Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order After Sunday's Week 13 Results
The Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions both have a top-four pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but that's not because either team is struggling this season.
They made trades that delivered first-round picks to them for next year's talent grab, and both are working out well. Seattle has the Denver Broncos' No. 3 selection, while Detroit has the next selection from the Los Angeles Rams.
If the Broncos and Rams can't get things on track, it will help the Seahawks and Lions in terms of draft value. And with only five weeks to go in the regular season, these teams don't have much time left, either.
Here's a look at the projected order for the 2023 NFL draft with almost all of the Week 13 action complete (except for a Monday night matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
1. Houston Texans (1-10-1)
2. Chicago Bears (3-10)
3. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) (3-9)
4. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) (3-9)
5. Carolina Panthers (4-8)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) (4-8)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)
8. Arizona Cardinals (4-8)
9. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
10. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
11. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
12. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) (5-7)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)
15. Detroit Lions (5-7)
16. Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)
17. New England Patriots (6-6)
18. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
20. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
21. Tennessee Titans (7-5)
22. New York Jets (7-5)
23. New York Giants (7-4-1)
24. Forfeited pick (via Miami Dolphins) (8-4)
25. Denver Broncos (via San Francisco 49ers) (8-4)
26. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
27. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4)
28. Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
29. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3)
30. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
31. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (11-1)
Draft order via Tankathon.com.
Texans Can't Take Down Former Quarterback
No team has fewer than three wins this season other than the Texans, which have now dropped seven straight games since their Week 6 bye. On Sunday, they fell 27-14 to Cleveland in a matchup notable for who started at quarterback for the Browns.
That game marked the Cleveland debut for former Texans signal-caller Deshaun Watson. Even though he didn't put up huge numbers, the Browns' defense and special teams powered them to victory.
Things aren't going to get any easier for Houston. Its next three games are against the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, a trio of teams likely headed to the playoffs this season.
The Texans have been on a trajectory toward the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft for some time, and that didn't change in Week 13.
Bears' Struggles Continue Against NFC North Rival
Much like the Texans, the Bears haven't been able to end a recent skid. And that didn't change in Week 13, when they hosted one of their NFC North rivals.
Chicago fell 28-19 to the Packers, which had lost seven of their previous eight games. The Bears had a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but Green Bay scored 18 unanswered points to close out the game.
There have been positives for the Bears during this losing streak, but they still haven't been able to pull out a win. And that may not change the rest of the regular season, either.
After a Week 14 bye, Chicago's final four matchups are against the Eagles, Bills, Lions and Vikings. That's a challenging stretch that may not bode well for the team, which seems set to be picking early in April.
Seahawks, Lions Continue to Benefit from Trades
If the season ended today, the Seahawks and Lions would have the Nos. 3 and 4 picks in the 2023 NFL draft, respectively. But that would be because of the struggles for the Broncos and Rams.
Denver has lost four straight games and eight of its past nine. That's helping Seattle, which owns the Broncos' first-round pick for next year as part of the Russell Wilson trade in March.
Things might not get better anytime soon for Denver, either, considering it plays Kansas City twice over the next four weeks.
The Rams have lost six straight games and eight of their past nine, only a season after they won the Super Bowl. Detroit owns Los Angeles' first-round pick as part of the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff exchange in January 2021 and is benefiting from those struggles.
So, the Seahawks and Lions can keep trying to win without major repercussions. Even if they lower their own pick, they just need others to keep losing in order to have the best possible selection in next year's draft.