Raiders secure No. 1 pick in 2026 NFL Draft after Giants defeat Cowboys

LAS VEGAS -- Win or lose, the Las Vegas Raiders will have the first pick in this year's NFL Draft.

With the New York Giants defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday, it means the Raiders will finish the season with the league's worst record, regardless of Sunday's outcome against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Las Vegas was 2-14 entering its home game against the Chiefs.

Had the Giants (4-13) lost to Dallas, the Raiders would have needed to lose to the Chiefs. Instead, New York's victory means Las Vegas' outcome is irrelevant.

It marks just the second time in franchise history the Raiders will have the top pick. The then-Oakland Raiders took quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU with the No. 1 choice in the 2007 NFL Draft.

With question marks swirling around starting quarterback Geno Smith, coach Pete Carroll and defensive end Maxx Crosby - mainly whether any or all of them will be with the team next season - the Raiders could usher in a new era by drafting another quarterback, specifically Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana or Oregon's Dante Moore.