Commanders NFL Draft Position UPDATE: Commanders Could Pick Second in 2026 NFL Draft

The Washington Commanders officially cannot pick lower than seventh in the 2026 NFL Draft following the Week 17 results.

Commanders NFL Draft status in limbo

While the Commanders’ would-be comeback on Christmas ended in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, two other teams that entered the week with the same record won outright.

The New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals beat their respective opponents, meaning that there aren’t any teams with five wins in the NFL. That means the 4-12 Commanders cannot drop below the seventh pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That said, the burgundy and gold also did not improve their draft position. The Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders had major opportunities to help the Commanders’ strength of schedule tiebreaker, but both were defeated. Buffalo’s heartbreaking loss came as they failed a go-ahead two-point conversion with five seconds remaining.

Commanders could still pick second in the NFL Draft 

Although the Commanders did not improve their draft position, they got one step closer to usurping the Cleveland Browns. 

Cleveland’s unexpected upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers moved them level with Washington at 4-12, but with a lower (more favorable) strength of schedule metric. 

With only one week remaining in the regular season, there are several critical matchups that will determine where the Commanders pick in the upcoming NFL Draft—that includes several teams projected to pick before the Commanders, but whose opponents could rest their starters in Week 18. 

A win by any of these teams could drop them below the Commanders, who could rise as high as second, in the NFL Draft order.

Here’s a look at those matchups:

• New York Giants (Pick #2) vs. Dallas Cowboys
• New York Jets (Pick #3) at Buffalo Bills
• Tennessee Titans (Pick #4) at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Arizona Cardinals (Pick #5) at Los Angeles Rams
• Cleveland Browns (Pick #6) at Cincinnati Bengals

2026 NFL Draft projected order

1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

2. New York Giants (3-13)

3. New York Jets (3-13)

4. Tennessee Titans (3-13)

5. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

6. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

7. Washington Commanders (4-12)

8. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

11. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

14. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

15. Detroit Lions (8-8)

16. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

17. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

18. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

19. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

21. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-15)

23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

24. Buffalo Bills (11-5)

25. Houston Texans (11-5)

26. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

27. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

28. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

29. Chicago Bears (11-4)

30. New England Patriots (13-3)

31. Denver Broncos (13-3)

32. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)