NFL draft 2026: Raiders pick Fernando Mendoza No 1 as Cardinals take RB Love at No 3 - live
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana as the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft; Mendoza is noted for his size, accuracy, and pre-snap recognition but will need time to develop in an NFL offense.
- The New York Jets chose linebacker David Bailey from Texas Tech with the second pick, aiming to improve their defense; Bailey is praised for his explosive pass-rushing ability but needs to improve run defense.
- The Arizona Cardinals picked running back Jeremiah Love from Notre Dame at third overall, a controversial choice due to the high draft position for a running back despite his explosiveness and versatility.
- The 2026 NFL Draft featured a shortened time window for first-round picks, reduced from 10 to 8 minutes, in an effort to speed up the event and maintain viewer engagement.
- The draft is taking place in Pittsburgh, drawing an estimated 500,000-700,000 fans over three days, with notable attention on potential trades and the impact of injury concerns on player selections.
