As the 16th week of the NFL season draws to a close, the 2026 draft continues to take shape. With just two weeks left in the regular season, the race for the No. 1 pick remains tight, and there are several teams that could still be in play to pick atop the draft in April.
The Titans, who held onto the top spot in the draft order for much of this season, picked up their third win of the season against the Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs on Sunday. As such, they’ve vaulted themselves back in the prospective draft order, while teams like the Giants, Raiders, Browns and Jets improved their odds at claiming the top pick.
Meanwhile, at the other end, the playoff picture has grown clearer and clearer, with the Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams and 49ers having already clinched a berth.
There’s not much time left for movement atop the draft order, but let’s see how things stand after the Week 16 slate.
Updated 2026 NFL draft order
| Team | Record | Draft Position | Week 16 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 2–13 | 1 | Loss vs. Vikings |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 2–13 | 2 | Loss vs. Texans |
| Cleveland Browns | 3–12 | 3 | Loss vs. Bills |
| New York Jets | 3–12 | 4 | Loss vs. Saints |
| Tennessee Titans | 3–12 | 5 | Win vs. Chiefs |
| Arizona Cardinals | 3–12 | 6 | Loss vs. Falcons |
| Washington Commanders | 4–11 | 7 | Loss vs. Eagles |
| New Orleans Saints | 5–10 | 8 | Win vs. Jets |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5–10 | 9 | Win vs. Dolphins |
| Miami Dolphins | 6–9 | 10 | Loss vs. Bengals |
| Atlanta Falcons (pick owned by Rams) | 6–9 | 11 | Win vs. Cardinals |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6–9 | 12 | Loss vs. Titans |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6–8–1 | 13 | Loss vs. Chargers |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7–8 | 14 | Loss vs. Patriots |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7–8 | 15 | Win vs. Giants |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7–8 | 16 | Loss vs. Panthers |
| Detroit Lions | 8–7 | 17 | Loss vs. Steelers |
| Indianapolis Colts (pick owned by Jets) | 8–6 | 18 | Monday vs. 49ers |
| Carolina Panthers | 8–7 | 19 | Win vs. Buccaneers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9–6 | 20 | Win vs. Lions |
| Green Bay Packers | 9–5–1 | 21 | Loss vs. Bears |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10–5 | 22 | Win vs. Commanders |
| Houston Texans | 10–5 | 23 | Win vs. Raiders |
| Buffalo Bills | 11–4 | 24 | Win vs. Browns |
| San Francisco 49ers | 10–4 | 25 | Monday vs. Colts |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 11–4 | 26 | Win vs. Cowboys |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (pick owned by Browns) | 11–4 | 27 | Win vs. Broncos |
| Los Angeles Rams | 11–4 | 28 | Loss vs. Seahawks |
| Chicago Bears | 11–4 | 29 | Win vs. Packers |
| New England Patriots | 12–3 | 30 | Win vs. Ravens |
| Denver Broncos | 12–3 | 31 | Loss vs. Jaguars |
| Seattle Seahawks | 12–3 | 32 | Win vs. Rams |
There are six teams with three or fewer wins, and all are in contention for the first pick. The Giants and Raiders sit at two wins apiece, and both lost on Sunday. They’ll meet in Week 17 for what will be a crucial showdown to determine the 2026 NFL draft order. A New York win would see them cede the top pick to Las Vegas, but a Raiders win would give the Giants the edge once again. The winning team could also potentially fall behind some of the other three-win teams in the draft order, depending on the outcome of other games that week.
For fans already looking ahead to the draft, next week will be absolutely critical.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order After Week 16 Slate.
