How Is Draft Order Determined for NFL Playoff Teams?

Discover how the NFL draft order for playoff teams is set based on regular season records and playoff performance.

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The draft order for playoff teams in many leagues, including the NFL, is determined based on their regular season records and postseason performance. Teams eliminated in the same round of the playoffs are ordered by their regular season records, with the team having the worse record picking first. This continues for each round, culminating with the Super Bowl teams receiving the last two picks. The Super Bowl winner picks last, and the runner-up picks second to last, regardless of their regular-season records.

FAQs & Answers

  1. How does a team's playoff performance affect its draft order? A team's playoff performance affects its draft order by placing teams eliminated earlier in the playoffs ahead of those eliminated later, with ordering within the same round based on regular season records.
  2. Who picks last in the NFL draft? The Super Bowl winner picks last in the NFL draft, while the Super Bowl runner-up picks second to last, regardless of their regular-season records.
  3. Are regular season records considered when determining draft order for playoff teams? Yes, regular season records are used to rank teams eliminated in the same playoff round, with worse records receiving earlier draft picks.

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