This is a look at the first-round order for the 2026 NFL Draft heading into the final weekend of the 2025 NFL regular season. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind -- teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
Arrows reflect movement from last week's order.
2026 NFL Draft order, Picks 1-18
Strength of schedule: .553
Week 18 opponent: vs. Chiefs (6-10)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, Edge
Sunday’s blowout loss to the Giants gave the Raiders the inside track to the first overall pick. All Vegas needs to clinch it is a loss or tie against the Chiefs in Week 18. However, a win over Kansas City means the strength of schedule tiebreaker would likely determine who picks first. The Raiders have a higher SOS than the Giants -- the only other team still in the running for the No. 1 selection, per NFL Research's Jack Andrade -- and the tiebreaker goes to the team with the lower SOS.
Strength of schedule: .535
Week 18 opponent: vs. Cowboys (7-8-1)
Biggest needs: WR, OL, CB, LB, S
Winning for the first time since October didn’t completely crush the Giants’ chances of picking first, but they’ll need to lose to the Cowboys and get help from other teams -- including the Raiders, of course -- to return to the No. 1 slot. Had the Giants lost to Vegas on Sunday, they would have locked up the first selection. Seven teams still have a chance to secure the second overall pick heading into Week 18.
Strength of schedule: .541
Week 18 opponent: at Bills (11-5)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, CB, WR, DL
The Jets were eliminated from contention for the top pick on Monday night, thanks to the Falcons’ upset of the Rams. There’s no path for them to finish with a lower strength of schedule than the Raiders. Aaron Glenn’s team still is in play for the second selection, but it will need help from its fellow New York squad to make it happen.
Strength of schedule: .563
Week 18 opponent: at Jaguars (12-4)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, CB, OL, S
The Titans blew a 10-point second-half lead to the Saints on Sunday, but Tennessee is no longer in the running for the first overall pick because the Raiders have clinched a lower strength of schedule. In the absence of the Giants or Jets winning in Week 18, it's unlikely the Titans will be able to move up in the order with such a notably higher SOS.
Strength of schedule: .570
Week 18 opponent: at Rams (11-5)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, S, DL, WR
The Cardinals have gone 1-13 since their 2-0 start to the season, but, like the Titans, Arizona cannot clinch the No. 1 overall pick because Las Vegas has secured a lower strength of schedule. It will be tough for Jonathan Gannon's team to move up in the order without help, given it has the league's highest SOS.
Strength of schedule: .498
Week 18 opponent: at Eagles (11-5)
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, WR, LB, TE
With the lowest strength of schedule of any club currently holding a top-six pick, the Commanders are well positioned to move up in the order if they lose to the Eagles and get some help from other teams. Washington could climb as high as No. 2 if everything breaks in its favor, but that's a long shot.
Strength of schedule: .498
Week 18 opponent: at Bengals (6-10)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, WR, LB, CB
The Browns exited the race for the first overall pick and put the Steelers’ playoff hopes in jeopardy with Sunday’s upset of Pittsburgh. Cleveland can’t end up any higher than second and any lower than seventh in the draft order, even if Kevin Stefanski’s crew beats the Bengals to close the season on a winning streak. The Browns have not won consecutive games since December 2023.
Strength of schedule: .496
Week 18 opponent: at Falcons (7-9)
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, OL, CB, DL
Once a top contender for the first overall pick, the Saints have won four games in a row. They can’t get any higher than eighth in the draft order, and they might not even end up with a top-10 pick if they extend their winning streak to five against the Falcons.
Strength of schedule: .533
Week 18 opponent: vs. Browns (4-12)
Biggest needs: Edge, OL, CB, DL, S
Despite having one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, the Bengals will be picking inside the top 18 for the third year in a row because they haven’t been able to keep Joe Burrow healthy and surround him with a competent defense. Making the most of what could be a top-10 pick would help turn things around in 2026.
Strength of schedule: .533
Week 18 opponent: at Raiders (2-14)
Biggest needs: WR, TE, RB, CB, OL
I did not have the Chiefs heading into Week 18 with a chance to pick inside the top 10 on my bingo card entering this season. They have a good opportunity to finish the 2025 campaign with a victory, given the Raiders await them in the finale, but it’s been a weird year in Kansas City.
Strength of schedule: .465
Week 18 opponent: at Patriots (13-3)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, CB, S, TE
Once viewed as a leading candidate for the first overall pick after a 2-7 start to the season, the Dolphins have won five of their last seven games. Now it would take a loss to the Patriots and some help from other teams for them to find their way back into the top 10.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE ATLANTA FALCONS
Falcons' record: 7-9
Strength of schedule: .504
Falcons' Week 18 opponent: vs. Saints (6-10)
Rams' biggest needs: OL, CB, S, WR, QB
The Rams missed out on an opportunity to push this pick up the board on Monday night, falling to the Falcons in an upset. There's still a chance it ends up in the top 10, though.
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Falcons' needs.
Strength of schedule: .535
Week 18 opponent: vs. Panthers (8-8) | Saturday
Biggest needs: Edge, LB, CB, DL, TE
No team’s draft position hinges on Week 18 quite like it does for the Bucs. They could be picking outside the top 18 as NFC South champions with a win and a Falcons loss or tie. Or they could end up moving up the board after finishing off their second-half collapse with a loss to the Panthers. Tampa Bay was 6-2 going into a Week 9 bye and has gone 1-7 since then.
Strength of schedule: .451
Week 18 opponent: at Giants (3-13)
Biggest needs: Edge, S, CB, LB, WR
The Cowboys snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Commanders on Christmas. Now they can’t move any higher than 11th overall, but they could end up with two picks inside the top 20 if the Packers keep on losing (Dallas holds Green Bay’s first-rounder via the Micah Parsons trade).
Strength of schedule: .479
Week 18 opponent: at Bears (11-5)
Biggest needs: Edge, DL, OL, CB, S
Detroit is backsliding into January, losing three in a row, including a Christmas Day nightmare against Max Brosmer and Co. in Minnesota. The Lions will hold their earliest pick since drafting Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell in the top 18 in 2023. At least they can look back fondly at those selections.
Strength of schedule: .498
Week 18 opponent: at Steelers (9-7) | SNF
Biggest needs: Edge, S, DL, OL, CB
Despite a 1-5 start to the season, the Ravens enter Week 18 with a chance to win the AFC North, thanks to a little help from the division-rival Browns. A victory over the Steelers would mean a playoff berth, but a loss could push Baltimore up the board multiple slots heading into a very interesting offseason for the franchise.
Strength of schedule: .512
Week 18 opponent: vs. Packers (9-6-1)
Biggest needs: S, WR, CB, OL, LB
December was very good to the Vikings, who won four in a row and kissed any chance of drafting in the top 10 goodbye. A Week 18 loss could move them up the board a bit, but they’ll pick no later than 18th overall.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Colts' record: 8-8
Strength of schedule: .527
Week 18 opponent: at Texans (11-5)
After six straight Colts losses, the Sauce Gardner trade is guaranteed to net the Jets a top-18 pick. This pick will look even better for New York if the Texans take care of business against Indy in Week 18.
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Colts' needs.
Playoff teams entering Week 18
Strength of schedule: .527
Week 18 opponent: at Buccaneers (7-9) | Saturday
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, WR, LB, CB
Strength of schedule: .510
Week 18 opponent: vs. Ravens (8-8) | SNF
Biggest needs: QB, WR, CB, S, OL
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE GREEN BAY PACKERS
Packers' record: 9-6-1
Strength of schedule: .479
Week 18 opponent: at Vikings (8-8)
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Packers' needs.
Strength of schedule: .440
Week 18 opponent: at Broncos (13-3)
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, DL, S, TE
Strength of schedule: .451
Week 18 opponent: vs. Lions (8-8)
Biggest needs: S, DL, CB, Edge, OL
Strength of schedule: .479
Week 18 opponent: vs. Commanders (4-12)
Biggest needs: Edge, CB, TE, S, WR
Strength of schedule: .492
Week 18 opponent: vs. Jets (3-13)
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, CB, OL, LB
Strength of schedule: .527
Week 18 opponent: vs. Colts (8-8)
Biggest needs: OL, DL, RB, LB, Edge
Strength of schedule: .555
Week 18 opponent: vs. Cardinals (3-13)
See Pick No. 12 for analysis of the Rams' needs.
Strength of schedule: .473
Week 18 opponent: vs. Seahawks (13-3) | Saturday
Biggest needs: WR, DL, OL, CB, S
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jaguars' record: 12-4
Strength of schedule: .504
Jaguars' Week 18 opponent: vs. Titans (3-13)
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Jaguars' needs.
Strength of schedule: .383
Week 18 opponent: vs. Dolphins (7-9)
Biggest needs: Edge, S, OL, DL, TE
Strength of schedule: .410
Week 18 opponent: vs. Chargers (11-5)
Biggest needs: LB, TE, DL, OL, RB
Strength of schedule: .481
Week 18 opponent: at 49ers (12-4) | Saturday
Biggest needs: CB, OL, WR, Edge, RB
Teams without a 2026 first-round pick
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Week 18 opponent: vs. Saints (6-10)
Biggest needs: TE, DL, WR, CB, LB
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS
Week 18 opponent: at Vikings (8-8)
Biggest needs: CB, LB, OL, DL, Edge
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE NEW YORK JETS
Week 18 opponent: at Texans (11-5)
Biggest needs: QB, Edge, OL, DL, LB
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
Week 18 opponent: vs. Titans (3-13)
Biggest needs: CB, LB, WR, OL, S
