NFL
Why Jets drafted David Bailey instead of Arvell Reese at No. 2 in NFL Draft
Jets draft David Bailey instead of Arvell Reese at No. 2 in NFL Draft
Yahoo Sports1 min read
NFLRecap
The 2026 NFL Draft: Day 1 recap of first-round picks
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft began in Pittsburgh, featuring a quarterback as the first overall pick for the fourth consecutive year. The Las Vegas Raiders selected QB Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to its first national title.
Key points
- 2026 NFL Draft kicked off in Pittsburgh
- First overall pick was QB Fernando Mendoza
- Mendoza led Indiana to its first national title
- Fourth consecutive year a quarterback was selected first
Mentioned in this story
Pittsburgh
Fernando MendozaIndianaLas Vegas Raiders2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft: Day 1 recap of first-round picks
NFL draft draws fans to Pittsburgh for Day 1 | full coverage 29:28
The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday night in Pittsburgh with a quarterback being taken No. 1 overall for the fourth straight year.
The Las Vegas Raiders, as was widely expected, selected QB Fernando Mendoza, who capped his stellar Heisman season by leading Indiana to its first national title in school history.
The choice of Mendoza marks an attempt by Raiders minority owner Tom Brady — the legendary QB who won a staggering seven Super Bowl rings — to mentor an heir apparent of sorts, giving Las Vegas a clean slate as it enters a major rebuild following the disappointing one-and-done tenures of head coach Pete Carrol and QB Geno Smith.
Mendoza could be the only QB selected in Round 1. Now off the board, teams will likely turn their attention to the trenches, in a draft experts concur is lacking in blue chippers.
The biggest unknown is the fate of powerful Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, arguably the best athlete who will hear his name called Thursday. Because the position is no longer considered premium, it is often overlooked at the top of the first round. Since 2018, only three running backs have been selected in the top 10.
Q&A
Who was the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was QB Fernando Mendoza, selected by the Las Vegas Raiders.
What notable achievement did Fernando Mendoza accomplish in college?
Fernando Mendoza led Indiana to its first national title in school history and won the Heisman Trophy.
Where did the 2026 NFL Draft take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft took place in Pittsburgh.
