Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order Following Week 15 Results

The Carolina Panthers added some drama to the race for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft with their win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Carolina still holds the worst record in the NFL, but now it is only one game behind the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots with three games left in the regular season.

Arizona and New England need some help to eclipse the Panthers in the standings, and by way of last year's trade, the Chicago Bears in the draft order, but the task is not impossible after Week 15.

The Bears must be a little nervous about the fight displayed by the Panthers in their rain-soaked divisional battle and if that will translate to the next three weeks.

Chicago moved back into possession of two top-five picks through its heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Bears moved back into the top five ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers, who temporarily had a top-five selection after Thursday night.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 17: Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) rolls out of the pocket during the first quarter of the National Football League game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2023, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Chicago (via Carolina - 2-12)

2. New England (3-11)

3. Arizona (3-11)

4. Washington (4-10)

5. Chicago (5-9)

6. New York Jets (5-9)

7. New York Giants (5-9)

8. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)

9. Tennessee (5-9)

10. Atlanta (6-8)

11. Green Bay (6-8)

12. Las Vegas (6-8)

13 .Seattle (6-7)

14. New Orleans (7-7)

15. Denver (7-7)

16. Pittsburgh (7-7)

17. Arizona (via Houston - 8-6)

18. Buffalo (8-6)

19. Tampa Bay (7-7)

20. Minnesota (7-7)

21. Los Angeles Rams (7-7)

22. Indianapolis (8-6)

23. Jacksonville (8-6)

24. Cincinnati (8-6)

25. Kansas City (9-5)

26. Houston (via Cleveland - 9-5)

27. Dallas (10-4)

28. Detroit (10-4)

29. Miami (10-4)

30. Philadelphia (10-3)

31. San Francisco (11-3)

32. Baltimore (11-3)

Panthers Win Adds Some Drama to No. 1 Pick Competition

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 17: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers reacts during the second half of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Carolina's second win of the season did not change the draft order after Sunday, but it at least added some intrigue to the No. 1 pick competition for the next three weeks.

The Panthers did not exactly play great football, but they found a way to win a 9-7 contest against the Falcons.

Carolina could generate some momentum from Sunday's win. The franchise could use winning out and playing spoiler in the NFC South as a rallying cry.

The motivation dynamic is different than in most years for the franchise with the worst record because the Bears own the Panthers' first-round selection from the trade that brought Bryce Young to Carolina last offseason.

Carolina should be a heavy underdog in its final three games against the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Panthers should use that as more motivation to spoil the Bears' perceived easy path to the No. 1 pick through their futility.

Carolina may not be able to get help from poor weather conditions in any of those games, but the confidence gained from Sunday could at least make the Panthers frisky.

Arizona, New England Have Schedules That Allow Them to Lose Out

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 17: James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals takes the field before kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Arizona and New England both should have some renewed hope of chasing down the No. 1 overall pick.

The Cardinals and Patriots are expected to lose out to compete with the Panthers for the worst record in the NFL.

Arizona, who lost by 23 points to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, visits the Bears and Philadelphia Eagles and hosts the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bears are at least playing competitive football each week and could produce some decent numbers against the porous Arizona defense. The Eagles and Seahawks will be fighting for playoff positions.

New England closes with road games against the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills and a Week 18 home clash with the New York Jets.

Denver and Buffalo both need those victories in the AFC wild-card hunt and the Patriots may not offer much offensively versus the Jets with the top pick on the line.

The Cardinals and Patriots are the only two teams who could realistically take away the top pick from the Bears and they have the schedules to lose out.