7-9 Finish Means Drafting In 12-18 Range
By Larry Stone January 6, 2002

The Titans 7-9 finish means the team will pick between 12 and 18 during April's NFL Draft.

The NFL sets draft order based on the previous season's finish. The expansion Houston Texans will pick first followed by Carolina, Detroit, and Buffalo.

Tennessee, New Orleans, Cleveland, the New York Giants, Atlanta, and Arizona all finished at 7-9. The league uses oppostion record to break draft order ties, thus, the team that played weaker opposition gets draft priority.

As of Sunday night, the Cardinals opposition record stood at 112-142 (.4375). The Saints' opposition finished 127-127 (.500). Tennessee and the Giants saw their opposition finish 131-122 (.511). Cleveland's opposition ended 2001 with a 134-120 mark (.523). The Falcons' opponents finished 136-20 (.531).

These records do not take into account the Sunday night game featuring Philadelphia and Tampa as well as the Minnesota/Baltimore season finale.