We haven't even hit the 2025 NFL Draft yet, but let's get way ahead of ourselves and predict the top draft order for the 2026 NFL Draft. Yes, this is getting way, way ahead of ourselves, but why not? The offseason is truly set to begin in mid-March when the NFL free agency period opens up.
This is going to be an active time for many teams, as NFL Draft plans can actually change due to what a team does in free agency. It will truly be interesting to see how this thing works out for certain clubs. There are going to be a ton of high-profile signings, and there could be some major trades as well.
We're going to make some future predictions here and try to predict the top-5 draft order for the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL Draft: Predicting the top-5 draft order for the 2026 NFL Draft
1. New York Giants
A terrible team with a terrible roster and in a situation where they're basically forced to take Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, the New York Giants are going to be awful in 2025. This team doesn't have much at all going for them, and I would not be shocked if this was a team that made the first in-season head coaching firing of the 2025 NFL Season.
GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on thin ice.
2. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were the last team in the NFL to hire a head coach this cycle, as they were clearly waiting to hire Kellen Moore away from the Philadelphia Eagles. And this is not me being low on Moore as a head coach in the NFL. He's been a very successful offensive coordinator for years now, and there is reason to be optimistic.
However, the Saints are again in cap hell and just don't have very good immediate prospects for the 2025 NFL Season. They also do not have a clear-cut franchise QB on the team as well. This is a multi-year rebuilding process for New Orleans, and now that they do have a new head coach, it would be a good time to shed some veteran contract and just accept that 2025 is going to be a leaner season.
3. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They ended up with that pick for a reason, folks. They aren't good and were the worst team in the NFL this past season. They've got a new GM in Mike Borgonzi and a flawed roster with a ton of holes, especially on offense.
There also isn't a clear-cut QB worthy of the first overall pick. There is no Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, or Joe Burrow in this class. Heck, there may not even be a Bo Nix in the first round this year, either! The Titans will have to get creative for their starting QB situation in 2025, and this could end up with them absorbing another lean year and picking high in the 2026 NFL Draft.
4. New York Jets
The New York Jets will move on from Aaron Rodgers this offseason, which is the right move. However, that does put the Jets in the QB market. Where will they go to find their passer for 2025? Well, if you ask me, the new regime is probably in agreement that this year could be an evaluation year where they aren't super competitive.
I also happen to personally think that Aaron Glenn wasn't that great of a hire - it took him several years to actually become a good defensive coordinator, which is notable. The Jets aren't going to be good in 2025, but it will set the stage for them to have a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. We predict that they pick fourth overall.
5. Indianapolis Colts
A bad team with a bad quarterback situation, the Indianapolis Colts feel like they are on the brink of bottoming out. Anthony Richardson has been horrific in his two years in the NFL. He also simply cannot stay healthy and quite literally subbed himself out of a game in 2024 because he got a little winded.
The Colts do have a strong roster, actually, but seem to be missing some tougher coaching and obviously are missing a franchise quarterback. This could lend itself to being a brutal year where Indy wins a handful of games and end up seeing both Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard losing their jobs either during the season or right after.