Jets tank week delivers crucial 2026 NFL Draft order boost after Saints loss

The New York Jets looked to turn things around following the firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and for a stretch, it appeared the defense had improved. New York held the New Orleans Saints to nine points at halftime after several disastrous first halves in recent weeks.

That optimism didn’t last. Twenty unanswered points from Kellen Moore’s offense erased any hope of a Jets turnaround, compounded by visible rookie struggles from Brady Cook as Aaron Glenn gave him extended snaps down the stretch. The loss dropped New York to 3–12 and marked its third consecutive defeat.

There was a silver lining elsewhere on Sunday. The Tennessee Titans defeated an injury-riddled Kansas City Chiefs team to secure their third win, moving behind the Jets in the standings based on strength of schedule. That result slightly improved New York’s chances of landing the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Things could have shifted further had the Las Vegas Raiders held on to beat the Houston Texans, but with two weeks remaining, there is still plenty to be decided. For now, the Jets remain firmly in position for one of the top selections as the updated draft order takes shape following Week 16.

Where do the Jets stand in the updated 2026 NFL Draft order?

While there is some separation forming near the very top of the draft order, the field remains crowded with just two weeks left in the regular season. That congestion could begin to clear with matchups like the Raiders and New York Giants facing off. Both teams have endured miserable seasons, but someone will have to win, and that outcome would benefit the Jets.

New York, meanwhile, closes the season against the New England Patriots in Week 17 and the Buffalo Bills in Week 18, two teams still playing for division positioning and playoff seeding. With their motivations contrasted against a Jets team playing largely for pride, it’s easy to see how the stars could align for New York to lose out and remain near the top of the draft order.

If the Jets lose to the Patriots and the Raiders defeat the Giants, New York would move up to at least third overall. A Giants win would keep the Jets in the fourth spot, pending a Cleveland Browns loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

If the Jets were to pull off a surprising upset over New England, however, they could slide as far back as eighth overall. The Washington Commanders, currently 4–11, own a weaker strength of schedule at .500 compared to New York’s .538.

There are still several variables to sort through over the final weeks, but as things stand, the Jets are positioned to draft a quarterback high in 2026 or, at the very least, make the path to trading up far more manageable.