Admin December 29, 2024
From NFL to NCAA: The biggest sports controversies of 2024
Reporters from USA Today share what they think the biggest controversy in sports was in 2024.
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In the final weeks of the NFL regular season, chaos reigns supreme.
There are playoff spots on the line. Clinching scenarios in bulk. Potential eliminations among many other pressing topics.
Don’t forget one other thing that can sometimes get lost in the shuffle though. The NFL draft might be months away, but we’re just about ready to set the order for those festivities on the final weekend in April.
With their fans eyeing the top pick, the Giants delivered their fans a belated lump of coal following their first home win of the season. New York has dropped out of the No. 1 spot, giving the Patriots the inside track heading into Week 18.
Wins from the Raiders and Jaguars only added to the chaos in the early window. Adjust those mock drafts accordingly. We’re in for a wild ride to the finish.
The Week 17 schedule set the table for a shake-up at the top of the order and that’s exactly what happened. Here’s where we stand heading into Week 18.
2025 NFL draft order
Here’s how the draft order shakes out after Sunday’s early window in Week 17, according to Tankathon.com:
- New England Patriots: 3-13 record; .465 strength of schedule
- Tennessee Titans: 3-13; .509 SOS
- New York Giants: 3-13; .551 SOS
- Cleveland Browns: 3-12; .537 SOS
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12; .472 SOS
- New York Jets: 4-12; .496 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 4-12; .498 SOS
- Las Vegas Raiders: 4-12; .546 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 4-12; .553 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 5-11; .513 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 6-9; .563 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts: 7-9; .455 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-9; .519 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 7-9; .536 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 7-8; .420 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8; .480 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons: 8-7; .515 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 9-7; .506 SOS
- Houston Texans: 9-7; .481 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 9-7; .504 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7; .506 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6; .470 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 10-6; .504 SOS
- Washington Commanders: 10-5; .437 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6; .500 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 11-5; .535 SOS
- Green Bay Packers: 11-4; .526 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3; .461 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 13-3; .455 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 13-2; .474 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 13-2; .524 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1; .491 SOS
2025 NFL draft: Who are the top prospects?
Below is a look at the consensus top 40 prospects in the 2025 NFL draft as of mid-December, per USA TODAY Sports’ Ayrton Ostly:
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Will Campbell, OL, LSU
- Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
- Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
- Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
- Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
- Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
- Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
- Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
- Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
- JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
- Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
- Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
- Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
- Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon