What Ravens vs. Steelers means for Detroit Lions draft order

The Detroit Lions walked away from the 2025 season with a win, sending a message to the Chicago Bears that they’ll be back in 2026.

The win cost the Lions a few slots in draft position. Here’s where things stand heading into “Sunday Night Football.”

1. Raiders: 2-14 (.543 SOS)
2. Jets: 3-14 (.551)
3. Cardinals: 3-14 (.571)
4. Titans: 3-14 (.575)
5. Giants: 4-13 (.525)
6. Browns: 5-12 (.486)
7. Commanders: 5-12 (.507)
8. Saints: 6-11 (.495)
9. Chiefs: 6-11 (.516)
10. Bengals: 6-11 (.519)
11. Dolphins: 7-10 (.490)
12. Cowboys: 7-9-1 (.437)
13. Falcons (owned by Rams): 8-9 (.495)
14. Buccaneers: 8-9 (.529)
15. Colts (owned by Jets): 8-9 (.538)
16. Ravens: 8-8 (.503)
17. Lions: 9-8 (.490)
18. Vikings: 9-8 (.516)

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The Lions currently have the 17th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they can’t fall any further down than that, as the Vikings have the strength of schedule will finish harder than Detroit’s.

All that is left is Ravens vs. Steelers, but that game could jump the Lions’ draft position up one spot. Here’s how it works:

If the Ravens win…

Baltimore would win the AFC North and advance to the playoffs, where their draft order would be determined by where they finish in the playoffs. The Steelers would drop out of the playoffs and move to 9-8 on the year. So the bottom of the draft order would look like:

16: Lions: 9-8 (.490)

17. Steelers: 9-8 (.509)

18. Vikings: 9-8 (.516)

Note: The strength of schedule will change a little bit, but shouldn’t affect order

If the Steelers win…

The Ravens would drop to 8-9 and miss the playoffs. Detroit wouldn’t be able to jump them because they’ll finish 8-9 to Detroit’s 9-8, and the bottom of the draft order would look like this

13. Falcons (owned by Rams): 8-9 (.495)

14. Ravens: 8-9 (.503

15. Buccaneers: 8-9 (.529)

16. Colts (owned by Jets): 8-9 (.538)
17. Lions: 9-8 (.490)

18. Vikings: 9-8 (.516)

So, in short:

• If the Ravens win, the Lions will pick 16th
• If the Steelers win, the Lions will pick 17th

ROOT FOR THE RAVENS!

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