The New York Giants fanbase endured some bad football in recent years, especially this season. But it could be all worth it if the Giants were to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team doesn't need a quarterback, but it would give them the chance to shop the pick for a team in need of one and receive a haul of draft capital. One way that scenario could be clinched is if the G-Men lost to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
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That's not what happened. Instead, the fanbase watched their team completely dominate the Raiders, who have shown to be significantly worse than them. The final score showed that, as the Giants picked up the 34-10 victory. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart rushed for two rushing touchdowns, while first-round bust Deonte Banks returned a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown. It was that kind of cruel irony for Giants fans who were rooting for a loss.
Even though Big Blue picked up the win, it still has a chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
How the Giants can clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft despite defeating Raiders
The Giants have a 20-percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, as compared to the Raiders' 80. The only way for the G-Men to clinch the No. 1 pick is for them to lose to the Dallas Cowboys next week in the regular season finale, and for the Raiders to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs. If both situations were to happen, then they would be at the top of the draft board once again.
Don't give up just yet. The Giants still have a 20% chance at the No. 1 overall pick, per ESPN Analytics.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 28, 2025
They would need to lose to Dallas and have the Raiders beat the Chiefs.
The Giants may get the necessary assists to make that become a reality.
The Cowboys may have been eliminated from the playoff picture, but quarterback Dak Prescott let it be known that he would still like to play, including next week. Giants fans know how much Prescott can torch their defense. But it really all depends on what the Cowboys want to do, whether that's go for a feel-good win or rest their stars with the season lost.
As for the Chiefs, they are far from the quality of teams that made the Super Bowl in recent years. The Chiefs are without star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL and LCL two weeks ago. In his absence, the Chiefs have shown they have a brutal roster on their hands. Not to mention, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew also tore his ACL last week, leaving the team with third-stringer Chris Oladokun as their starter. Plus, the Chiefs could improve their draft position with a loss to the Raiders, and costing them the No. 1 pick.
So yes, there is still a chance for the Giants to get the No. 1 pick. But, they'd need a huge favor from the Chiefs and a loss to the Cowboys to make that happen.