Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order: How the Cardinals’ victory over the Falcons affects the fight for the No. 1 pick
The Cardinals came into Sunday’s game against the Falcons sitting at an NFL-worst 1-8, with eyes on either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye with the No. 1 overall pick as the team’s next franchise quarterback. Kyler Murray reminded the NFL that he’s not out of Phoenix just yet.
Murray, the first overall pick from 2019, returned from a torn ACL suffered last season for his first game since the injury. The dual-threat quarterback had a solid performance, going 19-for-32 with 249 passing yards and an interception, while rushing six times for 33 yards and a touchdown.
After the Falcons scored a go-ahead touchdown with 2:33 left in the game, Murray drove the team down in 11 plays, draining the rest of the clock and setting Matt Prater up for the game-winning, 23-yard field goal to deliver the Cardinals the win.
It has long been expected that if the Cardinals, who have their own first-round pick and the Texans’ first-round pick, would use the selection on a quarterback to replace Murray despite the current QB being still signed to a five-year, $230.5 million contract that has him locked up through 2028, a deal that doesn’t even officially go into effect until next year.
MORE: Updated NFL standings, playoff picture
How did Murray’s heroics alter the race for the No. 1 pick in 2024? Here’s what you need to know.
Updated 2024 NFL draft order
Following games on Sunday, here’s a look at the top eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft:
| Pick | Team | Record |
| 1 | Bears (from Panthers) | 1-8 |
| 2 | Giants | 2-8 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 2-8 |
| 4 | Patriots | 2-8 |
| 5 | Bears | 3-7 |
| 6 | Packers | 3-6 |
| 7 | Rams | 3-6 |
| 8 | Titans | 3-6 |
The Panthers, now at 1-8 following a “Thursday Night Football” loss to the Bears, now have the first overall pick. However, because they traded with Chicago for last year’s first overall pick, the Bears would actually be making that top pick.
The Giants were blown out by the Cowboys on Sunday and the Patriots lost to the Colts in Germany, which tightens up the race between the four teams for that first overall pick.
Using Sporting News’ projection model, which simulates the entire 2023 NFL season, we can take a look at the odds each team has at finishing with each draft pick. Here’s how the race for No. 1 is currently looking, counting the Bears as both their own first and the Panthers’ first
