Giants-Raiders loser takes lead for first overall pick in 2026 NFL draft

The NFL couldn’t have known, when it scheduled the Giants and Raiders to meet in Week 17, that it was setting up a very important game between two very bad teams. But that’s exactly what happened, at least if your idea of ​​a great game is one that could determine the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Giants and Raiders are currently 2-13, tied for the worst record in the NFL. The loser will fall to 2-14 and have the inside track for the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

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Neither team would be assured of the first overall pick with a loss on Sunday, as there is still a chance that the team that loses on Sunday could win its season finale the following week, get back into a tie for the worst record in the NFL, and then lose the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker is the strength of the schedule, with the team that faced the weaker schedule choosing first. The Giants have a weaker schedule than the Raiders, but the 3-12 Browns have a weaker schedule than any of them and could still get the first overall pick if the Browns, Giants and Raiders finish 3-14.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is currently the favorite to go first overall. He has a New Year’s Eve game against Alabama to prepare for in the College Football Playoff, but we imagine he’ll be watching Giants-Raiders with interest.