{"id":296013,"date":"2023-12-05T05:24:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T05:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=296013"},"modified":"2023-12-05T05:24:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T05:24:04","slug":"2024-nfl-draft-order-patriots-climb-to-no-2-overall-commanders-hit-top-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/nfl\/2024-nfl-draft-order-patriots-climb-to-no-2-overall-commanders-hit-top-five\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 NFL Draft order: Patriots climb to No. 2 overall; Commanders hit top five"},"content":{"rendered":"
This is a look at the first-round order for the 2024 NFL Draft heading into Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind — teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below.<\/strong> The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.<\/p>\n Arrows reflect movement from last week’s order.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE CAROLINA PANTHERS<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Panthers’ record:<\/strong> 1-11 (.535 strength of schedule)<\/p>\n Panthers’ Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at Saints<\/p>\n Bears’ biggest needs: <\/strong>IOL, WR, TE, Edge, OT<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to the \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Montez Sweat<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> acquisition and extension, one pass rusher has been locked up for 2024 and beyond. However, Chicago will likely need to find another edge defender in the top half of the draft, as \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Yannick Ngakoue<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Rasheem Green<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> have not consistently pressured QBs this season and are impending free agents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Panthers’ needs.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> QB, CB, TE, OT, RB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at Steelers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ankle injury suffered by \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Rhamondre Stevenson<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> against the Chargers on Sunday severely depleted the Patriots’ depth at running back. Veteran Zeke Elliott has been solid but not spectacular since coming aboard in August on a one-year deal, so the team needs to add youth to its backfield this offseason.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>CB, WR, DT, IOL, Edge<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>Bye<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Cardinals have rolled with a young secondary this season, with 2023 selections \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Garrett Williams<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and Kei’Trel Clark, as well as undrafted rookie \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Starling Thomas V<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>, all seeing significant snaps. Finding a true stopper on the outside should be in the team’s vision, though, and with six picks over the first two days of the draft, Arizona has the capital to make that happen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>Edge, QB, OT, LB, WR<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>Bye<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New owner Josh Harris is expected to examine all parts of the Commanders’ organization after the season. \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Sam Howell<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> has performed well in spots this year, despite facing constant pressure up front, but if Harris isn’t sold on the 2022 fifth-round pick, he may want “his guy” to lead the franchise. Picking at the top of the draft means all possibilities are on the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Lions<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See Pick No. 1 for analysis of the Bears’ needs.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> RB, DT, QB, OL, WR<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Packers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Giants traded \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Leonard Williams<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> at the deadline instead of extending his contract. And with veteran \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>A’Shawn Robinson<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> scheduled to hit free agency, they\u2019ll need to find at least one defensive lineman in the draft to work with \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Dexter Lawrence<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff<\/span>Rakeem Nunez-Roches<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>OT, CB, WR, Edge, RB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at Dolphins<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>DeAndre Hopkins<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Will Levis<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> are growing together this year in the hopes of becoming an elite combination in 2024. The makeup of the rest of the receiver group is yet to be determined, with former first-round pick \ufeff<\/span>Treylon Burks<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> failing to live up to his draft billing and steady veterans \ufeff<\/span>Chris Moore<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff<\/span>Nick Westbrook-Ikhine<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> on expiring deals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>OT, IOL, QB, S, WR<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Texans<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Jets could have two new starting offensive tackles next year. Former first-round pick \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Mekhi Becton<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> (2020) is due to hit free agency after the team declined to exercise his fifth-year option, and former fourth-rounders \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Max Mitchell<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> (2022) and \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Carter Warren<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> (2023) are unproven. General manager Joe Douglas needs to do his best to keep \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Aaron Rodgers<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> healthy next season, and improving the offensive line would be a good start.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> OT, OG, Edge, LB, CB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Panthers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Saints defense struggled early against the Lions, eventually giving up 142 rushing yards and allowing rookie tight end \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Sam LaPorta<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> to post a career-best performance. The unit steadied the ship a bit in the second half, but changes are coming at the linebacker position, with free agent \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Zack Baun<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and others potentially looking for new homes next season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> QB, CB, OT, IOL, RB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Vikings<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The cornerback room has had a revolving door this year, with the signing of \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Jack Jones<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and the release of veterans \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Marcus Peters<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>David Long<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> in recent weeks. With \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Brandon Facyson<\/span><\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> a potential offseason cut candidate (he’s been on IR since early September), and with \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Amik Robertson<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> being an upcoming free agent, Vegas could see a complete turnover at the position in 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>QB, IOL, LB, S, CB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at Falcons<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Veteran linebackers \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Lavonte David<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Devin White<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> both missed Sunday’s game against Carolina due to injury, as did rookie \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>SirVocea Dennis<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>. \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>K.J. Britt<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> then exited the game due to a back injury, leaving the team in dire straits. Thankfully, little-used \ufeff\ufeff<\/span>J.J. Russell<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> stepped up against a poor Panthers offense, but the team will need to bolster this linebacker group if free agents David and White are not around in 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> CB, RB, DT, TE, OT<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>vs. Broncos<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Chargers unloaded cornerback \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>J.C. Jackson<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> (and his massive contract) to the Patriots earlier this year and have one of the worst passing defenses in the league. They handled an underwhelming Patriots offense this week, but one or two cornerback selections are likely in April, given the state of the team\u2019s depth chart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs: <\/strong>DT, S, Edge, WR, CB<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at Chiefs<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Von Miller<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>‘s recent arrest on domestic violence charges could affect his return to the team in 2024, which was already an uncertainty because of his minimal production, age (he’ll turn 35 in March) and significant cap number. \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Leonard Floyd<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>, \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>A.J. Epenesa<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> and \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Shaq Lawson<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> are also going to be free agents, so an infusion of young pass rushers could be on the way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biggest needs:<\/strong> LB, OG, S, DT, Edge<\/p>\n Week 14 opponent: <\/strong>at 49ers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff<\/span>Jamal Adams<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> has yet to play more than 12 games in a season since joining Seattle back in 2020, and \ufeff\ufeff