The NFL rookie class has begun to announce their jersey numbers, with notable picks like Fernando Mendoza wearing No. 15 and Sonny Styles in No. 52. Each player's choice often holds personal significance or a connection to their college careers.
Key points
Fernando Mendoza will wear No. 15 as the No. 1 overall pick.
David Bailey is assigned No. 31, the same as in college.
Jeremiyah Love will wear No. 4, reflecting his Notre Dame career.
Carnell Tate chose No. 14 to honor his mother's birthday.
Fernando MendozaSonny StylesCarnell TateMansoor Delane
*NFL rookie number tracker: Latest jersey updates on Fernando Mendoza, Sonny Styles, other 2026 draftees originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.*
After 257 men heard their names called to begin their journey into the NFL on draft day, it's time to start looking at what numbers this rookie class will wear.
Some players opt to wear a number with which they're familiar, be it from their college days or high school career. Others opt to shake things up a bit with a new number, or one that has a significant meaning in their life.
From Fernando Mendoza to Garrett Nussmeier, a lot of rookies already have their number designations sorted out.
Here's what numbers notable rookies will be sporting to begin their NFL careers.
**MORE:**Which teams earned the best grades from this year's draft?
Tracking notable NFL rookie numbers
Jersey numbers for this year's rookie class have begun rolling in. Some players have decided to don the same number they did during their college days, while others have decided to shake things up a bit. Here is a look at which numbers will be on the jerseys of the most notable rookies.
Fernando Mendoza- No. 15
The No. 1 overall pick will be wearing the same number he did during his time as an Indiana Hoosier, No. 15. The number has special significance in Raider franchise history. Hall of Famer Tom Flores, a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Raiders and the franchise's first quarterback, wore the No. 15 with the then-Oakland Raiders from 1960-66.
"He deserves my blessing," Flores said, according to the team. "Because if he's not the real deal, I don't know what the hell I'm doing."
Q&A
What jersey number will Fernando Mendoza wear in the NFL?
Fernando Mendoza will wear No. 15, the same number he wore at Indiana University.
Why did Carnell Tate choose jersey number 14?
Carnell Tate chose No. 14 to honor his late mother, whose birthday is November 14.
What number will Sonny Styles wear for the Washington Commanders?
Sonny Styles will wear No. 52 for the Washington Commanders.
Which jersey number will Mansoor Delane wear for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Mansoor Delane will wear No. 5 after his desired No. 4 was unavailable.
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Bailey will be wearing the same number as he did in college, No. 31. The number is far from the norm for a defensive line/edge rusher. The fact that Bailey kept the same number he wore in college was not unexpected.
New York's head coach, Aaron Glenn, also wore No. 31 during his time on the team.
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 7, 2026
Jeremiyah Love- No. 4
Love's jersey will feature a familiar sight to football fans: the number 4. His jersey will feature the same numeral that was featured during his stellar career at Notre Dame.
Tate has two reasons for picking the No. 14 jersey for Tennessee. His late mother, Ashley Griggs, was born on Nov. 14. Along with her birthday, Tate was picked at the Round 1, Pick 4 spot. Here is the young wide receiver discussing his reasoning.
Carnell Tate on why he chose number 14 with the Titans:
*This will be updated once Reese picks a jersey number.*
Mansoor Delane- No. 5
While Delane desired to carry over his No. 4 jersey from college, the number was unavailable for the Chiefs. Therefore, he picked the following number, No. 5. Kansas City WR Rashee Rice currently sports No. 4 on the field.
Styles will rock No. 52 on the field for Washington. After previously wearing No. 0 for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the linebacker will follow in the footsteps of linebacker Neal Olkewicz, who won two Super Bowls with the franchise.
LB Sonny Styles will wear No. 52 on the Commanders.
The former Arizona State WR will rep the elusive No. 0 for the New Orleans Saints. He confirmed to the Kay Adams Show that he will keep the tradition alive after sporting the unique number in college.
Fano will wear the same number that he did during his time with the Utah Utes, No. 55, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Offensive linemen usually choose numbers in the 50-79 range.
Francis Mauigoa
*This will be updated once Mauigoa picks a jersey number.*
Caleb Downs- No. 13
The former Ohio State player will rock No. 13 for the Dallas Cowboys. While Downs originally wore No. 18 during rookie minicamp, the safety will rep Dante Fowler Jr.'s previous number. Newly signed CB Cobie Durant took No. 2, which was the number Downs wore during high school and college.
BREAKING: Cowboys S Caleb Downs will wear No. 13 ⭐️
Downs, who wore No. 18 during rookie minicamp, now takes over the number that was last worn by Dante Fowler.
Throughout his HS and college career, Downs wore No. 2, which is currently taken by newly signed CB Cobie Durant. pic.twitter.com/aEMqTDVwzL
Proctor will wear the same number he did in college, No. 74, for the Miami Dolphins. The number most recently worn by Liam Eichenberg, who was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Simpson will also be sporting his collegiate number, No. 15, with the Los Angeles Rams. WRs Konata Mumpfield and Demarcus Robinson were the last to wear the number for the franchise.
Olaivavega Ioane will wear the same number he had at Penn State, No. 71, for the Baltimore Ravens, per the team's website. His number was previously worn by taking it over from Carson Vinson, who was taken in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Rueben Bain Jr.- No. 3
The former Miami Hurricane will wear No. 3 for the Buccaneers. According to A to Z Sports, Bain may have chosen the third number to signify that he was the third pass rusher taken off the board.
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 7, 2026
Blake Miller
*This will be updated once Miller picks a jersey number.*
Caleb Banks- No. 95
Banks will don the No. 95 for the Minnesota Vikings this season, according to the team's website. The defensive lineman previously wore No. 88 during his time with the Florida Gators.
Monroe Freeling- No. 57
Freeling will wear No. 57 for the Carolina Panthers. This was the same numeral he sported during his collegiate years. The last Panther to wear the number was Bam Martin-Scott.
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 7, 2026
Makai Lemon- No. 9
Lemon will wear the same number as Nick Foles for the Philadelphia Eagles, No. 9. He is the first player in franchise history to do so since the quarterback delivered the franchise one of the most surprising backup runs in the playoffs. Here is Lemon discussing Foles giving him "his blessing."
#Eagles first-round WR Makai Lemon says he’ll wear No. 9 in Philadelphia after Nick Foles gave him his blessing and wanted to pass it down.
No active Eagles player has worn the number since Foles.
Iheanachor will wear No. 71 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be wearing a number that was last assigned to Andrus Peat. His collegiate number, No. 58, has been unofficially retired in honor of Steel Curtain member and four-time Super Bowl winner Jack Lambert.
Pittsburgh Steelers OL Max Iheanachor is wearing number 71. Last assigned to Andrus Peat. pic.twitter.com/2i3cTkyBzm
The Los Angeles Chargers' new edge rusher will wear a number he's familiar with: No. 90. It was his first number in college, and he cited it as a "monster number."
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 1, 2026
KC Concepcion- No. 17
The new Browns wide receiver will rock No. 17 for the Browns. The former Texas A&M receiver gave a simple reason for his decision: “I was No. 1 in high school, then in my final year in college, I was No. 7. [Together], 17,” Concepcion said.
*This will be updated once Johnson picks a jersey number.*
Caleb Lomu- No. 74
For the New England Patriots, Lomu will rep No. 74. Because his college number, No. 71, was already taken in New England by Mike Onwenu, Lomu was assigned jersey number 74.
Woods will wear No. 99 this upcoming season for Kansas City. "I've always loved the number 99," said Woods, according to Charles Goldman. "I knew 11 wasn't going to be an option, so 99 was the next best thing for me."
Omar Cooper Jr.- No. 83
Cooper Jr. surprised Jet fans by taking No. 83, which is untraditional for a wide receiver. Former Jets to don No. 83 were Santana Moss and Danny Woodhead.
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 7, 2026
Keldric Faulk- No. 15
Faulk will rep No. 15 for the Titans, one number up from new WR Carnell Tate. The edge rusher is keeping the same number he wore during his tenure with the Auburn Tigers.
Jersey numbers revealed for the eight @Titans draft picks. 👀
The Seahawks' new running back will wear No. 8 this season, according to Seattle's team website. His college number, 24, is worn by safety Rodney Thomas.
Kayden McDonald- No. 93
For the Texans this season, McDonald will rep No. 93, according to a photo he posted on his social media. The number was last assigned to defensive tackle Kurt Hinish.
Kayden McDonald is in the Texans facility and will be wearing number 93 with a locker next to Jaylen Reed. pic.twitter.com/fAN9oKw8UA
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) May 7, 2026
*This will be updated once Beck picks a jersey number.*
Cade Klubnik- No. 10
After being drafted by the Jets in the fourth round, Klubnik will wear No. 10 for Gang Green. Chad Pennington, a former New York quarterback, also wore the same number.
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl\_jersey\_num) May 7, 2026
Garrett Nussmeier- No. 14
The former LSU quarterback will don No. 14 for the Chiefs this season, according to a video released by the team. The last Chief to wear the number was punter Matt Araiza.
