This is a look at the first-round order for the 2025 NFL Draft heading into Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team.
The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind — teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below.
The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
Arrows reflect movement from last week’s order.
Biggest needs: CB, S, WR, OT, DT
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .333 (32nd)
The Jaguars should be evaluating offensive tackle prospects in the top half of the draft as they look to protect Trevor Lawrence. Right tackle Anton Harrison and backup Javon Foster, a fourth-round pick this year, are the only true OTs under contract beyond this season with Walker Little headed for free agency.
Biggest needs: WR, QB, OT, Edge, DT
Week 12 opponent: vs. Steelers
Remaining strength of schedule: .630 (3rd)
Cleveland should search for an interior defensive lineman on Day 3 of the draft. They’ll likely need to add depth since Maurice Hurst will be a free agent this spring and Shelby Harris follows suit in 2026.
Biggest needs: QB, OT, CB, WR, OG
Week 12 opponent: vs. Buccaneers
Remaining strength of schedule: .500 (T-13th)
The Giants must find another outside receiver to help whoever is playing quarterback for them next season. Malik Nabers looks like he will be a star as long as he can stay healthy, but Darius Slayton is an impending free agent and Jalin Hyatt has been targeted just 12 times in nine games in a disappointing Year 2.
Biggest needs: QB, WR, DT, CB, S
Week 12 opponent: vs. Broncos
Remaining strength of schedule: .514 (12th)
The Raiders’ six-game losing streak does not portend the team will stick with Gardner Minshew as QB1 in 2025, even if the offense continues to perform better down the strech under interim coordinator Scott Turner, as it did on Sunday.
Some combination of Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder could return next season, but as mentors for one of the draft’s top signal-caller prospects.
Biggest needs: WR, QB, OT, S, OG
Week 12 opponent: at Texans
Remaining strength of schedule: .442 (26th)
The Titans’ lack of depth at safety should be addressed in free agency and the draft next spring. The team granted Jamal Adams’ release request in October, impending free agent Quandre Diggs is out for the year with a Lisfranc injury and veteran Amani Hooker is only signed through next season.
Biggest needs: OT, CB,WR, Edge, OG
Week 12 opponent: at Dolphins
Remaining strength of schedule: .635 (2nd)
The Patriots followed up their nine-sack demolition of the Bears in Week 10 with zero QB takedowns against the Rams on Sunday — marking the fifth time this season New England has registered one sack or fewer in a game. Hard to imagine Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf not targeting a designated pass rusher (or two) within the first two days of the draft.
Biggest needs: QB, DT, OT, S, CB
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .468 (T-22nd)
Three of the Jets’ four leaders in playing time at safety — Chuck Clark, Jalen Mills and Ashtyn Davis — are due to hit free agency after the season. It’s unlikely all three return in 2025, so New York will need to select a back-half defender in April to replenish its secondary.
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, C, QB, CB
Week 12 opponent: vs. Chiefs
Remaining strength of schedule: .563 (7th)
Center Austin Corbett, who’s in the final year of a deal he signed in 2022, is out for the season after rupturing a biceps tendon in Week 5. His replacement, Cade Mays, could also be playing elsewhere next year. So, Carolina might be in the market for a new pivot this offseason.
Biggest needs: RB, WR, Edge, DT, CB
Week 12 opponent: at Commanders
Remaining strength of schedule: .480 (18th)
Bringing back Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal has not paid off, and Rico Dowdle is in the final year of his contract. So, the Cowboys should absolutely grab a stud ball-carrier in the first two rounds of the draft.
Biggest needs: CB, WR, OG, TE, Edge
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .475 (T-20th)
Nickel back Mike Hilton is in the final year of his contract and will be entering his age-31 season. Even if he returns, the Bengals should be looking for another cover man to push Cam Taylor-Britt and 2024 fifth-round pick Josh Newton. Taylor-Britt has the size, speed and physicality to be a top corner, but he’s given up a league-high nine touchdowns this season, per PFF.
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, WR, S, DT
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .443 (25th)
Carl Granderson can hold down one starting edge spot for the Saints next season, but they might see a decent amount of turnover at the position outside of him. Cameron Jordan turns 36 this summer, Chase Young will be a free agent and the club turned down Payton Turner’s fifth-year option for 2025. I’ll be looking for the Saints to select a defensive end early in the draft to battle with 2023 second-round pick Isaiah Foskey.
Biggest needs: OG, C, OT, WR, Edge
Week 12 opponent: vs. Vikings
Remaining strength of schedule: .729 (1st)
The Bears must prioritize improving the protection up front for Caleb Williams. Although the unit could use help across the board, adding a guard to play opposite Teven Jenkins would be a solid place to start.
Biggest needs: S, OG, DT, LB, QB
Week 12 opponent: vs. Patriots
Remaining strength of schedule: .405 (29th)
Tua Tagovailoa is signed through 2028, but the Dolphins should invest a middle-round pick in a quarterback to compete with Skylar Thompson for the backup spot. Miami went 1-3 when Tagovailoa was sidelined due to a concussion earlier this season.
Biggest needs: WR, OG, LB, Edge, CB
Week 12 opponent: at Giants
Remaining strength of schedule: .338 (31st)
Tampa Bay’s offense can’t help but be affected by the injuries to receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle). Evans is expected back, potentially this week, but Godwin, an impending free agent, may have played his final game for Tampa Bay if the parties are unable to work out a new deal. Evans will be in a contract year next fall, so grabbing another dynamic pass-catcher early in the 2025 draft would seem prudent.
Biggest needs: CB, IOL, Edge, LB, S
Week 12 opponent: vs. Lions
Remaining strength of schedule: .381 (30th)
Guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly are ticketed for free agency in 2025. If both depart, I would expect the team to select a guard on Day 2 of the draft and make 2024 fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini the full-time center.
Biggest needs: DT, CB, OG, LB, OT
Week 12 opponent: at Packers
Remaining strength of schedule: .620 (4th)
The 49ers have their answer at nickel back for the foreseeable future after signing Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year extension. However, outside CB Charvarius Ward is in line to be one of the top players available in free agency this offseason. Barring an agreement to keep him in San Francisco, the team should select another cover corner in the first three rounds.
Biggest needs: OT, OG, QB, LB, DT
Week 12 opponent: vs. Cardinals
Remaining strength of schedule: .549 (T-9th)
The recent release of Tyrel Dodson opened the door for rookie fourth-rounder Tyrice Knight to see increased snaps at linebacker alongside Ernest Jones; the duo combined for 23 tackles in Sunday’s upset of San Francisco. Even if Jones is re-signed this offseason and Knight continues to impress during his in-season tryout, Seattle should add depth at the second level via a Day 3 selection.
Biggest needs: OT, CB, WR, LB, OG
Week 12 opponent: vs. Eagles
Remaining strength of schedule: .548 (11th)
Left tackle Alaric Jackson is headed for free agency this spring, along with 2018 third-round pick Joe Noteboom, who has been injured for all but two games so far this season. Veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein is a solid player, but the 32-year-old has also missed three games in 2024, including the past two with an ankle injury, and he’ll be entering the final year of his contract in 2025. General manager Les Snead picked strong interior lineman Steve Avila in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft; it seems likely he will use an early pick on a tackle this April.
Biggest needs: OT, LB, TE, S, RB
Week 12 opponent: at Raiders
Remaining strength of schedule: .468 (T-22nd)
Biggest needs: C, Edge, S, CB, WR
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .475 (T-20th)
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, OG, CB, DT
Week 12 opponent: at Seahawks
Remaining strength of schedule: .479 (19th)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, LB, CB, OT
Week 12 opponent: vs. Cowboys
Remaining strength of schedule: .419 (T-27th)
Biggest needs: OG, DT, CB, S, WR
Week 12 opponent: vs. Titans
Remaining strength of schedule: .419 (T-27th)
Biggest needs: OT, WR, Edge, OG, CB
Week 12 opponent: at Chargers
Remaining strength of schedule: .557 (8th)
Biggest needs: Edge, DT, C, TE, WR
Week 12 opponent: vs. Ravens
Remaining strength of schedule: .500 (T-13th)
Biggest needs: CB, Edge, OT, DT, WR
Week 12 opponent: vs. 49ers
Remaining strength of schedule: .549 (T-9th)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, TE, LB, OT
Week 12 opponent: at Rams
Remaining strength of schedule: .486 (T-16th)
Biggest needs: CB, DT, RB, OG, OT
Week 12 opponent: at Bears
Remaining strength of schedule: .578 (6th)
Biggest needs: QB, CB, OT, RB, WR
Week 12 opponent: at Browns
Remaining strength of schedule: .493 (15th)
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, WR, DT, S
Week 12 opponent: BYE
Remaining strength of schedule: .444 (24th)
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, WR, OG, DT
Week 12 opponent: at Colts
Remaining strength of schedule: .583 (5th)
Biggest needs: CB, DT, OG, WR, LB
Week 12 opponent: at Panthers
Remaining strength of schedule: .486 (T-16th)
