Ask Onix
Mendoza eyes historic NFL Draft selection
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday in Pittsburgh, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza widely expected to become the first overall pick. The Heisman Trophy winner led his team to a national championship this season, positioning himself as the top prospect in a draft class light on elite quarterbacks.
How the draft works
The three-day event will see 257 players selected across seven rounds. Teams pick in reverse order of their 2025 season records, with the Las Vegas Raiders earning the first choice after finishing 3-14. The Raiders secured the top spot via a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over three other teams with identical records.
The first round kicks off Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET (1:00 a.m. BST Friday), with teams given eight minutes per selection-two minutes less than last year. Rounds two and three follow Friday, while the final four rounds conclude Saturday.
Quarterback landscape
Mendoza stands alone as the consensus top quarterback prospect after a dominant college career. The 22-year-old joins Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020) as the only players to win the Heisman Trophy, claim a national title, and become the first overall draft pick in the same season.
Alabama's Ty Simpson is the only other quarterback projected to go in the first round. Carson Beck, once a potential top pick, slipped after a disappointing season at Georgia but rebounded with Miami in the national championship game. Scouts view him as a high-upside developmental project.
Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia, the Heisman runner-up at 5-foot-10, and athletic hybrid prospect Cole Payton could hear their names called later in the draft.
Defensive stars and rising prospects
This year's draft boasts exceptional defensive talent, particularly at pass rusher. Ohio State's Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles headline a deep class, with David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. also expected to go early. Wide receiver depth is strong, led by Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson, while Jeremiyah Love tops the running back rankings.
Defensive tackle Lee Hunter, nicknamed "The Fridge," has surged up draft boards after impressive Combine interviews. At 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, the former Texas Tech standout has drawn comparisons to NFL teams like the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.
Max Iheanacho, a Nigerian-born offensive tackle, could sneak into the first round just five years after picking up the sport. The 6-foot-6, 321-pound prospect already sports an NFL logo tattoo and has become a favorite among scouts for his raw potential.
International prospects break barriers
The NFL's International Player Pathway program continues to yield talent, with Nigerian defensive prospect Uar Bernard turning heads during pre-draft workouts. Bernard's physical development during the 10-week camp has scouts drawing parallels to past IPP successes like Jordan Mailata and Travis Clayton.
British tight end Seydou Traore, a product of the NFL Academy, could become the latest international draftee. After productive stints at Arkansas State and Mississippi State, Traore is projected as a late-round pick.
Draft festivities in Pittsburgh
The event returns to Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948, with organizers expecting up to 700,000 fans. Free activities span the city, dubbed "Picksburgh" for the week, with the main stage set up outside Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mendoza will watch from Miami with his family, skipping the on-stage experience in Pittsburgh. Five Ohio State players-including four projected top-10 picks-will be among the 16 prospects in attendance.
"He could be selected on the third day,"
Draft analyst Chad Reuter on Seydou Traore
