How Giants’ 2026 draft pick will be determined entering final game

4 days ago 2

EAST RUTHERFORD - Lloyd Christmas of "Dumb and Dumber" fame would be proud.

Yes, Giants fans, we're telling you there is still chance you can land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, even after last Sunday's 34-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders cost Big Blue a chance to remove any doubt.

The Giants (3-13) lost control of No. 1 by winning the game, allowing the team they beat, the Raiders (2-14) to leap over them and into the top spot of the projected draft order, according to Tankathon.com projections.

But due to the strength of schedule (SOS) factor, the Giants will finish no lower than No. 2 if they are unable to beat the Cowboys in Sunday's 2025 regular season finale. If that happens and the Raiders can beat the Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs in their regular season finale, the Giants would move back to No. 1 - provided they get the necessary results to preserve their SOS advantage.

The Raiders-Chiefs game in Las Vegas is set to kick off at 4:25 p.m. EST.

If the Giants lose and the Raiders win, the Giants need one of the following results to clinch a lower SOS and thus claim the No. 1 pick:

Browns over Bengals, 1 p.m.
Falcons over Saints, 1 p.m.
Bears over Lions, 4:25 p.m.

Who is the potential No. 1 draft pick in 2026?

With the way Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has performed in leading the No. 1 Hoosiers, including his Rose Bowl performance in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, it's believed that the Heisman Trophy winner will be the sought-after prospect by teams such as the Jets and the Raiders who are expected to be in the market for a QB.

That could bring the Giants a significant haul of draft assets if they can get back to No. 1 and look to deal the pick. The other factor here is whether Oregon quarterback Dante Moore enters the draft. If so, the Giants could get a haul of picks even out of the No. 2 spot.

How many times have NY Giants had No. 1 draft pick?

The Giants have held the first overall pick twice in franchise history: in 1951 (Kyle Rote) and 1965 (Tucker Frederickson), but that was prior to the common draft post the league's 1970 merger. They held the No. 2 pick in 2018 when Saquon Barkley was their selection.