2026 NFL Draft: Definitive Winners and Losers After the Regular Season
The 2026 NFL Draft picture finally came into focus once the regular season wrapped up, and as always, the final week reshuffled more than just the playoff bracket. For teams outside the postseason, December wins and losses weren’t about pride; they were about draft leverage, quarterback access, and setting a direction for the next few years.
Some franchises walked away from Week 18 exactly where they wanted to be. Others may regret how things played out, even if the final record looked respectable on paper.
2026 NFL Draft Breakdown: A Revealing Look at Winners and Losers
Winners: Teams That Gained Control at the Top
The biggest winner of the 2026 NFL Draft order is the Las Vegas Raiders. Landing the No. 1 overall pick gives them something they haven’t had in years: options. After cycling through short-term quarterback fixes, the Raiders now sit in a position to reset the franchise properly. Whether that means selecting Fernando Mendoza outright or using the pick as leverage, Las Vegas finally controls the board instead of reacting to it.
Right behind them, the New York Jets are also in a strong spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. Picking second isn’t ideal most years, but this draft sets up well for it. If Dante Moore declares, the Jets can land a high-upside quarterback without trading future assets. Even if the Raiders go a different direction, New York still benefits from staying patient instead of forcing a move up. After years of expensive gambles, that restraint matters.
The Kansas City Chiefs also quietly helped themselves. A rare down season by their standards landed them a top-10 pick. For a roster that’s aging in key areas, this is a chance to add a true blue-chip talent instead of hoping a late first-rounder overperforms. Patrick Mahomes keeps the window open, but this pick helps keep it from slamming shut.
Losers: When Late Wins Come At a Cost
On the other side, the Cleveland Browns are familiar with being here. A couple of late-season wins pushed them out of range for the top quarterback prospects, leaving them stuck in the middle yet again. The roster has talent, but without a long-term answer under center, draft positioning matters more than almost anything else. Cleveland now faces the same problem it’s been trying to solve for years, only with fewer clear solutions.
The Indianapolis Colts may have it even worse. What looked like a promising season collapsed late, and earlier aggressive trades removed their margin for error. With no first-round pick to reset the roster or change course quickly, the Colts are basically betting that what they already have gets better. That’s rarely how NFL turnarounds happen.
Final Takeaway
The 2026 NFL Draft order doesn’t decide anyone’s future on its own, but it absolutely shapes it. Teams like the Raiders, Jets, and Chiefs gained leverage. Others, like the Browns and Colts, are left scrambling for answers.
By the time April rolls around, we’ll talk about prospects and mock drafts. But the real story was written in Week 18, and some teams handled the moment better than others.
