Explanation of draft position please.

[bcortell]

I was just wondering if someone could explain the decision on who gets what position in the NFL when their records are the same. The Browns and Seahawks have identical records but the Seahawks are picking before the Browns according to Mock Drafts. I thought they were suppose to flip a coin or something.. did this already happen? Thanks for the help.

[NoSkyy]

Strength of schedule(weaker schedule gets the higher pick) usually determines the order. They might have done a tie breaker too.

[ChronicKerr]

Are the Chargers going to move up the draft order because they made the playoffs?

[Icness]

Strength of schedule(weaker schedule gets the higher pick) usually determines the order. They might have done a tie breaker too.

They only do a coin flip if the SOS is the same. That happened last year with Oakland, Atlanta, and KC.

If the teams have the same record they get put in what's called a band. The teams in each band vary the draft order within the band from round to round, depending on where it's at. As an example, Seattle might have the 4th pick in rounds 1 and 2 but then the 5th pick in round 3, with Cleveland getting that #4 pick in round 3. They work it out so they wind up with the same draft position value over the first 5 rounds. New Orleans, Houston, Washington and Denver are all banded together this draft IIRC, which means the order between those teams might change from round to round.

Are the Chargers going to move up the draft order because they made the playoffs?

Only if they make the Super Bowl. They will pick 16th unless they make it to the Super Bowl, because the two Super Bowl teams always pick 31st and 32nd.

[CJ_18]

Wow, imagine making your conference championship game and getting to pick 16th in the draft. Crazyyy

[bcortell]

Thanks for the help everyone.. I thought I remembered the Browns flipping a coin a couple years ago.. and that explained why they did.. and why they didn't do it this year.