Finally, we have clarification on the 2011 NFL Draft order. With just one game to go, between the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams, the draft order is nearly set. Tonight’s results have a serious impact on where the Seattle Seahawks will draft, shifting the order 13 spots. Keep in mind, teams that make the NFL Playoffs draft 21st or later, no matter the record.
Here’s the scenarios, depending on the outcome.
Rams win, Seahawks lose: The Seattle Seahawks will draft eighth. The San Francisco 49ers will draft seventh, even though the teams would be tied in the standings. The Niners would win the tiebreaker, barely, and the Seahawks slide into the eighth spot. The Rams would pick 21st or worse with the win.
Seahawks win, Rams lose: The Seahawks would draft 21st or lower, depending how far they advance in the playoffs. Should they get knocked out in the first round, they’d pick 21st. The Rams, on the other hand, would draft 16th or 17th with the loss.
As you can see, a loss by the Seahawks would put them squarely in the top-10 of the 2011 NFL Draft. A win puts them at 21st, but gives them the added bonus of a home playoff game. We’ll known which scenario plays out in a matter of hours.