NFL Draft 2026 Updated Selection Order and Top Prospects Post-Super Bowl

With the conclusion of Super Bowl LX and the Seattle Seahawks' dominant victory over the New England Patriots comes the start of a new league year in the NFL as teams look to the offseason and the roster upgrades they can make to challenge for the Lombardi Trophy in 2026.

Many of those upgrades come through the NFL Draft, which takes place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, and will form the foundation of many rosters for the foreseeable future.

Ahead of the busy offseason, find out which teams have the inside track on the top prospects this spring and who two of those players are, in this preview.

NFL Draft Order

AP Photo

1. Las Vegas Raiders

2. New York Jets

3 Arizona Cardinals

4. Tennessee Titans

5. New York Giants

6. Cleveland Browns

7. Washington Commanders

8 New Orleans Saints

9. Kansas City Chiefs

10. Cincinnati Bengals

11. Miami Dolphins

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons)

14. Baltimore Ravens

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)

17. Detroit Lions

18. Minnesota Vikings

19. Carolina Panthers

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers)

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. Philadelphia Eagles

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars)

25. Chicago Bears

26. Buffalo Bills

27. San Francisco 49ers

28. Houston Texans

29. Los Angeles Rams

30. Denver Broncos

31. New England Patriots

32. Seattle Seahawks

Top Prospect: Fernando Mendoza

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The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Playoff National Champion is the consensus top pick, for now, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and the player whom the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders most have their eyes on.

It is not difficult to see why.

Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions this past season and was the best quarterback in college football from the start. He is a tough, smart quarterback with accuracy as good as any in the game.

After a season in which prized free agent Geno Smith managed just 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions for the Raiders, it is not surprising in the least that the team's front office would want to acquire the best young quarterback available this year.

Mendoza is not without his flaws. His ability to escape the pass rush is so-so, at best, and he has struggled maintaining his accuracy on balls thrown down the field. Still, there is no other prospective quarterback as good as Mendoza in this class and if that is, in fact, the area of need the Raiders want to address in this year's draft, he will be the first pick off the board in April.

Top Prospect: Jeremiyah Love

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The best running back available this May, Love was a Heisman runner-up and the most important part of the Notre Dame offense this past season. An explosive runner who can break through the line and go the distance, he is a game-changing back in an age where they are becoming harder to find.

A patient runner, not unlike Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, he takes his time, finds the right gap or seam, and erupts through it. A tough, physical runner, he can also be a receiving threat out of the backfield, someone who can catch the ball and take it to the end zone when needed.

He is not the most talented pass blocker, and he is too small to be a power runner, but Love is elite at his position and the sort of player who can step in immediately and be a starting back into he league come September.

Other Top Prospects

Avrell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon