The Las Vegas Raiders have secured the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With their disastrous regular-season record, the Raiders now have the chance for a completely new beginning – the coaching question is also open.
The Las Vegas Raiders have secured the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft – for the first time since 2007.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Before Week 18, the New York Giants were the only team that could have denied the Las Vegas Raiders the first pick. But with their 34:17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, they eliminated themselves from the race.
Even if the Raiders win their season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs and go 3-14, they would still retain the No. 1 seed based on strength-of-schedule tiebreakers.
For the Raiders, on the one hand this means new hope for the (near) future, but on the other hand it also represents a painful low point. Last year they picked sixth and secured running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
The final first overall picks
In previous years, other teams had the luxury of the first pick: in 2025 the Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward, in 2024 the Carolina Panthers selected Caleb Williams – and in 2023 the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young. All of them are quarterbacks who will lead their respective teams to success for years to come. At least the last two mentioned have already proven their talent and impact on this league – Playoff-Ticket inklusive.
Now Vegas is once again at the top of the upcoming NFL Draft – with the opportunity to fundamentally rebuild the franchise. The draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh and could mark the start of a new era for the Raiders. It remains to be seen whether they will also opt for a playmaker – but it seems realistic. Especially since Geno Smith, who was brought in for a lot of money by the Seattle Seahawks just before the season, has been anything but convincing this season and in his 15 appearances before this week, he only managed 3,025 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Successes are far behind
Head coach Pete Carroll, who at the age of 74 also only started in Las Vegas for this regular season, could now be fired or retire himself on the dreaded Black Monday (the day after the end of the current NFL season). In short: Even with the first pick, it is far from certain that the Raiders team around star defender Maxx Crosby (pictured) or top tight end Brock Bowers will quickly get back on the road to success.
There are too many question marks at the moment – plus the fact that we last won the AFC West in 2002 and have only reached the playoffs five times since the turn of the millennium (most recently in 2021).
In addition, the franchise, which was still based in Oakland, California, had selected a certain quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the last first overall pick. It’s proven to be a complete mess, as the player ultimately only played 31 games in the NFL due to weight and drug problems. His statistics are manageable: pass rate of just 52.1 percent, 4,083 yards, 18 touchdowns and an impressive 23 interceptions and 22 fumbles.
A video trick and lies rounded off the miserable picture of the then playmaker.
In the upcoming draft, Las Vegas could now draft a quarterback to replace the aging Smith. The favorites for the top pick are currently: Newly crowned Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from Indiana and Oregon playmaker Dante Moore.
