play0:42Why Schrager predicts Jets will take David Bailey at No. 2Peter Schrager breaks down the differences between David Bailey and Arvell Reese, and why he feels the Jets will take Bailey.
play2:46Reminiscing on Ty Simpson’s journey to QB1 for AlabamaSimpson reflects on the hard work he put in for the Crimson Tide and the journey he went on to become the starting QB for the 2025 season.
play0:41Who are the Chiefs targeting with the 9th pick?Nate Taylor reviews some potential options for the Chiefs with the ninth pick in the NFL draft.
Why Graziano says Cardinals should avoid drafting Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 (1:50)Dan Graziano discusses why taking Jeremiyah Love early in the NFL draft could be a bad financial decision. (1:50)
Why Schrager predicts Jets will take David Bailey at No. 2Peter Schrager breaks down the differences between David Bailey and Arvell Reese, and why he feels the Jets will take Bailey.
Peter Schrager breaks down the differences between David Bailey and Arvell Reese, and why he feels the Jets will take Bailey.
Reminiscing on Ty Simpson’s journey to QB1 for AlabamaSimpson reflects on the hard work he put in for the Crimson Tide and the journey he went on to become the starting QB for the 2025 season.
Simpson reflects on the hard work he put in for the Crimson Tide and the journey he went on to become the starting QB for the 2025 season.
Who are the Chiefs targeting with the 9th pick?Nate Taylor reviews some potential options for the Chiefs with the ninth pick in the NFL draft.
ESPN staffApr 22, 2026, 06:30 AM ETMultiple Authors
Answering the biggest questions for the top three picks
The Las Vegas Raiders are nearly on the clock at No. 1 to kick off the 2026 NFL draft. It will be the first of 257 total selections across seven rounds starting Thursday and wrapping up Saturday.
To prepare you for the draft, here is our cheat sheet for everything you need to know — top prospects, rankings, mock drafts, key nuggets, bold predictions, buzz and more. How does quarterback Fernando Mendoza stack up among recent top picks? What are the best team fits in Round 1? Which sleeper prospects could rise up the board? We answer all of that and more.
There will be 257 picks in the draft. The Raiders have the first selection in Round 1, and the Broncos have the final spot in Round 7 to take Mr. Irrelevant. The Steelers have the most picks in the draft with 12, while the Seahawks have the fewest with four selections.
1. Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State 2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 3. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech 4. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame 5. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami 6. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State 7. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State 8. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU 9. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami 10. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama 3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU 4. Carson Beck, Miami 5. Drew Allar, Penn State
Why Schrager predicts Jets will take David Bailey at No. 2
More on the standout players: Riddick’s favorite prospects … Best prospects at 100 different traits … Our favorite prospect-to-pro comps … Kiper’s favorite prospects … Most polarizing players in the class … All-Film Team
You can find every 2026 mock draft here. Matt Miller will have his final mock draft Wednesday evening, and Field Yates will present his final projections Thursday morning.
More: Barnwell’s all-trades mock draft … Bowen’s favorite fits for 20 prospects … 10 draft prospects to put on your fantasy radar … How all 32 teams can ace their picks, needs
This class is underwhelming. There’s only one lock among the quarterbacks to go in the first round (Mendoza), which is always the headlining position in the draft.
The 2024 class presented us with a unique scenario of not just six quarterbacks going in the first 12 picks, but also foundational players at wide receiver, offensive tackle and a tight end in Brock Bowers who become perhaps the best in the league as a rookie. The 2025 class produced a two-way player in Travis Hunter, starters on the offensive line, more promising tight ends and some talented edge rushers. This year could be different, though.
This year’s QB class is led by Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the likely No. 1 pick by the Raiders. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is the next signal-caller in line. He is one of the more highly debated prospects in this class because of his limited sample (15 career starts), but he could be selected within the top 35 picks.
Reminiscing on Ty Simpson’s journey to QB1 for Alabama
But who’s the No. 3 QB? Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Carson Beck (Miami) and Drew Allar (Penn State) are the likely contenders to hear their names called next, and scouts and evaluators have varying opinions on them. Cole Payton (North Dakota State), Taylen Green (Arkansas) and Luke Altmyer (Illinois) are three other passers teams have found intriguing.
The Cardinals and Steelers are teams to watch throughout the draft, as they have obvious needs at quarterback. The Cardinals have been labeled as a team that could trade back (Arizona currently has the No. 3 pick) into the later parts of the first round to select a passer. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst
The best strategy with the remaining nine picks would be bolstering Fernando Mendoza’s support system. Even though the Raiders took two wide receivers in last year’s draft (Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech), it wouldn’t be surprising for them to grab another pass catcher, especially if Denzel Boston (Washington) falls to No. 36. Reuniting Mendoza with receiver Elijah Sarratt (Indiana) would also be ideal, and a running back on Day 3 could be a possibility.
Defensively, Las Vegas needs to improve its safety depth and could draft multiple players there. Taking a defensive tackle such as Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) or Christen Miller (Georgia) in the second round is also realistic. — Ryan McFadden
Fourth. Keep an eye on Drew Allar (Penn State), who had a private workout at the Jets’ facility. He’s a developmental prospect with great size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) and arm strength. Of course, this becomes moot if they pick Ty Simpson (Alabama) at Nos. 16 or 33. — Rich Cimini
Arizona trading back into Round 1 for Simpson has been kicked around. Could the Cardinals go that route?
It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but it’ll depend on how much it’ll cost Arizona to get back into the first round. Although general manager Monti Ossenfort might be on the hot seat and could be willing to try to win at all costs, the decision will come down to owner Michael Bidwill.
Arizona has liked Simpson for a while, a source told ESPN in the fall. Adding to the intrigue will be whether the Cardinals believe Simpson is worth trading away a high draft pick instead of waiting until the 2027 draft, when a better crop of quarterbacks is expected to be coming out. — Josh Weinfuss
I have a 9.5 grade (out of 10) on Mendoza, which historically puts him in company with players such as Eli Manning (2004), Matt Ryan (2008) and Cam Ward (2025). I love his ball placement and pocket presence, and he has the ability to produce as a scrambler. There aren’t many throws Mendoza can’t hit. He has the makings of a franchise QB in the NFL, and Mendoza finishes as the No. 1 prospect on my final 2026 Big Board.
But he’s not quite on the same level as Caleb Williams (2024), Trevor Lawrence (2021) and Joe Burrow (2020). Those three recent No. 1 picks all received 9.7 grades from me, putting them in the Peyton Manning (1998) tier. Mendoza did, however, land a higher mark than Bryce Young (2023), who had a 9.3. — Mel Kiper Jr., NFL draft analyst
More: Inside Mendoza’s extraordinary rise to No. 1 … How Raiders can learn from the past with Mendoza and Kubiak
The Chiefs have some spots to fill at cornerback after trading Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson to the Rams. So, let’s give them Delane, who has the traits to fit in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. Kansas City played man coverage on 52.3% of opponent dropbacks in 2025, the fourth-highest rate in the league.
Delane would thrive in those coverages (mainly Cover 1, Cover 0 and Cover 2 Man) as a press corner with the speed to match vertically. Plus, he can play top down in zone schemes, using his backfield vision to get a jump on the quarterback. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst
The big man from the small school has worked his way inside the top 100 players for several teams I’ve spoken to down the stretch. At 6-foot-2 and 291 pounds, Proctor turned heads with a 4.79-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. With first-step quickness and speed, he’s one of the few penetrating 3-technique tackles with a top-100 grade in this class. That has caused his stock to get bumped up, with a Round 3 selection very possible.
When I asked teams last weekend for a late riser, Allen’s name was sent back multiple times. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he doesn’t have great size, but Allen’s production (13 touchdowns) and speed from the slot are appealing enough that teams believe he’s likely to be drafted somewhere between the late third and early fourth rounds.
Davis had Round 1 buzz just two years ago while at Arizona but lost some steam after a down season in 2024 following a transfer to Washington. He’s back on the radar, as teams are in love with long cornerbacks (33⅜-inch arms) with speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash). Davis’ traits and measureables should get his name called in the top 100 picks. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst
More: College coaches pick sleepers … Biggest risers of the year … Tannenbaum’s targets in Rounds 1-7
Simpson will fall out of Round 1. We’ve had only two years in modern NFL draft history in which a quarterback went No. 1 and then no other passer went Round 1 (1989 and 2001). Thursday might mark the third, as the most likely paths for Simpson to make Day 1 are the Steelers at No. 21 (and they’ve historically liked bigger passers) and the Cardinals with some trade repositioning. Only two outs makes Simpson more likely a Day 2 pick than a Day 1 pick in my eyes. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst