The team with the lowest winning percentage at the end of the previous season drafts first in the NFL Draft.
The rest of the teams are placed in order from lowest winning percentage to the highest.
The Super Bowl winner drafts last, even if they do not have the highest winning percentage.
The Super Bowl loser drafts next to last.
Strength of schedule for the previous season is the first tie-breaker for teams with the same winning percentage.
Divisional and conference records are the next step in the tie-breaking procedure.
As a last resort, a coin toss is used to determine the order of selection for teams with the same winning percentage.
If a playoff and non-playoff team end the season with the same winning percentage, the non-playoff team selects before the playoff team regardless of strength of schedule.
2009 NFL Draft Discussions by Team
| Arizona | Dallas | Miami | Pittsburgh |
| Atlanta | Denver | Minnesota | San Diego |
| Baltimore | Detroit | New England | San Francisco |
| Buffalo | Green Bay | New Orleans | Seattle |
| Carolina | Houston | NY Giants | St. Louis |
| Chicago | Indianapolis | NY Jets | Tampa Bay |
| Cincinnati | Jacksonville | Oakland | Tennessee |
| Cleveland | Kansas City | Philadelphia | Washington |

