The Las Vegas Raiders
are No. 1 − and former owner Al Davis would doubtless be sick about it.
But the Silver and Black's current Commitment to Excellence unfortunately extends only to summiting the apex of the 2026 NFL draft order, the Raiders clinching − for lack of a better term − the spot Jan. 4 when the New York Giants
, who cruised past Las Vegas
34-10 in Week 17, defeated the Dallas Cowboys
in their regular-season finale. The Giants' victory locked the Raiders into the league's worst record, even though they improved to 3-14 by beating the Kansas City Chiefs
on Sunday afternoon. But Las Vegas' .538 strength of schedule, the weakest among the four 3-14 clubs, kept it in the top spot.
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LIVE 2026 NFL mock draft: Projecting first round as order is set in Week 18
2026 NFL Draft first-round order
( Note: Spots 19 through 32 in Round 1 will be determined by when teams exit from the playoffs, wild-card round losers slotting 19 through 24.)
Who will the Raiders draft first in 2026?
That will likely be a topic of some debate over the next four months, but Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana University
will likely be the prohibitive choice − whether the Raiders use the pick or trade it.
Have the Raiders picked No. 1 overall before?
Yes, the then-Oakland Raiders chose QB JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall in 2007 in one of the worst draft decisions in NFL history
. Who could they have taken instead? Calvin Johnson
, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson
, Patrick Willis
, Marshawn Lynch
and Darrelle Revis
all came off the board in the first half of Round 1.
1
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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)
1
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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)
2
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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)
3
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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)
4
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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
/ 32
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)
6
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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)
7
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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)
8
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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)
9
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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)
10
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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)
12
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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)
13
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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)
16
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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)
17
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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)
18
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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)
19
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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)
20
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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)
24
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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)
25
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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)
26
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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)
27
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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)
29
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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)
30
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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)
31
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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)
32
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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)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:
2026 NFL draft: Las Vegas Raiders to pick first, top 18 selections set
