Patriots move closer to the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after Week 17

The New England Patriots are on the verge of clinching the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

There is a new clubhouse leader in the race for the first-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots.

Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers dropped the Patriots to just 3-13 on the season, the first result New England needed to slide to the top of the draft board. The Patriots got two more results to break their way in the race for the first pick when both the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders won games on Sunday.

At the moment four teams — the Patriots, the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the Giants — have matching 3-13 records. But by their strength of schedule, which at .465 is the lowest of those four teams, the Patriots are now holding the first-overall pick. The highest their strength of schedule could rise after next week is .481, which would still be lower than the Titans’ strength of schedule (.513 right now), the Giants’ strength of schedule (.551 right now), and the Browns’ strength of schedule (.540).

While Giants fans might be frustrated with Sunday’s win, which moved them out of the top spot, New York is still in line for a pick at the top of the draft. The Raiders’ win, however, dropped them down to No. 8 in the first round.

A loss in Week 18 would clinch the first-overall pick for New England. However, they are facing a Buffalo Bills team that has clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and may decide to rest their starters for the playoffs.

Here is the current draft order for the 2025 NFL Draft: