The race for the top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft gathers full steam as America heats up Thanksgiving leftovers and lightens their wallets for Black Friday sales. Seven teams are still in contention for the first pick chase as the league enters Week 13 of the season. Which teams have the best shot at possible redemption from stacking defeats in a lost season?
Chasing The First Pick In The 2026 NFL Draft: Seventh Circle Of Losses
1. Tennessee Titans (1-10)
SOS: .577
Week 13 Opponent: HOME vs. Jacksonville
Tennessee continues to maintain its stranglehold on the first overall selection after a surprisingly competitive loss against Seattle last Sunday. They face the woefully inconsistent Jaguars, who rely on sheer luck to offset Trevor Lawrence’s continued turnovers. It could be a prime opportunity for the home team to pull off an upset and join the two-win club. Jacksonville needs a win to keep pace in the highly competitive AFC South race after Indianapolis fell back to the pack in November. Tennessee needs a loss to keep its edge in the chase for the top pick as it faces Cleveland in Week 14’s tank bowl supremacy. Rookie signal caller Cam Ward is steadily improving his game as the season progresses, providing some hope in a dreadful season without a coach. The Jaguars play the Colts next week in a division-deciding contest at home. The league’s lone one-win team must lose; otherwise, it will require help elsewhere to keep it within the top five.
2. New York Giants (2-10)
SOS: .548
Week 13 Opponent: AWAY @ New England (MNF)
This New York team is a competitive bunch, making teams like the Lions work harder for a win but blowing double-digit leads. The Giants battled Detroit to the wire last Sunday, forcing overtime behind the eclectic arm of Jameis Winston. New England comes in battered and bruised with injuries in key spots, making Drake Maye’s health a perilous journey. Left tackle Will Campbell is out for several weeks with a leg injury, so the Patriots must rejigger their offensive line. New York seemingly has its franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, but his health remains an issue. Could the Giants pull off the upset behind a fearsome defensive line without its defensive coordinator? New York ventures off into a bye week after Sunday.
3. New Orleans Saints (2-9)
SOS: .490
Week 13 Opponent: AWAY @ Miami
The Saints are well on their way to securing a top-three choice after losing to the similarly terrible Falcons team that needed to expend a ton of effort. New Orleans visits South Beach without a key weapon and an inconsistent quarterback. A recipe for another loss in the march to the first selection in April beckons with a visit to Tampa Bay awaiting them in Week 14. Miami comes in red-hot with three wins in four games to save Mike McDaniel’s job and their playoff hopes. Can the Dolphins parlay their home-field advantage and keep on keeping on?
4. New York Jets (2-9)
SOS: .524
Week 13 Opponent: HOME vs. Atlanta
New York inevitably lost to the Ravens last Sunday, but forced Baltimore to work for it. In comes a struggling Atlanta squad that needs all the wins to avoid giving the Rams a top-ten selection. However, all isn’t lost as several youngsters have stepped up in a lost season. The Jets need a morale-boosting win, but a loss would be beneficial in the long run, with several top pick contenders set to play each other. Perhaps they can strike while lying in the weeds. Expect the Falcons and Jets to battle it out on the poor MetLife turf to the bitter end.
5. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
SOS: .558
Week 13 Opponent: AWAY @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Raiders meandered their way into yet another loss last week and jumped into the top five. Head coach Pete Carroll’s job is in question, along with Geno Smith. Las Vegas previously fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on Sunday after the horrendous loss to Cleveland. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they have to travel to Los Angeles and take on the rested Chargers. LA needs a win to keep pace in the AFC West, and Week 14 offers no promises with the reigning champions on deck. Vegas will play a role in deciding the division race as it hosts the Broncos next week.
6. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
SOS: .479
Week 13 Opponent: HOME vs. San Francisco
Cleveland took another step in ruining its own chances at a top-three finish by enhancing another team’s best shot in Las Vegas. They have three wins and are hosting a West Coast team riddled with severe injuries that are traveling east. Can Shedeur mania live on for another week against the 49ers, who are enduring a quarterback-induced malaise of their own? Despite the injury-depleted defense, San Francisco provides a formidable challenge for the rookie passer. The 49ers’ offensive line must be on high alert for DPOY favorite Myles Garrett and his record sack pace. Will the Browns upset the team led by Christian McCaffery with the classic Lake Erie wind effects in play? The 49ers will look ahead to rest and recovery during their Week 14 bye.
7. Washington Commanders (3-8)
SOS: .516
Week 13 Opponent: HOME vs. Denver (SNF)
The Commanders return to the crime scene, where their 2025 fate was sealed after Dan Quinn’s decision to keep playing Jayden Daniels cost him. Daniels dislocated his elbow in a meaningless blowout loss. Oregon Hall of Fame honoree Marcus Mariota took up the cause. Washington held onto the seventh spot despite the bye week that saw fortunes swing for multiple teams. They host the surging Broncos, who are inching towards a long-awaited AFC West title after Kansas City’s devastating Thanksgiving loss. Can the Commanders take advantage of a Denver team prone to slow starts and ridiculous comebacks behind their own Ducks legend? Washington has a tough matchup in Week 14, while the Broncos take on a Raiders squad in disarray.
Main Photo: [Denny Simmons/The Tennessean] – Imagn Images
