Updated 2023 NFL Draft order after Week 17

After Week 17 of NFL action, there are some teams who are enamored with the Playoff Picture. Regardless of the conference, they’re trying to figure out the jockeying for playoff positioning, and that’s always an enjoyable time for everyone involved.

Then there are the teams who find themselves on the outside looking in, and the only thing they are waiting for is the news they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. For those teams, it is never too late to start looking ahead. Not to the playoffs, but to the upcoming draft.

Where will their favorite team draft? Will they have a Top 10 pick?

Well, for those teams wondering, here is an updated projected order for the 2023 NFL Draft:

1. Houston Texans
2. Chicago Bears
3. Seattle Seahawks (from the Denver Broncos)
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Detroit Lions (from the Los Angeles Rams)
7. Atlanta Falcons
8. Las Vegas Raiders
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from the New Orleans Saints)
11. Tennessee Titans
12. Houston Texans (from the Cleveland Browns)
13. New York Jets
14. Washington Commanders
15. Pittsburgh Steelers

For the Pittsburgh Steelers faithful, it is depressing having to look at the NFL Draft order with an 8-8 record, but this is where the team finds itself after a very underwhelming first half of the season. After the Week 14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, many fans have abandoned the outside thought of a possible playoff push, and even after beating the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16, it is not looking as if they’ll be near a Top 10 pick this year. What might surprise some, is how after the Steelers shocked the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, they actually moved up one spot in the draft order to 15th.

Some find solace of a mediocre season in the team’s potential draft positioning, considering where they could potentially end up, and when you throw in the 2nd Round pick the Steelers received from the Chicago Bears for Chase Claypool, it makes this draft order sweeter. The thought of potentially having the first, or second, pick in the 2nd Round makes the team’s success, and therefore lower draft position, easier to swallow for many.

Picks are nice, but the organization has to hit on those draft picks to truly turn things around. Nonetheless, we’ll keep you updated on the draft order as the season wraps up in Week 18, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they prepare for the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.