The 2026 NFL Draft is set to kick off 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 pick the best players from the college football system, several storylines are expected to emerge, including the highly anticipated selection of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick.
Despite some doubts about his potential, Mendoza is widely regarded as an accurate passer with the ability to run when needed, drawing comparisons to former Pro Bowler and NFL MVP Matt Ryan. The Raiders' decision to pair Mendoza with veteran Kirk Cousins is seen as a promising move, given the team's struggles in the quarterback position in recent years.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets are expected to upgrade their pass rush with the second selection, while the Arizona Cardinals will attempt to convince the football world that they will select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. Love is being hailed as a generational talent, with explosive ability to score from anywhere on the field, and has been compared to Saquon Barkley. However, the Cardinals may try to trade up ahead of the Tennessee Titans at four to add more picks that can be used at other positions.
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. These teams will be under pressure to make their extra selections count, having traded away talented players to get those picks.
The Miami Dolphins, in particular, will be feeling the need to have a good draft, having off-loaded several veterans earlier in the offseason and needing to rebuild under their new general manager and head coach. The Dolphins have 11 selections, including seven in the first three rounds, and must 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 chosen 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 to secure the fifth-year option on a player taken in the first 32 selections.
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 draft is also expected to be marked by trades, with the trading of picks and veteran players likely to spice up the proceedings. The New York Giants have already traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, and perennial 1,000-yard receiver AJ Brown is reportedly heading to the New England Patriots. Other players who could be on the trading block include quarterback Spencer Rattler, slot cornerback Kenny Moore, and pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Additionally, British tight end Seydou Traore, who played youth football as a wide receiver for the London Warriors and went on to play college football at Arkansas State and Mississippi State, could be selected on day three of the draft, marking a significant milestone for the NFL Academy program.