The 2026 NFL Draft is set to launch Thursday night, promising a cascade of headlines as the league's 32 franchises select the premier talent emerging from college football across the United States. This three‑day event remains the centerpiece of the NFL offseason, offering each organization its final opportunity to bolster rosters before preseason workouts begin later in the summer. While the spotlight will inevitably fall on the young athletes who hear their names called and see their professional dreams take shape, the draft will also be defined by a flurry of trades—both of draft capital and veteran players. Teams will be under pressure to make the most of their selections, especially those that have accumulated extra picks through previous deals.
Below are five storylines to monitor as the draft unfolds from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday. 1. **The Las Vegas Raiders and the Top Pick** The most tantalizing question heading into the draft concerns the second overall selection.
The consensus among analysts is that the Raiders will use the first overall pick to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza entered the NFL conversation after guiding Indiana to a national championship and showcasing a blend of accuracy, poise, and the ability to extend plays with his legs. Some skeptics argue he may only become a competent starter, but many point to his comparable skill set to former Pro Bowler and MVP Matt Ryan, noting that his mobility adds an extra dimension. For Las Vegas, the move is logical.
After several solid seasons with Derek Carr, the Raiders have endured a quarterback void for the past four to five years. Pairing a rookie like Mendoza with veteran Kirk Cousins could give the Silver and Black a stable quarterback room, offering both mentorship for the newcomer and a reliable fallback option. This combination could accelerate the team’s rebuilding timeline and provide a clearer offensive identity.
2. **Arizona Cardinals Targeting Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love** The third overall pick is expected to be a battleground, with the Arizona Cardinals eyeing Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love. Love has been labeled a generational talent, drawing comparisons to Saquon Barkley due to his explosive burst, vision, and ability to score from anywhere on the field.
Over his final two collegiate seasons, he amassed 40 touchdowns, a statistic that makes him a coveted asset for any franchise. The Cardinals already have a promising backfield, highlighted by the recent signing of Tyler Allgeier, but they remain in need of a dynamic playmaker. If Arizona can trade up past the Tennessee Titans at the fourth spot, they could secure Love while still retaining additional picks for other positions. The potential impact of a player of Love’s caliber could reshape Arizona’s offensive scheme and give them a true workhorse in the backfield.
3. **Teams with Double First‑Round Picks** Six clubs entered the draft holding two selections in the first round: the New York Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys.
While this gives them a strategic advantage, it also creates heightened expectations. To acquire those extra picks, each team relinquished high‑value assets in recent trades—Sauce Gardner (Jets), Dexter Lawrence (Giants), Trent McDuffie (Chiefs), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), and Micah Parsons (Cowboys).
Cleveland, meanwhile, forfeited the chance to draft Travis Hunter the previous year. The Dolphins, in particular, are under a microscope. New general manager Jon‑Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley are tasked with rebuilding a roster that saw veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb exit in the offseason. With 11 selections—the second‑most in the league—and seven picks within the first three rounds, Miami must uncover impact players who can accelerate their return to competitiveness.
4. **Quarterback Depth and the Likelihood of a Second QB Early** Unlike the 2024 draft, which featured six quarterbacks taken within the first 12 picks, the 2026 class lacks that depth at the position. It is improbable that a second quarterback will be chosen until the latter part of the first round, and even then it will likely be a team trading back to secure a fifth‑year option on a prospect rather than a pure talent grab. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is the frontrunner for that second QB slot.
However, his résumé includes only 15 college starts, raising questions about his readiness. The league has seen similar scenarios before; for instance, Anthony Richardson was selected fourth overall by Indianapolis in 2023 after just 13 college starts, and the Colts have already moved on from him.
Simpson appears NFL‑ready on paper, but his limited experience makes him a gamble. 5.
**Trade Activity and Veteran Movement** Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has hinted that this draft will be peppered with trades, not just of picks but also of established players. The weekend already saw the New York Giants trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the tenth overall pick. Additional speculation points to perennial 1,000‑yard receiver AJ Brown potentially heading from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots.
Other names rumored to be on the move include Indianapolis’s former first‑rounder Anthony Richardson, New Orleans’s quarterback Spencer Rattler, slot cornerback Kenny Moore, and pass‑rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who may be packaged by the Giants. These possibilities underscore the volatile nature of the draft—players can quickly transition from coveted assets to trade chips. 6.
**International Spotlight: British Tight End Seydou Traoré** On day three, the draft could feature a historic moment with the selection of London‑born tight end Seydou Traoré. Traoré, a product of the NFL Academy’s International Player Pathway program, began his football journey as a wide receiver for the London Warriors before playing collegiately at Arkansas State and Mississippi State, where he recorded five touchdowns in the 2025 season. His potential selection would highlight the growing global reach of the NFL and demonstrate that elite talent can be cultivated far beyond American borders. Traoré’s journey serves as an inspiration for international prospects and a testament to the NFL’s commitment to expanding its talent pipeline worldwide.
Overall, the 2026 NFL Draft promises a blend of youthful promise, strategic maneuvering, and international intrigue. Fans can watch all three days of action live on Sky Sports, with Day One kicking off at 1 a.m.
Eastern Time on Friday morning.