In situations where teams finish the regular season with identical records, draft position is determined by
strength of schedule — defined as the aggregate winning percentage of a team’s opponents. The team with the lower strength of schedule will be awarded the higher pick to break the tie.
If the teams with identical regular season records also have the same strength of schedule, division or conference tiebreakers are applied to determine which team will be awarded the higher pick.
Division Tiebreaking Procedures
If a tie remains between teams with both the same record and the same strength of schedule, and the teams are from the same division, then the division tiebreaking procedures are followed:
- Head-to-head record: the team with the worse record in games played against each other is awarded the higher pick in the NFL draft order.
- Winning percentage in games played within the division: the team with the lower winning percentage is awarded the higher pick.
- Winning percentage in common games: the team with the lower winning percentage is awarded the higher pick.
- Winning percentage in games played within the conference: the team with the lower winning percentage is awarded the higher pick.
- Strength of victory: the aggregate winning percentage for opponents each team defeated is calculated and the team with the lower strength of victory is awarded the higher pick.