The 2026 NFL Draft is set to commence on Thursday night, marking the beginning of a crucial three-day selection process that will shape the future of the league's 32 teams. As the teams prepare to pick the best talent from the college football system, several storylines are emerging that will dominate the headlines. The draft is the most significant offseason event in the NFL, offering teams a final opportunity to bolster their rosters before the preseason training camps begin. While the focus will be on the players who will realize their NFL dreams, trades and team strategies will also be under the spotlight.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the draft is the potential for trades, with some teams looking to move up or down the order to secure their desired players. The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, a move that makes sense given the team's need for a reliable quarterback.
Mendoza, a national championship winner in college, has been compared to former Pro Bowler and NFL MVP Matt Ryan, and his ability to run when needed makes him an attractive prospect. The Raiders' decision to pair Mendoza with veteran Kirk Cousins gives them a promising quarterback room. The real excitement will begin with the second pick, where the New York Jets are expected to upgrade their pass rush.
The Arizona Cardinals, who have workable running backs and other needs, may attempt to convince the football world that they will select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. However, they may also consider trading up to acquire more picks that can be used to address other positions.
Love is considered a generational talent, with explosive ability and a comparison to Saquon Barkley. He scored 40 touchdowns over his final two seasons of college football, making him an attractive prospect for teams looking to strengthen their running game. 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, with each having two picks in the first round.
However, these teams will also face pressure to make their extra selections count, having traded away talented players to secure their additional picks. The Miami Dolphins, in particular, will be under scrutiny, having off-loaded veterans such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and pass rusher Bradley Chubb earlier in the offseason. They have 11 selections, including seven in the first three rounds, and 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 selected in the first 12 picks.
If a second quarterback is to be taken, it will likely be late in the first round, with a needy team trading back to secure the fifth-year option. The heavy favorite to be the second quarterback off the board is Alabama's Ty Simpson, who has only started 15 games in his college career, raising concerns about his limited experience. Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has predicted that the draft will be spiced up by trades, including the trading of veteran players.
The New York Giants have already made a move, 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 a British tight end, Seydou Traore, who has completed his journey from the NFL Academy to the National Football League. Traore, who played youth football as a wide receiver for the London Warriors, was a member of the initial class of players in the NFL Academy when the high school program launched in 2019. He went on to play college football at Arkansas State and Mississippi State, scoring five touchdowns in the 2025 season. Traore's success is a testament to the NFL Academy's ability to identify and develop talent from around the world.