NFL Draft Center

Written By: Mark Scott

The Super Bowl is set with the New England Patriots taking on the New York Giants, while the rest of league now focuses on the NFL Draft and how to improve their teams for next season. As the last two teams alive, the Patriots and Giants will determine picks 31 and 32 of the 2012 NFL Draft with the Super Bowl winner obviously selecting with the last pick of the round. As for the other ten teams that made the playoffs this year, their draft position was determined as they were knocked out of each round, along with their final record and strength of schedule. Draft picks 21-24 are made up of the four teams (CIN, ATL, DET, PIT) that lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, while selections 25-28 consist of the four teams (DEN, HOU,NO, GB) that lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The two teams (BAL, SF) that lost in the AFC and NFC Championship games will slot in at picks 29 and 30. Atlanta’s pick #22 is owned by the Cleveland Browns courtesy of the Julio Jones trade at last year’s Draft. New Orleans’ pick #27 is owned by the New England Patriots due to the Mark Ingram trade that also happened at the 2011 NFL Draft. The Top 20 spots in the Draft consist of the twenty teams that failed to make the playoffs this season. The order of the Top 20 can be seen here: http://nfldraftcenter.sportsblognet.com/2012/01/02/the-almost-official-2012-nfl-draft-order/

Team/Record/Strength of Schedule

21.          CIN (9-7)              .492

22.          ATL (10-6) CLE    .480

23.          DET (10-6)           .535

24.          PIT (12-4)             .492

25.          DEN (8-8)             .520

26.          HOU (10-6)         .453

27.          NO (13-3) NE      .441

28.          GB (15-1)             .457

29.          BAL (12-4)           .477

30.          SF (13-3)              .449