Arizona Cardinals NFL draft scenarios: No. 2 through No. 7 pick in play before NFL Week 18
The Arizona Cardinals are not in contention for the NFL Playoffs, nor are they even fighting to be close to postseason contention in their NFL Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
But the result of the game could have a big impact on the future of the franchise.
With a loss and some other things going its way, Arizona could end up with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft (the Chicago Bears, who own the Carolina Panthers' top pick, have already locked up the No. 1 overall selection).
But the Cardinals could also end up picking as low as No. 7 in the draft if they upset the Seahawks on Sunday.
Take a look at some NFL draft scenarios for the Cardinals entering the NFL Week 18 schedule, the final week of the NFL regular season.
NFL Week 18 picks: Steelers at Ravens | Texans at Colts | Falcons at Saints | Browns at Bengals | Jaguars at Titans | Vikings at Lions | Jets at Patriots | Buccaneers at Panthers | Bears at Packers | Chiefs at Chargers | Eagles at Giants | Cowboys at Commanders | Broncos at Raiders | Rams at 49ers | Seahawks at Cardinals | Bills at Dolphins | Power rankings | Playoffs: AFC | NFC | Odds | TV
How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 2 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Arizona would land this pick with a loss to the Seahawks and with a Washington Commanders win over the Dallas Cowboys and a New England Patriots win over the New York Jets.
How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 3 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
The Cardinals would get this pick if it lost to Seattle and the Commanders beat the Cowboys and the Patriots lost to the Jets or if Washington lost to Dallas and New England beat the Jets.
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How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 4 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Arizona would receive this draft selection if it loses and the Commanders and Patriots also lose.
How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 5 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
The Cardinals could get this pick if they win Sunday, Washington and New England lose, and one of the following team loses: The New York Giants (vs. Philadelphia Eagles), Los Angeles Chargers (at Kansas City Chiefs) or Tennessee Titans (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars).
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How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Arizona would land this draft pick if it beats the Seahawks and two of the three teams right below them in the standings (Giants, Chargers, Titans) lose their games on Sunday.
How Arizona Cardinals would get No. 7 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
The Cardinals would fall all the way to No. 7 if they win and the Giants, Chargers and Titans all lose their NFL Week 18 games.
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Top 8 teams in 2024 NFL Draft Order entering NFL Week 18
Carolina Panthers (2-14). This pick belongs to the Chicago Bears.
Washington Commanders (4-12)
New England Patriots (4-12)
Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
New York Giants (5-11)
Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
Tennessee Titans (5-11)
New York Jets (6-10)
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Strength of schedule works against Cardinals in 2024 NFL Draft order
When NFL teams have the same record, how does the league determine which team gets which draft pick? By the team's strength of schedule; the winning percentage of the teams it has faced this season.
That doesn't bode well for the Cardinals and their selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Arizona's strength of schedule entering NFL Week 18 is .562, and the Cardinals face the 8-8 Seahawks in the final week of the regular season, so it won't change considerably with the result of the game.
The Cardinals' strength of schedule is higher than the other six teams at the bottom of the NFL standings.
The Panthers are at .518, the Commanders are at .515, the Patriots are at .518, the Giants are at .511, the Chargers are at .526 and the Titans are at .529.
That is why Arizona gets the lowest pick of all the teams it is tied with in the standings. It has to have a worse record than a team to get a higher selection in the 2024 NFL Draft because of its higher strength of schedule.
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Who could Arizona Cardinals draft with first selection in 2024 NFL Draft?
Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has been linked to the Cardinals in a lot of 2024 NFL mock drafts, but there will be a lot of factors in play at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft board, including potential trades and questions over which teams will take quarterbacks.
There is also the question of whether or not the Cardinals might take a quarterback of their own with their top pick, or trade down for more draft selections to help improve their roster overall.
The Bears could take Harrison at No. 1 overall, leaving the board wide open with possibilities for Arizona with whatever pick it lands.
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals 2024 NFL draft scenarios entering Week 18 game vs. Seahawks
