With Wild Card Weekend now in the books, the playoff field has narrowed-and for 24 teams, the focus has officially shifted to the offseason. While eight franchises continue their march toward Super Bowl 60, the rest are turning their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, where futures are built and rosters are reshaped.
The draft order is starting to take shape, though it will continue to evolve as teams exit the postseason. For now, though, we’ve got a clear look at who’s sitting atop the board-and which franchises are in prime position to land a potential franchise-altering talent.
Let’s start at the top, where the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals all finished with identical 3-14 records. The tiebreaker?
Strength of schedule, which puts Vegas at No. 1 overall. That’s a massive opportunity for a team that’s been searching for stability, particularly at quarterback.
And speaking of quarterbacks, the draft landscape just shifted in a big way. Oregon’s Dante Moore, widely projected as a top-five pick, announced on January 14 that he’s returning to Eugene for another season.
That’s a game-changer-especially for a team like the Jets, who hold the No. 2 pick and were strongly linked to taking a quarterback early. With Moore off the board, the Jets’ draft room now faces a different set of decisions, potentially reshuffling the top of the board.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza continues to rise. He’s got scouts buzzing after leading the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Miami. His stock is soaring, and you can bet teams in the top five-including the Raiders and Jets-are watching closely.
Here’s how the current draft order stands heading into the Divisional Round, based on regular season records and strength of schedule:
2026 NFL Draft Order (via Tankathon)
(Record reflects original owner of the pick)
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14; .538 SOS)
- New York Jets (3-14; .552)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14; .571)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14; .574)
- New York Giants (4-13; .524)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12; .486)
- Washington Commanders (5-12; .507)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11; .495)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11; .514)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11; .521)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10; .488)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1; .438)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons, 8-9; .495)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9; .507)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9; .529)
- New York Jets (via Colts, 8-9; .540)
- Detroit Lions (9-8; .490)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8; .514)
- Carolina Panthers (8-9; .522)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers, 9-7-1; .483)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7; .503)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6; .458)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6; .476)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars, 13-4; .478)
- Chicago Bears (11-6; .458)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5; .471)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5; .498)
- Houston Texans (12-5; .522)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5; .526)
- New England Patriots (14-3; .391)
- Denver Broncos (14-3; .422)
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3; .498)
It’s worth noting that several teams-like the Jets and Cowboys-hold multiple first-round picks, giving them flexibility to either move up or stockpile talent. And with a quarterback class that’s suddenly thinner thanks to Moore’s return to Oregon, the demand for top signal-callers could skyrocket.
As we inch closer to April, mock drafts are going to be a staple of the offseason conversation. Fans are already imagining what their team will look like with a new franchise QB, a lockdown corner, or a game-breaking receiver. And while there’s still plenty of football left to play for eight teams, for the other 24, the draft is now the main event.
We’ll keep tracking all the movement as the postseason plays out and the draft picture continues to sharpen. For now, buckle up-it’s going to be a fascinating ride to April.