Report: The playoff teams’ draft order is decided by the results of their postseason games.Looking ahead to Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season, here’s a look at the first-round order for the 2024 NFL Draft and the top five needs for each team. With schedule strength serving as the first tiebreaker, the order is decided by record (the complete list of draft-order tiebreakers can be found here). Remember that the teams listed below are designated as PL (short for playoffs) in the order that they would make the playoffs if the season ended today. The outcomes of postseason play determine the playoff teams’ draft order.
After the Bears upset the Lions on Sunday, Justin Fields showed off his dual-threat ability. To ensure his future with the team, he may need to do more of this over the next four weeks. Just a few days after the 2024 NFL Draft, on May 2, Chicago general manager Ryan Poles will have to decide whether to exercise quarterback Josh Fields’ fifth-year option, which would keep him attached to the team for the minimum of the following two seasons. Given how Carolina’s season is playing out, it seems likely that the Bears will select one of the top two picks in the draft, giving them the chance to start over at quarterback with a top player. It’s difficult to overestimate the impact the next four weeks will have on this team.
If the Cardinals want to contend for the postseason in 2024, they will need to reconstruct their offensive line from the inside out. After the season, Trystan Colon-Castillo, Pat Elflein, and Elijah Wilkinson will be free agents, so improvements and depth at left guard and center should be forthcoming. Additionally, Will Hernandez, a right guard, who is in the final year of his contract, will play.
Due to the trade deadline trade of former first-round pass rushers, Chase Young and Montez Sweat, the Commanders have two extra Day 2 picks in this year’s draft. The team will probably use one of those Friday picks, and possibly even one on Saturday, to bolster the talent on what is currently projected to be a very thing edge group in 2024, if it chooses not to use its top-five pick on the position.
