With the regular season wrapping up Sunday, the 2012 NFL draft order was also set for the most part. There is still some question with the playoff teams, since some of those teams could move up if they get to the Super Bowl.
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As it stands right now, however, the Houston Texans will pick at No. 24 in the first round next season. They finished at 10-6, tied with Atlanta and Detroit. But, the Texans have a strength of schedule of .454, which is better than both of those teams, which means they'd get the highest draft pick.
↵The Texans could pick as high as 21st if two of the playoff teams with worse records than them both make the Super Bowl (like the Giants vs. Tebow). They could also pick lower if they make the Super Bowl themselves. But, if things stand right now, they'll pick at No. 24.
↵UPDATE: As the post above clarifies, the Texans draft pick will be determined by playoff exit. If we assume the Texans will win one game, then they'll pick lower than 24th. If not, they could pick anywhere from 21 to 24 depending on who loses in that first round.
↵Let's assume that Houston, NYGiants, Detroit and Denver lose in the first round. In that scenario, Houston would pick in front of Detroit, giving them the 23rd pick.
↵If that stands, it'd be the lowest Houston has picked in the first round since tabbing Duane Brown with the No. 26 pick in 2008, which the Texans got in a trade with San Diego. The lowest Houston has ever picked in the first round was No. 27, when they took Jason Babin after trading back into the first round in 2004.
↵The lowest Houston has picked with its own selection was No. 20 in 2010 when the Texans got Kareem Jackson out of Alabama. I'm not thrilled with two of those three previous choices, but have to hope they'll do better this time around.
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