Tanking Rankings after NFL regular season: Top 18 picks are set
And the Jaguars repeat
Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions each had a shot at the No. 1 pick, and the scrap lasted until the final week of the season. The Jaguars won by losing more games, leaving the Lions to pick second… if they choose to. With the 2021 regular season at its end, here’s how the rest of the teams stack up as the 2022 NFL draft nears…
18. New Orleans Saints (9-8, strength of schedule: .512)
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The fact Sean Payton got this team to finish over .500 is a miracle. The Saints would have actually been in the playoffs had the Rams downed the Niners.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8, strength of schedule: .510)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Talk about the most painful way to wind up in the Tanking Rankings. The Bolts were jolted in OT.
16. Philadelphia Eagles via Indianapolis Colts (9-8, strength of schedule: .495)
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The Philly fans will be busy as they are currently slotted to pick back-to-back with the selections the team acquired.
15. Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins (9-8, strength of schedule: .464)
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
The Eagles had hopes this pick would soar up the draft ladder in the first half of the season. However, Brian Flores and the Dolphins got it together big time and this selection sits far deeper than Philly had expected.
14. Baltimore (8-9, strength of schedule: .531)
USAT
The Baltimore Ravens are not used to a place in the Tanking Rankings. This team was ravaged by injuries and illness, though, and lost close game after close game. Tough season.
13. Cleveland Browns (8-9, strength of schedule: .514)
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
There were many years when an eight-win season would have been cause for celebration in Cleveland. Not anymore, sorry.
12. Minnesota Vikings (8-9, strength of schedule: .507)
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
Why do the Vikings feel so much worse than a team that finished one game below .500? Probably because of the way they played all season. The Vikes will have a new coach in 2022, so this team will be one to keep an eye on as the draft nears.
11. Washington Football Team (7-10, strength of schedule: .529)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A win to end the season over a terrible New York Giants team proves nothing. Washington needs a quarterback that it can bank on for the present and future. The current guys on the roster are nice stories but not going to get you to the playoffs or Super Bowl.
10. New York Jets via Seattle Seahawks (7-10, strength of schedule: .519)
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Certain the Jets weren’t happy to see the Seahawks get it together in their final couple games. It cost them a few spots. The Jamal Adams trade remains a stroke of genius — in the way it turned out for Gang Green.
9. Denver Broncos (7-10, strength of schedule: .484)
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Broncos cut ties with Vic Fangio quickly after their season ended with another loss and no playoff berth. The next coach has a big task in front of him, starting with finding a quarterback.
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10, strength of schedule: .472)
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The Atlanta Falcons wind up picking eighth, which is pretty good considering they won seven games in Arthur Smith’s first season.
7. New York Giants via Chicago Bears (6-11, strength of schedule: .524)
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears put a scare into the Giants by jumping out 14-0 over the Vikings… before running the deep fade pattern. That helps New York’s draft prospects.
6. Carolina Panthers (5-12, strengfh of schedule: .509)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
You win your first three games and wind up playing for draft position throughout the second half of the season. Pretty horrible.
5. New York Giants (4-13, strength of schedule .536)
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants lost and the Bears lost—so the season ended well for a team that was awful.
4. New York Jets (4-13, strength of schedule: .512)
USAT
Another year, another new coach, another double-digit loss season. Someone needs to figure out how to change his rotten script.
3. Houston Texans (4-13, strength of schedule: .498)
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The Texans were another team that lost a lot of games but never seemed to lose their spirit. Will David Culley get another year? He deserves it.
2. Detroit Lions (3-13-1, strength of schedule: .528)
David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
The Lions fought until the end of the season, winning their final game against Green Bay. There is a lot of work to be done but Dan Campbell has built a healthy attitude.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14, strength of schedule: .512)
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The Jaguars somehow didn’t mess up their second straight No. 1 overall pick when they won their final game of the season. Now, one immediate question looms: Which new head coach will help make that selection?
Related: Final regular-season report cards for all 32 NFL teams
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