NFL Draft Night Arrives in Pittsburgh Steel City/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2026 NFL Draft officially begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where 257 players hope to hear their names called over three days. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Attention also turns to the New York Jets at No. 2, where uncertainty remains over whether they will choose an edge rusher or make a surprise move.
PITTSBURGH — After months of mock drafts, predictions, and nonstop speculation, the real thing has finally arrived.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in the Steel City, where 257 players will take the next major step in their football journey over the next three days.
For many prospects, draft night represents the reward for years of sacrifice, hard work, and persistence. It is the moment every college player dreams about — hearing their name called by an NFL team.
The opening round starts Thursday evening when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps onto the stage outside Acrisure Stadium and officially opens the draft.
The first announcement belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 1 overall pick.
And unless something shocking happens, that pick is expected to be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza enters the draft as the clear favorite to be selected first overall after leading Indiana to its first national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.
The polished quarterback is widely viewed as the top prospect in the class, and most analysts believe it would be a major surprise if the Raiders passed on him.
If selected by Las Vegas, Mendoza would join a team where veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins could help guide his development.
He would also have the rare opportunity to learn from minority owner Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion who remains one of the most influential voices around the franchise.
Brady’s presence could provide valuable mentorship for the young quarterback as he begins his NFL career.
While 16 players will attend the draft in Pittsburgh and walk across the stage to shake hands with Goodell, Mendoza chose a different path.
Instead of joining the public celebration, he will spend draft night at home in Miami with his family.
The decision centers on his mother, Elsa Mendoza, who has multiple sclerosis and faces difficulty traveling.
For Mendoza, being with family mattered more than the spotlight.
Mendoza would become the fifth No. 1 overall pick in the last nine in-person drafts to skip the live draft event and celebrate privately.
Others who made the same choice include Travon Walker, Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, and Myles Garrett.
After the likely selection of Mendoza, attention quickly shifts to the New York Jets and the No. 2 overall pick.
Unlike the top selection, this choice remains far less certain.
Most analysts believe the Jets will target one of the draft’s top edge rushers.
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are viewed as the two best pass rushers available and the leading candidates for New York.
Both players bring elite athleticism and the kind of defensive upside teams covet at the top of the draft.
Still, draft night often delivers surprises, and many around the league are wondering whether the Jets could take a different direction entirely.
A trade, a different defensive prospect, or even another quarterback could still reshape the early part of the board.
Following Mendoza, there may be a significant wait before another quarterback hears his name called.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson is widely projected as the next quarterback off the board, but there is no guarantee he will be selected in the first round.
Simpson is one of the players attending the draft in Pittsburgh and may have to wait until Friday night’s second round.
Despite the uncertainty, he remains focused on what he can control.
His calm approach reflects the reality many prospects face — draft projections can change quickly, but performance ultimately matters most.
Fans watching Thursday night may notice a faster pace than in previous years.
The NFL shortened the amount of time teams have between first-round selections from 10 minutes to eight minutes.
That change is expected to speed up the first round by roughly an hour, helping create a quicker and more intense draft experience.
For teams, it means less time to make critical decisions.
For players, it means their futures may be decided even faster.
Over the next three days, every draft pick will represent a life-changing moment for a player and his family.
Some names will dominate headlines early in the first round.
Others will wait until the final rounds before hearing the call.
But for all 257 players selected, the result is the same — the beginning of an NFL career.
And in Pittsburgh, one of football’s most historic cities, the next generation of stars is about to begin that journey.
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