Despite snapping a 10-game losing streak by beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The New York Giants’ 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys earlier in Week 18 locked up that top slot for Las Vegas (3-14), although the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans finished with the same record.
Per NFL rules, draft order is determined by record, with strength of schedule used as a tiebreaker; among teams with the same record, the team that faced the weakest schedule picks first. Using that same tiebreaker, the Jets clinched the No. 2 pick with their loss Sunday in Buffalo. The Cardinals and Titans will hold picks No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
The Raiders had been the NFL’s lone two-win team entering Sunday, thanks in no small part to their blowout Week 17 loss to the New York Giants. By winning their final two games of the regular season, the Giants fell to the No. 5 pick. Cleveland, Washington, New Orleans, Kansas City and Cincinnati round out the top 10, in that order.
The Raiders have previously held the No. 1 pick just once since the NFL-AFL merger: In 2007, they selected QB JaMarcus Russell out of LSU. The organization also held the top pick in the 1962 AFL draft, which it used on NC State quarterback Roman Gabriel, who instead signed with the Los Angeles Rams after getting selected No. 2 in the 1962 NFL Draft.
In addition to picking No. 1, the Raiders currently hold seven other draft slots — their original picks in Rounds 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, plus additional picks in Rounds 4 and 6 acquired when they traded WR Jakobi Myers to the Jaguars. They’re also projected by OvertheCap.com to receive compensatory picks in Rounds 4 and 5.
Raiders’ outlook at No. 1
Raiders’ fans wondering if there is a “can’t-miss” quarterback in this class are asking the wrong question. Instead, the question should be: Is there a quarterback who can become a top-12 player at his position in the NFL?
If Las Vegas’ front office believes that answer is “yes,” then that should be the pick — and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza shows that type of promise. With his pre- and post-snap intelligence, Mendoza has been a perfect fit in the Hoosiers’ RPO-heavy scheme and has the accuracy to make dagger throws at every level of the field. He doesn’t have dynamic athleticism, but he isn’t a statue either and shows encouraging sack avoidance. His play style and skill set are reminiscent of Jared Goff.
Upgrades on the Raiders’ offensive line are needed this offseason, especially if a rookie QB is taking the snaps. The Raiders do have building blocks on offense in tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, but who’s going to be calling plays? The organization has money to spend in free agency, but getting the coaching staff right would be imperative for any rookie quarterback to experience success.
Surprisingly, the Raiders have drafted a quarterback in the top 10 just once over the last 60 years (Russell), and that experiment was a disaster. However, Las Vegas shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to roll the dice on a promising quarterback this year, be it Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore. — Dane Brugler