With only three weeks left in the NFL regular season, the pressure is mounting for teams battling for playoff spots, but there’s also another significant battle happening behind the scenes: positioning for the 2025 NFL Draft. As the league’s worst teams continue to jockey for favorable positions in the draft order, each week brings with it crucial games that could drastically alter the outlook of the draft class. In this context, every victory and defeat holds a little more weight, not just for the immediate results but for how it might affect a franchise’s future.
Looking at the remainder of the regular season, several games stand out as particularly influential in shaping the draft order. For teams on the brink of the top picks, each contest could decide whether they secure a coveted draft spot or fall further down the order. For some, these games are about survival in a highly competitive race for the No. 1 overall pick, while for others, a few more wins could push them out of the conversation altogether.
One of the most intriguing aspects of these late-season matchups is that the results don’t just impact the teams directly involved. Many of the teams near the top of the draft order still have challenging games ahead, meaning their fates are often in the hands of their opponents as much as their own. For example, a team sitting at 3-10 might find themselves with a chance to move into a higher spot with a win against a struggling playoff contender, potentially handing that contender a setback in the postseason race.
Each week, these teams are keenly aware that even a single win can alter their place in the draft order, and the competition for top picks becomes a game of strategic losses and unlikely victories. Teams that are locked into rebuilding phases might rest key players or use backups, knowing that each loss increases their chances to land a transformative talent in the draft. These decisions, while aimed at securing future success, also provide opportunities for other teams to leapfrog them in the standings, creating a fluid and unpredictable draft landscape.
When examining potential matchups, there are several games that could have major implications for the 2025 draft. For example, if two teams with similar records meet late in the season, the outcome could determine who secures a top-five pick, which often translates to a chance at selecting a franchise-altering player. As the draft order tightens, the difference between picking at No. 2 versus No. 5 could mean the difference between landing a generational quarterback prospect or settling for a solid but less impactful option.
Then there are the wild card games — those games that feature a team on the outside of the playoff race facing a team that is just barely holding on to postseason hopes. These matchups are rife with possibilities because a late-season win by a team already outside of the top draft spots could push them further down in the order, while a team with little hope of the playoffs might start to give up ground to those with more to lose. This late-season dynamic means that for every fanbase hoping their team will “tank” to secure a high pick, there’s an equal number of anxious onlookers hoping for an unlikely surge that could disrupt the draft order.
The remaining three weeks also bring the potential for major surprises in the form of upsets. Some teams who have struggled all year could pull off a win against a higher-ranked opponent, which would not only impact their draft position but could also force other teams to adapt their strategies for the remaining games. These upsets, however, are the exception rather than the rule, and teams that find themselves near the bottom of the standings are likely to make decisions aimed at future success rather than short-term glory.
As the season draws to a close, teams will have a narrow window in which to improve their draft standing. For those at the very top of the draft order, there’s the looming possibility that a late-season win streak could push them out of contention for the player they had hoped to secure. On the flip side, teams on the brink of playoff elimination may just give up that final draft position to chase postseason glory, setting up a dramatic sequence of events that will be closely monitored by front offices, coaches, and fans alike.
Ultimately, the next three weeks of NFL action could prove to be pivotal in shaping the future of several franchises. The draft order, which will serve as the launching point for the 2025 season, is in constant flux, with games each week providing new opportunities for teams to either solidify their position or lose ground to a competitor. As the NFL world prepares for the most significant draft in years, the games of consequence that remain will determine how the future unfolds — not just for the teams currently in contention for the playoffs, but for those whose playoff hopes have long since faded. These final weeks will offer a final opportunity for some franchises to position themselves for long-term success, making every game an event worth watching.