[4] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks.
Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker.
The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion.
[6][7] The intention of the draft is to make the NFL more competitive, as some teams had an advantage in signing players.
The system was abolished prior to the 1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.