2014 NFL Draft order: Finding positives for Houston

The Texans will likely end up with the No. 1 pick in the draft, but things may not be all bad. Also see our latest 2014 NFL mock draft.

By Dan Kadar Dec 16, 2013, 7:30am EST

The Houston Texans took another step toward earning the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by losing to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. It was Houston's 12th consecutive loss of the season, but there is cruel hope. If Houston loses to Denver on Sunday, the Texans will at worst have a top-two pick. If they lose and the Washington Redskins win, they'll secure the No. 1 pick.

There is more glass-half-full news for the Texans. The last two teams to have the No. 1 pick (Indianapolis and Kansas City) each made the playoffs after having the top pick. The top pick will also mean the Texans can target a franchise quarterback, if they determine there is one. Having the top pick could also look attractive for possible head coaching candidates.

With six teams having four wins, and three more with five, the top of the draft order is going to remain fluid until the end of the regular season. For instance, last week the Atlanta Falcons held the third pick of the draft, but a win pushes them down to six. Minnesota's win pushed them from four to eight.

The draft order is determined by record. For teams with the same record, strength of schedule is the first tiebreaker. If those are the same, division record is factored in, but only if the teams play in the same division. If not, it's conference record, but only if they play in the same conference. If the teams are still tied, a coin is flipped at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Head-to-head results do not factor into the draft order.

1. Houston Texans - 2-12 (.554)
2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins) - 3-11 (.514)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - 4-10 (.496)

4. Oakland Raiders - 4-10 (.504)
5. Cleveland Browns - 4-10 (.527)
6. Atlanta Falcons - 4-10 (.558)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 4-10 (.576)
8. Minnesota Vikings - 4-9-1 (.527)
9. Tennessee Titans - 5-9 (.500)
10. Buffalo Bills - 5-9 (.528)
11. New York Giants - 5-9 (.534)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers - 6-8 (.482)
13. New York Jets - 6-8 (.486)
14. St. Louis Rams - 6-8 (.558)
15. Detroit Lions - 7-7 (.468)
16. Dallas Cowboys 7-7 (.486)
17. San Diego Chargers - 7-7 (.500)
18. Green Bay Packers - 7-6-1 (.464)
19. Miami Dolphins - 8-6 (.504)
20. Arizona Cardinals - 9-5 (.531)

Teams 21-32 are currently on pace to make the playoffs. Elimination will determine the proper order, so this is only ordered by record.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - 8-6 (.464)
22. Chicago Bears - 8-6 (.472)
23. Baltimore Ravens - 8-6 (.482)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - 9-5 (.486)
25. Indianapolis Colts - 9-5 (.487)
26. New England Patriots - 10-4 (.473)
27. Carolina Panthers - 10-4 (.500)
28. San Francisco 49ers - 10-4 (.504)
29. New Orleans Saints - 10-4 (.522)
30. Kansas City Chiefs - 11-3 (.429)
31. Denver Broncos - 11-3 (.469)
32. Seattle Seahawks 12-2 (.482)