2023 NFL Draft order set for top 18: Bears pick 1st after Texans stun Colts
The Chicago Bears clinched the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after the Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion in Week 18.
The Bears were positioned to pick second after falling to the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Texans scored on fourth-and-20 and converted the go-ahead 2-point attempt to flip-flop Chicago in the standings.
ON 4TH AND 20... @HOUSTONTEXANS TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/POhLDaLMuL
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2023
This will be the first time the Bears will select first overall since 1947 and only the third time in franchise history. They selected running backs Tom Harmon and Bob Fenimore in 1941 and 1947, respectively.
The 2023 offseason figures to be a big one for Chicago. In addition to securing the first overall pick, the Bears are also slated to have over $118 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.
The Texans will now pick second overall after entering the day holding the No. 1 selection.
"Whenever you play, you play to win the game," Texans head coach Lovie Smith said postgame, according to Brooks Kubena of The Houston Chronicle. "It's as simple as that." Houston fired Smith later Sunday.
The Arizona Cardinals, Colts, and Seattle Seahawks follow the Bears and Texans to round out the top five. The Seahawks got the pick in the Russell Wilson trade with the Denver Broncos.
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bears (3-14) |
| 2 | Texans (3-13-1) |
| 3 | Cardinals (4-13) |
| 4 | Colts (4-12-1) |
| 5 | Seahawks (via 5-12 Broncos) |
| 6 | Lions (via 5-12 Rams) |
| 7 | Raiders (6-11) |
| 8 | Falcons (7-10) |
| 9 | Panthers (7-10) |
| 10 | Eagles (via (7-10) Saints) |
| 11 | Titans (7-10) |
| 12 | Texans (via 7-10 Browns) |
| 13 | Jets (7-10) |
| 14 | Patriots (8-9) |
| 15 | Packers (8-9) |
| 16 | Commanders (8-8-1) |
| 17 | Steelers (9-8) |
| 18 | Lions (9-8) |
Picks 19-31 will be determined by playoff results. The first round typically has 32 selections, but the Miami Dolphins were stripped of a first-rounder after the NFL determined they previously violated anti-tampering rules.
The 2023 NFL Draft is scheduled to be held April 27-29 in Kansas City.