The New York Giants defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in dominant fashion, snapping a nine-game losing streak and a 13-game road losing streak that dated back to last season. The victory was costly, however, as it caused the Giants to lose control of the No. 1 overall pick heading into the final week of the regular season.
As a result, the Giants are currently projected to select second overall in the 2026 NFL draft, per Tankathon.
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The Giants are not entirely out of contention for the No. 1 pick; they can still secure it if they lose to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18 and the Raiders defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.
If both the Giants and Raiders lose in Week 18, the Giants will remain at the second overall spot as the offseason begins.
Before Sunday’s matchup, many fans hoped the Giants would lose to secure the top pick. With considerable attention on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the likely first overall selection, the Giants would have been positioned to command a king’s ransom by trading the pick to the highest bidder.
Now, assuming the Giants do not fall behind the Raiders in the standings in Week 18, they will need to hope another quarterback rises in the draft rankings and becomes highly coveted by the time the draft arrives in April if they wish to trade down.
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The Giants have numerous needs entering the draft, but much will depend on their moves in free agency. Pending free agents include Wan’Dale Robinson, who surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season in Sunday’s game — marking his first 1,000-yard campaign — as well as Jermaine Eluemunor and Cor’Dale Flott.
With Week 18 games still to be played, fans will closely monitor the Raiders-Chiefs matchup. Much remains to be determined between the end of the season and April, however. The Giants will have a new head coach, but questions linger about whether general manager Joe Schoen will return.
One thing is certain: With a new coaching staff on the horizon, this is yet another pivotal offseason for Big Blue.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Giants fall to No. 2 overall following Week 17 win