NFLPreview
2026 NFL Draft: Here is how to stay informed on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ picks
Here's how to stay informed on the Jaguars' picks during the 2026 NFL Draft!
Yahoo Sports1 min read
NFLPreview
Which class of 2026 quarterback do you think is destined for Day 1 of NFL draft?
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to see a quarterback selected first overall, with Fernando Mendoza from Indiana projected to be the top pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. This trend continues a long history of quarterbacks being chosen first in the draft.
Key points
- 2026 NFL Draft is approaching
- Fernando Mendoza projected first overall pick
- Las Vegas Raiders likely to select Mendoza
- Quarterbacks have been taken first overall 37 times
- 19 quarterbacks selected first since 2000
Fernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders
The 2026 NFL Draft has arrived, and unsurprisingly to most, a quarterback will likely once again be taken with the first overall pick.
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner and national champion out of Indiana, is projected by most to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first pick. That would continue the trend of quarterbacks taken first overall since the draft started in 1936.
Since the NFL draft's inception, quarterbacks have been selected first a record 37 times. Excluding tonight, the last three drafts have featured a quarterback taken with the No. 1 pick, and since 2000, that number stands at 19.
More: How projected NFL draft first-round picks ranked as high school recruits
What about the future? The 2026 recruiting class is headlined by several elite quarterback prospects, many of whom will likely grace an NFL field in the future.
So which of this year's top players in that position have the best shot at being selected No. 1 overall when they eventually declare?
Dia Bell, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
American Heritage Patriots quarterback Dia Bell (3) scrambles in the backfield during the first quarter of a game against the Naples Golden Eagles at Staver Field in Naples on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
College Commitment: Texas
Height: 6-2.5
Weight: 215
Summary: A leg injury limited Bell to just two games his senior year, but as a junior, he showed why he was one of the nation's top quarterbacks. That season, he was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, throwing for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 561 yards and five more touchdowns on the ground.
Q&A
Who is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner and national champion from Indiana, is projected to be the first overall pick.
How many times have quarterbacks been selected first overall in the NFL Draft?
Quarterbacks have been selected first overall a record 37 times since the NFL Draft began in 1936.
Which team is expected to select Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What is the significance of quarterbacks being taken first overall in the NFL Draft?
The trend of selecting quarterbacks first overall highlights their importance in the league, with 19 quarterbacks chosen first since 2000.
