When the Bears (6-6) take on the Dallas Cowboys (6-6) in what amounts to a do-or-die game for last year's NFC North Champs, Bears fans will be probably be thinking about anything but the 2020 NFL Draft. However, it's important to keep tabs on where Chicago picks in what may end up being the most critical draft of general manager Ryan Pace's tenure with the team.

Ironically, that critically important draft won't include a first-round pick because of the Khalil Mack trade, but it will still offer Pace the ability to add two potential starters in the second round thanks to, again, the Mack trade that provided the Bears with the Oakland Raiders' second-round selection.

Thanks to the Raiders' unexpected two-game losing streak, that pick currently sits at No. 49 overall. Coupled with the Bears' second-round pick, No. 50 overall, and Pace will be armed with enough ammunition to trade back into the first round if a player he covets slips into the final six or seven picks of Day 1.

Even if Pace decides he doesn't want to trade into the first round, the 49th and 50th picks are sweet spots for quality interior offensive linemen, tight ends and even edge rushers who slip through the first-round cracks.

Bottom line? This year's draft will matter, even if it doesn't have the appeal that comes along with a top-32 choice.

Here's the current first-round order entering Week 14:

# Team W L T W% SoS % 1 Bengals 1 11 0 0.083 0.5755 2 Giants 2 10 0 0.167 0.4635 3 Washington 3 9 0 0.250 0.4870 4 Dolphins 3 9 0 0.250 0.4948 5 Falcons 3 9 0 0.250 0.5651 6 Lions 3 8 1 0.292 0.4818 7 Cardinals 3 8 1 0.292 0.5495 8 Jaguars 4 8 0 0.333 0.4792 9 Jets 4 8 0 0.333 0.4844 10 Chargers 4 8 0 0.333 0.5078 11 Broncos 4 8 0 0.333 0.5286 12 Eagles 5 7 0 0.417 0.4557 13 Buccaneers 5 7 0 0.417 0.5052 14 Browns 5 7 0 0.417 0.5391 15 Panthers 5 7 0 0.417 0.5391 16 Raiders 6 6 0 0.500 0.4609 17 Colts 6 6 0 0.500 0.4844 18 Raiders (via Bears) 6 6 0 0.500 0.5000 19 Titans 7 5 0 0.583 0.4948 20 Jaguars (via Rams) 7 5 0 0.583 0.5469 -- Cowboys 6 6 0 0.500 0.4661 -- Dolphins (via Steelers) 7 5 0 0.583 0.5130 -- Vikings 8 4 0 0.667 0.4583 -- Dolphins (via Texans) 8 4 0 0.667 0.5156 -- Chiefs 8 4 0 0.667 0.5182 Bills 9 3 0 0.750 0.4294 -- Packers 9 3 0 0.750 0.4583 -- Patriots 10 2 0 0.833 0.4531 -- Saints 10 2 0 0.833 0.4870 -- Ravens 10 2 0 0.833 0.5130 -- 49ers 10 2 0 0.833 0.5156 -- Seahawks 10 2 0 0.833 0.5208

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Bears.

Raiders' losing streak improving Bears' 2020 NFL draft picks originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago