The NFL playoffs are nearly here. Ahead of Week 17's Sunday slate of games, 12 of the 14 postseason spots have been clinched.
Only a few other fanbases outside of those dozen franchises have a chance at the playoffs in 2025. For the rest of the league, it's on to an offseason full of question marks – some bigger than others, depending on the state of the franchise.
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One thing remains incredibly important for all of the eliminated teams: the 2026 NFL Draft. Finding young, inexpensive talent to develop is the most reliable way to build a contender. Just ask New England
- a team that went from four wins to contending for the No. 1 seed behind a second-year quarterback and top rookies at running back and left tackle.
The 2026 NFL Draft will see a surprising order compared to years past. Perennial playoff contenders, Kansas City
will be picking in the top half of the first round. Washington
is poised to be back in the top 10 after a trip to the NFC championship game a year ago.
Week 17's results will have a huge impact on the first-round order of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's how things look as Sunday is wrapped up:
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
1. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Jets (from New York Giants) - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
1. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Jets (from New York Giants) - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
2. Las Vegas Raiders - Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
3. Tennessee Titans - Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
(Samantha Madar, Columbus Dispatch)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
4. Cleveland Browns - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
5
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
5. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from New York Jets) - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
(Petre Thomas, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
6. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
7. New Orleans Saints - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
(Jake Crandall, Advertiser)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
8. Washington Commanders - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
(Barbara J. Perenic, Columbus Dispatch)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)
11
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NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
11. Miami Dolphins - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
(Brianna Paciorka, News Sentinel)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
12. Kansas City Chiefs - David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
(Nathan Giese, Avalanche-Journal)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
13. Minnesota Vikings - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
(Alex Martin, Greenville News)
14
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
14. Dallas Cowboys - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
15
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2026 NFL mock draft: Where do College Football Playoff top stars rate?
15. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
(Ken Ruinard, USA Today Network South Carolina)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
16. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
(Ben Lonergan, The Register-Guard)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
17. Detroit Lions - Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
(Carmen Mandato, Getty Images)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine
18. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets) - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
(Jeff Le, Getty Images)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Latest projection with early first-round order set
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
(Gary Cosby Jr., Imagn Images)
21
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NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
(Alex Martin, Greenville News)
22
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2026 NFL mock draft: Where do College Football Playoff top stars rate?
22. Houston Texans - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch)
23
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
23. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) - T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
(Ken Ruinard, USA Today Network South Carolina)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
24. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
25. Chicago Bears - A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
(Ben Lonergan, The Register-Guard)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
26. Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
27. San Francisco 49ers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
28
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
28. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
(Gary Cosby Jr., Imagn Images)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
29. Los Angeles Rams - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
(James Snook, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
30. New England Patriots - Cashius Howell, OLB/DE, Texas A&M
(Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
31. Seattle Seahawks - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
(Wesley Hale, Imagn Images)
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NFL mock draft: Free agency, trades change first-round projection
32. Denver Broncos - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
2026 NFL Draft order
Here's a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon
:
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2026 NFL mock draft
Here's how the top five picks could pan out per USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's latest mock draft
:
New York Jets
(proposed trade w/NYG): QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:
NFL draft order 2026: Updated first-round picks in Week 17
