We looked at the updated NFL Playoff Picture this morning, so it’s only right to look at the reverse standings and discuss where teams stand in the NFL Draft order after Sunday’s action.
The Carolina Panthers’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys was their ninth of the season, keeping them in control of the top pick in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that pick belongs to the Chicago Bears.
Here’s a look at the reverse standings in the NFL, courtesy of Tankathon.
2024 NFL Draft Order
The Chicago Bears are in the driver’s seat regarding the top pick in the draft for the second straight season, thanks to their trade of last year’s No. 1 pick with the Carolina Panthers.
Behind the Bears are the two-win Cardinals and Patriots in the second and third spots, respectively. The Giants beat the Washington Commanders on Sunday, hurting their chances at taking their next franchise quarterback, dropping down to the fifth pick in the draft behind the Bears’ own 2024 first-round pick, which is the fourth pick in the draft thanks to their fourth quarter meltdown in Detroit on Sunday.
The Titans, Commanders, Falcons, Packers, and Buccaneers round out the top 10 in that order. Tonight’s Week 11 finale between the Eagles and Chiefs will have no impact on the draft order other than their standings as the 31st and 32nd pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Let’s discuss some first-round projections and scenarios with an updated draft order after Sunday’s action and no movement at the top coming tonight.
Tankathon’s Round 1 Mock Draft
Tankathon’s updated mock draft has the Bears taking USC QB Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall in April. Here’s the rest of their top 10 projections:
2. AZ: Marvin Harrison Jr. — WR, Ohio State
3. NE: Drake Maye — QB, North Carolina
4. CHI: Olu Fashanu — OT, Penn State
5. NYG: Joe Alt — OT, Notre Dame
6. TEN: Brock Bowers — TE, Georgia
7. WAS: Dallas Turner — EDGE, Alabama
8. ATL: Laiatu Latu — EDGE, UCLA
9. GB: Kool-Aid McKinstry — CB, Alabama
10. TB: J.C. Latham — OT, Alabama
Two quarterbacks, three tackles, two edge rushers, a tight end, a cornerback, and a wide receiver. Tankathon’s latest mock is pretty chalky. Especially the Caleb Williams to the Bears pick at the top. I’ve said it a few times: I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed if the Bears went QB with the top pick.
But the idea of taking the best player in the draft at No. 1 has grown on me, and that doesn’t involve a quarterback. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the surest bet in this draft, and if the Bears have the No. 1 pick, they have to be blown away by one of the top two QB prospects to pass on MHJ. Can you imagine Marvin Harrison Jr. and D.J. Moore on opposite sides of each other next season?
With the Bears’ own pick improving this week thanks to the Giants’ loss, they might be able to have the best of both worlds, landing MHJ at No. 1 and a QB at No. 4. Arizona could stay committed to Kyler Murray if he continues to play well down the stretch. Arizona could take Olu Fashanu or Joe Alt at No. 2 or trade back like they did last April when they had the chance.
The Patriots would undoubtedly take a QB at No. 3, which would leave Chicago one of Willaims or Maye at No. 4.
Of course, the Bears might run it back with Justin Fields if he can play like he did on Sunday six more times. A new coaching staff that understands how to call plays for Fields (i.e., Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik, Jim Harbaugh), Marvin Harrison Jr., and one of the top two tackles in the draft or an edge rusher is a scenario that has Bears fans not all that upset with their meltdown in Detroit on Sunday.
However, if the Bears do go QB at No. 1, I think there’s zero chance that Arizona passes on Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 2. That would still leave the Patriots with either Williams or Maye at No. 3. So, one way or another, it looks like New England will get a QB in April.
Tennessee adding Brock Bowers with the sixth pick in the draft would give Will Levis an incredible weapon for next season. Drafting a tight end at No. 6 is a luxury that the Titans’ afforded themselves last April when they took Peter Skoronski in the first round and circled back for Levis at the top of the second round.
Notable picks outside of the top 10 that I found intriguing:
written by
Patrick K. Flowers
Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
