The Las Vegas Raiders took another tough hit in Week 13, falling 31-14 to their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers. The loss drops the Raiders to 2-10 on the season - a record that speaks volumes about where this team stands right now and where it could be heading.
With the defeat, Las Vegas made a significant move - not in the standings, but in the 2026 NFL Draft order. The Raiders now sit at No. 5 overall, putting them squarely in the mix for one of the top quarterback prospects in next year’s class. That’s a silver lining in what’s been a season full of dark clouds.
Names like Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza, and Dante Moore are already generating buzz as potential franchise signal-callers, and the Raiders are now in realistic range to land one of them. Whether they stay put at No. 5 or look to move up, the door is open for Las Vegas to reshape its future under center.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans - now 1-11 after a blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars - continue to lead the draft race. They hold the No. 1 overall pick, and given that they selected quarterback Cam Ward with the top pick just last year, they could be in prime position to trade down with a QB-hungry team. A team like the Raiders, perhaps.
Elsewhere in the draft order shuffle, the New York Jets pulled off a surprise win over the Atlanta Falcons, thanks to a clutch game-winning field goal from veteran kicker Nick Folk. That victory dropped the Jets to seventh in the draft order at 3-9, bumping the Raiders up a spot.
The New Orleans Saints also played a tight one, nearly pulling off an upset against the Miami Dolphins before falling 21-17. Had they won, they’d be sitting at 3-9 alongside the Raiders. Instead, they’re now 2-10 and hold the No. 2 overall pick - right behind Tennessee.
So while teams like the Jets and Saints showed signs of life in Week 13, the Raiders continued their downward slide. But in the world of the NFL, losing now can mean winning later - especially if it leads to a franchise quarterback. And with the draft picture starting to take shape, the Raiders are suddenly in a position to make a big move that could define their next era.