Raiders set to draft Mendoza at No. 1 pick in 2026 NFL Draft

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Las Vegas Raiders will hold the top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, with expectations the team will select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to their first national championship this season.

Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, would join the Raiders to develop under veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed with the franchise this offseason. The rookie would also receive mentorship from part-owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Beyond Mendoza, several other top prospects are expected to be selected early. Defensive edge rushers Reuben Bain Jr. of Miami and Arvell Reese of Ohio State project as first-round picks, along with offensive tackles Kadyn Proctor of Alabama and Spencer Fano of Utah. Defensive backs Jermod McCoy of Tennessee and Caleb Downs of Ohio State are also anticipated to hear their names called Thursday evening.

Round one of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network, with streaming available on Fubo. Six teams currently do not own a first-round pick: the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos.

The New York Jets hold the second overall pick, followed by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. The New York Giants own two first-round selections at No. 5 and No. 10, acquired via the Cincinnati Bengals.

Other notable teams in the first round include the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs in the top 10. The Pittsburgh Steelers, scheduled to pick at No. 20, and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 21 round out the middle of the round.