The 2026 NFL Draft

Kaitlyn Nielsen | Sports Editor

Picture description. / Photo by 'username', licensed by Envato.com.

The 2026 NFL Draft delivered as expected. From drama to bold decisions, the draft was a glimpse into the future of the league. During this three-day endeavor, teams are trying to grab elite talent while also adding players to help evolve the overall state of their teams. 

The first pick this year was predictable; Fernando Mendoza has been on people's minds since his perfect senior season at Indiana. Not only does his rare talent captivate fans, but it’s his charisma and outstanding character that drive home the “it” factor. Unsurprisingly, the Las Vegas Raiders were able to pick him up with the hopes that in the next couple of years, they will have their franchise quarterback. The top selections also reflected the team's urgency to answer long-term questions occurring offensively. Picks were composed of polished players that would be ready to go immediately and prospects that would take some time to develop their true potential. However, the shock factor in this draft was the need for quarterbacks. Teams were buying for draft sports, trades going into the top 10, showing how desperate times were to establish future assets. 

Don’t worry, even though teams were buying spots offensively, the need for defensive players was still there. However, this year's focus was on players who could be versatile. The league and teams were looking for rushers who could drop into coverage, safeties who could also play linebackers. Overall, these defensive players needed to be able to play a multitude of positions. Some of the first picks defensively raised suspicion, but they reflected the bigger trend of drafting traits and flexibility over traditional position labels.  

While the individual picks were interesting for fans, the number of trades being made was the most intriguing storyline of this year's drafts. There wasn’t a set mantra for all the teams, while some took a patient approach and chose individuals who would help with the depth of their team in the long term. While others made selections that would make a singular player the person to transform their roster. While on paper these picks seem drastic and harmful to all teams involved, the strategies will take years to fully develop. At which the long-term impact might have been fully worked out by different franchises. 

The second day of the draft is the beginning of the separation of a good team and a great team. While the first day of the draft is what gets media attention, headlines are built around those grabbed within a certain pick. But it is really the second and third rounds of the draft where a team can truly be built. Several organizations took advantage of the second round, without premium price tags but still high-value contributions and characteristics that would set their team apart. Running backs in particular became a popular pick for teams to pick up at this stage, while this position has been undervalued in recent years. The right player or having multiple highly trained and talented running backs on your team can help set you apart from a team that makes the playoffs to a team that makes the Super Bowl. 

The third day is similar to the second, but it adds the element of risk-taking. This is where franchises will pick up late-round picks and free agents. This is also where the popular “Mr.Irrelevant” gets drafted. While it seems like these players won’t contribute much to their respective franchises, some popular players, like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, were “Mr. Irrelevant” on their draft day. Even though it is the last day, the picks still matter and can help to change and shape the story of a losing team. Overall, the purpose of Day three is for coaches and managers to find their “hidden gems”.

Following the three-day drafting of players, fans and experts concluded a shift in characteristics that coaches and managers are now focusing on. For a while, the draft was focused on picking individuals who would improve their standings as a team athletically. However, a noteworthy aspect of this year's draft was the emphasis on character and leadership in the individuals who were drafted. Take a look at Fernando Mendoza; not only is he a talented quarterback, but he is well-rounded. He has made himself known as a dedicated family man, while also being extremely educated. Even stating that if he wasn’t drafted, he would be “grinding the streets of New York doing Finance”, and his LinkedIn backs it all up. It’s not only Mendoza, but the league itself is putting emphasis on using background checks and interviews along with personal stories to help them make decisions on who to draft.

Looking forward, the NFL draft picks won’t be felt immediately for those fans who are worried. The rookies picked up will have to endure training camps that are filled with high expectations. The transition from playing in college to professional-level football is rarely easy for those rookies. While some will find their way and shine quickly, others will struggle and even fall as they try to adjust to the speed and difficulty of the NFL. 

There is still optimism for fans, the draft offers a promise to fans, coaches, and teams that struggle. It can represent a fresh new start and an opportunity to rebuild and redefine their team. For other teams, it marks an opportunity to fill in the blanks, add pieces that can set their team apart as a powerful force for the year ahead. 

In the end, this 2026 draft is and always has been a reflection of the league and how it will continue to move forward in the face of change. The need for faster, more dynamic offenses and more versatile defensive players. While it might take time for teams to determine where their picks fit, it will overall help to impact the future of the NFL and football altogether.