The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here. After months of speculation, mock drafts, and prospect evaluations, the three-day event begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh as the Las Vegas Raiders prepare to make Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick. It marks the first time Pittsburgh has hosted the draft since 1948, with the main stage set outside Acrisure Stadium on the city's North Shore.
The draft kicks off with Round 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23, airing across ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Rounds 2-3 follow on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4-7 conclude Saturday at noon ET. Pittsburgh expects between 500,000 and 700,000 visitors for the event, which spans two sites along the Allegheny River — the Draft Theater on the North Shore and fan activities at Point State Park.
Mendoza at No. 1, But Then What? The Draft Beyond the Obvious
The Las Vegas Raiders own the top selection and all signs point to Fernando Mendoza hearing his name called first. The Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner has been locked into the No. 1 spot for months, drawing comparisons to Matt Ryan for his pocket presence and command of the offense. What makes Mendoza's story unique is that he will not be in Pittsburgh for the draft. According to multiple reports, the projected top pick opted to stay home in Miami to spend time with family instead of traveling to the draft venue — an unconventional but increasingly common choice among top prospects.
"It's his superpower — his unique mix of curiosity, quirk, and command," ESPN's Hallie Grossman wrote this week, capturing the intrigue around Mendoza's rise from a lightly recruited three-star prospect who nearly chose Yale to the face of a franchise. The Raiders are expected to make him their first Round 1 quarterback selection since 2007, when they took JaMarcus Russell first overall.
The real intrigue, however, begins at No. 2. The New York Jets are on the clock with a decision between Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. Under new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, the Jets have operated with unprecedented secrecy — a stark departure from previous regimes where information regularly leaked.
From First Pick to Final Selection: The Timeline of Draft Week
The 2026 NFL Draft runs from Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 25 at the two-site campus in Pittsburgh. Here's how the full schedule breaks down:
- Thursday, April 23 (8 p.m. ET): Round 1 — All 32 first-round selections, broadcast on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
- Friday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET): Rounds 2-3
- Saturday, April 25 (Noon ET): Rounds 4-7, completing all 257 picks
The event marks Pittsburgh's return as an NFL Draft host city for the first time in 78 years. The NFL released renderings of the draft campus earlier this year, showcasing a design that incorporates the city's iconic bridges, rivers, and skyline. The main stage sits outside Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the NFL Experience and fan activities spread across Point State Park.
Beyond Mendoza: The Prospects and Trade Rumors Shaping Round 1
This draft class is deep but lacks the multiple franchise quarterbacks that typically create early-round drama. Beyond Mendoza, only Alabama's Ty Simpson carries a chance at a first-round call, and even that is far from certain. Nick Saban, who recruited Simpson to Alabama, publicly stated this week on the Pat McAfee Show that Simpson "needs to go someplace where he has a chance to develop and not play right away."
The Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 are considered the wild card of the first round. League-wide buzz suggests they are actively looking to trade down, with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love — a potential top-five talent — being dangled as bait to entice trade-up offers. Love is considered the top running back in the class and could be the first RB selected in the top five since Saquon Barkley in 2018.
According to Fox Sports' Armando Salguero, at least nine teams — including the Cardinals, Eagles, Chiefs, Saints, Browns, Bills, Titans, Commanders, and Seahawks — have all been tied to either trade-up or trade-down scenarios. The willingness to move stems partly from a class filled with high-ceiling but injury-flagged prospects. Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, arguably the draft's top tackle prospect, comes with a herniated disc in his back. Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson has a lengthy injury history despite being a human highlight reel.
Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft for NFL.com projects four trades in the first round alone, with the Eagles and Saints among the teams moving up. His top-150 prospect rankings highlight Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, and Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling as potential impact players in the middle of the first round.
Where Things Stand as the Clock Starts
The first round's projected top 10, according to consensus from CBS Sports, USA Today, and Daniel Jeremiah's mock drafts, looks like this:
- Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets — David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Arizona Cardinals — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (or trade down)
- Tennessee Titans — Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
- New York Giants — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- New England Patriots — Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- Carolina Panthers — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
- New Orleans Saints — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago) — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
- Jacksonville Jaguars — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Raiders hold two first-round picks and could use their second selection to add a weapon for Mendoza, with Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson or LSU's Kyren Lacy among the receiver options.
What Happens Next: The Road Ahead
Once Mendoza's name is called, the draft floor becomes a chessboard. The Cardinals at No. 3 are the pivot point — if they trade down, it could trigger a cascading series of moves that reshapes the entire first round. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are candidates to move up for specific targets, while the Browns and Bills could package picks to address multiple needs.
The quarterback market beyond Mendoza will be closely watched. If Ty Simpson slides out of Round 1, teams like the Steelers, Saints, and Seahawks could target him early on Day 2. Meanwhile, the health concerns around top prospects like Mauigoa and Tyson could turn some projected first-round locks into surprise fallers.
The Bottom Line
- The 2026 NFL Draft runs April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, the city's first time hosting since 1948
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB) is the consensus No. 1 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders
- Trade rumors are rampant, with at least nine teams exploring moves in Round 1
- Top prospects include David Bailey, Jeremiyah Love, and Arvell Reese, while injury concerns surround Francis Mauigoa and Jordyn Tyson
- Coverage begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network
