The Rules of the Draft

[AzCowboysFan]

It seems that some people are confused about how the draft order is determined. Well, here ya go...

The order of selection is determined by the reverse order of finish in the previous season. Barring any trades between clubs, each round starts with the team that finished with the worst record and ends with the Super Bowl champions.

Teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs are assigned draft slots 1-20. The order is determined by the standings at the end of the regular season: The club with the worst record will pick first, and the one with the best record will pick 20th.

Teams that did qualify for the playoffs are assigned draft slots 21-32. The order is determined by the results of the previous year’s postseason play:

• The four teams eliminated in the wild card round pick in slots 21-24 in the reverse order of their final regular season records.
• The four teams eliminated in the divisional round pick in slots 25-28 in the reverse order of their final regular season records.
• The two teams that lost in the conference championships pick in the 29th and 30th spots in the reverse order of their final regular season records.
• The team that lost the Super Bowl has the 31st pick in the draft.
• The Super Bowl champion has the 32nd and final spot in each round.

continue here: http://operations.nfl.com/the-players/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/

A couple other references:
http://www.draftsite.com/nfl/rules/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_draft

 

[bkeavs]

Are there people that actually do not know this here

 

[AzCowboysFan]

Yes, they were thinking we could make the playoffs AND have a high draft pick if the record is bad enough.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I think they where going off Steve Youngs comments last night on the post game show. He said something to the effect that Dallas could win the East and still end up w a top 10 pick

 

[AzCowboysFan]

Then Steve needs to read this!

 

[Manwiththeplan]

funny part is, this was not the rule until 2009 or so. Prior to that, we could go 6-10, win the division and get a top 10 pick

 

[AzCowboysFan]

People gotta keep up!

 

[jwitten82]

funny part is, this was not the rule until 2009 or so. Prior to that, we could go 6-10, win the division and get a top 10 pick

For real? I thought its always been wildcard teams pick around 20

 

[conner01]

I think they where going off Steve Youngs comments last night on the post game show. He said something to the effect that Dallas could win the East and still end up w a top 10 pick

Just shows steve young doesn't know how the drafts work either but I do think that's where people hit the idea

 

[Manwiththeplan]

For real? I thought its always been wildcard teams pick around 20

no, in 2004 Minnesota went 8-8 and won a playoff game, yet picked 19th (traded down to 20th). Playoff selections begin at #20

few other examples, but that one shows it.

 

[RoboQB]

funny part is, this was not the rule until 2009 or so. Prior to that, we could go 6-10, win the division and get a top 10 pick

That is incorrect.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

That is incorrect.

how so, I gave an example from 2004 where a playoff team picked higher than non playoff teams

 

[AzCowboysFan]

I'm not sure when the rules changed. Hmm...

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I'm not sure when the rules changed. Hmm...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4015265

"The competition committee recommended the change -- which the owners passed 32-0 -- after watching the San Diego Chargers go 8-8 as a division champion in 2008, then win a game in the playoffs. But the Chargers drafted ahead of teams that didn't make the playoffs, and well ahead of the Indianapolis Colts, whom they beat in the playoffs."

That is incorrect.

literally the first hit in "draft rule change"...