The New Orleans Saints have officially hit that tough milestone in any NFL season - they're out of the playoff picture. With postseason hopes now off the table, the focus in New Orleans shifts to the 2026 NFL Draft. And as things stand after Sunday’s slate of games, the Saints are staring at a potentially franchise-altering opportunity: the No. 2 overall pick.
That high draft position didn’t come without some help. The New York Jets pulled off a dramatic win over the Atlanta Falcons, thanks to a last-second field goal from Nick Folk.
That result nudged the Saints closer to the top of the draft board. But there's still one more domino that could fall in their favor - and it all hinges on Monday night’s matchup between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.
Here’s the current top five draft order heading into that Monday night showdown, based on projections from Tankathon:
- Tennessee Titans (1-11)
- New Orleans Saints (2-10)
- New York Giants (2-10, pending MNF)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Now, here’s where it gets interesting for Saints fans: if the Giants lose to the Patriots, they’ll fall to 2-11 and leapfrog New Orleans for the No. 2 pick based on record. That would slide the Saints down to No.
- But if the Giants manage to pull off an upset against a 10-win Patriots squad, the Saints will hold onto that No. 2 spot heading into Week 14.
Worth noting - the Raiders' result against the Chargers won’t affect New Orleans’ draft position due to the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker. So all eyes in the Big Easy are turning to that Monday night clash in Foxborough. It’s Jaxson Dart and the Giants taking on Drake Maye and the Patriots, and while it won’t have playoff implications, it could have a major impact on the future of the Saints' franchise.
With the team already looking toward April, this is one of those rare moments where fans are scoreboard-watching not for wins, but for positioning. The Saints may not be playing Monday night, but the outcome could shape their next decade.