This is a look at the first-round order for the 2025 NFL Draft heading into Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind -- teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
Arrows reflect movement from last week's order.
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, C, CB, QB
Week 9 opponent: vs. Saints
Remaining strength of schedule: .522 (11th)
The Panthers are tied with the Dolphins for the second-fewest sacks in the league this season (9). Free-agent-to-be Charles Harris and 2024 free-agent signee A'Shawn Robinson pace the team with two sacks apiece, while Jadeveon Clowney -- who also joined the squad last spring -- has chipped in only one through six games. D.J. Wonnum, another offseason addition, has yet to play this season due to health "complications." Yes, QB remains a huge question mark for the Panthers, but I expect them to also look closely at adding edge help early in April's draft.
Biggest needs: WR, QB, S, Edge, OG
Week 9 opponent: vs. Patriots
Remaining strength of schedule: .513 (14th)
Wins by New England and Cleveland on Sunday move Tennessee into the No. 2 slot entering Week 9. With one of the tougher remaining schedules in the league, the Titans could find themselves atop the draft board by January. Considering how poorly their offense has played this season, I'd expect them to invest their top two picks on a quarterback and playmaking receiver. From there, I could see them adding depth on the edge -- perhaps with the conditional Day 3 pick they acquired from Kansas City for DeAndre Hopkins.
Biggest needs: OT, Edge, CB, WR, S
Week 9 opponent: at Titans
Remaining strength of schedule: .508 (15th)
The Patriots need to add both starting-caliber and backup-level talent to their secondary this offseason. Former first-rounder Christian Gonzalez is locked into one starting spot, but there could be an opening on the opposite of the field if Jonathan Jones and/or Marco Wilson are not re-signed.
Biggest needs: WR, QB, OT, DT, CB
Week 9 opponent: vs. Chargers
Remaining strength of schedule: .580 (3rd)
Jameis Winston threw the game-winning pass against the rival Ravens on Sunday. One play earlier, he threw a layup to Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton, which the All-Pro dropped. That sequence sums up the former Heisman winner's NFL career quite fittingly -- and explains why he's not the team's long-term solution at the position. Although Deshaun Watson is still owed $92 million guaranteed over the next two years, his lackluster play and season-ending Achilles injury should have Cleveland considering a quarterback in Round 1 of next year's draft.
Biggest needs: QB, OT, S, CB, DT
Week 9 opponent: vs. Texans
Remaining strength of schedule: .478 (20th)
Losers of five straight, the Jets have gone from vying for the AFC East crown to holding a top-five pick. The way things are trending, New York could be in prime position to select one of the top signal-callers in the 2025 class, setting up a legitimate succession plan for when Aaron Rodgers' contract expires after the '25 season.
Biggest needs: CB, S, WR, DT, OT
Week 9 opponent: at Eagles
Remaining strength of schedule: .477 (T-21st)
Starter Andre Cisco is due to become a free agent after the season. The safeties the Jaguars have under contract beyond this season are Darnell Savage, Antonio Johnson and 2026 free agents Daniel Thomas and Andrew Wingard. So, I’m expecting them to pick up another back-end defender in the middle rounds of the draft.
Biggest needs: QB, WR, DT, CB, S
Week 9 opponent: at Bengals
Remaining strength of schedule: .493 (T-17th)
The Raiders' defense has missed star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins since he suffered a foot injury in Week 5. Las Vegas should select a young starting DT in the top half of the 2025 draft to play next to Wilkins next year, especially with John Jenkins and Adam Butler due to hit free agency this offseason.
Biggest needs: QB, OT, CB, WR, S
Week 9 opponent: vs. Commanders
Remaining strength of schedule: .500 (16th)
Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson should be the Giants' top pass-catchers in 2025, but I’d argue for another outside threat to be picked in the middle rounds of the draft. That is, unless veteran Darius Slayton is re-signed or 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt becomes more productive in the second half of the season.
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, OT, TE, S
Week 9 opponent: at Panthers
Remaining strength of schedule: .437 (29th)
The Saints' depth at receiver was severely lacking before they lost speedy receiver Rashid Shaheed to a season-ending injury. So, look for the franchise to add a big-bodied playmaker on Day 1 or Day 2 to complement Chris Olave and Shaheed in 2025.
Biggest needs: S, OG, DT, LB, QB
Week 9 opponent: at Bills
Remaining strength of schedule: .443 (27th)
Miami addressed the tackle position in the 2024 draft, picking Patrick Paul in the second round. However, I'd expect the Dolphins to target another lineman early in the '25 draft, too, to shore up the interior protection for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Starters Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones, as well as backup guard Lester Cotton, all enter free agency this spring.
Biggest needs: WR, OG, CB, DT, S
Week 9 opponent: vs. Raiders
Remaining strength of schedule: .493 (T-17th)
Tee Higgins is playing on the franchise tag in 2024, which means his future beyond this season is uncertain. Jermaine Burton was a solid third-round pick in the 2024 draft, but I expect the Bengals to look for another playmaker to pair with Ja'Marr Chase if Higgins is playing elsewhere next season.
Biggest needs: RB, WR, Edge, DT, CB
Week 9 opponent: at Falcons
Remaining strength of schedule: .551 (8th)
CeeDee Lamb has not received enough support from the other wideouts on the Cowboys roster this season. Impending free agent Brandin Cooks is injured, Jalen Tolbert could max out as a solid No. 3 option and Jalen Brooks is unproven. The team will need to add another dynamic pass-catcher to maximize the team's large investment in Dak Prescott.
Biggest needs: OT, CB, WR, TE, LB
Week 9 opponent: at Seahawks
Remaining strength of schedule: .449 (26th)
Both starting inside linebackers, Christian Rozeboom and the injured Troy Reeder, are ticketed for free agency after the season. I expect the Rams to re-sign one of those players and then draft another second-level defender on Day 3 to compete with Omar Speights for playing time.
Biggest needs: CB, DT, LB, OT, RB
Week 9 opponent: Bye
Remaining strength of schedule: .574 (4th)
The 49ers' running back depth has been tested during the absence of dual-threat star Christian McCaffrey, who is dealing with Achilles tendonitis. McCaffrey is on track to return after the team's Week 9 bye -- but now the back who stepped up in McCaffrey's absence, Jordan Mason, is dealing with a shoulder injury. Elijah Mitchell, meanwhile, is set to miss all of 2024 with a hamstring injury. Rookie Isaac Guerendo (a fourth-round pick) chipped in 85 rushing yards and a score against Dallas on Sunday. With Mitchell's contract expiring and Mason headed for restricted free agency, I won't be surprised if the 49ers seek another bargain running back on Day 3 of the draft to keep the cupboard extremely well-stocked at the position.
Biggest needs: OT, QB, Edge, OG, LB
Week 9 opponent: vs. Rams
Remaining strength of schedule: .515 (13th)
Last week, GM John Schneider sent Seattle's fourth-round pick in April to Tennessee (along with veteran linebacker Jerome Baker) in exchange for Ernest Jones. Jones is set to become a free agent in 2025, as is current starter Tyrel Dodson. The Seahawks could re-sign Jones during or after the season, as they've done in the past with previous trade acquisitions Leonard Williams and Jamal Adams. But if they don't, they'll need another young linebacker to play opposite 2024 fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight.
Biggest needs: CB, IOL, DT, Edge, TE
Week 9 opponent: at Vikings
Remaining strength of schedule: .449 (25th)
Losing JuJu Brents to a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 exposed the Colts’ lack of quality depth at cornerback. Samuel Womack III was a nice pickup on waivers before the start of the season, though he gave up a touchdown to the Texans' Tank Dell on Sunday. If a first-round pick isn't used at the position, a Day 2 selection should be in the cards.
Biggest needs: WR, OG, LB, Edge, CB
Week 9 opponent: at Chiefs
Remaining strength of schedule: .377 (32nd)
Cody Mauch has settled in nicely at his right guard spot in his second year with the team. However, starting left guard Ben Bredeson and backups Royce Newman and Sua Opeta are all due to become free agents after the season. They wisely selected center Graham Barton in the first round this year and should try to find another interior starter on Day 2 or early Day 3 to protect the heart and soul of the offense, quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Biggest needs: OG, C, OT, Edge, WR
Week 9 opponent: at Cardinals
Remaining strength of schedule: .632 (1st)
Pass rusher Montez Sweat is holding up his end of the bargain, generating 9.5 sacks in 16 games with Chicago since arriving via trade last season. Thanks to a 2023 extension, he's positioned to anchor the pass rush through 2027 -- but Darrell Taylor (currently third on the team with two sacks) and Jacob Martin (who returned from injured reserve in Week 8) are not currently signed for 2025. It would make a ton of sense for the Bears to select an edge rusher who would back up Sweat and DeMarcus Walker next season and mature into a starter down the line.
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, OG, CB, DT
Week 9 opponent: vs. Bears
Remaining strength of schedule: .420 (31st)
Biggest needs: Edge, DT, C, TE, WR
Week 9 opponent: at Browns
Remaining strength of schedule: .462 (24th)
Biggest needs: OT, LB, TE, DT, RB
Week 9 opponent: at Ravens
Remaining strength of schedule: .565 (5th)
Biggest needs: C, Edge, S, CB, WR
Week 9 opponent: vs. Cowboys
Remaining strength of schedule: .435 (30th)
Biggest needs: OT, WR, Edge, OG, S
Week 9 opponent: vs. Broncos
Remaining strength of schedule: .557 (7th)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, OT, LB, TE
Week 9 opponent: vs. Jaguars
Remaining strength of schedule: .481 (19th)
Biggest needs: CB, DT, RB, OG, S
Week 9 opponent: vs. Colts
Remaining strength of schedule: .526 (10th)
Biggest needs: WR, CB, Edge, LB, OT
Week 9 opponent: at Giants
Remaining strength of schedule: .477 (T-21st)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, CB, DT, OG
Week 9 opponent: vs. Dolphins
Remaining strength of schedule: .471 (23rd)
Biggest needs: QB, CB, OT, RB, WR
Week 9 opponent: Bye
Remaining strength of schedule: .543 (9th)
Biggest needs: CB, OT, DT, Edge, WR
Week 9 opponent: vs. Lions
Remaining strength of schedule: .561 (6th)
Biggest needs: DT, OG, CB, S, WR
Week 9 opponent: at Jets
Remaining strength of schedule: .439 (28th)
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, WR, OG, LB
Week 9 opponent: at Packers
Remaining strength of schedule: .610 (2nd)
Biggest needs: CB, DT, OG, WR, TE
Week 9 opponent: vs. Buccaneers
Remaining strength of schedule: .519 (12th)
