Top of 2025 NFL Draft Order Temporarily Changes

The Jacksonville Jaguars “led” the way until Week 14, sitting at the top of the NFL’s draft order board. Jacksonville then squared off against the Tennessee Titans — another lowly team in a lowly division — and won by a score of 10-6.

Top of 2025 NFL Draft Order Temporarily Changes

And although the Jaguars don’t need a quarterback for the long term, it temporarily lost its grip on the first overall pick, paving the way for the Las Vegas Raiders to have a turn in the top spot.

Las Vegas, on the other hand, will need a quarterback unless it takes the free-agent plunge with a passer like Sam Darnold, who has totally revitalized his career in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold is on pace to deliver 4,300 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

It’s unclear if Las Vegas would even remotely explore a veteran signal-caller like Darnold, but if not, the Raiders would have the pick of the litter in the draft, at least as of December 9th, 2024.

Right now, the first overall pick is a threeway debate — almost regardless of the team — between quarterback Cam Ward (Miami), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), and CB-WR hybrid Travis Hunter (Colorado). Between Ward, Sanders, and Hunter, Las Vegas simply could not pass on a quarterback, barring a “wait until next year” plan for University of Texas’ Arch Manning.

Meanwhile, acting QB1 for the Raiders, Aidan O’Connell, injured his knee in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers on Sunday. Initial reporting suggested he could be out for the season’s remainder, but those fears were dialed back. O’Connell could actually play this weekend. Stay tuned.

But the big picture for Las Vegas is the strategy for the first overall pick. It would always make sense that the Raiders would be in these conversations at this point on the calendar — that’s the price a franchise pays when Gardner Minshew and the aforementioned O’Connell served as the QB1 solutions entering the season.

Moreover, the Raiders could also “do both” by involving a player like Darnold. The Vikings’ quarterback has utterly excelled in the bridge quarterback role, and perhaps the Raiders could sign him to a one- or two-year deal while also adding Ward or Sanders to the roster. Between a full Darnold reclamation or Ward/Sanders working out, at least the club would have hedged the bet against continued quarterback failure.

Here’s the Top 5 draft order following Week 14:

1. Las Vegas Raiders
2. New York Giants
3. New England Patriots
4. Carolina Panthers
5. Jacksonville Jaguars

For those curious, this faux board feels like a clear path for two quarterbacks right away and Travis Hunter to New England.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.