Raiders get good news about draft position before kickoff
The Raiders will have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time since 2007.
They secured the top pick before they even took the field to play the Chiefs in the season finale Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
The Giants (4-13) made that possible by defeating the Cowboys 34-17 in a morning game, eliminating any possibility that they and the Raiders would finish with identical records.
The Raiders now will now be in position to finally get their potential franchise quarterback. That could be Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, considered the best quarterback prospect. He has not declared for the draft but is expected to.
The Raiders also could look at Oregon quarterback Dante Moore if he also declares for the draft.
There is also a scenario in which the Raiders trade the No. 1 pick.
Sunday wasn’t all positive for the Raiders, even if they did beat the Chiefs 14-12. In fact, winning the game hurt their draft positioning beyond the first round.
Had they lost, the Raiders would have had the first pick in every round. But losing created a four-way tie with the Jets, Cardinals and Titans for the worst record.
As a result, the Raiders will have the fourth pick in the second round, the third in the third, the second in the fourth, the first in the fifth, the fourth in the sixth and the third in the seventh.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
2026 NFL Draft order
1. Las Vegas Raiders (3–14)
2. New York Jets (3–14)
3. Arizona Cardinals (3–14)
4. Tennessee Titans (3–14)
5. New York Giants (4–13)
6. Cleveland Browns (5–12)
7. Washington Commanders (5-12)
8. New Orleans Saints (6–11)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6–11)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6–11)
11. Miami Dolphins (7–10)
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
13. L.A. Rams (via Atlanta Falcons, 8-9)
14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8–9)
15. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts, 8-9)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-8)
17. Detroit Lions (9-8)
18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
