Titans NFL Draft order scenarios, NFL Draft rooting guide in Week 18

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The Tennessee Titans still have a chance at the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft heading into Week 18 -- albeit a small chance.

Tennessee enters Week 18 as the No. 4 overall projected pick. 7 teams have somewhere between 2 and 4 victories this season heading into the final week of the regular season. Las Vegas, the only team with a 2-14 record, owns the SOS tiebreaker advantage over the Titans if they both have the same record, meaning Tennessee cannot pass them on Jan. 4. Otherwise, the Titans' pick range is between No. 2 and No. 7 overall.

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Arizona-LA Rams, Dallas-NY Giants, NY Jets-Buffalo, Cleveland-Cincinnati and Washington-Philadelphia all will directly factor into the Titans' pick order in the first round, as will a more complex SOS tiebreaker with Arizona.

In summary, the Titans can pick as high as No. 2 overall or as low as No. 7 overall in April's draft. Here's what to know ahead of Week 18:

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How the Titans can earn the No. 2 overall pick in 2026 NFL draft

The Titans will pick No. 2 overall if:

  • Tennessee loses at Jacksonville

  • NY Giants win vs. Dallas

  • NY Jets win vs. Buffalo

  • Arizona wins vs. LA Rams OR Tennessee secures SOS tiebreaker

But that's a best-chance scenario for the Titans, with a wide spread of possibilities available.

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Titans NFL Draft rooting guide in Week 18

The Titans will benefit from these results on Jan. 4 if Tennessee loses:

  • New York Jets over Buffalo

The Titans move up a spot from No. 4 overall for each one of those results IF Tennessee loses at Jacksonville. The Titans also need to secure the SOS tiebreaker over Arizona or have the Cardinals win in Week 18; Arizona can pass Tennessee no matter the Titans' Week 18 result.

If the Titans win in Week 18, Tennessee can pick no higher than No. 4 overall. To do so, Tennessee will need these Week 18 results:

  • Arizona over LA Rams AND Tennessee secures the SOS tiebreaker over Arizona

  • Cleveland over Cincinnati

  • Washington over Philadelphia

Titans strength of schedule tiebreakers in NFL Draft order

Tennessee has already lost strength of schedule tiebreakers with five of the six teams in the top 7 alongside them -- the Raiders, Giants, Jets, Commanders and Browns.

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The SOS tiebreaker with Arizona is in flux heading into Week 18, with the Titans having a minimal advantage (.5730 to .5766, with the lowest SOS percentage having the edge in NFL draft tiebreakers). If the two teams match results on Jan. 4 (both are at 3-13 heading into Week 18), Tennessee needs three of these five results to happen:

  • Cincinnati over Cleveland

  • Miami over New England

  • Atlanta over New Orleans

  • Green Bay over Minnesota

  • Dallas over the NY Giants

By way of the Titans win over Arizona earlier this year, Arizona has the advantage on the second tiebreaker should the two teams end the season with the same SOS percentage.

NFL Draft order 2026 heading into Week 18

  1. New York Giants (3-13)

  2. New York Jets (3-13)

  3. Washington Commanders (4-12)

  4. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

  5. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

  6. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

  7. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

  8. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

  9. Carolina Panthers (8-9)

  10. Detroit Lions (8-8)

  11. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

  12. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

  13. New York Jets (from Indianapolis) (Colts' record is 8-8)

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans NFL Draft order scenarios, NFL Draft rooting guide in Week 18

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