6 NFL Playoff Contenders with Best 2023 NFL Draft Outlooks

Late in every season, fans begin to think about the next NFL draft. Losses don't always sting as much because an improvement in the first-round order is at stake.

Some playoff contenders have the best of both worlds, though.

Thanks to previous trades, each of the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles have a pair of first-rounders. Several other postseason hopefuls have a nice collection of picks too.

Since the timing of playoff exits affects the order, picks are unofficial. But these franchises have optimism for the present and future.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Trevor Lawrence

Toss an asterisk here, perhaps, and take either possible AFC South champion. However, it's fair to say the surging Jacksonville Jaguars are a more reasonable choice than the flailing Tennessee Titans.

Jacksonville has enjoyed the star turn of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the first pick of the 2021 draft. He's put the franchise on the brink of a division title, needing only a season-ending win against Tennessee to secure the Jags' second playoff trip in the last 15 years.

Their draft outlook is bolstered on the back end.

Jacksonville holds its first four selections, plus a fourth-rounder from a 2022 trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Jaguars packaged their fifth-rounder for Calvin Ridley (conditional upon his reinstatement from his gambling-related suspension), they landed a pair of additional sixth-rounders in previous player trades.

The season-ending hot streak and slightly above-average draft capital is a nice combination for Jacksonville.

Green Bay Packers

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Aaron Rodgers, Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love

From an overall perspective, the 8-8 Green Bay Packers have issues. Despite the team potentially salvaging a wild-card berth, the offense has looked lifeless for much of the season. Aaron Rodgers' future is unknown, and Green Bay is firmly in salary-cap hell.

But, hey, the draft is reassuring!

Green Bay holds the dramatic collection of—drumroll, please—its own picks through five rounds. But there's also a projected fifth-round compensatory choice for Marquez Valdes-Scantling and sixth-rounder for Lucas Patrick, per Over the Cap, along with a trio of seventh-rounders.

That shouldn't be taken for granted. Several teams with worse records, including the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints, would be thrilled to have a baseline amount of picks.

Green Bay has a tricky offseason ahead, but there's real hope for improvement in the draft.

New England Patriots

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Bill Belichick

The masters of trading down are well-positioned again.

Along with controlling their picks in Rounds 1 and 2, the New England Patriots are slightly higher in the next two rounds because of previous trades with the Carolina Panthers and Rams, respectively.

New England also holds its fourth-, sixth- and seventh-round selections and an extra sixth-rounder from Carolina. The primary boost for the Patriots is from projected compensatory picks for J.C. Jackson (fourth), Ted Karras (sixth) and Brandon Bolden (seventh).

Bill Belichick and Co. may squeeze into the playoffs and have 11 draft picks to maneuver this offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles

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Nick Sirianni

Middle-round selections are valuable. But if Philadelphia, which lacks picks in the fourth through sixth rounds, cares deeply about those choices, it can trade back.

The front office might not want to, though.

Thanks to a brilliant trade with New Orleans last year, the Eagles—in addition to eventually adding key receiver A.J. Brown in part thanks to the 2022 first-rounder acquired in the trade—own a potential top-10 pick in 2023 while they chase a Super Bowl ring.

Philly holds its selections from Rounds 1 to 3, so there's room for tactical draft-day trading if the right opportunity comes around.

No matter what decisions the Eagles make in the spring, the ability to bolster a Jalen Hurts-led roster with no fewer than four top-100 draft selections is highly appealing.

Detroit Lions

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Jameson Williams

Should the Detroit Lions keep quarterback Jared Goff?

That question will define the offseason for the 8-8 Lions, who could save $20-plus million if they release him. Whether either of Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud—and maybe Will Levis, depending on the evaluation—fall to Detroit in the draft may impact that decision, as well.

Now, the Lions even having this discussion while sitting a win (and help) from a wild-card bid is worthy of praise in several ways. That could get off-topic quickly, but the point is Detroit—after sending Matthew Stafford to the Super Bowl-winning Rams—has a guaranteed top-nine pick in 2023 in addition to its own Round 1 selection.

Like any good infomercial: But wait, there's more!

Around the trade deadline, the Lions landed a second-rounder from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for T.J. Hockenson. The deal netted a fourth top-63 overall pick and fifth top-100 choice.

Head coach Dan Campbell has inspired and general manager Brad Holmes has organized this rapid, compelling turnaround in Detroit.

Seattle Seahawks

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Geno Smith and DK Metcalf

The final episodes on the Russell Wilson trade aren't written, but there's no question the Seattle Seahawks emerged as the emphatic winner of its opening season.

Geno Smith suddenly became a competent NFL quarterback in Wilson's absence, and Denver had an absolute nightmarish year. Although the 8-8 Seahawks have faded down the stretch, they—like Detroit—are a victory and help removed from making the playoffs.

Most notably, they're locked into a top-five draft pick from Denver and control the Broncos' early second-rounder. Seattle occupies its prescribed slots through the sixth round, as well.

As a result, the Seahawks have options.

Do they re-sign Smith, who's an impending free agent, and trade back to stockpile picks? Do they bank on selecting Young or Stroud and build around the rookie quarterback? Do they attempt some combination of those?

Seattle is not guaranteed to develop and execute, but no playoff hopeful has as much draft flexibility as the Seahawks.

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Salary-cap info via Over the Cap unless otherwise noted.