The Las Vegas Raiders are staring down a six-game losing streak and, with it, the fourth overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft. That’s not just a number - it’s a potentially franchise-altering position.
And with the season winding down, every game left on the schedule could either solidify or shake up that draft slot. For a team in transition, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Raiders are in a precarious spot. They’re not mathematically eliminated from the No. 1 overall pick, but they’re in a tight race with several other struggling teams - and the margin for error is razor-thin.
The upcoming Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants looms large. The Giants are currently holding the No. 2 pick after a loss to the Patriots, and they’ll be heading to Vegas for what could quietly be one of the most consequential games of the season - not for playoff implications, but for draft positioning.
Here’s the irony: the Raiders have a history of winning late-season games that end up hurting them long-term. A win against the Giants might feel good in the moment, but it could push them out of range for a top-tier quarterback - especially in a draft class that could be loaded at the position. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that might look entirely different by 2026, from the coaching staff to the quarterback room.
Meanwhile, two other teams in the draft mix - the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans - are set to square off in Week 14. Both franchises made aggressive moves in last year’s draft to address their quarterback situations.
Tennessee took Cam Ward first overall, while Cleveland landed both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in what’s shaping up to be a strong rookie class. But despite those additions, both teams are still in the thick of the top-pick conversation, right alongside the Raiders.
And the competition doesn’t stop there. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are also in play, each sitting near the bottom of the standings and very much in contention for the first overall pick.
Their Week 16 matchup could be a pivotal moment in this draft race. Depending on how that game shakes out, the ripple effects could reach all the way to Vegas.
Week 17 brings another twist: the Titans will host the Saints in a game that Raider Nation will be watching closely. That matchup could tilt the draft order again, especially if either team pulls off a surprise win or loss. With so many teams clustered near the bottom, the final weeks of the season are shaping up to be a chess match - one where every move could shift the entire draft landscape.
And here’s where things get really interesting. If the Titans end up with the No. 1 pick again, they might not need another quarterback.
That opens the door for a potential blockbuster trade. A team like the Raiders, desperate to land a franchise QB, could be tempted to make a big move up the board.
That scenario would bring back memories of past draft-day trades that reshaped franchises - and it’s not out of the question.
For now, it’s a waiting game. The Raiders are in the mix, but so are the Giants, Jets, Saints, Browns, and Titans.
Every loss counts, and every win could be costly. The draft order is far from settled, but one thing is clear: the final stretch of this NFL season is going to have major implications for the future of several franchises - and none more than the Silver and Black.