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.
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.