With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off tonight at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, the top college prospects are set to have their names called and walk the stage.
The three-day event from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25, will be held at Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park, and 257 prospects will be selected.
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and Heisman trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza is projected to be drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and the team’s first national championship while finishing first with 41 touchdowns and throwing for 3,535 passing yards.
The junior is arguably the top quarterback in the draft, providing elite playmaking and excellent decision-making, including having the highest quarterback rating of 90.8 in the FBS.
Mendoza is an accurate passer, able to make tight-window throws and push the ball downfield.
The Raiders are hoping to strike a franchise quarterback in Mendoza and build a strong pairing with newly named head coach Klint Kubiak.
Besides Mendoza, another top name to look out for is Notre Dame star running back and Heisman trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love.
Love provides explosive playmaking with his versatility, dual-threat usage and is projected to be a top-10 pick.
He led the Fighting Irish with 1,372 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns, which set a school record for most touchdowns in a season.
Several teams are in need of a running back, including the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.
Wide receivers such as University of Southern California’s Makai Lemon, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson are also top offensive players.
Lemon is the best receiver to pick, ranking eighth in the nation with 1,156 receiving yards while adding 11 touchdowns this past season.
However, all three will make a high-level impact in teams needing help at wide receiver such as the Cleveland Browns.
On the defensive side, Ohio State junior safety Caleb Downs, linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are all high-caliber players that teams can select on the first day.
Downs is versatile with excellent timing in coverage and contributed to Ohio State’s top-ranked defense nationally.
In his three years with the Buckeyes, Downs has recorded 256 total tackles, 163 solo tackles and six interceptions.
Reese has also shown to make an impact on defense, finishing the 2025 season with 69 total tackles, 34 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks, while being compared to Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons.
Lastly, Styles, with his 6-foot-5 frame, has played remarkably well at his position by providing coverage with his athleticism and speed.
The Buckeyes ranked first in total defense (219.1 yards per game) and scoring defense (9.3 points per game), while allowing 129.7 passing yards per game and posting the strongest red-zone defense (64.3%) in 2025.
The New York Giants need a defensive boost and should look at Ohio State’s defensive stars after trading three-time Pro-Bowler Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick.
The Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets are also teams that could have their eyes on upgrading their defenses in this year’s draft.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is another defensive name to watch after serving as a key defensive stone for the Red Raiders.
Bailey had a breakout year in 2025, recording 14.5 sacks and 52 total tackles.
Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is also projected to go in the first round.
McNeil-Warren has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr.
The senior has gained attention in making instant tackles and forcing the ball loose, but he can potentially be a late first-round pick.
His defensive prowess helped Toledo finish with the second-ranked total defense in yards per game (255.2) and fourth in passing yards allowed (156.2).
The first round selection is scheduled for tonight, the second and third rounds will be on Friday, April 24, starting at 7 p.m. ET, and rounds four through seven are scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at noon ET, live on NFL Network and ESPN.
