The 2026 NFL Draft is set to kick off on Thursday night, marking the beginning of a three-day selection process that will shape the future of the league. As the 32 teams prepare to pick the best players from the college football system, several storylines are emerging that will dominate the headlines. One of the most intriguing aspects of this year's draft is the expected selection of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick.
Despite some doubts about his potential, Mendoza is an accurate passer who has been compared to former Pro Bowler and NFL MVP Matt Ryan, and his pairing with veteran Kirk Cousins could give the Raiders a promising quarterback duo. The real excitement, however, will begin with the second pick, which is expected to be used by the New York Jets to upgrade their pass rush. The Arizona Cardinals, who have the third pick, may attempt to convince the football world that they will select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a generational talent who has been compared to Saquon Barkley. Love's explosive ability to score from anywhere on the field has made him a highly sought-after player, and several teams may be willing to trade up to grab him ahead of the Tennessee Titans at four.
Six teams, including the New York Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys, are in a good position to grab talent early on, as they each have two picks in the first round. However, these teams will also be under pressure to make their extra selections count, having traded away talented players such as Sauce Gardner, Dexter Lawrence, and Micah Parsons to get those picks. The Miami Dolphins, in particular, will be feeling the need to have a good draft, having off-loaded several veterans, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and pass rusher Bradley Chubb, earlier in the offseason.
With 11 selections, including seven in the first three rounds, the Dolphins need to find impact players to begin their climb back to competitiveness. This year's draft class is not as strong as the 2024 class, which saw six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks. If a second quarterback is taken, it will likely be late in the first round, with a needy team trading back in to secure the fifth-year option on a player.
Alabama's Ty Simpson is the heavy favorite to be the second quarterback off the board, but his limited college experience has raised some concerns. The Kansas City Chiefs' general manager, Brett Veach, has predicted that this year's draft will be spiced up by trades, both of picks and veteran players.
The trading of picks and players has already begun, with the New York Giants trading Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for their number 10 pick in round one. Other players who could be on the move include perennial 1,000-yard receiver AJ Brown, who is reportedly heading to the New England Patriots, and quarterback Spencer Rattler, who may be offloaded by the New Orleans Saints. The draft will also feature the potential selection of British tight end Seydou Traore, who has completed his journey from the NFL Academy to the National Football League. Traore's success will be celebrated across the globe, and his story will serve as a testament to the fact that teenage talent can be found and honed into professional athletes, regardless of their geographical location.