How Does the NFL Draft Order Work?

NFL draft order is set by the previous season's results in reverse: the team with the worst record picks first, the Super Bowl champion picks last. Ties are broken by strength of schedule.

The Basic Rule

Each round runs in reverse order of the prior season's standings. Non-playoff teams occupy the first 18 slots, ordered worst record to best. The remaining 14 slots go to playoff teams, ordered by how far they advanced, with the Super Bowl winner picking 32nd.

Tiebreakers

Teams with identical records are ordered by strength of schedule — the combined win percentage of their opponents. The team that faced the easier schedule picks first. Remaining ties are settled by division and conference records, then by a coin toss.

Compensatory Picks

Additional selections are awarded at the end of rounds three through seven to clubs that lost more or better free agents than they signed. These are assigned by formula and, unlike standard picks, may be traded under current rules.

Trades

Draft slots are freely tradable, so the order on draft night often differs from the order set in January. Browse any year below to see where every pick actually landed.