The New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders have lost relentlessly throughout the NFL season but on Sunday, one of them will finally get a win when they face off in Sin City.
But do they want to emerge victorious, really? The two teams, both on rotten 2-13 records, are the frontrunners for the first pick of the 2026 draft and with only two games left in the current campaign, the benefits of winning are pretty low.
For the Raiders, the first pick next year would be huge as the team part-owned by Tom Brady oversee yet another offseason rebuild. Their first attempt, led by head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith, has been a disaster – as their record shows.
For the Giants, a first pick would almost certainly become trade capital to help fast-track their revival. For how bad this season has been, they have a encouraging few puzzle pieces already in place that signal better days aren’t too far away.
Jaxson Dart has emerged as the quarterback of the future for the blue half of New York. Running back Cam Skattebo is also a dangerous and exciting weapon on the offense before a sickening leg break ended his rookie campaign.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers also had his year ended with an ACL tear but is one of the finest in the league in his position. Next year, that young trio will believe they can usher in a new era for the Giants.
Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants face the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday
The Raiders, who have Tom Brady as a part-owner, are in desperate need of another rebuild
Big Blue do have a head coaching vacancy, though. Whoever comes in and eventually replaces Brian Daboll will want to be sure that the Giants are locked in with their plans for the draft, whether they trade the pick or keep it.
After Sunday’s game, the Giants end the season against Dallas Cowboys while the Raiders host Kansas City Chiefs, who are in freefall.
Of course, if the Giants do end up making the coveted top pick available, there will be a host of teams looking to make a move.
One could be the New York Jets, who have endured another season of misery and unlike their city rivals, have a lot more rebuilding to do.
Aaron Glenn needs a quarterback, with Justin Fields failing to make the job his own this year. The Jets, 3-12, already have four picks in the first two rounds but the earlier that first one falls, the better.
They round out the season against two Super Bowl contenders in New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.
The Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns are also 3-12 and in contention for a high pick, but amid all the problems those teams have, they have their quarterbacks sorted.
The Browns have two first-round picks in 2026 as part of the trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars that saw them take Travis Hunter.
The New York Jets are one of the struggling teams that needs to identify its next quarterback
Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins are, as it stands, teams who may consider a move up the pecking order to take a signal caller.
The Atlanta Falcons, Indanapolis Colts, Jaguars and Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, do not have a first-round pick as things stand.
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
