This is a look at the first-round order for the 2025 NFL Draft heading into the final weekend of the 2024 NFL regular season. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind -- teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
Arrows reflect movement from last week's order.
NOTE: This post was updated after 49ers-Lions on Monday night to reflect updated records and strength of schedule figures entering the final week of the NFL regular season.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Bills (13-3)
The Giants’ upset of the Colts vaulted the Patriots into the top spot in the draft order because New England has the lowest strength of schedule of the teams tied for the worst record in the league. So, a loss in Week 18 would lock up the No. 1 overall pick for the Pats. However, a win over Buffalo could push them out of the top four. There is a lot at stake for Jerod Mayo’s squad in a week where the Bills, who are locked into the AFC's No. 2 seed, could be resting their starters.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Texans (9-7)
At the start of the weekend, Tennessee looked like an extreme longshot to own the first overall pick. But a loss to Jacksonville, coupled with the Giants’ win, vaulted Brian Callahan’s squad up three spots to No. 2. The Titans could be holding the keys to the 2025 draft if things fall in their direction in Week 18. Either way, they are likely to be picking inside the top five and might even be in position to draft the QB of their choice.
Week 18 opponent: at Ravens (11-5)
A miserable season in Cleveland rolls on, with the Browns losing by nine or more points for the fifth game in a row on Sunday. The good news is the loss kept the No. 1 overall pick in play for the team heading into a Week 18 matchup with the Ravens, who lead the AFC North but have yet to clinch the division title. An upset in Baltimore would change things -- and the Browns did beat the Ravens back in Week 8 -- but Cleveland is in an excellent position to pick inside the top five.
Week 18 opponent: at Eagles (13-3)
It seemed a fait accompli that the Giants would pick first in 2025. Drew Lock had other ideas. Lock’s five-touchdown day against the Colts propelled the G-Men to their first win since Oct. 6, sending New York tumbling down the draft order after it had been in the No. 1 slot for five straight weeks. The Giants’ hopes for the first pick are almost completely dead. It would take a lot of help for them to get back to the top of the order, and a win over the Eagles, who could be resting starters, could push Brian Daboll’s squad out of the top five.
Week 18 opponent: at Colts (7-9)
If not for the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars might have been holding the No. 1 overall pick heading into Week 18. Half of Jacksonville’s wins this season have come against the Titans, including Sunday’s 20-13 victory, which killed the Jags’ chances of picking first. They still have a good chance at a top-five pick, but that could also fall by the wayside if they hand the Colts their second straight defeat to close out the season.
Week 18 opponent: at Falcons (8-8)
Carolina came crashing back to earth in a blowout loss to the Buccaneers, one week after upsetting the Cardinals. Which Panthers team will show up in Week 18? The answer to that question could determine whether they end up picking inside the top five, though they are not guaranteed to move up even with a loss. They’ll be playing the Falcons, who still have a chance to win the NFC South title.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Dolphins (8-8)
They would need some significant help to make it happen, but the Jets still have an outside chance of picking inside the top five after getting rocked by the Bills on Sunday. New York could slide down the board a bit with a win over the Dolphins -- who still have a shot at the postseason entering Week 18 -- at MetLife Stadium, but it’s going to take a much better effort for the team to even be competitive.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Chargers (10-6)
What a difference the last two weeks have made for the future of the Raiders. They were closing in on the No. 1 overall pick entering Week 16, but after victories over the Jaguars and Saints, the first pick is no longer in play for them and their chances of picking in the top five have plummeted.
Week 18 opponent: at Packers (11-5)
The Bears have lost 10 games in a row, but they have been locked in the No. 9 spot since Week 15. With an SOS that keeps moving up, it’s going to take a loss to the Packers and wins by multiple 4-12 teams in Week 18 for Chicago to see any significant move up in the order.
Week 18 opponent: at Buccaneers (9-7)
The Saints could use one of the draft’s top QB prospects, but barring a trade, it looks like they won’t be picking high enough to land one of them. They do not have any shot of moving into the top five, even with a loss to the Buccaneers.
Week 18 opponent: at Cardinals (7-9)
There is not a ton of suspense when it comes to the 49ers’ draft positioning. They have been eliminated from playoff contention, and they cannot pick any higher than No. 11. Having the highest SOS in the league is not helping the cause right now -- a win over Arizona would push them down the board.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Jaguars (4-12)
The Colts came into Week 17 with a chance to make the playoffs, but those hopes were shattered by the Giants and now Indianapolis could leave Week 18 with a top 12 pick. A very mediocre team figures to fittingly end up somewhere in the middle of the draft order.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Commanders (11-5)
Mike McCarthy’s chances of leading the Cowboys to a fourth straight winning season were crushed by the Eagles on Sunday. Six weeks ago, it looked like Jerry Jones’ franchise would be picking inside the top 10, but Dallas is destined to end up somewhere in the middle of Round 1 after winning four of its last six.
Week 18 opponent: vs. 49ers (6-10)
I’m not sure what the Cardinals did during their Week 11 bye, but they might want to try something different next season. Arizona has lost five of six games since the break, guaranteeing the team a top-17 pick in April.
Week 18 opponent: at Jets (4-12)
Miami is still alive in the race for the final wild-card spot in the AFC. So, there is a wide range of outcomes for draft positioning as it pertains to the Dolphins, who have the league’s lowest SOS. They could pick just outside the top 10 or end up out of the top 18 if they make the playoffs.
Week 18 opponent: at Steelers (10-6)
The Bengals are in a similar position to the Dolphins -- they enter Week 18 with their playoff hopes still alive, but a pick just outside the top 10 is in play, too. The difference is Cincinnati faces a tougher obstacle in Week 18, with a road trip to face a Steelers team coming off a mini-bye.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Panthers (4-12)
After losing on Sunday night, Atlanta now has to beat the Panthers and hope the Saints can pull off a stunning upset over the Bucs to clinch the NFC South. That’s the only way the Falcons will make the playoffs. The most likely outcome for them is picking somewhere in the middle of Round 1.
Week 18 opponent: at Rams (10-6)
Things are fairly static in Seattle, as far as draft positioning goes. The Seahawks will be picking somewhere between Picks 16-18 after being eliminated from playoff contention with the Commanders’ win on Sunday night.
Week 18 opponent: vs. Chiefs (15-1)
Week 18 opponent: at Titans (3-13)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Saints (5-11)
Week 18 opponent: at Raiders (4-12)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Bengals (8-8)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Seahawks (9-7)
Week 18 opponent: at Cowboys (7-9)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Bears (4-12)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Browns (3-13)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Giants (3-13)
Week 18 opponent: at Patriots (3-13)
Week 18 opponent: at Lions (14-2)
Week 18 opponent: vs. Vikings (14-2)
Week 18 opponent: at Broncos (9-7)
