weeks at 8-7. Getting a top-10 pick is effectively, if not mathematically, out for nearly all these teams, but the range between picking 13th and 23rd is wide open.

16. Texans (traded to Cardinals)

17. Steelers

18. Bengals

19. Buccaneers

20. Colts

21. Seahawks

22. Jaguars

23. Rams

It’s going to be a fascinating final two weeks for fans of these teams, vacillating between postseason dreams or a much better draft slot.

2024 NFL draft order: Where Chargers are projected to pick after Week 16

How did the loss to the Bills impact the Chargers’ current draft positioning?

The Chargers fell to 5-10 after losing to the Bills.

After the loss, Los Angeles is projected to have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. This comes a week after being slotted to have the 8th pick.

Here is a look at the top 10 selections after Week 16:

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR, 2-13)

Panthers’ strength of schedule: .522

2. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

Strength of schedule: .561

3. Washington Commanders (4-11)

Strength of schedule: .518

4. New England Patriots (4-11)

Strength of schedule: .522

5. New York Giants (5-10)

Strength of schedule: .514

6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)

Strength of schedule: .525

7. Tennessee Titans (5-10)

Strength of schedule: .525

8. Chicago Bears (6-9)

Strength of schedule: .467

9. New York Jets (6-9)

Strength of schedule: .514

10. Atlanta Falcons (7-8)

Strength of schedule: .420