Updated 2024 NFL Draft order: Bears stay in position to land No. 1 pick after Panthers fall short vs. Packers

Bryan Murphy

Updated 2024 NFL Draft order: Bears stay in position to land No. 1 pick after Panthers fall short vs. Packers image

The No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is at the top of the Bears' wish list this holiday season. With just two weeks remaining after Week 16, they are on track for their wish to be granted. 

Carolina gave Green Bay — and Chicago — a scare on Sunday, but ultimately the Panthers fell to the Packers at home. In the dying minute of the game, the Panthers had a chance to drive down the field and set up a game-tying field goal; however, time ran out before Bryce Young could spike the ball, allowing the Packers to escape with a 33-30 victory in Charlotte.

With the Carolina loss, Chicago remains in position to land the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Bears acquired the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick in the trade for the 2023 first overall selection, and have been in the top spot for a majority of this season with the Panthers sitting at a lowly 2-13.

With the Cardinals losing to the Bears, Arizona (3-12) and New England beating the Broncos, Arizona sits in the No. 2 spot entering Week 17, followed by the Commanders and Patriots. 

MORE: NFL updated playoff standings, clinching scenarios

Here's an updated look at the 2024 NFL Draft order after Week 16:

NFL Draft order 2024

Pick Team Record
1 Bears (from CAR) 2-13
2 Cardinals 3-12
3 Commanders 4-11
4 Patriots 4-11
5 Giants 5-10
6 Chargers 5-10
7 Titans 5-10
8 Bears 6-9
9 Jets 6-9
10 Falcons 7-8
11 Saints 7-8
12 Packers 7-8
13 Raiders 7-8
14 Broncos 7-8
15 Vikings 7-8
16 Cardinals (from HOU) 8-7
17 Steelers 8-7
18 Bengals 8-7
19 Buccaneers 8-7
20 Colts 8-7
21 Seahawks 8-7
22 Jaguars 8-7
23 Rams 8-7
24 Bills 9-6
25 Chiefs 9-6
26 Cowboys 10-5
27 Texans (from CLE) 10-5
28 Lions 11-4
29 Dolphins 11-4
30 Eagles 11-4
31 49ers 11-4
32 Ravens 12-3

Notes

- The Bears own the Panthers' first-round pick as a result of the trade that sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft to Carolina and D.J. Moore to Chicago.

- The Cardinals own the Texans' first-round pick as part of Houston's trade up to select Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft.

- The Texans own the Browns' first-round pick as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade from 2022. 

MORE: NFL mock draft with three quarterbacks in top 10

NFL Draft 2024 top prospects

The 2024 NFL Draft has a number of talented quarterbacks, and there very well could be two signal callers taken with the first two selections of the draft. USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye are the consensus top options at the position, and could be the No. 1 and No. 2 pick in the draft.

Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and LSU's Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels are among other potential first- or second-round prospects at quarterback. Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. leads a wide receiver room that is loaded. Florida State's Keon Coleman and Washington's Rome Odunze are also among the highly touted pass-catchers. 

Offensive tackle is another position of strength in this draft class, as Penn State's Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame's Joe Alt are both projected to be top-10 picks.

As for the defensive side of the ball, Alabama standouts Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner are among the top defensive prospects.

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.