Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Las Vegas Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals-Cleveland Browns season finales are among Week 18 games with major NFL Draft implications.
While some teams still fight for playoff spots and conference and division titles with an eye on the postseason, other franchises are looking forward to April's 2026 NFL Draft. Several teams with their playoff spots sealed also plan to rest starters in Week 18, which will most likely impact results.
NFL teams are slotted in the draft order based on records, with the worst teams receiving earlier picks. Non-playoff teams receive pick Nos. 1 through 18. Losers from the first round will get picks 19 through 24.
Divisional-round losers receive picks 25 to 28. Conference runners-up will pick No. 29 and 30. The Super Bowl loser will pick 31st, with the winner picking last, at No. 32.
If teams have the same record after the season, the first tiebreaker is strength of schedule, with the team having had the weakest picking earlier. Division tiebreakers, conference tiebreaks, interconference tiebreaks and a coin toss are the additional ways the league settles draft slots.
