NFL Draft Order Locks in for Top 18 Picks
The NFL Draft is not for another few months, but for several football teams, they're already looking ahead to that day. The order of the first 18 picks is set. Those teams missed the playoffs and cannot change position without trading. The rest of the 14 picks will be determined by playoff performance. Here's what the draft looks like now.
NFL draft order before playoffs begin
The Las Vegas Raiders clinched the first overall pick just a day before firing head coach Pete Carroll. They are officially on the clock:
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts)
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
That leaves the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars to decide the remaining 14 picks.
It's not a deep quarterback class, especially if Trinidad Chambliss is granted another year of college eligibility and stays. But, interestingly enough, three of the top five teams could draft a QB. Among those 18, you could argue that five or more teams need one.
There are also some playoff teams, namely the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could be in the market as well. It will be interesting to see which teams take the plunge on that one. The Rams are an interesting one, given Matthew Stafford's age and the Falcons' pick they own, too.
Mock draft for first 18 picks
The NFL Draft is months away. Prospects will rise and fall a ton between now and then. The order might even change depending on some teams trading with others. As of now, here's what the first 18 picks, the ones locked in, could look like:
- Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
- Dante Moore, QB, New York Jets
- Arvell Reese, LB, Arizona Cardinals
- Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
- Jordyn Tyson, WR, New York Giants
- Ty Simpson, QB, Cleveland Browns
- Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Washington Commanders
- Keldric Faulk, EDGE, New Orleans Saints
- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
- Caleb Downs, S, Cincinnati Bengals
- Mansoor Delane, CB, Miami Dolphins
- David Bailey, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
- Spencer Fano, OT, Los Angeles Rams
- Peter Woods, DT, Baltimore Ravens
- Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Makai Lemon, WR, New York Jets
- Francis Mauioga, OT, Detroit Lions
- Jermod McCoy, CB, Minnesota Vikings
The Raiders, Jets, and Browns all get their franchise QBs, and the Jets even add a terrific weapon to go with Garrett Wilson. The Commanders land arguably the best player in the draft in Bain Jr., while the Bengals get a steal on Caleb Downs.
Playoff teams
Continuing on with the order as it is now:
- 19. Sonny Styles, LB, Carolina Panthers
- 20. Avieon Terrell, CB, Dallas Cowboys
- 21. Denzel Boston, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 22. Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Los Angeles Chargers
- 23. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
- 24. Chris Bell, WR, Buffalo Bills
- 25. Caleb Banks, DT, Chicago Bears
- 26. CJ Allen, LB, San Francisco 49ers
- 27. Caleb Lomu, OT, Houston Texans
- 28. Germie Bernard, WR, Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)
- 29. Colton Hood, CB, Los Angeles Rams
- 30. TJ Parker, EDGE, New England Patriots
- 31. KC Concepcion, WR, Denver Broncos
- 32. Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks
The Panthers fill a glaring hole on defense. The Steelers nab a much-needed WR2. The Bills finally get a real weapon for Josh Allen, and the Texans try to protect CJ Stroud. Both the Patriots and Seahawks address the edge by adding a top-end talent to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
