This year the annual NFL Draft travels to Pittsburgh – the home of the Steelers just outside Acrisure Stadium.
The rules have changed slightly for this year with the “clock” dropping by two minutes to just eight minutes.
The Las Vegas Raiders will make the first selection of the 2026 draft and are expected to choose Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from the National championship Indiana Hoosiers.
The Miami Dolphins have a whopping seven picks in the first 100 spots.
The evening’s festivities began with the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the National Anthem sung by Kels.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes the stage to officially open the 2026 NFL Draft. He notes that there are over 300,000 fans present. He is joined by Steelers players T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
Cam Heyward takes the podium to introduce Steeler legends Mel Blont, Len Swann, Hines Ward, Ben Rothlesburger, and Terry Bradshaw.
The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock.
In the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select quarterback Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers. Rich Eisen noted that there are 257 picks in the NFL Draft and the Raiders took exactly 257 seconds to make their selection.
The New York Jests are on the clock.
In the second pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select linebacker David Bailey from Texas Tech.
The Arizona Cardinals are on the clock.
In the third pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select running back Jeremiya Love from Notre Dame.
The Tennessee Titans are on the clock.
In the fourth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select wide receiver Carnell Tate from Ohio State.
The New York Giants are on the clock.
In the fifth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select linebacker Arvell Reese from Ohio State.
The Cleveland Browns are on the clock.
The Cleveland Browns have traded picks with the Kansas City Chiefs and are now on the clock.
In the sixth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, The Kansas City Chiefs select cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU.
The Washington Commanders are on the clock.
In the seventh pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders select linebacker Sonny Styles from Ohio State.
The New Orleans Saints are on the clock.
With the eighth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select wide receiver Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State.
The Cleveland Browns are on the clock.
With the ninth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Brown select tackle Spencer Fano from Utah.
The New York Giants are on the clock.
With the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select tackle Francis Mauigoa from the University of Miami.
The Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
The Dallas Cowboys traded with the Miami Dolphins
With the eleventh pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State.
The Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
With the 12th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select tackle Kadyn Proctor from Alabama
The Los Angeles Rams are on the clock.
With the 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams select quarterback Ty Simpson from Alabama.
The Baltimore Ravens are on the clock.
With the 14th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select guard Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the clock.
With the 15th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select linebacker Rueben Bain Jr from the University of Miami.
The New York Jets are on the clock.
With the 16th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, THE New York Jets select tight end Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon.
The Detroit Lions are on the clock.
With the 17th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select tackle Blake Miller from Clemson.
The Minnesota Vikings are on the clock.
With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select defensive end Caleb Banks from the University of Florida.
The Carolina Panthers are on the clock.
With the 19th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select tackle Monroe Freeling from Georgia.
The Dallas Cowboys are on the clock. The Dallas Cowboys trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock.
With the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select wide receiver Makai Lemon form USC.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock.
With the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Nigerian born tackle Max Iheanachor from Arizona State with “The Bus” himself Jerome Bettis making the announcement. Prior to the announcement, “Renegade” by Styx was played.
The Los Angeles Chargers are on the clock.
With the 22nd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select linebacker Akheem Mesidor from the University of Miami.
The Dallas Cowboys are on the clock.
With the 23rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select defensive end Malachi Lawrence from the University of Central Florida.
The Cleveland Browns are on the clock.
With the 24th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select wide receiver KC Concepcion from Texas A&M.
The Chicago Bears are on the clock.
With the 25th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select safety Dillon Thieneman from Oregon.
The Buffalo Bills are on the clock.
The Buffalo Bills traded with the Houston Texans.
The Houston Texans are on the clock.
With the 26th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select guard Keylan Rutledge from Georgia Tech.
The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock.
The San Francisco 49ers traded with the Miami Dolphins.
The Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
With the 27th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select cornerback Chris Johnson from San Diego State.
The Buffalo Bills are on the clock.
The Buffalo Bills traded with the New England Patriots.
The New England Patriots are on the clock.
With the 28th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select tackle Caleb Lomu from Utah.
The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock.
With the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select defensive tackle Peter Woods from Clemson.
The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock.
The San Francisco 49ers traded with the New York Jets.
The New York Jets are on the clock.
With the 30th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr from Indiana.
The Buffalo Bills are on the clock.
The Buffalo Bills traded their pick with the Tennessee Titans.
The Tennessee Titans are on the clock.
Commission Goodell announced that there were 320,000 people who attended the first round of the NFL Draft to set a new record.
With the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select defensive end Keldric Faulk from Auburn.
The Seattle Seahawks are on the clock.
With the final pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select rubbing back Jadarian Price from Notre Dame.
The 2026 NFL Draft continues on Friday and will conclude on Saturday.