2024 NFL Draft order: Three quarterback-needy teams dominate top three
The NFL's regular season is over, and the top half of the 2024 NFL Draft's first round is set.
Now that the playoffs are set to begin, the top 18 picks in the draft are locked in for each team that missed out on postseason contention.
Ahead of Week 18, the only pick set in stone was the No. 1 overall pick, which the Chicago Bears hold via the Carolina Panthers. It is the second year in a row the Bears have the first overall pick.
After the regular season finale, we know that three teams that are in search of a franchise quarterback hold the top three picks in the draft this year: the Bears, the Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots.
Here's how the NFL Draft order currently stands, using teams' records and strength-of-schedule tiebreakers as our guide. The final 14 picks of the first round will be determined as the playoffs progress.
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NFL Draft order 2024
(as of Jan. 10; * denotes playoff team, not locked into current spot)
Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Panthers record: 2-15 (strength of schedule: .522)
Washington Commanders: Record: 4-13 (.512)
New England Patriots: Record: 4-13 (.522)
Arizona Cardinals: Record: 4-13 (.561)
Los Angeles Chargers: Record: 5-12 (.529)
New York Giants: Record: 6-11 (.512)
Tennessee Titans: Record: 6-11 (.522)
Atlanta Falcons: Record: 7-10 (.429)
Chicago Bears: Record: 7-10 (.464)
New York Jets: Record: 7-10 (.502)
Minnesota Vikings: Record: 7-10 (.509)
Denver Broncos: Record: 8-9 (.488)
Las Vegas Raiders: Record: 8-9 (.488)
New Orleans Saints: Record: 9-8 (.433)
Indianapolis Colts: Record: 9-8 (.491)
Seattle Seahawks: Record: 9-8 (.512)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Record: 9-8 (.533)
Cincinnati Bengals: Record: 9-8 (.574)
*Green Bay Packers: Record: 9-8 (.474)
*Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Record: 9-8 (.481)
*Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Texans' record: 10-7 (.474)
*Los Angeles Rams: Record: 10-7 (.529)
*Pittsburgh Steelers: Record: 10-7 (.540)
*Miami Dolphins: Record: 11-6 (.450)
*Buffalo Bills: Record: 11-6 (.471)
*Kansas City Chiefs: Record: 11-6 (.481)
*Philadelphia Eagles: Record: 11-6 (.481)
*Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Browns record: 11-6 (.536)
*Dallas Cowboys: Record: 12-5 (.446)
*Detroit Lions: Record: 12-5 (.481)
*San Francisco 49ers: Record: 12-5 (.509)
*Baltimore Ravens: Record: 13-4 (.543)
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Teams without a first-round draft pick in 2024
Carolina Panthers: traded to Bears as part of package to secure No. 1 overall pick in 2023
Cleveland Browns: traded to Texans as part of package to receive quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NFL Draft order: First-round picks set before playoffs