The 2026 NFL Draft order has been solidified for the top 18 selections after Week 18 of the 2025 season concluded, with the Las Vegas Raiders securing the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 2007. The Raiders clinched the top spot after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, finalizing the draft order for non-playoff teams based on record and strength of schedule tiebreakers. This sets the stage for a franchise-altering draft in Pittsburgh this April, where quarterback-needy teams at the top of the board will have their choice of the next generation of NFL talent.
How the 2026 Draft Order Was Decided: The Raiders' Path to No. 1
The race for the No. 1 pick came down to the final week of the season, with the Raiders and Giants both entering Week 18 with 3-13 records. While the Giants had held the top spot for weeks, their 34-17 victory over Dallas dropped them to the fifth selection while elevating Las Vegas to the premier position. The Raiders' own 14-12 win over Kansas City didn't affect their draft position due to strength of schedule calculations, which favored the Raiders' easier schedule (.538 vs. .524) and secured them the top pick for the first time since selecting quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007.
"There was no better way to end a bitter season than how the Raiders closed things out on Sunday," wrote Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez. The victory gave the franchise momentum heading into an offseason where they hold the most valuable asset in football. Behind Las Vegas, the New York Jets secured the No. 2 pick with their 3-14 record, followed by the Arizona Cardinals (3-14), Tennessee Titans (3-14), and New York Giants (4-13) rounding out the top five.
From Week 1 to Week 18: The Complete Draft Order Timeline
The journey to the finalized draft order began with preseason projections but took definitive shape during the season's final month. Three of the top five picks changed hands in Week 16 alone, with the Giants' late-season surge dramatically altering the landscape. The complete top 18 order now stands as follows: 1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14), 2. New York Jets (3-14), 3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14), 4. Tennessee Titans (3-14), 5. New York Giants (4-13), 6. Cleveland Browns (5-12), 7. Washington Commanders (5-12), 8. New Orleans Saints (6-11), 9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11), 10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11), 11. Miami Dolphins (7-10), 12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1), 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons), 14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9), 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9), 16. New York Jets (via Colts), 17. Detroit Lions (9-8), and 18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8).
Notably, four teams will be absent from the first round due to previous trades: the Atlanta Falcons (pick sent to Rams), Green Bay Packers (pick sent to Cowboys), Jacksonville Jaguars (pick sent to Browns), and Indianapolis Colts (pick sent to Jets). The draft order for playoff teams (picks 19-32) will be determined by postseason results, with Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara setting the final selection at No. 32.
Why This Draft Order Matters: Expert Analysis and Team Needs
The top of the 2026 draft board is dominated by quarterback-needy franchises, with ESPN's NFL Nation reporters identifying the position as the biggest need for the Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, and Browns. "The Raiders haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round since JaMarcus Russell in 2007," noted Ryan McFadden. "That could very well change in April." The Jets, who started three different quarterbacks in 2025, rank 29th in offensive EPA and are expected to add both a veteran and rookie signal-caller this offseason.
Early mock drafts project Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, as the likely No. 1 selection to Las Vegas. "Mendoza isn't the elite improvisor or creator that recent No. 1 picks have been, but he's composed and clean in almost any scenario you could throw at him," wrote USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. Oregon's Dante Moore is projected to go second to the Jets, while Ohio State linebacker/defensive end Arvell Reese is mocked to Arizona at No. 3. The draft's depth at quarterback could see as many as five signal-callers selected in the first round, according to CBS Sports projections.
Where Things Stand Now: Latest Updates on the 2026 Draft Landscape
With the top 18 picks locked in, NFL front offices can begin serious evaluations of draft prospects while also navigating the upcoming coaching carousel and free agency period. The Raiders have already begun their quarterback evaluation process, with general manager John Spytek emphasizing the need for "sustained success" after a disappointing 3-14 season. Meanwhile, the Jets hold four of the top 50 picks and three first-round selections in 2027, giving them ample ammunition to move up if they identify their franchise quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns, holding two first-round picks (their own at No. 6 and Jacksonville's at No. 28), are in position to potentially solve what Daniel Oyefusi calls "the organization's decades-long search for a franchise quarterback." Browns quarterbacks posted the lowest QBR in the league this season, with neither rookie passer Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel establishing themselves as long-term solutions.
What Happens Next: The Road to Pittsburgh and Beyond
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time, with Round 1 scheduled for April 23, Rounds 2-3 on April 24, and Rounds 4-7 concluding on April 25. The next major milestone in the draft process is the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where top prospects like Mendoza, Moore, and Reese will undergo medical evaluations and athletic testing. College pro days throughout March and April will further shape the draft board, while free agency in March could alter team needs dramatically.
History suggests the draft order could still see significant movement through trades. Last year, 12 first-round picks changed hands during the draft itself, and with quarterback-needy teams clustered at the top, similar activity is expected. The Raiders haven't ruled out trading the No. 1 pick for a historic haul, though conventional wisdom suggests they'll use it to select their quarterback of the future.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways from the 2026 Draft Order
- The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 2007, positioning them to select a franchise quarterback.
- The top 18 selections are now finalized, with quarterback-needy teams dominating the top of the board.
- Four teams (Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Colts) will not have first-round picks due to previous trades.
- Early mock drafts project quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Dante Moore (Oregon) as the likely top two selections.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25, with the order for playoff teams (picks 19-32) to be determined by postseason results.
- Multiple teams, including the Jets and Browns, hold extra first-round picks that could be used to move up for quarterbacks or address multiple needs.
As the NFL turns its attention from the regular season to the draft, the 2026 selection process promises to be one of the most consequential in recent memory, with franchise-altering decisions awaiting teams at the top of the board.
