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The 2026 NFL Draft, at least at the top, will follow somewhat of a traditional order.
Obviously, a quarterback will be No. 1 when the Raiders take Fernando Mendoza. But after that, the odds say prominent and predictable positions immediately follow, as the Jets and Cardinals pick second and third, respectively.
Let’s take a look at the odds for the exact order of the top three picks at DraftKing’s Sportsbook as of April 20.
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2026 NFL Draft top three exact order
1. Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, David Bailey: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
2. Mendoza, Bailey, Reese: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)
3. Mendoza, Reese, Jeremiah Love: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)
4. Mendoza, Bailey, Love: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
5. Mendoza, Reese, Francis Mauigoa: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
6. Mendoza, Bailey, Mauigoa: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
7. Mendoza, Reese, Sonny Styles: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Based on the top seven options on the odds board, after quarterback, the other positions in the mix to be taken in the top three are edge rusher (Bailey), linebacker (Reese and Styles), running back (Love) and offensive tackle (Mauigoa).
NFL franchises certainly need each of these places and in abundance.
Let’s take a quick look at the recent history of the top three picks:
2025: QB (Ward), WR/CB (Hunter), DE (Carter)
2024: QB (Williams), QB (Daniels), QB (Maye)
2023: QB (Young), QB (Stroud), LB (Anderson)
2022: DE (Walker), DE (Hutchinson), CB (Stingley)
2021: QB (Lawrence), QB (Wilson), QB (Lance)
2020: QB (Burrow), DE (Young), CB (Okudah)
2019: QB (Murray), DE (Bosa), DT (Williams)
2018: QB (Mayfield), RB (Barkley), QB (Darnold)
2017: DE (Garrett), QB (Trubisky), DE (Thomas)
2016: QB (Goff), QB (Wentz), DE (Bosa)
So over the past 10 drafts, 16 quarterbacks have gone in the top three along with nine defensive linemen, two cornerbacks, a running back, a linebacker and a hybrid WR/CB.
Regardless of the position, it’s notable that the top three picks of the last decade have achieved tremendous success at the NFL level. Among those accolades are Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl LX win, Myles Garrett’s two Defensive Player of the Year awards and Will Anderson’s record-setting contract signed this past week.
