Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Aside from tonight’s Rams-Falcons game, Week 17 is in the books. Most of the playoff field has been set in both conferences, but there is still plenty to be determined regarding the first-round draft order.
By virtue of their loss on Sunday, the Raiders are now in pole position to secure the No. 1 pick. Vegas sits at 2-14 on the year, with four teams sporting a record of 3-13. Only one of those, however – the Giants – is still in contention to land the top selection. Vegas will play against Kansas City in Week 18, while New York’s season will end against Dallas.
Fernando Mendoza looms as the projected top quarterback option in the 2026 class, with the futures of Dante Moore and Ty Simpson still uncertain. Demand usually outweighs supply at the top of the draft when it comes to signal-callers, and scarcity at the position could very well come into play in April. Mendoza may find himself on the radar of teams not immediately in need of a quarterback depending on how things play out.
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:
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)
- New York Giants (3-13)
- New York Jets (3-13)
- Tennessee Titans (3-13)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
- Cleveland Browns (4-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-10)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (7-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
- Detroit Lions (8-8)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-5)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- Denver Broncos (13-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
49ers Notes: Kittle, Williams, Warner, WRs
Trent Williams missed almost all of the 49ers’ 42-38 win, going down with a hamstring injury sustained as he attempted to make a tackle on Brock Purdy‘s first-play pick-six. The future Hall of Fame left tackle is undergoing tests today, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. While this injury does not appear set to move Williams to IR, Rapoport points to a Week 18 absence being likely. The 49ers, after all, somewhat surprisingly (given their Seattle matchup’s importance) drew a short-week assignment for their regular-season finale.
Although the 49ers’ most notable injuries have involved season-enders (or apparent season-enders in Fred Warner‘s case), this heightens the importance of the team earning the NFC’s bye slot. Williams and George Kittle having recovery weeks would certainly be beneficial to this unlikely Super Bowl contender’s quest.
Here is the latest out of San Francisco:
- After three DNPs last week, Kittle missed the 49ers’ shootout win over the Bears. Swelling in the All-Pro tight end’s injured ankle prevented him from conducting a planned pregame workout, according to NBC’s Melissa Stark, leading to the Week 17 shutdown. Kittle, who came off IR earlier this season following a hamstring injury, expects to play in the 49ers’ Week 18 matchup. Charting the likely Hall of Famer’s practice log will be key, but Kittle appears to be readying to be available when the team matches up with the Seahawks for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
- Warner’s comeback remains a talking point. Despite suffering a dislocated ankle in Week 6, the All-Pro linebacker said during NBC’s pregame show he has “a chance” to come back during the playoffs. No divisional-round return is expected, with Rapoport adding Warner’s earliest return point would likely come if the 49ers advance to the NFC championship game. This aligns with recent reporting on the linebacker’s recovery. This is generally a four- to six-month injury; as recently as late November, Kyle Shanahan said he did not expect Warner back until the 2026 season. But Rapoport points to the eighth-year defender returning in a partial role as a viable scenario should the 49ers’ season extend into late January.
- The 49ers have used five of their eight regular-season injury activations. In decent shape here, the 12-4 team will receive two more activations once the playoffs begin. One of those figures to go to Jacob Cowing, who has missed the entire season. Shanahan said Cowing — a 2024 fourth-round pick — was close to practicing in Week 17; the ninth-year HC expects Cowing’s IR-return window to open this week, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes. That would make Cowing, who has lingered on IR since late August due to a nagging hamstring injury, eligible to be activated ahead of Week 18. Cowing caught four passes for 80 yards last season.
- One of the wideouts the 49ers have needed to rely on due to the injuries to Cowing, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings this season — one also featuring a Brandon Aiyuk no-show — Kendrick Bourne reached an incentive during the 49ers’ Week 16 win over the Colts. Returning to the 49ers in September following a Patriots release, Bourne triggered a $500K incentive by surpassing 500 receiving yards, Stark noted (h/t Awful Announcing). Bourne has 551 yards; he can earn another $250K bump by reaching 600.
As Many As Five Teams May Have GM Openings; 49ers Exec Josh Williams Expected To Generate Interest
As of the time of this writing, only the Dolphins are certain to be interviewing prospective general managers at season’s end (their GM post has been filled by interim Champ Kelly since Chris Grier’s midseason ouster). But sources tell Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that as many as five other clubs could part ways with their incumbent GM in short order.
Jones does not specify which teams may be looking for a new top executive. Clubs like the Browns (Andrew Berry), Cardinals (Monti Ossenfort), Falcons (Terry Fontenot), and Giants (Joe Schoen) all have GMs with varying degrees of job security, though the fact that Schoen is spearheading New York’s head coaching search suggests he will be given another year at the helm. Likewise, Berry and Ossenfort may be on firmer footing than the HCs of their respective teams, while roughly 70% of PFR readership believes Atlanta will move on from Fontenot.
Regardless of how many openings materialize, Jones expects 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams to be among the top candidates for clubs in search of a new GM. During calls Jones has placed around the league, multiple sources have brought up Williams’ name on their own, without any sort of prompt from Jones.
Williams, 38, joined San Francisco as a scouting assistant in 2011 and was promoted to his current position in 2024. At the time, we noted that he was viewed in league circles as a future general manager, and during the 2025 hiring cycle, he earned a second interview for the Jaguars’ post, which ultimately went to James Gladstone.
John Lynch’s front office has already seen Adam Peters and Ran Carthon depart for GM jobs elsewhere in recent years, and there are a number of other San Francisco staffers who could follow in their footsteps in the near future. That list includes (in addition to Williams) assistant GM RJ Gillen, vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad, and vice president of football research and development Matt Ploenzke.
Of that group, only Williams has received a GM interview to date, and the fact that he scored two summits with Jacksonville brass is telling. Team owners are already familiar with Williams as a result of the NFL’s accelerator program, and Jones says Williams’ experience scouting college players will be his biggest selling point.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
Fred Warner Could Return During Playoffs
DECEMBER 27: A playoff “cameo” is on the table for Warner, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, but it likely wouldn’t come until the NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl. With the 49ers not wanting to risk further injury to Warner, chances are he would work in a limited role.
DECEMBER 26: The 49ers lost a pair of heart-and-soul defensive stars in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to major injuries earlier this season. Bosa will not return after tearing his ACL in Week 3. Warner went down with a dislocated ankle three weeks later.
At 11-4, the 49ers have somehow overcome the long-term absences of their two best defensive players. San Francisco will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it closes out the regular season with wins over two other conference contenders in Chicago and Seattle.
If the 49ers secure the top spot and land a first-round bye, it could make a Warner comeback more likely. Odds were heavily against the linebacker playing again this season when he underwent surgery in mid-October, though he has been pushing for it all along. There’s now a possibility Warner will factor in during the playoffs.
The four-time first-team All-Pro’s rehab has gone so well that the 49ers are reexamining a potential postseason return, general manager John Lynch told KNBR (via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group). It’s a surprising turnaround in light of comments Lynch made three weeks ago.
“Well, medically, no,” Lynch said on Dec. 5 of a possible playoff comeback for Warner. “I mean, the docs say it’s probably on the wrong side of the range that they would suggest. But even the docs with Fred say, ‘You know what, let him rehab as if he’s coming back for something and we’ll see where he’s at.’”
The playoffs begin on Jan. 10, which will mark 90 days since Warner incurred his gruesome injury on Oct. 12. The 49ers fell to 4-2 with a loss to the Buccaneers that day, but they’ve rallied to win seven of nine since. Tatum Bethune, a 2024 seventh-round pick, has taken on the monumental task of working as Warner’s primary replacement.
Bethune was almost exclusively a special teamer when he grabbed the reins in the middle of the 49ers’ defense, but the second-year man has done well filling in for a franchise icon. Over 12 games (six starts), Bethune has recorded 76 tackles and two passes defensed. Pro Football Focus ranks Bethune 43rd among 86 qualifying linebackers. While respectable, that’s a far cry from Warner, who’s still PFF’s top-ranked LB for 2025.
Warner won’t factor in again in 2025, but January 2026 may prove to be a different story if his rehab continues moving at a lightning-quick pace. Depending on how healthy he is a few weeks from now, Warner could give the 49ers a major boost as they vie for their third Super Bowl berth (and first win) of his eight-year career. Should the 49ers run through the NFC next month, they’ll play the Super Bowl at their home field, Levi’s Stadium, on Feb. 8.
Robert Saleh Among Highest-Paid Coordinators, Rejected Raiders’ DC Offer
Robert Saleh‘s first ride on a coaching carousel since 2021 included extensive interest. The fired Jets HC met with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders about their top coaching positions, and a return to Jacksonville looked like a real possibility for a brief period.
The Jaguars had Saleh — their linebackers coach from 2014-16 — positioned as their second choice, but during the span when Liam Coen had rejected a second interview and was on track to sign a lucrative OC extension with the Buccaneers, Saleh had moved into pole position. The Jags then fired GM Trent Baalke, reigniting Coen’s interest in the job. Saleh drifted out of the picture once Coen, to the dismay of the Bucs, reentered it.
While the 49ers became the likely Saleh landing spot following that development, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner reports the Raiders extended an offer for him to be Pete Carroll‘s DC. This role would have installed Saleh as Carroll’s likely successor, per Wagoner. Saleh worked with Carroll as a Seahawks quality control staffer from 2011-13.
As it stands, the Raiders do not have a true in-house candidate to succeed the oldest head coach in NFL history — though, Carroll has a real chance of being a one-and-done in Las Vegas at this point. Saleh would have provided them that staffer.
The Raiders interviewed Saleh about their HC job Jan. 16 and hired Carroll on Jan. 24. That same day, the 49ers agreed to terms to rehire Saleh as their DC. Five days later, the Raiders determined Patrick Graham would stay on for a fourth season. It certainly appears Graham staying as DC was at best the AFC West franchise’s second choice, as Saleh became a priority for the team. But the four-year Jets leader preferred a return to San Francisco.
It is not known what Saleh is earning as San Francisco’s DC, but Wagoner adds the 49ers informed their now-two-time coordinator during early discussions they would make him among the highest-paid NFL coordinators. Saleh spent four seasons as the 49ers’ DC during his first stint with the team, with the final two vaulting him onto the HC carousel. Saleh, 46, should be expected to garner more HC interest soon. But after Saleh’s Jets ending, it will take a good opportunity to lure him out of the Bay Area again.
“Everyone wants to be at the top of their profession, and they want to succeed at that just to see how far they can go and what they can achieve,” Saleh said, via Wagoner. “Is my desire to get to the top of the profession and hoist the Lombardi one day? Absolutely. Am I in a hurry? No, I love it here. Obviously, the desire is there, but at the same time, it’s not desperation.”
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Saleh was the 49ers’ first choice once they dismissed DC Nick Sorenson, with the longtime HC indicating Saleh informed the team he would return as DC if no head coaching opportunities panned out.
The 49ers have seen Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams suffer season-ending injuries — though, Warner could make an unexpected playoff return — but rank 12th in scoring defense. EPA per play is harder on Saleh’s fifth 49ers unit, slotting the injury-hounded group 23rd, but Saleh’s work certainly has not gone unnoticed. He will be a candidate for a second-chance job soon.
A league source informed Wagoner that Saleh would be a strong candidate, as this is considered a weak pool. Defense-based candidates are set to flood the upcoming carousel, and Saleh joining Broncos DC Vance Joseph with HC experience will be considered a plus. While offense-oriented candidates will remain preferred — especially considering the jobs Coen and Ben Johnson have done this year — Saleh’s second San Francisco stint could well be capped at one season.
OT Trent Williams Intends To Play In 2026
Trent Williams has been attached to retirement speculation for several years, but it doesn’t sound like the offensive lineman is close to hanging up his cleats. When asked about his status beyond the 2025 season, Williams made it clear that he’ll at least be back on the field next year.
“I’m nowhere near done, so I’ve got a few more years,” said Williams (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “I’m not leaving. I’m not going nowhere.”
After he missed the 49ers’ last seven games of the 2024 season due to a bruise in his ankle joint, the OT once again staved off retirement rumblings. Besides being one of the league’s oldest players, there doesn’t seem to be much merit to Williams calling it a career.
For starters, the lineman has continued to perform as one of the league’s top offensive tackles. Pro Football Focus currently ranks the 37-year-old third among 83 qualifying tackles, the sixth-straight year he’s positioned to finish in the top-10. Williams was also named to his 12th Pro Bowl today. As Branch notes, this broke a tie with Anthony Munoz, Jonathan Ogden and Willie Roaf for the most in league history among offensive tackles.
Williams is also under contract through the 2026 season, and his average annual value still ranks second among offensive tackles. After inking a three-year, $82MM extension back in 2024, Williams can probably expect at least one more lucrative contract before his career is through.
To top it off, Williams has indicated that he’s interested in playing through his age-40 season. Barring an unexpected drop off, Williams shouldn’t lack for suitors, so it seems likelier than not that his plan will come to fruition.
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)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (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)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/25
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/PUP: DL Collin Oliver
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Coleman Owen, G Josh Sills
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, LB Eric Kendricks
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: S D’Anthony Bell
Collin Oliver may finally make his NFL debut at some point over the final two weeks of the season. The rookie fifth-round pick was sidelined for all of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury, and he ultimately landed on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season. He had his practice window opened earlier this month, and he’s apparently showed enough progress to earn a spot on the active roster. The Oklahoma State product finished his college career 23.5 sacks and 40.5 tackles for loss.
49ers Activate Yetur Gross-Matos From IR
The 49ers’ edge rush group has received a boost in time for tonight’s game. Yetur Gross-Matos has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Gross-Matos returned to practice on December 10. He was not activated in time to play in Week 15, but enough progress has been made during the past few days for a return to action to take place tonight. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since Week 5 due to a hamstring injury.
When Gross-Maros aggravated the ailment, his return timeline was set back. That led to his IR placement and left the former second-rounder unavailable for an extended period. Getting him back in the fold will be a welcomed development on a San Francisco team which has been hit hard by injuries in 2025. The defensive end spot in particular has been thinned out over the course of the year.
Starters Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are each recovering from ACL tears. Neither will be able to return in 2025, something which has led to the likes of Bryce Huff, Sam Okuayinonu and Clelin Ferrell taking on increased roles. The team was linked to Trey Hendrickson ahead of the trade deadline, but the only acquisition on that front was Keion White. Getting Gross-Matos back in the fold will provide depth along the edge, although the Penn State product has starting experience dating back to his Panthers tenure.
A 2024 free agent addition, Gross-Matos played 11 games during his debut San Francisco campaign. He notched four sacks in that span, the second-highest total of his career. Chipping in down the stretch and into the playoffs would be key for the 49ers; it would also help boost Gross-Matos’ value on the open market for 2026.
Given today’s move, San Francisco has three IR activations remaining for the regular season. The team will receive another two once the playoffs begin.