Week 12 changed the NFL playoff picture in several ways.
But the top of the 2026 NFL Draft order remains the same after the games on Sunday.
While the New York Giants were the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention, they remain in second when it comes to next spring’s NFL Draft, behind only the Tennessee Titans. If the 2026 NFL Draft happened this week, the Titans would be on the clock, followed by the Giants and then the New Orleans Saints.
Here is the updated 2026 NFL Draft order after Sunday’s games:
| Pick | Team | Record | Winning % | SOS | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee Titans | 1-10 | .091 | .574 | — |
| 2 | New York Giants | 2-10 | .167 | .545 | 0.5 |
| 3 | New Orleans Saints | 2-9 | .182 | .492 | 1.0 |
| 4 | New York Jets | 2-9 | .182 | .526 | 1.0 |
| 5 | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-9 | .182 | .558 | 1.0 |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | 3-8 | .273 | .476 | 2.0 |
| 7 | Washington Commanders | 3-8 | .273 | .516 | 2.0 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-8 | .273 | .524 | 2.0 |
| 9 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-8 | .273 | .556 | 2.0 |
| 10 | Miami Dolphins | 4-7 | .364 | .487 | 3.0 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) | 4-7 | .364 | .495 | 3.0 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | 4-7 | .364 | .535 | 3.0 |
| 13 | Dallas Cowboys | .500 | .463 | 4.5 | |
| 14 | Carolina Panthers | 6-5 | .545 | .500 | 5.0 |
| 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-5 | .545 | .513 | 5.0 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-5 | .545 | .513 | 5.0 |
| 17 | Houston Texans | 6-5 | .545 | .545 | 5.0 |
| 18 | Detroit Lions | 7-4 | .636 | .513 | 6.0 |
| 19 | Baltimore Ravens | 6-5 | .545 | .503 | 5.0 |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-5 | .545 | .505 | 5.0 |
| 21 | Buffalo Bills | 7-4 | .636 | .466 | 6.0 |
| 22 | Cleveland Browns (via JAX) | 7-4 | .636 | .492 | 6.0 |
| 23 | San Francisco 49ers | 7-4 | .636 | .495 | 6.0 |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys (via GB) | .682 | .492 | 6.5 | |
| 25 | Los Angeles Chargers | 7-4 | .636 | .471 | 6.0 |
| 26 | Chicago Bears | 8-3 | .727 | .449 | 7.0 |
| 27 | Seattle Seahawks | 8-3 | .727 | .487 | 7.0 |
| 28 | New York Jets (via IND) | 8-3 | .727 | .497 | 7.0 |
| 29 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-3 | .727 | .495 | 7.0 |
| 30 | Denver Broncos | 9-2 | .818 | .441 | 8.0 |
| 31 | Los Angeles Rams | 9-2 | .818 | .519 | 8.0 |
| 32 | New England Patriots | 10-2 | .833 | .356 | 8.5 |
A few big-picture thoughts.
First, you are reading that correctly: The New England Patriots are listed at No. 32, thanks to having the best record in the league.
Second, you are also reading that correctly: The Patriots have a remaining Strength of Schedule of .356, the lowest in the league. (SOS in this table looks at all 17 opponents for each of the 32 teams, not just the teams that they have played through Week 12.)
The Rams’ trade with the Falcons keeps looking better for Los Angeles. While Atlanta added pass rusher James Pearce Jr. last spring in that trade, the Rams are now sitting inside the Top 12 and depending on how the Falcons finish out the season, the Rams could have a Top 10 pick in addition to their own pick.
Which, given how they looked Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, could be very late in the first round.
At the top of the order, both the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants are in the mix for the first-overall selection, but both teams are likely going to pass on quarterbacks during this draft cycle. The four teams behind them — the Saints, the Jets, the Raiders, and the Browns — are likely to be in the quarterback mix.
Who could go No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at a few players who could go off the board first.
Both the Titans and the Giants are likely to sit out the quarterback carousel this draft cycle. While both Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart need to get more consistent, both quarterbacks have shown enough to remain entrenched under center next season.
That could make for a fascinating decision at No. 1.
Rueben Bain Jr., the Miami pass rusher, is a frequent candidate atop mock drafts. While he has aligned primarily along the edge this season, the Hurricanes have used him all along the defensive front. He wins most often with power, but has displayed a solid dip-and-rip move off the edge this season. That move showed up on plays against SMU and Florida this year.
Only one time in NFL history has a defensive back gone first overall, and that came back in 1956 when Colorado A&M’s Gary Glick went first to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Could Caleb Downs, a safety, change that? Downs is an NFL-ready defender who can play at any level of the defense. Matt Patricia has lined him up literally everywhere on the field this season — single-high safety, half-field safety, outside cornerback, slot cornerback, in the box at a linebacker’s depth, and even walked down into the A- or B-Gaps in certain situations.
Four off-ball linebackers have gone first overall, with the last coming in 1988. But perhaps Arvell Reese could change that. The Ohio State linebacker has ideal athleticism and strength for the modern NFL, can carry tight ends and even slot receivers vertically in the passing game, and can be a factor as a pass rusher off the edge or as a blitzer. On a sack against Minnesota he rushed off the edge in a two-point stance, buried the left tackle with a power move, and worked to the QB to finish the play. Expect to see that play as part of his draft-night highlight package.
Moving to the offensive side of the ball, Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State WR Carnell Tate are the two main options at that position. Tyson can play inside or outside, works well in the deep game — find his vertical route touchdown against TCU if you are curious — and can play above the rim when needed to. Tate has also played both inside and outside, but his size and length could make him a candidate to play primarily outside. His seven touchdowns this season have come in the vertical passing game, but perhaps the best play I’ve seen from him was an RPO slant he caught against Minnesota. He needed full extension to snare a high through, evaded the first would-be tackler, broke a second tackle attempt, and turned a 12-yard throw into a 49-yard gain.
In a world where the team sitting at No. 1 decides to trade out of the spot, Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Dante Moore are the three main quarterbacks to watch.
