Despite their Week 14 bye, the New York Giants made progress in the competition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Victories by the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints on Sunday have positioned the Giants to select first overall, per Tankathon.
With only two wins this season, the Giants hold a slim lead over the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, bolstered by tiebreaker advantages against both teams.
For fans rooting for a deliberate slide to the bottom of the standings, the outlook is less encouraging: The Giants enter a relatively softer portion of their schedule after the bye, including a Week 17 matchup on the road against the Raiders. Notably, both teams are enduring identical seven-game losing streaks.
Securing the top pick would provide significant leverage for the Giants heading into a pivotal offseason, which will feature a search for a new head coach — and potentially a new general manager by season’s end. Such a high-end selection would enhance the appeal of these vacancies to prospective candidates.
Given quarterback Jaxson Dart’s impressive rookie campaign, the Giants have no pressing need at the position and would wield considerable influence over the draft’s early proceedings with the first overall choice. They could anticipate fielding inquiries and entertaining trade proposals from quarterback-starved franchises, potentially yielding a king’s ransom in return.
Three of the Giants’ final four opponents sit below .500, and their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys could prove inconsequential for a Dallas squad already eyeing the playoffs. It is thus difficult to envision the Giants failing to secure at least one more victory — perhaps even two — down the stretch.
That said, even without the No. 1 pick, the Giants remain on track for another premium selection in what promises to be a talent-rich draft.