Projected 2024 NFL Draft order: Chicago Bears are guaranteed the No. 1 overall pick

It’s official. The Chicago Bears have the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This is not because of any specific failing on their part. In fact, the Bears’ 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons marked their fourth win in the last five games. Chicago’s defense has been swarming and its offense, powered by Justin Fields and DJ Moore, is finally beginning to look like fans had hoped at the start of the season.

Conversely, the Carolina Panthers, who owe the Bears their first round pick following last spring’s deal that gave team owner David Tepper (seen in Week 17 launching a drink at Jacksonville Jaguars fans in a 26-0 loss) the latitude to draft Bryce Young, have been a disaster. Carolina traded away DJ Moore, two second round picks, the draft assets needed to select offensive tackle Darnell Wright 10th overall, and what’s now assured to be 2024’s No. 1 overall pick in order to select Young, who has struggled as a rookie. Those struggles have led to a 2-14 record, which will be the worst in the NFL regardless of how they fare in Week 18.

This creates a springboard for Chicago to vault into NFC North contention at the Panthers’ expense. But who’ll be picking after them? Here’s the current 2024 NFL Draft order with one week remaining in the 2023 regular season.

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) (2-14)
2. Washington Commanders (4-12)
3. New England Patriots (4-12)
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
5. New York Giants (5-11)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
7. Tennessee Titans (5-11)
8. New York Jets (6-10)
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
10. Chicago Bears (7-9)
11. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
12. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
14. Denver Broncos (8-8)
15. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
17. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans) (9-7)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
19. Green Bay Packers (8-8)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
21. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
23. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
24. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
25. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
26. Detroit Lions (11-5)
27. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
28. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) (11-5)
29. Miami Dolphins (11-5)
30. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
31. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
32. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)