The New York Giants had another disappointing season, but it didn't even end with a top draft pick.
On Sunday, the Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys for their second-straight win, further dropping in the draft order. At one point, Giant fans were dreaming of having the first pick in the draft, but instead, New York will pick fifth.
The drop will have major draft implications, allowing the Las Vegas Raiders to pick first and giving the New York Jets the No. 2 overall pick. Here's a breakdown of how the Giants win on Sunday altered the draft order.
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How Giants win over Cowboys impacts draft order
The Giants entered Week 17 in line to earn the No. 1 overall pick, but New York blew out the Raiders to switch places with the Raiders. However, a Giants loss to the Cowboys would've meant New York secured a top-two pick.
Instead, the Giants beat the Cowboys, ending the season on a two-game winning streak but dropping in the draft order. With the win, New York drops to fifth in the draft order.
The Giants dropping in the draft order, didn't only help the Jets. The Arizona Cardinals are now locked into the No. 3 overall pick, with the Tennessee Titans set to pick at No. 4.
The Giants are now 4-2 in their last six games played in Weeks 17 or 18 dating back to 2023, dropping in the draft order in each of the last three seasons.
NFL Draft order 2026
| Pick | Team | New Record |
| 1 | Raiders | 3-14 |
| 2 | Jets | 3-14 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 3-14 |
| 4 | Titans | 3-14 |
| 5 | Giants | 4-13 |
| 6 | Browns | 5-12 |
| 7 | Commanders | 5-12 |
| 8 | Saints | 6-11 |
| 9 | Chiefs | 6-11 |
| 10 | Bengals | 6-11 |
| 11 | Dolphins | 7-10 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 7-9-1 |
| 13 | Rams (via Falcons) | 8-9 |
| 14 | Buccaneers | 8-9 |
| 15 | Jets (via Colts) | 8-9 |
| 16 | Ravens | 8-8 |
| 17 | Lions | 9-8 |
| 18 | Vikings | 9-8 |
| 19 | Panthers | 8-9 |
| 20 | Cowboys (via Packers) | 9-7-1 |
| 21 | Steelers | 9-7 |
| 22 | Chargers | 11-6 |
| 23 | Eagles | 11-6 |
| 24 | Bills | 12-5 |
| 25 | Bears | 11-6 |
| 26 | 49ers | 12-5 |
| 27 | Texans | 12-5 |
| 28 | Browns (via Jaguars) | 13-4 |
| 29 | Rams | 12-5 |
| 30 | Patriots | 14-3 |
| 31 | Broncos | 14-3 |
| 32 | Seahawks | 14-3 |
MORE: Updated NFL draft order in Week 18
Giants 2026 draft targets
The Giants enter the 2026 offseason with a good core of players but obvious holes. New York will move forward with Jaxson Dart as the franchise quarterback, while the defensive line is full of explosive pass rushers.
Therefore, the Giants could look to build the back-end of the defense, especially the secondary, or pair a rookie wide receiver with star Malik Nabers.
Here's a look at some possible Giants draft targets:
- Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
- Ohio State S Caleb Downs
- Clemson DT Peter Woods
- Arizona State WR Jordan Tyson
- Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
- Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
The best fit for the Giants is probably Caleb Downs, the star Ohio State safety who is the best defensive back available.