The race for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is starting to heat up.

With six weeks remaining in the season, we’re beginning to see the bottom of the NFL standings take shape.

The Patriots and Giants engaged in an ugly football game in Week 12 that had heavy implications for the 2024 NFL Draft picture. Both teams went into the contest with a projected top-five pick, and New England would come away with a loss after Chad Ryland missed what would have been a game-tying 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired to place it one game back for the worst record in the NFL. As a result, New York has fallen out of the top five for the time being.

MORE: How turnovers led to Patriots QB Mac Jones being benched for Bailey Zappe … again

The Patriots only remained in control of the No. 2 pick for a few hours. The Cardinals were blown out 37-14 by the Rams in the afternoon slate, putting them just a half a game back of the Panthers for the No. 1 pick.

Speaking of the Panthers, Bears fans rejoiced as Carolina dropped a close 17-10 loss to the Titans to fall to 1-10. That keeps Chicago in the top spot by way of last spring’s trade.

We are still awaiting important results from the Bears in their “Monday Night Football” matchup with the Vikings, but take a look at the current 2024 NFL Draft order through Sunday’s games of this week’s slate.

Updated NFL Draft order 2024

Check back for updates following the conclusion of “Monday Night Football” in Week 12.

Pick Team Record1 Bears (via CAR) 1-102 Cardinals 2-103 Patriots 2-94 Bears* 3-85 Commanders 4-86 Giants 4-87 Buccaneers 4-78 Jets 4-79 Chargers 4-710 Titans 4-711 Raiders 5-712 Saints 5-613 Packers 5-614 Rams 5-615 Bengals 5-616 Bills 6-617 Cardinals (via HOU) 6-518 Broncos 6-519 Falcons 5-620 Colts 6-521 Vikings* 6-522 Seahawks 6-523 Steelers 7-424 Texans (via CLE) 7-325 Dolphins 8-326 Cowboys 8-327 Lions 8-328 Jaguars 8-329 Chiefs 8-330 49ers 8-331 Ravens 9-332 Eagles 10-1

*Pending Week 12 results.

Notes

• The Bears own the Panthers’ first-round pick by way of the trade that sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft to Carolina and D.J. Moore to Chicago.
• The Cardinals own the Texans’ first-round pick as part of Houston’s trade up to select Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft.
• The Falcons hold the No. 19 pick (first playoff team out) as the current leaders of the NFC South.
• The Texans own the Browns’ first-round pick by way of the Deshaun Watson trade from 2022.

MORE: How Falcons’ win over Saints, Buccaneers’ loss to Colts impact NFC South standings

NFL Draft 2024 top prospects

The top of the 2024 NFL Draft has a little bit of everything depending on each franchise’s needs.

According to The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer’s last NFL Mock Draft from mid-November, there are four quarterbacks, three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen and one wide receiver projected to be taken in the top 10.

Teams in need of a QB will hope to land USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye, but Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. are also looking like viable options in the early first round.

Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. will be atop the draft board for any team that needs a playmaking pass-catcher.

Franchises looking for pass protection could target Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Alabama’s J.C. Latham. On the defensive front, Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner or Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton are expected to be among the first to hear their name called.

This is anticipated to be a talented quarterback draft, so teams in need of a new franchise signal caller should have a silver lining for a poor season.