Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Rams Fire ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn
After a costly loss to the NFC West rival Seahawks on Thursday, the Rams have fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Ben Kotwica, previously the assistant special teams coach, will take over for Blackburn.
Blackburn’s dismissal is the first in-season coaching change Sean McVay has made since he took the reins in 2017, Schefter notes. McVay’s unexpected late-season adjustment comes on the heels of the Rams’ latest special teams gaffe.
Holding a 30-14 lead in Seattle, the Rams allowed a 58-yard punt return touchdown to Rashid Shaheed. That helped the Seahawks storm back to force overtime and pull out a 38-37 victory. The outcome was enormous for both sides. The Rams owned the No. 1 seed in the NFC entering the contest, but they’re now 11-4, trailing the 12-3 Seahawks in the division, and sitting in fifth place in the conference.
The Rams are on the NFL’s shortlist of Super Bowl contenders despite consistent special teams issues. Pro Football Focus ranks the unit 28th in the league. The Rams have gone through multiple kickers and long snappers. A blocked kick against the Eagles in Week 3 cost them a potential buzzer-beating victory and led to a loss.
McVay expressed frustration with the Rams’ special teams difficulties in early November, saying (via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk): “It’s going to cost us — it’s cost us already. It’s been a momentum killer. It does take the air out of our sails. Our guys have shown they can respond and overcome it. But you do have to be — the harsh and the truth of it is, is this is not sustainable to continuously go where we want to go.”
A month and a half later, McVay is waving goodbye to Blackburn. A linebacker with the Giants and Panthers from 2005-14, Blackburn has worked as a special teams coach on multiple staffs since his playing days ended. He was the Panthers’ ST coordinator from 2018-21. After a year on Mike Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee, Blackburn joined the Rams in 2023. Under two full seasons later, the 42-year-old is on his way out of Los Angeles.
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/18/25
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: LB Nick Hampton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Kevin Austin
- Waived: K Cade York
- Placed on IR: RB Devin Neal
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from Panthers’ practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Waived: DT Brodric Martin
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: WR Dareke Young
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, OT Amari Kight
After earning the first three starts of his career, Devin Neal‘s rookie season has come to an end. The Saints running back landed on injured reserve today with a hamstring injury, ending his season early. The sixth-round pick filled in for Alvin Kamara recently, with the rookie compiling 185 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his three starts.
Elsewhere in New Orleans, Cade York‘s stint with the team has come to an end. The veteran joined the Saints practice squad last month as a potential replacement for Blake Grupe. The team ended up opting for Charlie Smyth to take over as their primary kicker, with the second-year pro converting four of his five field goal attempts and all five of his extra points in three appearances.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks will welcome back Dareke Young for tonight’s game against the Rams. The fourth-year receiver landed on injured reserve in early November thanks to a quad injury. Known mostly for his special teams prowess, Young has had an occasional role on offense during his stint in Seattle, hauling in four catches for 72 yards.
2025 NFL Dead Money, By Team
As we head toward the playoffs, three NFL teams are carrying more than $100MM in dead money. That represents more than a third of the salary cap. The 49ers are also on track to make the playoffs with more than $100MM allocated to players no longer on their 53-man roster. Here is where the 32 teams stand for dead money (via OverTheCap) with three weeks left in the regular season:
- New Orleans Saints: $107.83MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $103.77MM
- New York Jets: $102.1MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $87.79MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $87.27MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $86.1MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $85.49MM
- Cleveland Browns: $83.22MM
- Miami Dolphins: $72.45MM
- Houston Texans: $66.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $59.42MM
- Green Bay Packers: $57.98MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $56.23MM
- New England Patriots: $50.56MM
- Denver Broncos: $42.78MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $41.34MM
- Detroit Lions: $40.71MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $40.39MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $38.78MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $38.38MM
- Buffalo Bills: $37.58MM
- Carolina Panthers: $36.55MM
- New York Giants: $33.74MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $33.7MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $30.6MM
- Washington Commanders: $27.29MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $27MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $20.99MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $20.33MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $17.37MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $16.51MM
- Chicago Bears: $8.6MM
The $100MM trio dwarfs last year’s leaders — the Broncos — in this unwanted area. The Saints began taking some overdue medicine for their cap-gymnastics past by trading Marshon Lattimore last year. That move coming after June 1 pushed $31.67MM onto New Orleans’ 2025 cap sheet. Derek Carr also counts $19.2MM on this year’s Saints cap, while Ryan Ramczyk‘s retirement covers more than $11MM.
The Carr punishment covers $55.88MM in total, meaning nearly $37MM from the QB’s retirement will land on New Orleans’ 2026 payroll. Mickey Loomis‘ spree of restructures on that contract created that inflated figure.
Deebo Samuel brought a receiver-record dead money total to the 49ers, who absorbed $34.12MM by trading the seventh-year veteran in March. The second leg of the post-June 1 Arik Armstead transaction from 2024 created a $15MM dead cap hit this year, with void years on Charvarius Ward‘s deal covering more than $12MM.
Gang Green took on barely $20MM combined from the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades and will do the same next year, reflecting the low signing bonus figure on the Gardner extension. The Jets, though, have taken $56MM in total from the Aaron Rodgers release ($21MM this year, $35MM next). That is the second-highest total dead cap hit in NFL history.
The team that authorized the highest dead money sum in league annals — Denver, via the 2024 Russell Wilson release — is still carrying $32MM on that contract. It comes off the books next year, and the Broncos do not have any other player counting more than $3MM in dead cap on their 2025 payroll.
The Eagles and Seahawks are also moving toward the playoffs with higher dead money counts compared to the 2024 Broncos, though it should be noted the cap’s $24MM increase from last year plays into this. Philadelphia is still carrying a combined $26MM from the 2024 Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retirements. Josh Sweat void years also comprise $16.44MM of this year’s cap. The Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf trade brought $21MM in dead cap, while Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett and Dre’Mont Jones combine to cover more than $41MM in dead money.
Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith‘s 2024 Cleveland exits via trade tagged the Browns with more than $36MM in dead money together, while the Dolphins are dealing with more than $30MM combined from the post-June 1 designations on Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. The latter counts $15.7MM in dead money this year and $20.9MM in 2026. That eclipses Lattimore’s defender-record total for dead cap.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Sunday’s action provided more clarity on a number of fronts relating to the playoff pushes in each conference. The list of teams still in contention for the top pick in the 2026 draft remains long, however.
Week 15 saw the Broncos and Rams clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, Bengals and Vikings have each officially been eliminated from the playoffs. They will join the group of teams turning their attention to offseason planning. That of course includes extensive evaluation of the top prospects in this year’s class; several have already turned pro (with some exceptions).
Sunday’s results mean there are nine teams with two, three or four wins. Each of them remain candidates to secure the No. 1 selection, although victories by the Saints and Commanders yesterday will greatly hinder their chances of moving to the top of the order. Jockeying amongst teams like the Raiders, Jets and Cardinals (each on track to pursue a new quarterback this spring) will be a storyline worth following closely down the stretch.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- Tennessee Titans (2-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- Chicago Bears (10-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-2)
Rams WR Davante Adams In Danger Of Missing Week 16
DECEMBER 15: At least a one-game absence is likely in store for Adams. He’s considered week-to-week after aggravating his previous hamstring injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
DECEMBER 14: Early on in the season, Rams wide receiver Davante Adams sustained a mild hamstring strain. While the injury put him on the practice injury report, he didn’t miss any time because of it. In today’s big win over the Lions, though, Adams seemed to aggravate the injury into a higher severity. 
For what it’s worth, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Adams is “optimistic” about the injury. He played through it in the early weeks of the season, and though it’s resurfaced over the last few weeks, limiting him in practice, Adams has been able to tough it out and play his way through it. Trainers do sometimes have to call out injuries players refuse to respect and pay heed to, but Adams know his body better than anybody else.
That being said, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Adams’ hamstring injury “didn’t look good,” communicating that the veteran wideout’s status could be in doubt for Week 16. The Rams play on a short week of rest next week with a Thursday night road trip to Seattle next on the docket. Hamstring injuries don’t typically subside quickly after aggravation, so McVay’s concern is well warranted.
So far this season, Adams has been one half of a two-headed monster in the Rams passing game across from Puka Nacua. Coming into the week, both players boasted triple-digit targets while the next most-targeted player was running back Kyren Williams with 35. After taking out Williams and tight ends, second-year receivers Jordan Whittington (23) and Xavier Smith (14) and rookie seventh-rounder Konata Mumpfield (8) made up the rest of the receivers target share entering the week. The team did return Tutu Atwell from injured reserve this weekend, and he may stand a better chance a dipping into the target share.
Ultimately, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, McVay concluded vaguely, “We will see what’s going on with Davante.” An optimistic Adams and skeptical McVay will navigate the short week ahead of them before making any official decisions for Thursday.
Rams To Prioritize WR Puka Nacua Extension This Offseason
Puka Nacua has remained one of the league’s top receivers in 2025. The coming offseason will be the first during which a Rams extension will be possible, and signs are pointing to one being worked out. 
The Rams view a new Nacua contract as a priority, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). That comes as little surprise, of course. The 2023 fifth-rounder has been a star since arriving in the league. Nacua has increased his yards per game average every year in his career; entering today’s action, it stands at 98.8 for 2025.
Given that elite level of production, a central question in this case will be tied to finances. Nacua certainly has a case to become the league’s top earner at the receiver spot, especially given the expectation the salary cap will see another notable jump in 2026. For now, the position’s market includes nine contracts averaging $30MM or more per season.
Justin Jefferson led the way with an AAV of $35MM until Ja’Marr Chase finalized his Bengals extension this past spring. Chase’s pact averages $40.25MM per year and includes just under $110MM in total guarantees (with a large portion of that fully locked in). It will be interesting to see if Nacua, 24, can approach the top spot in the WR pecking order once his second Rams contract is worked out.
On that note, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes the Nacua talks will be closely monitored around the NFL. Many in the league feel the receiver market has surged at too high of a pace, and a leveling off period could be in store as a result. If not, Nacua is among the wideouts who could move the bar even higher. In any case, negotiations between Los Angeles and the Pro Bowler will make for one of the team’s top storylines during the 2026 offseason.
The Rams moved on from Cooper Kupp in March, ending his decorated eight-year run with the team. Fellow veteran Davante Adams was signed as a replacement on a two-year, $44MM contract. That investment has paid major dividends, with Adams scoring 14 touchdowns and counting in 2025. Tutu Atwell was retained on a one-year pact, but it would come as little surprise if he were to depart in free agency after the season.
Without any long-term deals at the receiver spot, Los Angeles should be in line for a massive commitment in Nacua’s case. The BYU product hopes to retire by the age of 30, meaning he may only play on two NFL contracts in his career. The second one could be in place relatively soon, depending on the progress of extension talks.
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/13/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for Week 15’s Sunday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: T Christian Jones
- Elevated: WR Jalen Brooks, WR Trent Sherfield
- Placed on IR: DT Bilal Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: OL Garrett Dellinger
- Elevated: S Chris Edmonds, DT Maurice Hurst
- Waived: WR Jamari Thrash
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Jordan Turner
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: S Erick Hallett, TE Giovanni Ricci
- Placed on IR: S Brian Branch (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Pierre Strong
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: TE Harrison Bryant
- Elevated: RB Jawhar Jordan, S K’Von Wallace
- Waived: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: G C.J. Hanson
- Elevated: T Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Zacch Pickens
- Placed on IR: T Wanya Morris (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson, G Atonio Mafi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Dalevon Campbell, S Marcus Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: S Tanner Ingle
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: RB D’Ernest Johnson
- Elevated: DT Leonard Taylor
- Placed on IR: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, K Charlie Smyth
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: WR Dalen Cambre, OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Chatman, P Cameron Johnston
- Placed on IR: OLB Victor Dimukeje, CB Nic Jones
- Waived: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Cam Jones
- Elevated: CB Tre Brown, QB Adrian Martinez
- Placed on IR: CB Azareye’h Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Andre’ Sam
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: DE Rylie Mills
- Elevated: RB Velus Jones
- Placed on IR: TE Elijah Arroyo
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: T John Ojukwu
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Darius Rush
Nichols began the year on the reserve/PUP list. The eight-year veteran has been hampered by injuries since signing with the Cardinals in 2024. After playing just six games last year, Nichols’ 2025 campaign will end after only four appearances.
Bryant makes his return to the Texans’ offense to replenish a thinned out tight ends group, while in Seattle, the Seahawks place their second-round rookie tight end, Arroyo, on injured reserve with a knee injury.
In Buffalo, this will be Jackson’s third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation. If the team wants to see him in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster. The same is true for Strong in Green Bay, Jackson and Mafi in Las Vegas, Smyth in New Orleans, Sam in Philadelphia, and Jones in Seattle.
On the flip side of that, in Denver, Turner has been signed to the 53-man roster after running out of elevations last week.
Thomas suffered a shoulder injury in Week 14 and it will end his season. The third-round rookie confirmed on social media today he is set to undergo surgery in the near future. Thomas made five starts in 2025, totaling 22 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Rams Activate WR Tutu Atwell From IR
DECEMBER 13: Los Angeles officially made the move today to activate Atwell from injured reserve. After sitting out the last seven weeks, the speedy wideout will return for the closing stretch of the regular season in time for a nice runup to a likely postseason run.
Additionally, the Rams have announced that they will call up safety Tanner Ingle as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for tomorrow’s game.
DECEMBER 11: The Rams have one of the league’s best receiver tandems in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The team will soon be even healthier at the position. 
Tutu Atwell had his 21-day practice window opened on November 26. He is now set to suit up in time for Sunday’s contest against the Lions. Head coach Sean McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) Atwell will be activated from injured reserve this week.
The fifth-year Ram landed on IR in late October due to a hamstring injury. There was initial optimism Atwell would only miss the minimum four games while recovering and then return to the lineup in Week 13. Instead, he has been absent for the past six contests. During that span, Los Angeles has gone 5-1 to remain in strong contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Nevertheless, getting Atwell back in the fold will give the Rams a boost on offense. The former second-rounder posted a career high in catches (42) and yards (562) last season. That resulted in a one-year, $10MM pact being worked out in March. With the deal being guaranteed in full, expectations were high in the case of a player who had previously been linked to trade speculation.
To date in 2025, Atwell has only managed four receptions in six games. The Louisville product will look to serve as a complementary option in the passing game down the stretch and into the postseason while he approaches free agency. The Rams, meanwhile, will continue to reply heavily on Nacua (who leads the league with 93 catches) and Adams (who is pacing the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns).
Having only brought back Ahkello Witherspoon so far this season, Los Angeles still has seven IR activations remaining at this point. That figure will drop to six in the near future when Atwell is officially returned to the active roster.
Poll: Who Will Win NFC West?
It only took 10 wins to earn the NFC West title a year ago. Two of the division’s four teams have already reached that total 14 weeks into 2025. The 10-3 Rams are in first place and on track to win the division for the second straight season, but the Seahawks share the same record. Meanwhile, the 49ers (9-4) are right on their tails. At 3-10, the Cardinals are the only non-contender in the division, leaving the other three clubs to battle for the title over the next four weeks.
The Rams rank second in the NFL in point differential, trailing only the Seahawks in that category. However, the Rams got the better of the Seahawks in their first matchup of the season in Week 11. Playing at home, the Rams took advantage of four Sam Darnold interceptions to eke out a 21-19 win. Those two will meet again in Seattle in Week 16. The Seahawks also lost their previous meeting with the 49ers, who took a 17-13 decision on the road in Week 1. Seattle will seek revenge in San Francisco in Week 18, potentially with the division at stake. Having already split their season series, the Rams and 49ers are done with each other unless a rubber match occurs during the playoffs.
Despite Darnold’s disastrous showing against the Rams last month, the 28-year-old has been terrific for the second season in a row. Between his one-off with the Vikings and his first 13 games as a Seahawk, Darnold has gone 24-6 as a starter since 2024. He’s in the MVP running this year, but Stafford is the favorite in his age-37 season.
Both Stafford and Darnold have benefited from immensely talented receivers. The Rams have a stellar one-two punch in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua leads the NFL in catches (93), and Adams is atop the league in receiving touchdowns (14). Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba is easily pacing the league in yards (1,428). He has a shot to break Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record of 1,964.
While their offenses have gotten most of the headlines, the Rams and Seahawks have also prevented scoring at an elite clip. The Seahawks have given up 17.4 points per game to the Rams’ 17.5. Only the Texans (16.0) have done a better job keeping points off the board than those two clubs. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seahawks DC Aden Durde could soon draw head coaching interest as a result of their work this year.
The Rams’ Sean McVay and the Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald will likely earn Coach of the Year consideration. The same should be true for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who has kept his team in the hunt despite an absurd number of notable injuries.
The 49ers survived an extended period without starting signal-caller Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, who have returned from the shelf in recent weeks. They’ve also had to get by for most of the year without their two best defensive players, linebacker Fred Warner and end Nick Bosa. Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 6. Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3. Without Bosa coming off the edge, the 49ers rank last in the league in sacks. Nevertheless, coordinator Robert Saleh has still cobbled together the game’s eighth-ranked scoring defense. Despite a failed run with the Jets, Saleh’s performance this season could earn him a second shot as a head coach in 2026.
The NFC West is setting up as a three-way fight to close out the season, but ESPN’s Football Power Index pegs the Rams as overwhelming favorites. They have a 56.3% chance to win the division. The Seahawks (27.5) and 49ers (16.3) are lagging well behind. How do you think it will play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.