With Super Bowl LX in the books, the full 2026 NFL draft order has been set. Free agency is not far away, but attention will increasingly turn to April’s event as the offseason progresses.
The top of the first-round order is not subject to much in the way of speculation. The Raiders own the No. 1 selection and are widely seen as the landing spot for Fernando Mendoza, the lone quarterback regarded as a first-round lock at this point. How other QB-needy teams positioned throughout the order operate over the coming weeks – knowing there is a lack of high-end prospects this year – will make for an interesting storyline around the league.
This year’s NFL Combine will begin on February 23. Events such as the Senior Bowl have already taken place, leaving the Combine as the next major checkpoint in the evaluation of top prospects. Teams will begin arranging ‘Top 30’ visits with several players of interest relatively soon during the build-up to the draft. This year’s event will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
Pending the inevitable trades which will shake up the order, here is a final look at how things stand leading up to Day 1:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
- Chicago Bears (11-6)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- Denver Broncos (14-3)
- New England Patriots (14-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Do the Jets take Ty Simpson at 2 or risk losing him before 16? Is he worth gambling on for a team that has no real QB options this year? As a Jets fan, I want to see it happen. I don’t think any player in the draft (besides Mendoza) has the ability to impact the Jets right now as much as a quarterback addition. I think we have to go for it.
Big shrug.
Also a Jets fan. Taking Simpson at 2 would be absolutely bananas in my opinion. He’s just not that clean a prospect. Lacks ideal size and physical tools, only one year as a starter, and an uneven performance over that year. Questionable ceiling, low floor. Could he turn out to be a very good starter? Absolutely. But 2 overall is way too rich, and I think he’s better off sitting to start his career anyway. They have tons of draft capital. If they love him that much, they could always trade up from 16. But even that would be rich. They have tons of needs, including impact talent at every level of the defense and number 2 receiver, all of which this draft has in better supply than QBs after Mendoza.
It stinks to not have a quarterback plan, but over drafting a quarterback just because you need one in a draft that doesn’t really meet the need is how you get Kenny Pickett or EJ Manuel. It’s not like the Jets are going to contend this year no matter what. The best thing they can do is land core players. I don’t care if they use all four of their top 50 picks on defensive players if they’re playing the board and value well.
This is really well-reasoned. I’m just 36 now and the closest thing we’ve had to a franchise QB during my life has been Chad Pennington. I mean…. this has to end at some point.
Solidarity man. I’m only a few years older than you. I know the pain. Smoke em if you got em.
Well, they did have Sam Darnold but we all know how well they supported him during his time with the organization.
Yeah, Darnold definitely had a lot of growing up to do as a quarterback, but turns out having KOC or Kubiak and Justin Jefferson or JSN puts a quarterback in a better position to succeed than Adam Gase and Jamison Crowder as a number one receiver.
If I were the jets I wouldn’t worry about a quarterback. Jets seem like the could have holes all over the place depending on how free agency goes. I would good best available player that fills holes throughout the draft.
That feels like a reach at 2. I assume they go one of the edge rushers. If he is there at 16 and they like him great but personally I think they’re better off waiting for their QB in that 2027 class.
Stupid 49er fan question…I apologize. But could the 49ers trade their first round pick and Mac Jones to the Jets for the #2 pick?
That would be valuing Mac Jones at more than a first round pick. No way the Jets would do that.
I mean, it is the Jets…
You’d have to add in a few more early round picks on top of those 2 if you’re the 49ers to get that #2 pick.
I am not even sure the Jets would go from 2 to 28. If they threw in Aiyuk that could save them some draft picks. Something like Jones, Aiyuk, #28 and a third or fourth and maybe a seventh.
Jets have the picks to move up to number one or go after Burrow. Make Cincy an offer they can’t refuse
Nobody is trading for Aiyuk. You can’t take a chance on his mental or physical state at this point with his contract. Better off bidding on him as a FA.
The 49ers would probably have to add another mid round pick but i doubt they try to aim that high if they are gonna move up.
Mac Jones and all the mid round picks in the world aren’t enough to get a team to trade 2 for 28 without getting back an additional first round pick or two.
Best player drafted by each team in their current draft spot(s).
1. Roman Gabriel
2. Joe Namath
3. Larry Fitzgerald
5. Gary Jeter
6. Jim Brown
7. Champ Bailey
8. Willie Roaf
10. Willie Anderson
11. Minkah Fitzpatrick
12. Micah Parsons
13. Aaron Donald
14. Kyle Hamilton
15. Anthony McFarlane
16. Santana Moss
17. Gosder Cherilus
18. Dwayne Washington
19. Jeff Otah
20. Billy Joe DuPree
21. Lynn Swann
22. Gill Byrd
23. Roynell Young
24. Chet Hannulak
25. Bob Jencks
26. Henry Jones
27. Tom Kelly
29. Dave Costa
30. Reggie Johnson
31. Chris Slade
Subjectively speaking, for sure.
@Cajundago19 Not for Denver at 30. They have only selected that pick twice. Johnson there drafted in 1991 and played 3 seasons in Denver. The TE had 36 catches 455 yards and 3 touchdowns. The other in 1998 was Marcus Nash. The WR out of Tennessee had 4 catches for 76 yards in his 2 year career between Denver and Baltimore. However he did get a ring with Denver.
Selections based on Pro Football References weighted average value (wav). I agree that comparing players of different eras is highly subjective.
That’s pretty cool. Thanks for that!
Whomever is in charge in Pittsburgh, can you go all in and draft a QB not named Kenny Pickett 6 pls.
There is not a quarterback worth taking at 6.
The Jags giving up the 24th overall to move up for Hunter makes the deal a little more palatable.
I’m guessing Cle thought it would be a top 10 pick