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2026 NFL Draft Focus: Mendoza Pegged No. 1 as Fluid Top 10 Stokes Trade Buzz

A murky top 10 points to heavy trade interest across the league.

Overview

  • The draft runs April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, with Round 1 starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
  • Multiple outlets project the Raiders to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, and he will skip the green room to watch from Miami.
  • The NFL’s 16-player green-room list includes several prospects linked to the Giants at No. 5, boosting the odds their pick walks the stage in Pittsburgh.
  • Fresh Monday mocks model a scrambled top 10 with projected trade-ups by the Cowboys, Chiefs and Rams, and separate reporting ties Arizona at No. 3 to trading back for an offensive tackle.
  • Analysts flag wide draft ranges for key names, with Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love appearing in multiple top-five scenarios and Alabama’s Ty Simpson landing anywhere from late Round 1 to early Round 2 in different projections.