2026 NFL Draft order after Week 15: Chiefs in top-10 mix following Patrick Mahomes' injury; Jets back in top 5
Both New York teams are currently in position to pick in the top five overall
By
Josh Edwards
•
7 min read
Week 15 of the NFL regular season brought few surprises as favorites were victorious in almost every scenario. The Saints produced one of the few upsets with a last-second win over division rival Carolina.
With three weeks left in the NFL regular season, each game is important in determining who will be picking first in the 2026 NFL Draft. Three teams have just two wins on the year and an additional three teams have exactly three wins. There is one game left, in Week 17, involving a pair of those six teams: Giants (2-12) at Raiders (2-12).
Additionally, there are six other games featuring two teams currently slated to pick top 10 overall:
- Week 16: Jets (2-12) at Saints (4-10)
- Week 16: Falcons (5-9) at Cardinals (3-11)
- Week 17: Cardinals (3-11) at Bengals (4-10)
- Week 17: Saints (4-10) at Titans (2-12)
- Week 18: Saints (4-10) at Falcons (5-9)
- Week 18: Browns (3-11) at Bengals (4-10)
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. New York Giants (2-12)
Projected needs: WR, CB, IOL, LB, OT
The Jaxson Dart-led Giants have gone toe to toe with some quality teams this season, but the team did not have its magic Sunday against Marcus Mariota and the Commanders.
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
Projected needs: CB, LB, S, DL, OT
The Raiders hardly put up a fight against the Eagles on Sunday. The losing streak extends to eight games.
3. Tennessee Titans (2-12)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, WR, DL, EDGE
Tennessee was not able to get enough stops on San Francisco to turn the tide in its favor.
4. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Kevin Stefanski finds himself in a precarious situation as the team has not won back-to-back games since December 2023.
5. New York Jets (3-11)
Projected needs: QB, WR, DL, CB, TE
New York ran into a buzz saw Sunday as Jacksonville has not been the team which plays down to its competition in the past month. The Jets have two picks in the first round.
6. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, LB, DL, RB
Arizona was doubled up as it limps to the finish line. Big changes appear inevitable for the NFC West franchise.
7. New Orleans Saints (4-10)
Projected needs: CB, S, DL, RB, WR
The Saints are winners of back-to-back games. If a team has a franchise quarterback -- and New Orleans believes it might -- then wins are important for a new coach trying to instill a culture of winning in the locker room.
8. Washington Commanders (4-10)
Projected needs: EDGE, LB, CB, TE, WR
Marcus Mariota averaged 21.1 yards per completion as Washington used explosives to overcome its division foe.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
Projected needs: IOL, CB, S, TE, EDGE
One would think Joe Burrow did not return to play in a game like Sunday's. Fans did not deserve that performance after having to clean snow off their own seats.
10. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
An Atlanta win means a bit worse of a selection in the first round for Los Angeles. The Falcons were victorious Thursday night against a fading Buccaneers team.
11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
Projected needs: CB, WR, TE, IOL, S
The Dolphins won four consecutive games entering Week 15, but they're officially eliminated from playoff contention after a lifeless offensive performance on "Monday Night Football."
12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
Projected needs: DL, RB, CB, LB, TE
Patrick Mahomes laying on the ground and in pain felt like the lasting image of this season. For the first time since 2014, the Chiefs will miss the postseason.
13. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
Projected needs: LB, CB, S, DL, RB
Minnesota knocked off Dallas all but ending the Cowboys' playoff hopes.
14. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
The Cowboys fell to the Vikings on "Sunday Night Football" and saw their playoff hopes all but vanish.
15. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, IOL, TE, CB
Baltimore kept its own playoff hopes alive while simultaneously extinguishing what was left of Cincinnati's. The Ravens have a difficult three-game stretch to end the season, including Week 18 against the Steelers.
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16. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
Projected needs: CB, S, IOL, WR, DL
Carolina controlled its own destiny in the NFC South entering Week 15 against the Saints, but coughed it away. Now the Panthers face the Bucs two times in the final three weeks to determine the division.
17. Detroit Lions (8-6)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, LB, CB, OT
The Lions lost valuable ground in the NFC playoff chase as former franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford won in a shootout.
18. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Projected needs: LB, CB, EDGE, IOL, DL
Philip Rivers gave Indianapolis a chance at the end of the game, but it was a 56-yard field goal off the leg of Seahawks kicker Jason Myers proving to be the difference.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
Projected needs: LB, DL, EDGE, IOL, TE
Tampa Bay has now lost five of its past six games but remains atop the NFC South via a tiebreaker. It's a race that will be determined in two meetings with the Panthers over the final three weeks.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
Projected needs: QB, DL, WR, CB, IOL
Pittsburgh remained in sole possession of first place in the AFC North after handling the Miami Dolphins on "Monday Night Football."
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
Projected needs: TE, CB, EDGE, S, IOL
Philadelphia has struggled of late having lost three consecutive games, but it took care of business against an inferior Raiders team. Two of its final three games are against Washington.
22. Houston Texans (9-5)
Projected needs: IOL, OT, TE, DL, S
Houston strengthened its title as being the team no one wants to play right now. The Texans have won six consecutive games and are applying a bit of pressure on the Jaguars.
23. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
Next week's game against the Bears could decide the NFC North after Green Bay dropped Sunday's game to the Broncos.
24. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, CB, WR
Facing a 21-point deficit, Buffalo rallied to keep the AFC East division crown on the table. The Bills are winners of three consecutive games.
25. Chicago Bears (10-4)
Projected needs: DL, S, IOL, RB, OT
Chicago jumped on Cleveland early and never looked back. The Bears are close to securing a playoff berth, but have a tough remaining schedule.
26. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
Projected needs: IOL, EDGE, CB, TE, DL
Los Angeles pulled off a critical win over the vaunted Chiefs on Sunday. Jim Harbaugh's team continues to rise above its circumstances.
27. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, DL, WR, TE
Familiar faces, such as tight end George Kittle and running back Christian Mccaffrey, carried San Francisco to a win over the Titans. Three teams in the NFC West have at least 10 wins.
28. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Jacksonville more than doubled up the Jets as Trevor Lawrence is looking comfortable in Liam Coen's offense.
29. New England Patriots (11-3)
Projected needs: OT, TE, WR, LB, EDGE
New England had the AFC East crown in its grasp in the first half vs. Buffalo until Josh Allen roared back.
30. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
Projected needs: CB, DL, IOL, S, WR
A Week 16 meeting with the Rams will go a long way in determining the NFC West title.
31. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
The Rams punched their ticket for the postseason with a win over the franchise's former No. 1 overall selection, Jared Goff.
32. Denver Broncos (12-2)
Projected needs: LB, TE, S, WR, OT
Denver is headed back to the postseason after disposing of the Packers on Sunday. Bo Nix threw for four touchdowns in the win.
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.
