The 2026 NFL Draft order is starting to take shape as the 2025 NFL regular season wraps up. While the complete first round won’t be finalized until the playoffs conclude, the top 18 picks are already locked in, determined by regular-season records and strength-of-schedule tiebreakers.
Below is the current 2026 NFL Draft order (First Round, Picks 1–18), followed by an explanation of how the remaining selections will be decided.
Current 2026 NFL Draft Order (Picks 1–18)
These selections belong to teams that missed the playoffs during the 2025 season.
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta)
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Jets (via Indianapolis)
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
These picks are finalized based on reverse order of regular-season record, with strength of schedule used to break ties.
How the Rest of the 2026 NFL Draft Order Is Determined
Picks 19–32: Playoff Teams
The remaining first-round picks will be assigned after the postseason:
- Wild Card losers receive the earliest picks among playoff teams
- Divisional Round losers follow
- Conference Championship losers pick next
- Super Bowl loser selects at No. 31
- Super Bowl champion picks No. 32
Within each playoff tier, teams are again ordered by regular-season record.
Why the 2026 NFL Draft Order Matters
Draft position plays a major role in shaping the future of a franchise:
- Top-five picks often determine access to elite quarterbacks and franchise defenders
- Mid-round selections are prime trade-up or trade-down targets
- Teams with multiple first-round picks (via trades) gain added roster flexibility
With the Raiders securing the No. 1 overall pick and several quarterback-needy teams near the top, the early portion of the 2026 NFL Draft is expected to be highly active.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 NFL Draft order will continue to evolve as playoff results come in, but the foundation is already set. Fans, analysts, and front offices are now shifting focus from standings to scouting, mock drafts, and trade scenarios.
Check back after the postseason for the finalized 1–32 first-round order, along with projections for top prospects and team needs across the league.