If you are rooting for the Las Vegas Raiders to end up with the first overall pick, then you were rooting for the New York Giants to beat them on Sunday, and the Giants delivered. Perhaps to their own detriment.<\/p>\n
These are the only two teams still in the running for the No. 1 pick. A loss or tie against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 will secure the prize for the Raiders. Otherwise, the strength of schedule tiebreaker will determine who picks first.<\/p>\n
Las Vegas\u2019 strength of schedule is currently higher than the Giants, .553 to .535, and the tie goes to the team with the lower SOS.<\/p>\n
The Raiders have selected first only once in their history, and it didn\u2019t go so well. They took LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first pick in 2007.<\/p>\n
Russell spent less time in the NFL than he did in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n
This time around, they\u2019d almost certainly take another QB with Indiana\u2019s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon\u2019s Dante Moore being the most likely candidates.<\/p>\n
The G-Men have earned the first overall pick in the NFL draft just two times before. The Giants drafted SMU halfback Kyle Rote in 1951. Rote finished his career as a four-time Pro Bowler, and held several team records when he retired a decade later. They drafted Auburn running back Tucker Frederickson in 1965 with Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers on the board.<\/p>\n
The Bears would select Butkus and Sayers with the third and fourth overall picks. Frederickson, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but missed his second season with a knee injury, and never fully regained his early form.<\/p>\n
Notably, the last time New York selected at the top of the draft, it traded up with the San Diego Chargers in 2004, sending the No. 4 overall pick, a 2004 third-rounder, a 2005 first-rounder and a 2005 fifth-rounder to the Bolts for the right to draft Eli Manning.<\/p>\n
The Giants would likely auction off the top pick if it ends up falling in their laps.<\/p>\n
Cheers to good vibes, less stress and more joy in 2026. Happy New Year!<\/p>\n
Here are some key dates going forward before we get to the draft in Pittsburgh (April 23-25):<\/p>\n
Jan. 5: FCS Showcase in Nashville, Tenn.<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: Hula Bowl in DeLand, Fla.<\/p>\n
Jan. 10-12: Wild Card Weekend<\/p>\n
Jan. 14: Tentative deadline for players with remaining eligibility to make their draft intentions official.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17-18: Divisional Playoffs<\/p>\n
Jan. 18: Tropical Bowl in Orlando, Fla.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: Tentative deadline for players with remaining eligibility who participated in the CFP title game to make their draft intentions official.<\/p>\n
Jan. 25: AFC and NFC Championship Games<\/p>\n
Jan. 27: East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.<\/p>\n
Feb. 8: Super Bowl LX in San Francisco<\/p>\n
Feb. 17-March 3: Franchise\/transition player designation period<\/p>\n
Feb. 23-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis<\/p>\n
Early March:\u00a0Colleges can begin hosting pro days<\/p>\n
March 11: New league year begins at 1 p.m. (i.e. free agency)<\/p>\n
MOCK PREAMBLE<\/p>\n
This is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season\u2019s draft class, and which teams they\u2019d match up well with considering the current draft order courtesy of NFL.com. The closer we get to draft day, the more I\u2019ll attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do.<\/p>\n
According to The Huddle Report, I was the second-most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print last season. I tied for first overall (out of 172) covering a five-year period between 2019 and 2023.<\/p>\n
Considering the NFL doesn\u2019t have an offseason, the draft has become the Super Bowl of the league\u2019s second season, and a mock version of said draft is meant to educate, perhaps even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.<\/p>\n
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown so we can continue the conversation.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an updated version of my 2026 NFL Mock Draft:<\/p>\n
FIRST ROUND<\/p>\n
1. Las Vegas (2-14) \u2014 Dante Moore, QB, Oregon, So.<\/p>\n
Geno Smith wasn\u2019t the short-term answer at quarterback let alone a long-term solution. Perhaps GM John Spytek would prefer to trade for Kyler Murray or Mac Jones and draft a QB to develop on day two or three. It\u2019s hard to imagine them passing on a signal-caller if they end up with the first pick. Moore has trained with Tom House, a renowned quarterback guru who also worked extensively with Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders. Moore\u2019s ceiling is the highest in a QB group that won\u2019t include LaNorris Sellers or Arch Manning, assuming he decides to enter the draft after the Ducks\u2019 playoff run is over. His offensive coordinator Will Stein leaving Oregon to become Kentucky\u2019s head coach has created uncertainty. I was originally confident he\u2019d stay in school. Moore is poised, accurate, throws a catchable deep ball, and has shown the ability to make plays outside of the pocket. Top needs: QB, Edge, WR<\/p>\n
2. N.Y. Giants (3-13) \u2014 Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio St., Jr.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t anticipate GM Joe Schoen investing one of the first two picks in the draft in an offensive lineman or receiver. This is simply too high for those positions in this class. In this scenario, trading down with the Cardinals or Browns so they could leapfrog the Jets for a QB almost makes too much sense. But it\u2019s too early to predict trades. Reese has played off-ball linebacker, but I could easily see him as a full-time edge rusher in the pros. Drafting Reese would also allow Schoen to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, who will be in the final year of his rookie deal next season. A matchup with Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in the CFP quarterfinals will be a solid barometer of his pass-rush potential at the next level. Top needs: DL, G, CB<\/p>\n
3. N.Y. Jets (3-13) \u2014 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana, Jr.<\/p>\n
After a busy trade deadline, GM Darren Mougey has enough draft capital to call his shot with a QB if he needs to move up. In this scenario, Mougey keeps his powder dry and still lands a potential franchise signal-caller.\u00a0The Heisman Trophy-winner has the prototypical size (6-5, 225) scouts favor, good arm talent and functional athleticism. He\u2019s not a finished product by any means \u2014 pressure can affect his footwork and his deep ball accuracy needs refinement \u2014 but he\u2019s showcased his ability to step up in big moments for the undefeated Hoosiers this season. Top needs: QB, CB, DL<\/p>\n
4. Tennessee (3-13) \u2014 Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami, Jr.<\/p>\n
Traditionally after drafting a franchise QB with the first overall pick in the previous draft, an organization would utilize the next draft to stockpile offensive talent in support of the QB. If the Titans don\u2019t believe there are any offensive lineman or wide receivers worthy of a top-4 pick in this draft class, they\u2019d likely focus on their pass rush here. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain doesn\u2019t have prototypical length, but the ACC Defensive Player of the Year possesses raw power, first-step explosion and can anchor against the run when he\u2019s not terrorizing quarterbacks. Comparisons to Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney are apt. I also see shades of longtime Eagles star Brandon Graham. Top needs: Edge, WR, CB<\/p>\n
5. Arizona (3-13) \u2014 Spencer Fano, T, Utah, Jr.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals will be in the market for a QB if they decide to move on from Kyler Murray. Also, almost every running back that has suited up for Arizona this season has ended up on injured reserve, so Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love might be in play here. However, tackle will also be a priority if Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum leave in free agency.\u00a0There isn\u2019t a Joe Alt or Penei Sewell in this draft class, but Fano is a big (6-6, 302), powerful, athletic anchor in the run game, and his footwork has improved in pass protection this season. The consensus All-American just became the first-ever Utes\u2019 lineman to win the Outland Trophy after not allowing a sack, and only five QB pressures during the regular season. Top needs: OL, DL, WR<\/p>\n
6. Washington (4-12) \u2014 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn, Jr.<\/p>\n
The Commanders\u2019 biggest problem is they can\u2019t keep Jayden Daniels healthy. Their second biggest problem is they need more playmakers at all three levels of their defense. Faulk is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound edge who was the No. 9 player on\u00a0Bruce Feldman\u2019s 2025 \u201cFreaks List\u201d, reportedly squatting 700 pounds and benching 415. He\u2019s a versatile chess piece on the D-line in odd or even fronts, and has even shown the ability to standup and play outside linebacker. Faulk doesn\u2019t turn 21 until next September.\u00a0Top needs: Edge, LB, CB<\/p>\n
7. Cleveland (4-12) \u2014 Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami, Jr.<\/p>\n
Shedeur Sanders should have been starting over Dillon Gabriel all along. Let\u2019s say the Browns are impressed enough by Sanders to forgo drafting yet another QB in April. This pick would almost certainly come down to an offensive lineman or wide receiver. Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit, is big (6-6, 325), powerful, athletic and plays with a mauling mentality at the tackle position. There are scouts who believe he\u2019d be even better on the interior, but he\u2019s talented enough to stay at tackle. Top needs: QB, T, CB<\/p>\n
8. New Orleans (6-10) \u2014 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio St., Jr.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m thinking GM Mickey Loomis is fine with Tyler Shough being the starter next year after drafting him with the 40th overall pick in April\u2019s draft, but if that\u2019s the case, Loomis needs to surround Shough with more weapons on offense. Tate has shown immense growth in his technical skills, especially his route running, which has transformed him from an explosive deep threat to a more complete receiver who can threaten a defense at all three levels. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound playmaker would pair nicely with former Buckeye Chris Olave. Top needs: QB, Edge, WR<\/p>\n
9. Cincinnati (6-10) \u2014 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio St., Jr.<\/p>\n