An averted comeback sent the Las Vegas Raiders to their 12th loss of the season on Monday, even with the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL this season.
The Giants (2-12) are up on the Raiders (2-12) by mere percentage points with three weeks remaining in the race for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Schedule strength indicates more than a two-horse field for the premium placement in the 2025 draft.
The New England Patriots (3-11) are No. 1 in the NFL with two dates against the Buffalo Bills (11-3) and a Week 17 visit from the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6).
The Chicago Bears appeared to be out of the running for a repeat of the No. 1 pick but dropped to 4-10 in a blowout 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday. The setback put the Bears in the top 10 of the current draft order in the shadow of the New York Jets (4-10).
But the Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns all reside a rung higher in the order with three wins with three to play.
In the franchise’s 100th season, the Giants appear to be a lock to select in the top six of the draft for the fifth time in seven years since selecting Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in 2018.
The Raiders last picked in the top three in 2007 when they selected LSU’s JaMarcus Russell No. 1. Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) was No. 2 and Joe Thomas (Browns) third.
Here’s the current order for the 2025 NFL Draft:
1. New York Giants
2. Las Vegas Raiders
3. New England Patriots
4. Carolina Panthers
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Cleveland Browns
8. New York Jets
9. Chicago Bears
10. New Orleans Saints
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Cincinnati Bengals
13. Dallas Cowboys
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. San Francisco 49ers
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Los Angeles Chargers
20. Los Angeles Rams
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
22. Washington Commanders
23. Denver Broncos
24. Houston Texans
25. Baltimore Ravens
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
27. Green Bay Packers
28. Buffalo Bills
29. Minnesota Vikings
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Detroit Lions
32. Kansas City Chiefs
–Field Level Media
