The regular season is over, the dust from Wild Card weekend has settled, and honestly, the league looks upside down. If you told a Raiders fan back in August that they’d be holding the number one overall pick in 2026, they probably would’ve laughed or cried. Well, it’s real. With a 3-14 record and the weakest strength of schedule among the bottom-feeders, Las Vegas has officially clinched the top spot.
It's been a long time since 2007. That was the last time the Silver and Black picked first, and we all remember how the JaMarcus Russell era went. This time feels different, mostly because the quarterback class, while thin, has a clear frontrunner in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.
But it’s not just about the Raiders. The latest updates nfl draft order show a massive shakeup thanks to some aggressive trades made during the 2025 cycle. Teams like the Rams, Jets, and Browns are sitting on extra first-round capital that could fundamentally change the balance of power in the AFC and NFC next year.
The Top 10 Is Locked In
The non-playoff teams have their slots. No more guessing. If you’re a fan of a team in the top five, you’re already looking at the "big three" prospects: Mendoza, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and maybe a dark horse like Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14): They need a franchise savior. Period.
- New York Jets (3-14): They’re in a weird spot, but likely looking at the best player available.
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Defensive help is the cry in the desert.
- Tennessee Titans (3-14): They barely missed out on a higher slot but still have a blue-chip chance.
- New York Giants (4-13): That Week 18 win over Dallas actually hurt their draft stock, pushing them to five.
- Cleveland Browns (5-12): Expect them to look at wide receiver help, maybe Carnell Tate.
- Washington Commanders (5-12): Still rebuilding that identity.
- New Orleans Saints (6-11): Cap hell meets a high draft pick.
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11): Seeing the Chiefs this high in the order is jarring, isn't it?
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11): Protecting Joe Burrow remains the eternal mission.
The Trade Chaos You Forgot About
This is where the updates nfl draft order get kind of messy. Remember the Sauce Gardner trade? The Jets now own the Indianapolis Colts' pick at number 16. That gives New York two picks in the top 20. That's a massive win for a team that struggled to find consistency this year.
Then you've got the Micah Parsons blockbuster. The Cowboys are sitting at pick 20 thanks to the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay made the playoffs, but Dallas gets the spoils of that trade regardless of their own 7-9-1 finish. It’s a bitter pill for Packers fans to swallow after a decent season.
Even the Browns are double-dipping. They own the Jacksonville Jaguars' pick (number 24) because the Jags traded up for Travis Hunter last year. Hunter lived up to the hype, but Cleveland is the one laughing now with two first-rounders in their pocket.
Wild Card Results Changed Everything
The first 24 picks are now set in stone. When the Steelers lost to the Texans, they slid into pick 21. When the Jaguars got bounced by the Bills, they locked that pick in for Cleveland at 24.
The teams still playing—the ones in the Divisional Round—are fighting for the right to pick 25th through 32nd. It’s the only time in the year when you actually want your draft position to get worse.
Teams Looking for Trenches
The Philadelphia Eagles are currently sitting at 23. After an 11-6 season, Howie Roseman is almost certainly looking at the secondary or the edge. Names like Colton Hood from Tennessee are already being linked to Philly in scout circles.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers are picking at 19. They need an edge rusher desperately. David Bailey is the name most experts are circling there, assuming he doesn't climb higher during the combine.
What to Watch for Next
The order will continue to update as the playoffs progress. Here is what we know for sure about the remaining slots:
- Picks 25-28: These will go to the losers of the Divisional Round.
- Picks 29-30: Reserved for the teams that fall in the Conference Championships.
- Pick 31: The Super Bowl runner-up.
- Pick 32: The champion.
The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are currently the "projected" 31 and 32 based on their 14-3 regular seasons, but the playoffs have a way of ruining projections.
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If you're tracking these updates nfl draft order for your own team, start looking at the Senior Bowl rosters. That's where the mid-to-late first-rounders usually separate themselves. For the Raiders at number one, it’s all about whether they stick with Mendoza or if a team like the Giants tries to leapfrog everyone with a massive trade package.
Keep an eye on the compensatory pick announcements in March. While they don't affect the first round, they shift the entire landscape of day two. For now, the focus is on Pittsburgh in April, where the Raiders will officially start a new era.
Pay attention to the medical evaluations coming out of the Combine. A lot of these top prospects, like Oregon tackle Isaiah World, have massive frames but some lingering questions about durability. If a top-five talent slides, the back half of the top ten will look very different by draft night. Start mapping out your team's needs now, because the board is finally taking its final shape.