The NFL draft order is primarily determined by the teams' win-loss records from the previous season, with the worst team picking first. If teams have identical records, tiebreakers such as strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and divisional performance are used to determine the draft order.
NFL Draft Tie-Breaker Rules
The NFL uses specific procedures to determine the draft order when teams have identical records. Here’s how the tie-breakers work:
General Tie-Breaking Process
Strength of Schedule (SOS): The primary tie-breaker is the strength of schedule. The team with the lower SOS (facing weaker opponents) gets the higher draft pick.
Divisional and Conference Ties: If teams have the same record and SOS, the tie-breaking rules differ based on whether the teams are in the same division or conference.
Divisional Tie-Breakers
For teams in the same division, the following order is used:
Head-to-Head Record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other picks higher.
Winning Percentage in Division Games: The team with the lower winning percentage in divisional games picks higher.
Winning Percentage in Common Games: The team with the lower winning percentage in games against common opponents picks higher.
Winning Percentage in Conference Games: The team with the lower winning percentage in conference games picks higher.
Conference Tie-Breakers
For teams in the same conference but different divisions:
Head-to-Head Record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other picks higher.
Winning Percentage in Common Games: The team with the lower winning percentage in games against common opponents picks higher.
Non-Conference Tie-Breakers
For teams in different conferences, the tie-breakers are:
Head-to-Head Record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other picks higher.
Winning Percentage in Common Games: The team with the lower winning percentage in games against common opponents picks higher.
These rules ensure a fair selection process for the NFL Draft, maintaining competitive balance among teams.