The Las Vegas Raiders will develop the first selection of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza expected to be their pick.
How the draft order and viewing details are set
The 2026 NFL draft consists of 257 selections across seven rounds, beginning with Round 1 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App. The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick, while the Denver Broncos have the final selection in Round 7 as Mr. Irrelevant. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most draft picks with 12, and the Seattle Seahawks have the fewest with four.
Where Mendoza stands among the top prospects
According to Scouts Inc.’s rankings, Fernando Mendoza is the second-best prospect in the draft class, trailing only Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese. He is ranked as the top quarterback in the class, ahead of Alabama’s Ty Simpson, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Miami’s Carson Beck. Sixteen players have been invited to attend the draft in person, including Mendoza’s Indiana teammates and top prospects from other schools.
For more on this story, see Vikings Must Improve Starter Selection in 2026 NFL Draft Beyond Early Rounds.
What history suggests about top quarterback picks
Last time a team selected a quarterback with the first overall pick in consecutive drafts was in 2014 and 2015, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Jameis Winston and the Tennessee Titans selected Marcus Mariota.
This follows our earlier report, DBN Community NFL Mock Draft: Browns Selection at No. 6.
Who has the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Las Vegas Raiders have the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
When and where is the 2026 NFL draft being held?
The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, with Round 1 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and subsequent rounds on Friday and Saturday.