Jets move closer to top NFL draft pick with gift from Raiders

The Jets are holding onto the No. 3 pick

12/25/2018, 2:51 PM
Nov 2, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan on the sidelines before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner
Nov 2, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan on the sidelines before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner

Jon Gruden and the Raiders stuffed the Jets' stockings with a Christmas Eve win over the Broncos.

Monday night's 27-14 victory over Denver improved the Raiders' record to 4-11, putting the Jets (4-11) ahead of them in the current NFL Draft order due to tiebreakers.

The Jets entered the holiday break bitter from their 44-38 overtime loss to the Packers, but hey, they'll take any win they can get.

At 3-12, the Cardinals are still holding onto the No. 1 pick ahead of the 49ers, who are also 4-11. San Francisco has the tiebreaker advantage over both the Jets and Raiders with a lower strength of schedule (the combined winning percentage of all their opponents this season).

The Jets close out the year against the Patriots on Sunday. Arizona will play the Seahawks, while the 49ers travel to the Rams and the Raiders, who have played perhaps their final game at the Oakland Coliseum, head to Kansas City.

The Jets have just a 2.5 percent chance of landing the top overall pick for the April draft, according to ESPN. A loss at New England and a Cardinals win would be only the start of what it would take to secure the No. 1 selection.

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