Updated NFL Draft Order after Texans win at tanking, Jaguars actually win, Bears, Colts lose

The Jaguars won an overtime thriller, and the Houston Texans lost again. How does the action so far impact the draft order in Week 15?

Almost every game in the opening slate of Sunday’s slate of NFL games in Week 15 was competitive. Chiefs-Texans going to overtime? Who saw that one coming?

Of course, we also have three games from Saturday to bake into the updated draft order, too. The Colts lost and the Browns won which both have draft order implications.

We’re getting to the point in the season where teams are getting eliminated from playoff contention, which makes the draft order more interesting and locked in. While there will be swaps between teams as the season winds down, the general picture of what you see here with the first 16 teams will hold true relatively by the end of the season.

Updated NFL Draft order, Week 15

So, after a crazy Sunday opening slate that saw the Texans nearly get their second win, the Jaguars pull one off against the Cowboys, and the Bears nearly hold off another tally in the loss column, here’s how the draft order will look:

1. Houston Texans (1-12-1)
2. Chicago Bears (3-11)
3. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos who are 3-10)
4. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams who are 4-9)
5. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
6. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)
7. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints who are 5-9)
10. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
11. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns who are 6-8)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8)
15. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
16. NY Jets (7-7)
17. Detroit Lions (7-7)
18. LA Chargers (7-6)

Here’s how the rest of the draft looks if everything falls exactly in the order of current records. But in reality, remember that the draft order is dependent on how the playoffs shake out. Wild Card round exits draft 19-24. Divisional exits take 25-28. Conference championship losers take 29 and 30, and the Super Bowl loser takes 31 while the winner takes 32.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
20. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
21. New England Patriots (7-6)
22. Miami Dolphins (8-6) PICK IS FORFEITED
23. New York Giants (7-5-1)
24. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
25. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
26. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
27. Denver Broncos (via San Francisco 49ers who are 10-4)
28. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
29. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
30. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
31. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-1)

Bowl season is here, so teams are keeping a close eye to see which prospects they’re hoping to add with their picks. Lining up player availability with where your pick is is an important part of that assessment, and things are starting to take shape.