Why are there only 31 first-round picks in the NFL draft? Breaking down Round 1

Now that the Super Bowl has passed, the order of the 2023 NFL draft has been established. The 31st and last pick in the first round was secured by the Chiefs' victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl 57.

There are only 31 picks in the first round this year because the Broncos' top five picks were traded to the Seahawks this year, and the Dolphins forfeited their pick due to their improper contact with Sean Payton and Tom Brady the previous year.

Due to transgressions in the league's anti-tampering rules, the Miami Dolphins had their first-round pick in the 2023 draft taken away.

The league declared that the Dolphins had broken the rule three times between 2019 and 2022 when they contacted quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton's agent, following a six-month inquiry.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the findings by stating that "the investigators identified tampering breaches of unparalleled extent and severity.

"I am unaware of any previous instance of a team breaking the rules against interfering with both a star player and head coach, perhaps to the prejudice of several other clubs, over a period of years. I am unaware of any previous incident where ownership was so intimately connected to the infractions."

The NFL also took the Dolphins' third-round pick in 2024, penalized vice chairman and limited partner Bruce Beal $500,000 and suspended team owner Stephen Ross for almost two-and-a-half months.

The Deflategate probe cost the New England Patriots their first-round choice in 2016.

Order of the first round of the NFL draft

Union Station in Kansas City, home to the Kansas City Chiefs, will host the 2023 NFL draft, with the first round set for April 27.

The Houston Texans will pick second, while the Chicago Bears will pick first. The Bears squeaked into first place thanks to the Texans' thrilling 32-31 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18.

Given the six transactions involving first-round picks, several teams have the opportunity to make significant changes. The Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles have two first-round picks.

1. Chicago Bears

Record: 3-14

2. Houston Texans

Record: 3-13-1 (.481)

3. Arizona Cardinals

Record: 4-13 (.529)

4. Indianapolis Colts

Record: 4-12-1 (.512)

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)

Denver Broncos' record: 5-12 (.481)

6. Detroit Lions (from Rams)

Los Angeles Rams' record: 5-12 (.517)

7. Las Vegas Raiders

Record: 6-11 (.474)

8. Atlanta Falcons

Record: 7-10 (.467)

9. Carolina Panthers

Record: 7-10 (.474)

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from Saints)

New Orleans Saints' record: 7-10 (.507)

11. Tennessee Titans

Record: 7-10 (.509)

12. Houston Texans (from Browns)

Cleveland Browns' record: 7-10 (.524)

13. New York Jets

Record: 7-10 (.538)

14. New England Patriots

Record: 8-9 (.502)

15. Green Bay Packers

Record: 8-9 (.524)

16. Washington Commanders

Record: 8-8-1 (.537)

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 9-8 (.519)

18. Detroit Lions

Record: 9-8 (.535)

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 8-9 (.503)

20. Seattle Seahawks

Record: 9-8 (.462)

XX. Miami Dolphins (pick forfeited)

Record: 9-8 (.537)

21. Los Angeles Chargers

Record: 10-7 (.443)

22. Baltimore Ravens

Record: 10-7 (.509)

23. Minnesota Vikings

Record: 13-4 (.474)

24. New York Giants

Record: 9-7-1 (.526)

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

Record: 9-8 (.467)

26. Dallas Cowboys

Record: 12-5 (.507)

27. Buffalo Bills

Record: 13-3 (.489)

28. Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 12-4 (.507)

29. New Orleans Saints (from 49ers through Dolphins and Broncos)

San Francisco 49ers' record: 13-4 (.417)

30. Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 14-3 (.474)

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 14-3 (.453)

The Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers are among the teams without a first-round pick.