The NFL's wild-card weekend has clarified the early picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Las Vegas Raiders securing the No. 1 selection based on their league-worst 3-14 record. As playoff outcomes reshape team standings, the first 24 picks are now locked in, though trades could alter them before the event in Pittsburgh. Prospects like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza are expected to headline a class seen as relatively weak.
The 2026 NFL Draft order has taken shape following the wild-card round of the playoffs, providing clarity for teams out of Super Bowl contention. Entering the weekend, the first 18 picks were set, but results from games including the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Houston Texans on Monday Night Football finalized the top 24 selections. These positions remain subject to potential trades leading up to the draft, scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick with a 3-14 record and a .538 strength of schedule, followed closely by the New York Jets (3-14, .552) and Arizona Cardinals (3-14, .571). Other teams with high selections include the Tennessee Titans (3-14, .574), New York Giants (4-13, .524), Cleveland Browns (5-12, .486), and Washington Commanders (5-12, .507). Playoff performances and collapses during wild-card weekend directly influenced these standings, as eliminated teams now focus on rebuilding through the draft.
Analysts view this as a weaker first-round class compared to recent years, potentially leading to more trades similar to 2022, which saw a record 18 first-round deals. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana is projected as the top pick, with Oregon's Dante Moore also in contention for early selection, though his future remains uncertain. Other notable prospects include Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Mock drafts vary slightly: CBS Sports' Ryan Renner projects the Raiders and Jets taking quarterbacks, while USA Today's Ayrton Ostly has the Raiders selecting Mendoza, Jets taking Moore, Cardinals picking Alabama's Ty Simpson, Titans grabbing Ohio State's Arvell Reese, and Giants selecting Ohio State's Carnell Tate. The draft's outcome will depend on player declarations by the January 23 deadline and subsequent team maneuvers.
