Overview
- The first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, will take place on Pittsburgh’s North Shore outside Acrisure Stadium and run on NFL Network and ESPN platforms.
- Analysts overwhelmingly expect Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to be the Raiders’ choice with the top pick, setting the board for the rest of Round 1.
- The Jets hold No. 2 and are focused on pass rush, with fresh reporting Thursday pointing to Texas Tech’s David Bailey over Ohio State’s Arvell Reese.
- Insiders highlight trade pockets in the top five and the mid‑first, with Arizona and Tennessee open to dealing and teams such as the Saints and Chiefs exploring moves up.
- The quarterback watch beyond Mendoza shifts to late Round 1, where Alabama’s Ty Simpson could prompt a trade‑up and Miami’s Carson Beck has outside buzz as a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick.