Raiders secure No. 1 overall pick in NFL draft after Giants' win over Cowboys
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll watches his team warm up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher, Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
The Las Vegas Raiders will pick first in this year's NFL draft after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday.
The Giants' victory assured that the Raiders, who were 2-14 entering their Sunday home game against the Kansas City Chiefs, would have the worst record.
If the Giants (4-13) had lost to Dallas, Las Vegas only would have secured the top pick with a loss to the Chiefs. New York's victory made that outcome irrelevant for the Raiders as it relates to the draft.
This is just the second time the Raiders have had the top pick. The then-Oakland Raiders selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU with the No. 1 choice in 2007. He became one of the franchise's top draft busts.
The Raiders could take a chance on another quarterback this year by drafting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana or Oregon's Dante Moore .
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WATCH: Motorcycle in flames as two people injured after crash near downtown ▶ 0:12
WATCH: Motorcycle in flames as two people injured after crash near downtown
Severe Weather Possible Late Saturday, Again Sunday Evening ▶ 0:47
Severe Weather Possible Late Saturday, Again Sunday Evening
A New Beginning: Comal County Crisis Center Prepares to Welcome Clients ▶ 0:41
A New Beginning: Comal County Crisis Center Prepares to Welcome Clients
Could you ditch your car? KSAT’s Sarah Acosta took a VIA bus to work to find out ▶ 2:34
Could you ditch your car? KSAT’s Sarah Acosta took a VIA bus to work to find out
San Antonio Book Festival to return with over 100 authors on Saturday ▶ 0:52
San Antonio Book Festival to return with over 100 authors on Saturday
Wet Weekend Ahead for South Texas ▶ 0:25
Wet Weekend Ahead for South Texas
South Alamo Project Nearing Completion ▶ 1:00
South Alamo Project Nearing Completion
Community members offer opinions to possible César E. Chávez Blvd. name change ▶ 1:26
Community members offer opinions to possible César E. Chávez Blvd. name change
San Antonio woman convicted in headstone scam sentenced to 6 years in prison ▶ 1:23
San Antonio woman convicted in headstone scam sentenced to 6 years in prison
USAA customer sues company after his vehicle was stranded in Mexico for months ▶ 1:35
USAA customer sues company after his vehicle was stranded in Mexico for months
Floresville 11-year-old accordionist advances to finals of Texas Folklife’s Big Squeeze competition ▶ 0:59
Floresville 11-year-old accordionist advances to finals of Texas Folklife’s Big Squeeze competition
West Side neighborhood motorcycle crash ends in flames; residents urge need for speed bumps ▶ 1:03
West Side neighborhood motorcycle crash ends in flames; residents urge need for speed bumps
Investigation underway after fatal South Side shooting, SAPD says ▶ 0:52
Investigation underway after fatal South Side shooting, SAPD says
Tradición y color: más de 70 años celebrando Fiesta en San Antonio ▶ 2:24
Tradición y color: más de 70 años celebrando Fiesta en San Antonio
WATCH: Waymo car goes wrong way in Alamo Heights school zone, concerns parents ▶ 0:33
WATCH: Waymo car goes wrong way in Alamo Heights school zone, concerns parents
Fiesta parades: How to choose where to sit? ▶ 1:15
Fiesta parades: How to choose where to sit?
Erik Cantu sentenced to 2 years in prison following probation violations ▶ 0:40
Erik Cantu sentenced to 2 years in prison following probation violations
Complaints mount against Cibolo animal services officer after dog’s death ▶ 0:46
Complaints mount against Cibolo animal services officer after dog’s death
What we know about the shooting at Hill Country College Prep HS ▶ 1:28
What we know about the shooting at Hill Country College Prep HS
No active threat on campus at Hill Country Prep High School in Bulverde ▶ 1:22
No active threat on campus at Hill Country Prep High School in Bulverde
City of San Antonio says Ackerman Road dip under Kirby’s jurisdiction ▶ 1:26
City of San Antonio says Ackerman Road dip under Kirby’s jurisdiction
Family of Matthew Guerra reacts to guilty verdict ▶ 0:20
Family of Matthew Guerra reacts to guilty verdict
Family reacts to guilty verdict in Christopher Preciado trial ▶ 1:03
Family reacts to guilty verdict in Christopher Preciado trial
Verdict reached in Christopher Preciado capital murder trial ▶ 0:56
Verdict reached in Christopher Preciado capital murder trial
Residents hope to stave off light pollution caused by rapid growth of nearby San Antonio ▶ 1:15
Residents hope to stave off light pollution caused by rapid growth of nearby San Antonio
Previous photo Next photo