Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order Following Week 16 Sunday Results

The inglorious, much-anticipated race for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft is nearly complete.

Sunday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers did their longtime rival a pretty big favor. Green Bay toppled the Carolina Panthers, whose NFL-worst record dropped to a paltry 2-13 and pushed the Chicago Bears one valuable step closer toward that coveted first overall selection.

Updated Draft Order

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

DJ Moore

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)

2. Arizona Cardinals

3. Washington Commanders

4. New England Patriots

5. Tennessee Titans

6. Los Angeles Chargers

7. New York Giants

8. Chicago Bears

9. New York Jets

10. Las Vegas Raiders

11. Atlanta Falcons

12. New Orleans Saints

13. Green Bay Packers

14. Denver Broncos

15. Minnesota Vikings

16. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans)

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

18. Cincinnati Bengals

19. Indianapolis Colts

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Seattle Seahawks

22. Jacksonville Jaguars

23. Los Angeles Rams

24. Buffalo Bills

25. Kansas City Chiefs

26. Dallas Cowboys

27. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)

28. Philadelphia Eagles

29. Miami Dolphins

30. Detroit Lions

31. San Francisco 49ers

32. Baltimore Ravens

Panthers Helps the Bears

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 24: Raheem Blackshear #3 of the Carolina Panthers scores a two point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

If you're looking for a bright side, the Carolina Panthers recovered from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

But the NFL's worst team couldn't find a winning finish.

Carolina quarterback Bryce Young hit DJ Chark for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, helping the Panthers bounce back from a 30-16 deficit. But the Panthers surrendered a late scoring drive, as the Packers leaned on Anders Carlson for a winning 32-yard field goal in the last minute of a 33-30 win.

The loss ensured the Bears would continue to have the most straightforward path to the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Carolina, 2-13, closes the regular season at the Jacksonville Jaguars and home to the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bears Beat Cardinals, But...

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 24: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field on December 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Winning a game is objectively a good thing. Late in the regular season, it gets a little more complicated.

After a relatively brutal start, the Chicago Bears have started to play considerably more competitively lately. They've won four of the last six games, including Sunday's 27-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

As a result, the Bears are drifting a little farther away from a top-five selection. In fact, Chicago is drifting out of the Top 10.

In theory, that's not a problem. The challenging issue is whether the franchise wants to move on from third-year quarterback Justin Fields in favor of USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye, given that Chicago holds the Panthers' top overall selection.

No matter how the Bears finish, though, it's clear that they're hoping the Panthers lose the next two games.