The New York Giants reportedly closed as betting favorites for the first time since November 2024 in Week 15 -- of 2025. Frankly, the timing couldn't have been much worse for a club that's already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Giants fans have had their sights set on what lies ahead beyond this season for what feels like forever. Winning does them little good outside of boosting morale and building confidence for the future, especially in a "toilet bowl" with the Washington Commanders.
Knowing this, Big Blue Nation dreaded seeing Washington as underdogs heading into a paradoxically franchise-altering NFC East showdown for both sides. However, the Giants rendered the oddsmakers' attempt to deceive us futile and picked up a massive 29-21 ... loss.
Let's look at the updated 2026 NFL Draft order following the Giants' home defeat to the Commanders.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft order after Giants' monumental loss to Commanders
- New York Giants
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Commanders
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons (to Los Angeles Rams)
- Minnesota Vikings
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins
- Baltimore Ravens
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- Indianapolis Colts (to New York Jets)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Houston Texans
- Green Bay Packers (to Dallas Cowboys)
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- Los Angeles Chargers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Jacksonville Jaguars (to Cleveland Browns)
- New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos
It truly cannot be overstated how critical the result of this Giants-Commanders clash is. Only one game separated them in the standings before Washington took their second meeting of the campaign and completed the head-to-head sweep.
New York just got a giant leg up (pun intended) over the Commanders in their race to the bottom. The G-Men dropped to 2-12, and the free-fall is giving them the inside track to this year's No. 1 overall pick.
AFC cellar dwellers, namely the Raiders and Titans, are breathing down the Giants' neck, so nothing is set in stone. Like New York, Las Vegas extended its skid to eight contests in a 31-0 shutout at the hands of the Eagles.
What the Giants do if they land the top selection this spring bears watching. Does New York try to amplify their promising young quarterback, rookie standout Jaxson Dart? Or does he take a backseat to 2025 Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza from Indiana?