ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 16: Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals passes against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
With one week to go in the NFL season, the Arizona Cardinals are holding onto the first-overall selection in April’s draft.
For 12 teams, the journey toward the Vince Lombardi Trophy I only heating up. For the other 20 and their fans, it will soon be time — if it isn’t already — to start thinking about how to improve their club.
As we head for home in Week 17, there are nine teams already in the postseason and six more fighting for three spots. It promises to be an entertaining and excruciating afternoon of football for al involved.
Entering the final week of the NFL’s regular season, this is the draft order. Spots 21-32 are occupied by playoff teams and will change as the postseason goes along.
1. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
2. San Francisco 49ers (4-11)
3. New York Jets (4-11)
4. Oakland Raiders (4-11)
5. Detroit Lions (4-11)
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-10)
7. New York Giants (5-10)
8. Buffalo Bills (5-10)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
11. Carolina Panthers (6-9)
12. Denver Broncos (6-9)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (6-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (6-8-1)
15. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
16. Washington Redskins (7-8)
17. Cleveland Browns (7-7-1)
18. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6-1)
20. Tennessee Titans (9-6)
21. Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1)
22. Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
23. Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
24. Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
25. Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys (9-6)
26. Houston Texans (10-5)
27. Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears (11-4)
28. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
29. New England Patriots (10-5)
30. Los Angeles Rams (12-3)
31. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
32. New Orleans Saints (13-2)
Should Arizona lose to the Seahawks this weekend up in the Pacific Northwest, it would be the first time that the Cardinals “earned” the top spot since 1958. That year, the then Chicago Cardinals took quarterback King Hill, who ended his career with 37 touchdowns and 71 interceptions.
Here’s to hoping this year’s selection turns out a bit better than Mr. Hill.