With only four weeks left in the 2019 regular season, a number of non-contending NFL teams have already started to look ahead to the impending offseason, and specifically, the 2020 draft. Four teams — the Bengals, Giants, Dolphins, and Redskins — still have a realistic chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, according to Football Outsiders’ odds.
Let’s take a look at each of those teams and assess the likelihood that they’ll be picking first overall next April:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Record: 1-11
- 59.6% chance of securing No. 1 overall pick per FO
- Remaining schedule: Browns, Patriots, Dolphins, Browns
The Bengals didn’t exactly head into the 2019 campaign with the intention of tanking, but that’s what’s happened, as Cincinnati didn’t secure its first victory until last week. With Andy Dalton now back under center, the Bengals certainly stand a better chance of winning another game or two than they would have under rookie three-game starter Ryan Finley. But there’s still a very real — and perhaps even likely scenario — in which Cincinnati finished 1-15 en route to selecting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first overall.
New York Giants
- Record: 2-10
- 22.7% chance of securing No. 1 overall pick
- Remaining schedule: Eagles, Dolphins, Redskins, Eagles
Like the Bengals, the Giants are also turning back to their old starter, albeit involuntarily. With Daniel Jones nursing an ankle sprain, Eli Manning could potentially start Big Blue’s four remaining games. They’ll get to face the reeling Eagles twice over the next four weeks, and will also go up against two other clubs — Miami and Washington — which are also vying for the No. 1 pick. With Jones already in tow, New York isn’t going to draft another quarterback, so it could either trade down (not a favorite tactic of general manager Dave Gettleman) or select a generational defender like Ohio State’s Chase Young with the first overall pick.
Miami Dolphins
- Record: 3-9
- 8.5% chance of securing No. 1 overall pick
- Remaining schedule: Jets, Giants, Bengals, Patriots
The Dolphins’ tanking efforts haven’t exactly gone according to plan, but that’s okay, as Miami’s players have continued to go hard for first-year head coach Brian Flores, with the club winning three of its last five games. While it doesn’t appear the Dolphins are going to secure the top pick in next year’s draft, they do still have an outside shot at doing so, especially given that they’ll play both the Giants and Bengals over the next month.
Washington Redskins
- Record: 3-9
- 7.9% chance of securing No. 1 overall pick
- Remaining schedule: Packers, Eagles, Giants, Cowboys
The only team on this list that will definitively have a new head coach in 2020, the Redskins probably lost any chance they had at the No. 1 pick by surprisingly defeating the Panthers in Week 13 (and may have gotten Carolina head coach Ron Rivera fired in the process). Of all the teams vying for the first overall pick, Washington faces arguably the most difficult schedule, as they’ll square off with three teams that are still contending for the postseason.
So what do you think? Which of these teams will be first at the podium when the 2020 draft rolls? Vote below (link for app users):
Ron Rivera to Washington?
Washington is likely to get Marvin Lewis
Daniel Snyder’s first choice would probably be Jerry Lewis…but he’s dead.
Redskins had a shot until they screwed around and won 2 in a row.
Makes you wonder what would have been had they pulled the plug on Gruden sooner.
Giants with Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Chase Young on defense would be a good place for a rebuilding franchise.
Throw in having Barkley at RB and young Daniel Jones they would be looking pretty alright.
Time for Eli’s revenge by winning a few games
Could have been Josh Allen (Jacksonville) in that mix too
Only the G-men have won this century. The other 3 are always Botton feeders.
Trubisky to the Bengals for the first overall pick (well, I can dream can’t I?)