The New Orleans Saints already being at the top of the projected 2026 NFL draft order is one of the least surprising things from the first two weeks of the NFL season.
New Orleans was not expected to compete in the NFC South, and through two games, it looks like one of the worst teams in the league.
The Saints leave Week 2 as one of nine 0-2 teams, the most surprising of which is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Houston Texans can expand the list to 10 teams if they lose on Monday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
The Saints top the list of 0-2 teams after Week 2.
The Spencer Rattler-led franchise entered the regular season with low expectations, and so far, it has lived up to them.
New Orleans conceded 46 points in its opening defeats to the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. It now faces a pair of tough road trips to Seattle and Buffalo to close out September.
The Saints could very well be 0-4 with an inside track to the No. 1 pick. They do have opportunities for wins in October against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
The clashes in Weeks 5 and 7 might turn out to be important in the draft context. The Giants and Bears also started 0-2.
Chicago’s season forecast looks more bleak than New York’s, though, as Caleb Williams has been overwhelmed in divisional showdowns with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
The Giants were at least competitive with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. They could be 0-3, though, because they face an 0-2 Kansas City Chiefs team in Week 3.
Chicago has some schedule relief with the Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders next up before a Week 5 bye, but if Williams fails to improve, it won’t matter who the opponent is.
The Chiefs are the surprise 0-2 team in the top 10 of the projected draft order. They aren’t expected to be there by the end of the season.
The Xavier Worthy injury and Rashee Rice suspension hurt the KC offense and it should get back on track against the Giants in Week 3.
However, the Chiefs do face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 and the Lions in Week 6, so maybe a slow start could be in the cards.
The Chiefs will eventually figure things out, but it’s still fascinating to see them in the same boat as the Saints, Bears, Giants and other teams at 0-2.
