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2026 NFL draft order: Tanking Rankings entering Week 12
Alright folks, let's huddle up and talk about the real season that's kicking off for half the league—the race to the bottom. As we roll into Week 12, the playoff picture is crystal clear for some, and for others, well, let’s just say the front office is already scouting college tape for the 2026 NFL draft.It’s Tanking Szn, and we’re breaking down the order like it’s the playoff bracket nobody wants to be on. Starting with the squads at.500 or worse, this list is a wild mix of the usual suspects and some seriously surprising entries—for now, at least. Kicking things off at 16, the Houston Texans are sitting at a perfectly symmetrical 5-5 with a strength of schedule of.555. It’s a lot of fives, which is almost poetic, but with C.J. Stroud still sidelined and Davis Mills taking the snaps against the Bills, that symmetry might not last long.Then you’ve got the Kansas City Chiefs at 15, also 5-5, and man, what a fall from grace. They’re no longer the big dogs in the AFC West, chasing the Broncos and Chargers, and facing the 8-2 Colts at Arrowhead? That’s a recipe for slipping below.500 real quick. The Baltimore Ravens at 14 are the team that’s basically knocking on the door to leave this list—they’ve ripped off four straight wins and host the Jets next, so see ya later, Tanking Rankings.The Dallas Cowboys at 13 are coming off a win against the hapless Raiders, but facing the Eagles? That’s a whole different ball game. Over in Minnesota, the Vikings at 12 took J.J. McCarthy in the first round back in ‘24, and let’s be real, he hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire.Is there a QB worth grabbing if they’re sitting at 12? Maybe, but it’s a long shot. The Miami Dolphins at 11 have strung together two wins, but who’s even watching? Their season is toast, and you’ve gotta wonder if Mike McDaniel will be around to oversee the draft haul.Down at 10, the Arizona Cardinals’ tough schedule doesn’t excuse their poor play—they’ve earned this spot. The Cincinnati Bengals at 9 are a mess, especially on defense, and if they land a top-10 pick, they better be scouring the country for someone who can tackle.Then there’s the Los Angeles Rams, who lucked into the Falcons’ pick at 8—Atlanta is just stuck in mediocrity, and now the Rams get to benefit. The Washington Commanders at 7 are the league’s biggest disappointment, crumbling after a bright 2024, while the Las Vegas Raiders at 6 are straight-up awful.Geno Smith and Pete Carroll aren’t the answer, so expect them to be shopping for a QB come draft day. The New York Jets at 5 are another QB-needy team—who’s the poor soul destined to be cursed by Gang Green? Aaron Glenn might be a defensive guy, but this team needs a reset under center.The New Orleans Saints at 4 are a debacle, with or without Derek Carr, and they’ve got holes everywhere. The Cleveland Browns at 3 are practically Tanking Rankings royalty, they’re here so often it’s like they’ve got a timeshare.The New York Giants at 2 saw Jaxson Dart get knocked out of his promising run, and with Abdul Carter drawing negative buzz, they’re a mess with a new coach likely eyeing a future star. And holding down the top spot, the Tennessee Titans at 1 are poised for back-to-back first overall picks.They might be smart to trade down for a package of picks and players because, let’s be honest, one guy isn’t fixing this roster. So, as we gear up for Week 12, remember: for some teams, every loss is a win for the future.
#featured
#NFL draft order
#tanking rankings
#team analysis
#2026 draft prospects
#strength of schedule
#week 12
