It took the Bears until Week 18 for the No. 1 draft slot to become a reality; the Panthers did not make them wait that long this year. Carolina’s struggles will give Chicago the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight year. How the Bears will proceed with that pick will become one of the NFL’s defining 2024 storylines.
The Cardinals’ unexpected conquest in Philadelphia knocked them down two slots in the 2024 draft order. As a result, the Commanders — who resided in the fourth position before the Patriots’ Christmas Eve upset ended the Russell Wilson era in Denver — hold the No. 2 pick going into the regular season’s final Sunday.
The Commanders benched Sam Howell in back-to-back weeks and were set to, prior to a midweek Jacoby Brissett setback, shelve him for Week 17 as well. The Ron Rivera era is in its final days, with front office changes likely as well. A Commanders-Caleb Williams connection has emerged, which would make Washington quite interested in what Chicago does at No. 1 overall — or key another round of Bears talks about dropping from 1 to 2, which took place with the Texans this offseason. With the Bears likely considering another Justin Fields season and the Cardinals having Kyler Murray tied to a $46.1MM-per-year contract, the Commanders are suddenly a team to watch regarding a QB investment.
Bill Belichick is also perched as a key 2024 domino, but with the legendary HC not eager to leave New England, one of the most important decisions in franchise history awaits Robert Kraft. Belichick or his replacement could hold a top-three pick in 2024, though another Pats win — they have the Jets in Week 18 — would complicate an effort to land a top-tier QB prospect.
Entering Week 18, here is how the 2024 draft order looks:
- Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
- Washington Commanders: 4-12
- New England Patriots: 4-12
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-12
- New York Giants: 5-11
- Los Angeles Chargers: 5-11
- Tennessee Titans: 5-11
- New York Jets: 6-10
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-9
- Chicago Bears: 7-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 7-9
- Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
- New Orleans Saints: 8-8
- Denver Broncos: 8-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-8
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
- Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
- Green Bay Packers: 8-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
- Indianapolis Colts: 9-7
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7
- Los Angeles Rams: 9-7
- Buffalo Bills: 10-6
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5
- Detroit Lions: 11-5
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Miami Dolphins: 11-5
- Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
- San Francisco 49ers: 12-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
I say the Texans aren’t worried about trading up for Will Anderson JR last year. Considered to be a top 3 pick, & they got him for the 17th this year.
Steelers at 9-7 are picking ahead of G.B. And Tampa Bay currently at 8-8?
NVM. Potential playoff teams
The 2024 draft looks a lot like the 2012 draft. The Bears are going to leave the Commanders second place no matter what. The Commanders will get RGIII instead of Luck once again, always the bridges maid and never the bride.
It’s not that QB’s are overrated, but if you look at the recent history of successful #1 drafted QB’s, it’s bleak. In no particular order; Young, Burrow, Murray, Mayfield, Lawrence, Goff, Winston…
Point being bad teams aren’t 1 QB away from all of a sudden competing. Burrow would probably be the best, but has been severely injured in 2 out of 4 seasons.
The biggest question is who will be the QB needy teams that want to trade up with the Bears? Washington and New England I would think but both of those teams might have totally new FO’s and Coaches next year. The Giants come to mind and the Chargers and Titans are probably OK with what they have. The QB needy teams really didn’t fall well this year and I don’t think that Poles will want to go back to 9 or below like last year. If the Jets moved up to draft Rodgers new replacement he’ll have a hissy fit. The Raiders and Vikings would do it but that’s a long way to fall again 2 years in a row. The real question is who values one QB above all the others? I don’t think there is one real good answer to that question yet. and won’t be one for a while.
I would think the pats would be ahead of Washington because they beat the pats in w9
SoS is the tiebreaker. H2H doesn’t matter.
I think mock drafts are vastly underestimating the interest in the quarterbacks coming out in this draft. This is a very deep class at the top. There are at least a half dozen who are capable of stepping in day one as starters. Everyone knows the top two but the four after (Daniels, Penix Jr, Nix and McCarthy), are experienced, athletic with NFL quality arms and were productive at the highest level of college football. Mock drafters are sleeping on these guys. The value of a having a capable starting qb on a rookie contract is immense. Brock Purdy and SF a good example.
I agree with most of this, however, it takes a Kyle Shanahan to make a Brock Purdy successful. Very few coaches at his level.
Come on Bears- tell Harrison he is your number One pick!!!
CMon Vikes lay down and lose Sunday and just possibly move up a spot or two.
I’m hoping the same for the Pats, which means they’re going to win and drop all the way down from 3 to 7. Ugh.
The Pats NEED one of the top 3 QBs, or this entire pathetic season has been for naught and set them back multiple years.