2026 NFL Draft order: List of first-round picks, dates, times and more

TL;DR

The 2026 NFL Draft order is crucial for maintaining league structure, with the Las Vegas Raiders set to pick first due to their poor record. The draft process ensures a fair distribution of talent among teams.

Key points

2026 NFL Draft order is essential for league structure
Las Vegas Raiders will pick first due to worst record
Draft order is based on previous season's records
Trades can change the draft order significantly

Mentioned in this story

Matthew Stafford

Las Vegas RaidersLos Angeles RamsKansas City Chiefs

The NFL believes in order, especially at the draft.

Without it, the entire league would descend into chaos, a free-for-all that would make the sport unrecognizable. Imagine, even for a second, what the league would look like without a draft order.

Fernando Mendoza wouldn't be a lock to land with the Las Vegas Raiders. Maybe he'd end up on the Los Angeles Rams as the successor to Matthew Stafford. Maybe the Chiefs would instantly rebuild into a Super Bowl contender as the prospects flocked to Kansas City.

It might be a wild concept, but it is not one grounded in reality.

That's why the league has an order and a process for determining it. As the owners of the worst record in the league, the Raiders will be on the clock to start the 2026 NFL Draft. There will be more twists and turns along the way as trades shake things up.

Of course, plenty of teams have already been wheeling and dealing, especially at the end of the opening round. That will only continue as the board takes shape and the picks roll in.

Buckle up for what should be a wild ride. Here's what to know about the NFL draft order in 2026, as well as how you can watch it all unfold.