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 home game against the Kansas City Chiefs later in the afternoon, 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.
Las Vegas beat the Chiefs 14-12, the first victory for the Raiders since a 20-10 home win against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 12. The Raiders’ other win this season was a 20-13 victory over the New England Patriots in the opener.
This is just the second time the Raiders have had the top pick in any NFL draft. The Raiders were their second stint in Oakland when they selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU with the No. 1 choice in 2007. He became one of the franchise’s top draft busts, going 7-18 as a starter and lasting just three seasons in the league.