2026 NFL Draft order after Week 17: Raiders land No. 1 pick after loss to Giants; Browns fall out of top 5
Las Vegas is in line to pick No. 1 overall for first time since taking JaMarcus Russell in 2007

The Cleveland Browns defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers removed some of the drama with regard to the 2026 NFL Draft. As long as the Browns won, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants were still going to be in a position to pick Nos. 1 and 2 regardless of Sunday's result.
By way of a 34-10 defeat, Las Vegas is now in position to pick first and has a need at the quarterback position. Although Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Oregon's Dante Moore are regarded as the top two quarterback prospects, neither has declared yet.
Cleveland, meanwhile, falls to No. 6 overall and may have taken itself out of the running for a franchise quarterback despite Shedeur Sanders doing nothing to state his case for the role long term.
As a reminder, there are four teams -- Atlanta, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Jacksonville -- without a first-round pick in 2026 as a result of draft-day trades and the Micah Parsons and Sauce Gardner deals.
Here is the current 2026 NFL Draft order (via Tankathon), as well as potential team needs:
1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)
Projected needs: CB, LB, S, DL, OT
Las Vegas' decision to shut down edge rusher Maxx Crosby sent a signal to the league that it was not trying to win anymore this season, so it was no surprise the team could not get up off the mat for Sunday's game against the Giants.
2. New York Giants (3-13)
Projected needs: WR, CB, IOL, LB, OT
New York lost the rights to the No. 1 overall selection. It was presumably not going to pick a quarterback, but it could cost it the opportunity to sell the pick to the highest bidder.
3. New York Jets (3-13)
Projected needs: QB, WR, DL, CB, TE
The Jets were on the wrong end of the biggest blowout of the day. The Patriots made a statement as they close in on the AFC East title and fight for the conference's No. 1 seed.
4. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, WR, DL, EDGE
Tennessee was in position to win, but Tyler Shough outclassed fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
5. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, LB, DL, RB
Arizona was never a threat to knock off Cincinnati on Sunday. The good news is that the season comes to a merciful end next week for the Cardinals.
6. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Cleveland may be responsible for keeping Pittsburgh out of the postseason, but it also may have cost itself an opportunity to draft a franchise quarterback by dropping back in the draft order.
7. Washington Commanders (4-12)
Projected needs: EDGE, LB, CB, TE, WR
Washington turned to Josh Johnson on Christmas Day with Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota sidelined, and the team fell short against the Cowboys. The Commanders continue to creep up the draft order with one game remaining.
8. New Orleans Saints (6-10)
Projected needs: CB, S, DL, RB, WR
New Orleans won its fourth consecutive game on Sunday. If the regular season were extended a few more weeks, the Saints may have an opportunity to win the division.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
Projected needs: DL, RB, CB, LB, TE
Kansas City is in a similar situation as Washington -- without its top two quarterbacks. Chris Oladokun threw for 66 yards in a loss to the Broncos on Christmas night.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
Projected needs: IOL, CB, S, TE, EDGE
Cincinnati is not contending for the playoffs, but it has maintained winning expectations for the future. Sunday's lopsided win over the Cardinals will potentially strengthen the case to keep coach Zac Taylor for another season.
11. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Projected needs: QB, CB, WR, TE, IOL, S
Miami did its part to contribute to Tampa Bay's misery. Tua Tagovailoa may not be a part of the team's future, but Mike McDaniel is stating his case to hang around.
12. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
It turned out to be a lose-lose for the Rams on Monday night. After their upset loss to the Falcons, not only are they in danger of missing out on the No. 5 seed in the NFC, but the Atlanta draft pick they own also got worse.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Projected needs: LB, DL, EDGE, IOL, TE
Tampa Bay has lost seven of its past eight games. It will miss out on the playoffs with a loss to Carolina next week.
14. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
Dallas took care of business against a hapless Commanders team without its top two quarterbacks. A perfect .500 record is on the line next week against the Giants.
15. Detroit Lions (8-8)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, LB, CB, OT
Detroit could not establish the run or pass against Minnesota's defense. In addition to Jared Goff's two interceptions, one of the most explosive run games in the league was limited to 2.3 yards per carry.
16. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, IOL, TE, CB
Baltimore took care of business against the Packers thanks to the ageless Derrick Henry, but its playoff hopes are only alive because of the Browns' upset win over the Steelers. The Ravens travel to Pittsburgh in Week 18 for a winner-take-all matchup.
17. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Projected needs: LB, CB, S, DL, RB
Minnesota did a good job stepping into passing lanes against Jared Goff. The veteran threw two interceptions and succumbed to rookie Max Brosmer, who threw for just 51 yards.
18. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Projected needs: LB, CB, EDGE, IOL, DL
The Colts have faced ample adversity and completed an epic collapse, but the team did not give up on coach Shane Steichen.
19. Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Projected needs: CB, S, IOL, WR, DL
The NFC South is once again the division with the token playoff representative. The possibility exists that the winner finishes with a record below .500 if Tampa Bay wins in Week 18.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Projected needs: QB, DL, WR, CB, IOL
Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense appeared more interested in Myles Garrett not getting the sack record than putting together anything that resembled offense on Sunday. It's now a win-or-go-home situation next week against the Ravens.
21. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
Malik Willis continues to acquit himself well ahead of free agency, but the Packers lost the NFC North with their loss to the Ravens on Saturday night.
22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Projected needs: IOL, EDGE, CB, TE, DL
Los Angeles lost a must-win game against the Texans on Saturday. Houston was able to run out the clock after a Chargers touchdown created a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.
23. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, CB, WR
Buffalo scored 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter ... to lose by one against Philadelphia.
24. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
The Rams allowed the Falcons to jump out to a 21-0 lead on "Monday Night Football," and even after they stormed back to tie the game at 24, they gave up the game-winning field goal with under a minute left.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Projected needs: TE, CB, EDGE, S, IOL
Philadelphia had less than 200 yards of offense, failed to score in the second half and still beat the Bills.
26. Houston Texans (11-5)
Projected needs: IOL, OT, TE, DL, S
Houston has won eight consecutive games to keep pace within the AFC South. The Texans have an opportunity to win the division after starting the season 0-3 if the Jaguars falter.
27. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Indianapolis and Jacksonville went back and forth all afternoon, but an aggressive fourth-down call by coach Liam Coen put the Jaguars in position to win.
28. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, DL, WR, TE
The 49ers won a wild shootout against Chicago to set the stage for a huge Week 18 NFC West matchup against the Seahawks.
29. Chicago Bears (11-5)
Projected needs: DL, S, IOL, RB, OT
The comeback Bears couldn't pull off another last-second win and fell to the 49ers on "Sunday Night Football."
30. New England Patriots (13-3)
Projected needs: OT, TE, WR, LB, EDGE
Five different Patriots caught touchdown passes from Drake Maye on Sunday, including rookie undrafted free agent Efton Chism III.
31. Denver Broncos (13-3)
Projected needs: LB, TE, S, WR, OT
Denver is not playing its best ball right now, but it may do enough to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and a week to reset.
32. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Projected needs: CB, DL, IOL, S, WR
Seattle maintains its lead in the NFC West with a win over the Panthers. It has won six straight games.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly mock drafts and regular looks at the eligible prospects.














