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Why the 2026 draft's best picks might not come in Round 1
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, but experts suggest the best picks may not come from Round 1 due to a lack of star power. The consensus top pick is Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders, with the Jets at No. 2 considering edge rusher David Bailey or defensive tackle Arvell Reese.
Key points
- 2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh
- Experts indicate a lack of star power in the draft class
- Fernando Mendoza is the consensus top pick for the Raiders
- Jets are considering David Bailey or Arvell Reese at No. 2
Fernando MendozaDavid BaileyArvell ReeseLas Vegas Raiders
Why the 2026 draft's best picks might not come in Round 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, and the production will be enormous. What won't quite be there, at least according to people inside NFL front offices, is a top of the board that matches the occasion.
"There are good players, but not a lot of star power," one executive told ESPN's Adam Schefter this week in a piece accumulating intel from weeks of calls to NFL front offices and coaching staffs. Another GM said outright it was not a great year to have a top-10 pick.
The one clear consensus piece is Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1. After that, the lack of a second quarterback has muted the usual pre-draft chatter at the top.
The Jets at No. 2 are reportedly choosing between edge rusher David Bailey and defensive tackle Arvell Reese.
The Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 are said to hold the keys to how the rest of the first round unfolds.
Where the depth actually is might surprise you
Multiple executives told Schefter the third and fourth rounds are where this class shows its real strength, which is not how most fans typically experience draft weekend.
Round 1 is the event. Rounds 3 and 4 are where teams quietly find starting-caliber players in a year like this.
Q&A
Why are the best picks in the 2026 NFL Draft expected to be outside Round 1?
Experts believe the lack of star power in this year's draft class means the best talent may not be available in the first round.
Who is the consensus top pick for the 2026 NFL Draft?
Fernando Mendoza is widely regarded as the consensus top pick, expected to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders.
What players are the Jets considering with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Jets are reportedly choosing between edge rusher David Bailey and defensive tackle Arvell Reese with their No. 2 pick.
