Bleacher Report
Week 18 in the NFL will see division winners get crowned and the final playoff spots get filled, but it already set the top of the order for the 2025 NFL draft.
Four teams entered the week tied for the worst record in the league, and there was a ton of movement up and down the list as multiple teams had their positions affected by Sunday’s early results.
The regular season will close out with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings facing each other on Sunday Night Football with the NFC North crown on the line. But first, here’s a look at how the draft order has shaken out so far:
The Tennessee Titans’ quarterback woes were on full display as they ended their 2024 campaign with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph combining for a lackluster performance against the AFC South-rival Houston Texans. Luckily for the Titans, they will have the chance to land a signal-caller of the future with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Tennessee’s blowout loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills to fall out of the top spot.
Levis entered the year with the opportunity to solidify himself as the franchise quarterback for the Titans, but he failed in almost every facet over the course of the season. In Sunday’s game against the Texans, he went 9-of-17 for 175 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions with a lost fumble. Rudolph wasn’t much better, throwing for 70 yards on 7-of-9 passing.
Still, Levis’ performance likely won’t be enough to convince the Titans not to use the No. 1 pick on a quarterback. First-year head coach Brian Callahan never seemed to truly mesh with the 2023 second-round pick, so now he will have the chance to select his own signal-caller in the 2025 draft.
After the Cleveland Browns lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, the Patriots entered Sunday’s game against the Bills simply needing to lose to secure the No. 1 pick, but rookie quarterback Joe Milton III had other plans.
Milton rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter and threw a 48-yard score in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 14-10 halftime lead over the AFC East champs.
A pair of field goals in the second half proved to be enough for New England to hold onto the surprising win.
While snapping a six-game losing streak helps end the 2024 season on a positive note, the Patriots likely would’ve preferred to hold onto the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. By falling to No. 4, New England also likely missed out on the chance to land 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.