The 2026 NFL Draft predictions reveal which teams will get on draft night

The long wait is over as the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday night in downtown Pittsburgh with what is expected to be quite an entertaining first round.

It’s a virtual lock that the Las Vegas Raiders, owners of the No. 1 overall pick, will select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to begin the draft in hopes that he can be their franchise man for years to come. From there, the mock drafts are everywhere, which is always a sign of fun and even mayhem as the draft rolls around.

However, there are those who have cemented themselves as first-round talent coming into Thursday night, whether through the NFL Combine and Pro Day workouts, top-30 visits to various franchises, what they put on tape during their college careers or all of the above.

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Either way, the prospects have done everything they can do – now it’s up to teams to decide if they fit what they need to succeed.

Pakinomist Digital had the privilege of speaking with some of the potential first-round picks leading up to the start of the NFL Draft, and each was asked the same question: “What would an NFL team want from you if they were to call your name on draft night?”

Here are some of their responses:

OHIO STATE OLB ARVELL REESE: “I think an NFL team is going to get someone who loves the game, who loves football. Then they’re going to get someone who plays the game fiercely. …On top of that, you’ve got to play with relentless effort. So I think an NFL team will get that out of me — someone who plays with relentless effort, someone who looks forward to playing fiercely.”

Reese is quite the physical specimen, running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine at 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, and many experts believe he can still grow into his body and his game on the field. He was named an All-American in 2025, recording 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss for the Buckeyes, although their season was ended by the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Now Reese enters the draft looking at a potentially short night where the clock starts ticking. Some have mocked him to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall, and many believe he won’t be available once the top 10 picks are made. Either way, the edge rusher is considered an immediate impact player on the defensive line no matter where he lands.

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OHIO STATE S CALEB NED: “I will describe [myself] as a very instinctive player with a good mind for the game but also all the physical attributes you need. A player who, wherever you feel the ball is, that’s where you want him to be. Put him on [point of attack] and he will do what he does.”

Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Miami Hurricanes at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 31, 2025. (CFP/Getty Images)

A defensive Swiss Army knife, Downs has simply played his entire college career, which began at Alabama before transferring to the Buckeyes and helping them win the 2025 national championship.

Like his Ohio State teammate in Reese, Downs is not expected to be available after the first 10 picks, but where exactly he lands remains to be seen. The New York Giants at No. 5 has been a hot spot, especially given the comparison to Kyle Hamilton, who John Harbaugh coached with the Baltimore Ravens before moving on to New York. But teams like the Washington Commanders (No. 7), New Orleans Saints (No. 8) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) are also intriguing to watch, as is a potential trade.

Downs had 164 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and 12 passes defensed through 44 career college games, earning himself two All-American nods in the process during his time at Ohio State. If a team is looking for a versatile defender who can excel regardless of the assignment, Downs has positioned himself as that man in this draft.

ALABAMA QB TY SIMPSON: “I think it starts with my personality and how I can take over a locker room and a franchise. Aas quarterback, you want to go in there, rally the troops and be an influence for people there. So, every 30 visits, every time I talked to a team, every time I zoomed with them, I was hoping to show my personality, my ball, but also my ball, my leadership, my Q for himself. Who makes people raise their game around him, is what you want in a quarterback I fully feel I can do it.

Simpson’s confidence is what makes him who he is on the football field, whether it’s threading a pass through defenders to his intended goal, or using his legs to pick up crucial distance. He told Pakinomist Digital that his Christian faith plays a big role in playing confident and free, and he fully intends to bring that to the NFL franchise he wants.

Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs with the football against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2026. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Will it be in the first round? While Simpson has maintained his stance that he has first-round talent, it will be interesting to see if an NFL team thinks the same through the first 32 picks. If he is not taken Thursday night, many mock drafts believe he will be taken quickly on Friday, perhaps to the Arizona Cardinals, the team with the No. 3 overall pick in the first round but also the second overall pick in the second round. The Jets are also intriguing with four picks in the top 44 (Nos. 2, 16, 33, 44).

Either way, Simpson is excited to get going and prove his worth to the franchise that takes him this week.

TEXAS TECH LB JACOB RODRIGUEZ: “I think they’re getting somebody that’s consistent. Somebody that’s of great character and integrity and somebody that you want to put in a leadership position. I think it’s somebody, especially in the middle of the defense, that can fire guys up to get them ready to play and have somebody that’s going to be steady. I’m really excited to get to wherever I can live, but I’m excited to get to wherever I want to live people, meet my teammates and all the people I’m going to be around.”

Rodriguez wasn’t always the epitome of the modern middle linebacker — he wanted to be a quarterback coming out of high school in North Texas. He originally went to the University of Virginia with that in mind before the Red Raiders believed he could switch to defense as they saw him as a safety or middle linebacker.

The move was worth the risk as Rodriguez quickly developed into a defensive anchor for Texas Tech, and he really elevated his game and draft stock during the 2025 season. Rodriguez won the 2025 Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Dick Butkus, and Vince Lombardi Awards while being named a unanimous All-American after tallying a career-high 128 combined tackles (11 for loss), four interceptions, one sack, six passes defensed, and two fumbles, two of which he returned for fumbles. His seven forced fumbles led all of college football through 14 games.

Texas Tech defensive back Jacob Rodriguez leaves the field before the game against Oklahoma State at Jones AT&T Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025. (Michael C. Johnson/Imagn Images)

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Rodriguez’s tape has improved after the season, and maybe he’s not even at his best yet given the position change. But there’s no doubt that his speed, aggression and high football IQ should translate to the NFL.

Will he be a first round pick? It remains to be seen, but he shouldn’t last long in the second round as someone who has cemented himself as a top prospect in this year’s draft class.