The Chicago Bears secured the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft last week, following the Carolina Panthers’ Week 17 loss. This selection comes as a result of the Bears owning the Panthers’ first-round pick this year. Meanwhile, the No. 2 pick wasn’t determined until the final day of the NFL regular season, ultimately going to the Washington Commanders after an eight-game losing streak, ending with a 38-10 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. As a result of having faced an easier schedule this season, the Commanders will receive a higher Round 1 pick than the two other 4-13 finishers: New England and Arizona.
The draft order for picks 1-18 has been set, with the remaining slots, numbers 19-32, to be determined by playoff finish. The current order stands as follows:
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina)
2. Washington Commanders
3. New England Patriots
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. New York Giants
7. Tennessee Titans
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Chicago Bears
10. New York Jets
11. Minnesota Vikings
12. Denver Broncos
13. Las Vegas Raiders
14. New Orleans Saints
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Seattle Seahawks
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Cincinnati Bengals
19-32: To be determined by playoff finish
At the top, the Bears are facing an important decision. They have the option to trade back from the No. 1 pick or potentially pair their current quarterback, Justin Fields, with another top prospect in the draft. The Commanders are in a favorable position to potentially select a top quarterback prospect, given the team’s history of patience in addressing their QB needs. The Patriots are also hoping to capitalize on the opportunity that the No. 3 pick presents, potentially finding their next franchise quarterback.
With the draft order now set, NFL teams and fans will eagerly await the upcoming draft to see how these top picks will shape the future of the league.