One of the big results for the top of the 2025 draft order in Week 16 was the Carolina Panthers beating the Arizona Cardinals in overtime. This win not only pushes the Panthers out of the top-five pick in the draft, but it also puts a nail in the coffin for the Cardinals in terms of their playoff hopes. Arizona will now be all but locked into a top-18 pick in the draft. And while it’s not good for Carolina to get a less valuable draft pick, the move down the order is a sign that the mood on this team has improved significantly over time.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals were flirting with a top-10 pick in the draft in the middle of what felt like a disastrous season. But with a win that keeps the rival Cleveland Browns in the top five, Cincinnati preserves its own playoff chances and moves further back in the first-round order.

However, where there were no changes, they were at the top of the draft. It was a similar story for the New York Giants, who had Drew Lock back in the starting lineup in Week 16. The G-Men were miserable and Michael Penix Jr. made that worse in his first start for the Atlanta Falcons, thoroughly beating New York. They will have the pick at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft, especially now that the Raiders’ win pushes Vegas outside the top five.

It’s almost a formality that quarterbacks disappear from the field at 1-2 when the Giants and Raiders are stuck in those spots. The big question will continue to be the order in which they come off the board. However, a report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic ($) this week suggested that Heisman finalist Cam Ward is the clear favorite to go off the board first. While Shedeur Sanders has the bigger name and exposure, he offers fewer of the rare physical tools that Ward offers. So the Giants acquire Ward and Sanders and then fall victim to the Titans, who will certainly be inclined to move on from Will Levis after a miserable run in the 2024 season.

Among the top quarterbacks is Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who is headed to the Patriots. Whether he’s a wide receiver who can serve as an elite weapon for Drake Maye or whether he’s a cornerback who works with Christian Gonzalez, that would be the best case scenario for the Pats – especially since it appears they have one Have a franchise quarterback. The Jaguars then eat their vegetables to protect Trevor Lawrence with Will Campbell, the highest-rated tackle prospect in the draft. To round out the top five, the Browns could go for tackle, but instead will likely pair a veteran QB with the best pure receiver in the draft, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan.

As mentioned, Las Vegas falls out of the top five of the draft order with Sunday’s upset win over the Jaguars, which puts them in a bad spot. Any quarterback beyond Ward or Sanders would be attainable, so instead they upgrade the defense with Will Johnson, the top corner in the 2025 draft class. This could likely make them an ideal Kirk Cousins ​​team if they’re so inclined this offseason are.

That then gives the Panthers defense the potential elite playmaker it doesn’t currently have in Penn State’s Abdul Carter, who could be an instant double-digit sack threat as a rookie. The Jets would hope that Mason Graham and Quinnen Williams, meanwhile, would be one of the most dominant interior defensive duos in the league.

The Bears would thank their lucky ones that the 2025 draft worked out this way for them, as they need an offensive tackle to improve the offensive line ahead of Caleb Williams. Kelvin Banks Jr. ticks all of those boxes. New Orleans would then round out the top 10 with a perfect replacement for Cam Jordan, Nic Scourton, who presents himself as a premier pass rusher who is equally strong against the run, just as the Saints’ veteran leader has been for so many in the Defense was years.