Chicago officially controls the top of the draft for the second year in a row.
The Bears own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to the Carolina Panthers. Carolina clinched the top pick last week and lost again Sunday to finish a league-worst 2-15, but the pick is owed to Chicago as compensation for the first pick in the 2023 draft.
Another trade could be in the cards if Bears general manager Ryan Poles nets an offer similar to the haul he took back from the Panthers for the top pick in 2023.
At No. 2, the Washington Commanders are in the same spot they were in 2020, when they selected defensive end Chase Young from Ohio State. Young was traded during the 2023 season and the Commanders are expected to part with head coach Ron Rivera, who was in his first draft when Washington selected Young.
The New England Patriots have the third pick in the draft, their first top-10 selection since 2008 (Jerod Mayo). New England faces uncertainty around the future of head coach Bill Belichick for the first time in 24 years and last owned a pick in the top five in 1994 (Willie McGinest, No. 4 overall).
Quarterbacks are projected to top the draft again with Southern California’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU among the candidates for the first pick. Since Michael Vick was the top pick in 2001, 17 quarterbacks were selected No. 1.
A one-point loss to Seattle on Sunday locked the Arizona Cardinals (4-13) into the No. 4 pick, one spot ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers (5-12). The Chargers are hiring a new head coach and general manager in the offseason. They’ll be armed with the team’s highest pick since drafting quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth pick in 2020.
One year after a playoff appearance, the New York Giants draft No. 6 ahead of the Tennessee Titans.
Atlanta’s third consecutive 7-10 season locked the Falcons into the No. 8 pick for the third year in a row.
Poles and the Bears are at No. 9, ahead of the New York Jets (10th) and Minnesota Vikings (11th).
Nos. 12-18 will be the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals.
Playoff elimination order is needed to settle the remaining picks of the first round.
–Field Level Media