It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but 2026 NFL Draft watch is already on for the Giants and Jets.
If the season had ended after Sunday’s slate of games, the Giants (2-9) and Jets (2-8) would both be picking in the top five of April’s draft.
With Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Giants moved from No. 3 in the draft order to No. 2.
The Jets are in line to pick No. 5. Their position remained unchanged from last week, despite the Jets losing to the New England Patriots, 27-14, on Thursday night.
Here’s the top of the draft order as it stood going into Monday, according to Tankathon:
- Tennessee Titans (1-9)
- Giants (2-9)
- Cleveland Browns (2-8)
- New Orleans Saints (2-8)
- Jets (2-8)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-7), before Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys
- Washington Commanders (3-8)
And while plenty can — and surely will — change in the final seven weeks of the season, the Giants and Jets are both squarely in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Jets have a 26% chance of finishing with the No. 1 overall pick and an 85% chance of landing a top-five selection, according to The Athletic’s draft projections, which consider every team’s probability of winning each of their remaining games.
The Giants have an 11% chance of picking No. 1 and a 69% chance at a top-five pick.
The only team with better odds are the Titans, who boast a 41% chance at the No. 1 pick and a 90% chance at a top-five selection.
Of course, the Giants and Jets will go into next year’s draft with very different priorities.
For the first time in a couple of years, the Giants are not in pursuit of a franchise quarterback. They checked that box last the spring when they traded back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart at No. 25.
That means the Giants can select the best player available, or they can trade down if a quarterback-needy team makes it worth their while.
That’s true of the Titans, too, as they drafted quarterback Cam Ward first overall last year. But there should be more than one team seeking a young QB.
The Giants, who need help at wide receiver, along the offensive line, in the secondary and up the middle of their defense, should have plenty of options regardless of where they end up.
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods are all considered top-10 talents.
So are Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate and Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, both of whom would take some pressure off of Malik Nabers and provide another big-play weapon for Dart.
The Giants have made four top-seven picks under general manager Joe Schoen — Nabers, pass rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Adbul Carter, and offensive lineman Evan Neal — to mixed results.
The Jets, meanwhile, are in the market for a franchise quarterback, and even if they fall short of the No. 1 pick, they certainly have the ammunition to make moves on draft day.
After trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams this month, the Jets own five first-round picks over the next two drafts, including two in 2026.
This year’s draft, however, does not include a consensus can’t-miss quarterback prospect.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Alabama’s Ty Simpson are the buzziest names, though there is uncertainty about whether Moore and Simpson will declare for the draft. That could create a bidding war among teams trying to trade up for Mendoza.
But the Jets could wait another season and target a quarterback in the 2027 draft, which is considered much deeper. The Jets have three first-rounders in 2027.
Although the Browns, Saints and Jets all have the same record, the draft order tiebreaker comes down to strength of schedule, with the team that had the weakest schedule getting the highest pick.
The Browns and Saints are among those expected to explore their options at quarterback, as are the Raiders.
The Giants, whose .540 strength of schedule through Monday was the third hardest among teams with two wins or fewer, have six games remaining, plus a Week 14 bye.
They are set to host the Commanders in Week 15 and face the Raiders in Vegas in Week 17 — games that could help decide the draft order.
The Jets, whose .523 strength of schedule was the fourth hardest among teams with two or fewer wins, have seven games remaining. That includes a Week 16 trip to New Orleans.
