The top of the 2026 NFL Draft board is finally set for the non-playoff teams, and there’s an early twist. After Week 18, the No. 1 pick is locked — and it belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders. Yes, even with a win in the final week, the Raiders will walk to the podium first in April, with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants following to round out the top five.

This matters because the top 18 picks, assigned to teams that missed the playoffs, are now fixed based on record. What happens next is shaped by the Wild Card round, which will decide picks 19 through 24. The bigger picture: the draft is now the next big stage for franchises stuck in neutral, or ready to hit fast-forward.

2026 NFL Draft order after Week 18: Raiders on the clock

Las Vegas has the leverage that comes with the first overall pick, a position that brings both opportunity and pressure. The Jets sit at No. 2, a spot the franchise knows can change its long-term future. The Cardinals at No. 3, Titans at No. 4, and Giants at No. 5 complete a top tier of teams with urgent needs and big decisions ahead.

It’s notable that the Raiders clinched the top pick despite winning in Week 18. That doesn’t happen often, and it speaks to how tight the race to the bottom was — and how valuable every tiebreaker proved to be. Now the focus shifts from scoreboard watching to draft board building.

“Is the No. 1 pick really the Raiders’ to lose? Now the real pressure starts.”

How the NFL draft order works heading into the playoffs

The NFL keeps the process simple. Non-playoff teams get picks 1–18, with the worst record picking first overall. That part is now done and dusted. The next wave is set by what happens on Wild Card weekend: the six losers from that round will take picks 19–24 in order of their regular-season records.

From there, the full order will be finalized as teams bow out. But for today, the headline is clear — the top 18 are locked, and front offices can fully lock in their evaluations.

What the top five means for team strategy

Las Vegas Raiders (No. 1): The board is theirs. Whether the Raiders use the pick or field offers, they’re in command. A Week 18 win didn’t change their place, but it did add some confidence to the locker room. The choice now is how to best turn this premium asset into wins.

New York Jets (No. 2): The Jets’ draft talk has often circled around quarterback choices and the ripple effects of the Aaron Rodgers move. One pre-Week 18 debate even floated the Jets at No. 1. They didn’t land there, but No. 2 still offers a franchise-level path, no matter the direction — protect the QB, add a playmaker, or double down on defense.

Arizona Cardinals (No. 3): Arizona’s needs are layered, and interior line play has already been linked with them in early chatter. One mock even paired them with IOL Spencer Fano around the middle of the top 10, showing how widely opinions vary on fits and value.

Tennessee Titans (No. 4): The Titans have been mocked at the very top in some early projections, including a headline-grabber that had them taking EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. second overall. The updated order places them fourth, where premium edge rush, offensive line, or a blue-chip weapon could still be very much in play.

New York Giants (No. 5): New York’s spot puts them squarely in range for an impact player. Whether it’s offense or defense, the Giants’ choice will echo across the division.

“Jets at No. 2 is a fork in the road — fix the line or swing big again at QB?”

Mock draft noise versus the reality of the board

Before Week 18 settled the dust, mock drafts were all over the map. At various points, the Jets were discussed with the No. 1 pick. The Browns even came up in a No. 2 conversation. One scenario had the Steelers hovering at No. 30. And in a different projection, the Rams held two first-rounders, at 17 and 22, with quarterback Josh Hoover connected to them as a possible target.

There was even a moment where the Raiders were projected near No. 8. That underscores the key point: mock drafts are snapshots in time, shaped by records that move weekly and by how pundits view team needs. Now that the league has locked picks 1–18, the conversation gets sharper — roles, positional value, and who fits whose timeline.

“Mocks are fun, but the board is the truth. Top 18 locked means the real game begins.”

Wild Card weekend will fill picks 19–24

For the Wild Card teams, the draft is a secondary concern — until it isn’t. Six teams will enter the weekend and exit with their playoff hopes gone and their draft slots set between 19 and 24. That’s where playoff losses can quickly be turned into offseason momentum with the right pick.

It also means a lot of front offices have to multitask. Scouts are finishing school visits and all-star notes while cap teams model free agency. With the top 18 fixed and 19–24 next up, boards will come into focus quickly.

The road ahead: pressure, possibilities, and a long runway

This is the calm before the storm. The Raiders have the most important card in the deck. The Jets, Cardinals, Titans, and Giants are within striking distance of a cornerstone player. And every team in the top 18 now knows exactly where it stands.

From here, expect rumors and reports to heat up — about visits, interviews, and potential trades. But the facts we have today are firm: non-playoff teams pick 1–18 based on record, the Raiders lead off at No. 1, and the Wild Card losers will slot 19–24. The rest will be decided on the field, then finalized on the clock.

It’s draft season now, for real.