Cardinals Draft Pick Tracker: Week 16

The Arizona Cardinals saw their overall first round positioning slightly worsen over the weekend.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals were officially eliminated from postseason contention with their Week 15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers over the weekend. 

If draft season wasn't already on the minds of everyone in the desert, it officially is now. 

The Cardinals are slated to have six picks in the first three rounds in the 2024 NFL Draft, two of which belong in the first thanks to their prior trade with the Houston Texans.

With three weeks left in the regular season, here's how Arizona's first round haul currently looks via Tankathon:

Current 2024 NFL Draft Order

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina at 2-12)
2. New England Patriots (3-11)
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
4. Washington Commanders (4-10)
5. Chicago Bears (5-9)

It will be very interesting to monitor the following three weeks and how the dominoes fall, as Arizona is very much in contention for the No. 1 pick while also potentially dropping to No. 13 if they win out. 

Look out for the Commanders, who have lost five in a row and have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule remaining with San Francisco and Dallas on the menu. 

There's plenty to ponder on what Arizona could do with their assumed top-three pick, though Cardinals receivers mustering just four catches for 20 yards last week make a great case for the team to draft Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. if he's available. 

For what it's worth, Arizona plays Chicago this week - who currently holds two top-five picks. 

Continued 2024 NFL Draft Order

13. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
14. Denver Broncos (7-7)
15. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)
17. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston at 8-6)
18. Buffalo Bills (8-6)

The Houston Texans have certainly out-performed expectations and are on the fringe of a playoff push. Last week, the Cardinals had the No. 15 pick via Houston, and with three weeks left, there's a lot of ways that Texans pick can swing. 

Houston's remaining SOS is middle of the pack with Cleveland, Indianapolis and Tennessee on the horizon. They're currently in a three-way tie with the Jaguars/Colts for the division lead.

Had they lost last week, they'd be slotted at No. 14 due to strength of schedule. 

There's a handful of directions Arizona could go with their second pick, though the most pressing needs are at CB/OL/anywhere in the front seven. If Houston's pick climbs too high, BPA (best player available) might be the route Monti Ossenfort takes.

Other picks in the first three rounds:

Second Round - No. 34

Third Round - No. 67, No. 71 (from TEN), No. 81 (from HOU)

The Cardinals are currently slated to have 13 total picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.