Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/26
After the final standard gameday practice squad elevations of the 2025 regular season, the three-game elevation limit resets for the postseason, so only players getting signed to the 53-man roster because of the limit will be noted today. Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tejhaun Palmer
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Amani Oruwariye
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Matt Judon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, LB Ty Summers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella
- Placed on IR: LB Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: RB Phil Mafah
- Activated from reserve/PUP: CB Josh Butler
- Signed from practice squad: LB Justin Barron
- Elevated: G Nick Leverett
- Placed on IR: G T.J. Bass, RB Malik Davis, RB Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Zach Horton, OL Chris Hubbard
- Placed on IR: OL Trystan Colon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jakobie Keeney-James, G Lecitus Smith
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, LB Jamon Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, S Kaevon Merriweather
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: QB Seth Henigan, TE Sean McKeon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Patrick Herbert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: LB Jamin Davis, T Dalton Wagner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: S Marcus Maye
- Elevated: G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei
- Placed on IR: CB Nikko Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Sione Takitaki
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Treyton Welch
- Elevated: QB Jake Haener, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner, DT Casey Rogers
- Placed on IR: CB Cor’Dale Flott, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., WR Wan’Dale Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: QB Hendon Hooker, DE Kingsley Jonathan, G Kohl Levao
- Elevated: RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Samuel Womack III
- Placed on IR: RB Isaiah Davis, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, TE Mason Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, S Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Ali Gaye, WR Bryce Oliver
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: TE Cole Turner
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (story), WR Van Jefferson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
The Browns made it known yesterday that they were shutting down Schwesinger and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. for the final week of the season, but the Defensive Rookie of the Year-favorite is the only one to land on IR.
In Dallas, Williams failed to practice this week as he dealt with shoulder and neck issues. With Davis also being placed on IR, the Cowboys will rely on rookie fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and the recently activated Mafah, a seventh-round rookie, in Week 18. The team used their eighth and final IR activation to bring Mafah back for a potential NFL debut.
Because Green Bay didn’t elevate recently signed practice squad quarterback Desmond Ridder, it appears either Malik Willis will be healthy enough to back up Clayton Tune or Jordan Love will serve as the potential QB2 for the Packers in Week 18.
Judon is set to make his Bills debut in the team’s regular season finale after signing to their practice squad two weeks ago.
With Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler not practicing this week with a finger injury, Haener gets the call to back up rookie Tyler Shough.
Hall in Tennessee had already been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation three times this season. In order for him to appear in the Titans’ regular season finale, the move to the 53-man roster was necessary.
Titans Owner Amy Adams Strunk Will Give ‘Final Blessing’ In HC Search
11:45am: The Titans have rounded out their group of executives who will participate in initial interviews, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. A list that unsurprisingly includes Brinker and assistant GM Dave Ziegler. Vice president/football advisor Reggie McKenzie – a former Raiders linebacker and general manager – will also join, as will vice president of player personnel Dan Saganey.
10:35am: Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk announced a front office reshuffle in Tennessee on Friday, but she is expected to remain a part of the team’s search for a new head coach.
Both Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker are remaining in their respective positions as general manager and president of football operations, but Borgonzi will lead the hiring process in the coming weeks.
The Titans will conduct virtual interviews with about a dozen candidates, per Titans insider Paul Kuharsky. Strunk will not sit in on those interviews, though she may review them for in-person interviews of the team’s shortlist. Those she will attend.
This largely resembles the team’s approach to landing on Borgonzi last offseason. Brinker led that process, but Borgonzi received approval from Strunk before the hiring was made official. Similarly, she will give a “final blessing” for the Titans’ new head coach.
The extent of Strunk’s input on the Titans’ new coach remains to be seen. She has not been afraid to impose her will on the franchise when it comes to coaching and front office decisions, all the way down to specific moves regarding specific players. That was a source of friction with Mike Vrabel, who did a lot with a little in Tennessee, and ultimately led to his removal.
As a result, head coaching candidates may be wary of Strunk’s tendency to impose her will on the team. They may use their interviews to gauge compatibility not just with Borgonzi and Brinker, but Strunk as well.
Titans’ HC Search Expected To Include Mike McCarthy, Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh
Just under three months after firing head coach Brian Callahan on Oct. 13, the Titans made another significant organizational change Friday. Owner Amy Adams Strunk announced a shift in responsibilities for president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi. Going forward, Borgonzi will assume full roster control. He’ll also lead the hunt for Callahan’s full-time successor.
The Titans’ Borgonzi-led coaching search will be “wide-ranging and deliberate,” according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and a few defensive coordinators – Jeff Hafley (Packers), Jesse Minter (Chargers), Robert Saleh (49ers) and Chris Shula (Rams) – are expected to interview with the Titans.
Most of the above names have already come up in connection to the Titans’ job since Callahan’s firing. Nagy’s inclusion on the list is especially unsurprising when considering his familiarity with Borgonzi.
As a former Chiefs executive, Borgonzi has several years’ experience working with Nagy. A late-December report identified Nagy as a “serious candidate” for the position. If the Titans hire Nagy, it would give the 47-year-old a second chance at an NFL head coaching gig. Nagy led the Bears to a 34-31 record and two playoff berths from 2018-21. He earned Coach of the Year honors in his first season in Chicago.
There isn’t a more established option in this bunch than McCarthy, who went 174-112-2 in 18 combined seasons between Green Bay and Dallas from 2006-24. McCarthy’s teams went to the playoffs 12 times in that span. His lone Super Bowl victory, which capped off the 2010 campaign, came with an in-his-prime Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay’s quarterback.
If the Titans prioritize experience, McCarthy could have a leg up on the competition. It could also tip the scales in his favor (or Nagy’s) if the Titans prefer an offensive-minded hire. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last spring’s draft, is the most important player in the organization. The onus will be on a new coaching staff to hasten Ward’s development entering his second season in 2026. That’s assuming the Titans don’t promote interim HC Mike McCoy. Considering they’ve gone 2-8 with McCoy at the helm, that seems unlikely to happen.
While Saleh is mostly known for his defensive acumen, he joins McCarthy and Nagy in bringing past head coaching experience to the table. Saleh didn’t mimic McCarthy or Nagy in guiding teams to the playoffs, however. Rather, the Jets went a horrid 20-36 under him in three-plus seasons.
The Jets fired Saleh five games into 2024, but the 46-year-old has revived his stock this season with a San Francisco team that will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it beats Seattle on Saturday. Saleh has overseen a respectable defense despite largely going without his two best players, injured pass rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. Meanwhile, the Jets haven’t shown any progress since firing Saleh. New York started 2-3 before canning him last year. The team has spiraled to a 6-22 mark without him.
Saleh, who finished 2024 as an offensive consultant in Green Bay, landed multiple head coaching interviews last offseason. He spoke with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders, who all passed on him for different candidates. A year later, it appears he’ll have a chance to convince the Titans he’s the right fit.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi Takes Over Control Of 53-Man Roster
Chad Brinker had managed a promotion despite being part of two sub-.500 Titans teams, but the current Tennessee football ops president will now see his role reduced.
The Titans are increasing GM Mike Borgonzi‘s responsibilities. Ahead of his second year as GM, Borgonzi will now control the Titans’ 53-man roster, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Both Borgonzi and Brinker will report to owner Amy Adams Strunk, while Rapoport adds the next Titans HC will report to Borgonzi. Strunk has since confirmed in a statement both execs will report to her.
The timing here reminds of 2024, when Strunk gave Ran Carthon full roster control. She fired Carthon a year later. Brinker was originally hired as Carthon’s assistant GM, but he stayed on following the GM’s January 2025 ouster. Strunk gave Brinker roster control upon firing Carthon. Now, Borgonzi will lead the way as the team searches for another HC.
Borgonzi previously reported to Brinker, but after another woeful Tennessee season, another shakeup is coming. The Titans hired Borgonzi as GM, and while he ran the draft last year, the former Chiefs exec still did not report directly to ownership — as most GMs do. That will change, perhaps complicating Tennessee’s power structure. While changes of this sort have become commonplace under Strunk, shaking up the front office after a three- or four-win season certainly makes sense.
“Over the past few years, several job descriptions in our football organization were established to address specific situations and challenges that existed at the time,” Strunk said in a letter to fans (via TennesseeTitans.com’s Jim Wyatt). “After working together for the past year, they believe – and I agree – there is a long-term benefit to clarifying and honing the focus areas of our football leadership.
“For that reason, we’re returning to a front office that feels more straightforward to them and me. Going forward, Mike will serve as general manager in the most traditional sense – pick and support the players, oversee the coaching staff – while Chad will continue to lead everything else about the football team.”
Strunk said Borgonzi will lead the HC search, while Brinker will over see cap management, analytics and other departments. Some teams have football ops presidents or VPs in addition to GMs, though many simply go with an owner-GM-HC workflow. The Titans technically have an additional exec in the mix, but with the next full-time coach to report to Borgonzi, an owner-GM-HC flow will be in place for the struggling AFC South franchise.
The Titans had a fairly stable setup in place for more than six years, with Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson aligned from 2016 through Robinson’s December 2022 firing. Strunk had extended both Vrabel and Robinson earlier that year. Instability has defined the Titans since.
Vrabel received more control post-Robinson and wanted interim GM Ryan Cowden to be given the full-time job. Strunk disagreed and eventually butted heads with her successful HC, who later desired full roster control. Strunk then fired him (rather than trading his rights) and elevating Carthon — hired over Vrabel’s objections — within the organization. A year after the Carthon-over-Vrabel decision, Strunk replaced her GM with Borgonzi.
Brinker was elevated during this time, with the team’s other assistant GM — Anthony Robinson — being fired last year. The Titans then fired Carthon HC hire Brian Callahan. They went 1-5 under Callahan this season and are now 2-8 under interim leader Mike McCoy.
The Tians have sunk to the NFL’s basement over the past four years, with Vrabel’s final two beginning the descent. That said, Tennessee has gone 6-27 since firing Vrabel, who is among the Coach of the Year frontrunners after immediately revitalizing the Patriots. The Titans, meanwhile, hold a minus-160 point differential. That is the second-worst number (behind only 2014) since the franchise relocated from Houston in 1997. Set to hold another high pick, Tennessee will hope its latest change can steer an improvement.
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)
Titans Fear Torn Achilles For CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
In today’s loss to the Saints, Titans cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis left the game early in the first quarter with what the team now fears could be a long-term injury. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, the fear is that Armour-Davis suffered a torn Achilles tendon. 
This unfortunate turn of events continues what has been a difficult first four years for the 26-year-old Alabama-product. Armour-Davis began his career as a fourth-round pick in Baltimore. He initially served as a developing rotational option behind starters Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters and then-CB3 Brandon Stephens. An early injury to Stephens gave Armour-Davis an opportunity to make an early impact, but his own injuries would cut those efforts short during his first career start in Week 3 of his rookie year. A hip injury would eventually end his rookie season after only four games.
The door was once again wide open in Year 2. The departure of Peters in free agency and an injury that held Humphrey out for nearly half the year left plenty of snaps for the taking. Unfortunately, lingering issues from the prior year hip injury may have limited Armour-Davis as he was listed as inactive for seven games, didn’t play in two games that he was active for, and spent most of his time on special teams for the eight games he did play. Instead, those snaps went to veteran free agents like Ronald Darby, Rock Ya-Sin, and Daryl Worley.
Last year, rookie first-round pick Nate Wiggins joined the secondary as the tertiary option behind starters Humphrey and Stephens. It looked like Armour-Davis was going to finally get an opportunity as the next rotating option, and he even started the first game of the season, but his role diminished greatly to special teams work in the next two games before he failed to see the field for four weeks in a row. He did earn a start in Week 8 last year and played 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps for the first time in his career, but he was marked inactive for the following two weeks and fell back into his usual usage for the remainder of the season, before a hamstring injury ended it in January.
Going into the final year of his rookie contract, Armour-Davis failed to make the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster and was claimed off waivers by the Titans. The move reunited him with defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who served as defensive backs coach in Baltimore for Armour-Davis’ second year. As injuries stacked up, Armour-Davis was given an early opportunity to step up as a starter, and he finally got some consistent heavy usage, starting eight straight games.
Since Week 13, though, Armour-Davis has been dealing with an Achilles issue that had held him out of a few games but that he was able to play through last week and today. When the issues ended his day early today, Tennessee feared the worst. They will undergo further testing in the days to come to determine the full severity.
If it is a torn tendon, it’s terrible timing for the young corner. With his rookie contract expiring with the close of the season, Armour-Davis was hoping that this season would serve as an audition for his upcoming free agency. Instead, a career that has been marred with injury early and often was underlined today by his most serious injury to date. If surgery is, indeed, necessary, Armour-Davis will need to quickly work through rehab in order to return in time to try out for teams during training camps next year. Otherwise, he’ll be looking to join his next team sometime during the 2026 NFL season.
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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves and some standard gameday practice squad elevations for Saturday:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: DT Sam Roberts
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Chargers’ practice squad: C Sam Mustipher
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: LB Kristian Welch
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: S K’Von Wallace
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, G Sidy Sow
- Waived: CB Ameer Speed
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: T Foster Sarell, S Marcus Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Moliki Matavao
- Placed on IR: TE Foster Moreau
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
A day after placing starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve and commending backup Alex Forsyth for starting in his place, Denver adds a bit more depth and experience at the position. Forsyth, a seventh-round pick out of Oregon last year, has only five starts in his first two years of play, but the team seemed to think he filled in well during yesterday’s victory of over the Chiefs. Mustipher, once a full-time starter in Chicago, should add depth and a potential starting option in case Forsyth’s inexperience starts to show.
Williams is being elevated for the third and final time by the Chargers this season. If Los Angeles wants to see him play in another game this season, they’ll need to sign the veteran safety to the 53-man roster.
Titans, Others Have Done Research On Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman
With two weeks left in the regular season, it won’t be long before NFL teams begin making head coaching changes. The Giants and Titans got started early when they dismissed their head coaches in the fall. At least a few other teams are sure to join them in the first half of January.
It’s likely the vast majority of HC candidates will bring some NFL coaching experience to the table. Although Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman doesn’t check that box, his name has come up in regards to NFL jobs on a couple of occasions in recent weeks. No team has made an official request to speak with Freeman yet, but he is expected to receive opportunities, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Multiple clubs – including the Titans – have done research on the 39-year-old Freeman, per Fowler. Add Freeman to a growing list of possibilities for the Titans, who fired Brian Callahan on Oct. 13. Now 3-12, Tennessee will finish the season with interim head coach Mike McCoy before potentially turning to Freeman.
Briefly an NFL linebacker, Freeman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ohio State, in 2010. Later an assistant at Kent State, Purdue and Cincinnati, he took over as Notre Dame’s sideline leader in late 2021. The Fighting Irish have gone 43-12 since then. Pro organizations seem likely to come calling as a result, though multiple coaches with ties to Freeman told Fowler they don’t expect him to make the jump. Freeman, one of college football’s highest-paid HCs, may be content to stay in South Bend, Ind.
If Freeman does entertain a leap to the next level, the Giants figure to have interest, according to Fowler. That jibes with previous reports, though Albert Breer of SI.com doesn’t regard Freeman as a “runaway front-runner” for the job. The Giants are in the market after cutting ties with Brian Daboll on Nov. 10. They’ve since fallen to 2-13 with five straight losses under interim choice Mike Kafka, making it likely their next HC will come from outside the organization.
While Freeman to New York looks like a possibility, Breer “wouldn’t bet” on him moving to the NFL yet. If that proves true, the Titans, Giants and any other franchises that may have interest in Freeman will have to look elsewhere during the upcoming hiring cycle.
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)