NFL Draft 2026 Complete Guide — Start Time, Top Picks, Mock Draft, Prospects and Draft Day Transportation

The NFL Draft 2026 is officially here, and football fans across the United States are counting down the hours to one of the most exciting nights in professional sports. Whether you are asking what time does the NFL draft start, looking for the latest mock draft analysis from Daniel Jeremiah, trying to figure out where Jeremiyah Love and Arvell Reese land, or planning how to watch with a group of friends — this complete NFL Draft 2026 guide covers everything you need to know. And for fans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, we have got you covered on the best way to get a group together and make this draft day one to remember.

NFL Draft 2026 — When Is the NFL Draft and What Time Does It Start?

The 2026 NFL Draft is being held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 23 to April 25, 2026. Pittsburgh is hosting the draft for the first time since 1948 — making this a genuinely historic event for the city and for football fans who make the trip.

If you have been searching for what time is the NFL draft or what time does the NFL draft start, here is the complete schedule:

The draft is also available to stream on NFL Plus and the ESPN app for cord-cutters. Radio coverage is available on ESPN Radio, Westwood One Sports, and SiriusXM NFL Radio on channel 88.

The 2026 NFL Draft is taking place at Pittsburgh’s North Shore, incorporating the lots surrounding Acrisure Stadium — home of the Pittsburgh Steelers — and Point State Park. It is the first time Pittsburgh has hosted the draft since 1948, and the city has prepared an enormous three-day fan experience including the NFL Draft Experience at Point State Park, which is free and open to the public all three days.

NFL Draft Order 2026 — The Full First Round Picks

The NFL draft order 2026 for Round 1 features some fascinating storylines at the top of the board. Here is the full first round order heading into draft day:

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. New York Giants (from Cincinnati)
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta)
14. Baltimore Ravens
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis)
17. Detroit Lions
18. Minnesota Vikings
19. Carolina Panthers
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Los Angeles Chargers
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville)
25. Chicago Bears
26. Arizona Cardinals
27. San Francisco 49ers
28. Houston Texans
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LA Rams)
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver)
31. New England Patriots
32. Baltimore Ravens

There is significant trade activity expected throughout the first round. The Raiders hold the number one pick and are widely expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Beyond that, the board gets genuinely unpredictable, with multiple teams rumored to be willing to move up or down depending on how the top picks fall.

Daniel Jeremiah Mock Draft 2026 — Final Predictions

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his final 2026 NFL mock draft just hours before the draft began, and it is the most authoritative and data-informed projection available from inside the league. The Daniel Jeremiah mock draft is one of the most closely followed in the industry because Jeremiah has extensive contacts across every franchise and his final mock consistently reflects real intelligence from teams rather than pure guesswork.

Here is the complete Daniel Jeremiah mock draft 2026 first round breakdown:

Pick 1 — Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Mendoza has occupied the top spot in Jeremiah’s mock from start to finish throughout the entire pre-draft process. The Raiders have set the table for their new quarterback by signing center Tyler Linderbaum and quarterback Kirk Cousins to smooth the transition. Mendoza gives Las Vegas a passer capable of competing in a division full of elite quarterbacks.

Pick 2 — New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

The debate at number two all pre-draft season has been between David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. Jeremiah goes with Bailey as the more refined player with a more clearly defined role. Pairing Bailey with Will McDonald IV gives the Jets two elite pass rushers off the edge — a combination that mirrors the Denver defense that new Jets GM Darren Mougey previously worked for.

Pick 3 — New Orleans Saints: Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State (via trade with Arizona)

One of the biggest projected trades in the Jeremiah mock draft. The Cardinals trade down from three — picking up a 2027 first-round pick in the process — and the Saints move up to grab Arvell Reese. The Saints have completed 25 draft-day trades since 2008, and they traded up in all 25. Assistant GM Jeff Ireland, who was with the Cowboys when they drafted DeMarcus Ware, understands exactly what an elite pass rusher means to a defense. Reese is the highest-ceiling defender in this class.

Arvell Reese out of Ohio State is one of the most discussed prospects in the entire 2026 draft class. He is a hybrid linebacker and edge rusher with rare athleticism — the kind of player who can line up in multiple positions and create problems for offenses from anywhere on the field. His 2025 season at Ohio State was extraordinary, and multiple teams have him rated in their top two or three overall regardless of position.

Pick 4 — Tennessee Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles is a perfect match for the Fred Warner role in head coach Robert Saleh’s defense. The Titans have significant needs on both sides of the ball entering the 2026 season, and Styles immediately addresses the most critical one at linebacker.

Pick 5 — New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Jeremiyah Love is the most dynamic offensive player in the 2026 draft class. The Notre Dame running back combines elite speed with rare vision and pass-catching ability — a true three-down back who can be the centerpiece of an offense rather than just a complementary piece. In Jeremiah’s mock, Love falls to the Giants at number five after the Cardinals trade down, and New York cannot pass on the opportunity to pair him with second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart plus Love in the Giants backfield is a combination that could make New York’s offense genuinely dangerous for years to come. If Love is off the board at number five, Jeremiah projects wide receiver Jordyn Tyson as the Giants’ pick instead.

Jeremiyah Love has been one of the most talked-about prospects all draft season. His combination of size, speed, and receiving ability is rare for the position. He ran a 4.38 forty at the combine and showed elite route-running ability out of the backfield that has scouts comparing his receiving profile to some of the best receiving backs in the modern NFL.

Pick 6 — Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Browns are reportedly trying to trade down from six, but if they stay they are deciding between Fano and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor. Jeremiah gives the edge to the more athletic and consistent Fano.

Pick 7 — Washington Commanders: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Commanders have a clear need at wide receiver, and Jeremiah projects them taking the upside swing on Tyson despite legitimate durability concerns. Safety Caleb Downs is also in play here as an alternative.

Pick 8 — Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (via trade with Saints)

Mauigoa slides in at right tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr. on the left side, giving the Cardinals true offensive line bookends and setting up their later pick at number 26.

Pick 9 — Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Chiefs are deciding between a pass rusher and a cornerback at nine. Jeremiah gives them the top cover man in the class after Kansas City lost multiple secondary starters in the offseason.

Pick 10 — New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (from Cincinnati)

The Giants have two picks in the top ten thanks to their trade of Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati. With Tyson off the board, they land Tate to pair with Malik Nabers. Tate and Nabers alongside Jeremiyah Love gives Jaxson Dart a remarkable arsenal heading into his critical second season.

Pick 11 — Miami Dolphins: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Bain comes highly recommended by Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Dolphins star Jason Taylor, who coached the pass rusher at the University of Miami. Miami has numerous needs but Jeremiah gives them the disruptive edge rusher at eleven.

Pick 12 — Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs gives Dallas an instant-impact player on a defense that allowed the most points per game (30.1) and passing yards per game (251.5) in the NFL last season. The Cowboys desperately need defensive help and Downs is one of the safest prospects in the class.

More Key First Round Picks in the Jeremiah Mock Draft 2026

Pick 13 — Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams both entering the final year of their deals, the Rams add a young weapon for Matthew Stafford.

Pick 14 — Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Ravens lost both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency, creating an urgent need at tight end. Sadiq fills it.

Pick 15 — Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (via trade with Buccaneers)

The Eagles trade up one spot to beat the competition for the Alabama offensive tackle in what Jeremiah projects as one of the evening’s most significant trade-up moves.

Pick 16 — New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana (from Indianapolis)

Cooper is a complement to Garrett Wilson and can play inside while excelling after the catch. The Jets address their wide receiver need with their second first-round selection.

Pick 17 — Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Wide expectation that Detroit drafts an offensive tackle in Round 1. Freeling’s athleticism could allow the Lions to keep Penei Sewell at right tackle.

Picks 18 through 32

The remainder of the Jeremiah first round includes Minnesota Vikings taking cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee at 18; Carolina Panthers selecting safety Dillon Thieneman at 19; Dallas Cowboys landing edge Malachi Lawrence from UCF at 20 (their second first-round pick via the Green Bay trade); Pittsburgh Steelers taking offensive tackle Blake Miller from Clemson at 21; Los Angeles Chargers getting Penn State interior lineman Olaivavega Ioane at 22; Tampa Bay Buccaneers landing edge Akheem Mesidor at 23; Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville) selecting Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion at 24; Chicago Bears taking Auburn edge Keldric Faulk at 25; Arizona Cardinals moving up for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at 26; San Francisco 49ers getting Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston at 27; Houston Texans taking Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at 28; Kansas City Chiefs landing Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes at 29; Miami Dolphins taking Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at 30; New England Patriots selecting cornerback Chris Johnson from San Diego State at 31; and Baltimore Ravens trading up to take Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at 32.

Arvell Reese — The Most Intriguing Prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft

No prospect in the 2026 draft class has generated more debate at the top of the board than Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. The hybrid linebacker and edge rusher has been projected everywhere from pick two to pick five depending on which mock draft you read — and that range itself tells you something about how unique his profile is.

Reese played in multiple roles at Ohio State during his junior season, showing the ability to line up as a true edge rusher, as a standup outside linebacker, and even in coverage on tight ends and slot receivers. That positional versatility is extraordinarily rare for a player with his pass-rushing ability. Most elite pass rushers specialize. Reese does not have to.

The question that has split evaluators all spring is whether he is better as a dedicated edge rusher — where his pure speed and first-step explosion are maximized — or as a hybrid defender who can do multiple things. Teams that believe in the former have him at number two. Teams that worry about pigeonholing have him lower.

What is not in debate is his ceiling. Every analyst who has evaluated Reese agrees that the upside is as high as any defensive player in this class. In Jeremiah’s final mock, Reese goes to the Saints at number three via trade — a projection that reflects genuine intelligence from around the league about New Orleans’ aggressive plans to move up.

Jeremiyah Love — The Running Back Who Could Redefine His Draft Class

Running backs rarely go in the top five of the NFL draft in the modern era. The position has been consistently devalued in recent years as the league moves toward a pass-first, committee-back approach. But Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame is the kind of player who makes teams forget about positional value entirely.

Love entered the pre-draft process as a consensus top-five talent who happened to play running back. His forty time, his route running, his vision, and his ability to make defenders miss in space are all at the elite end of the spectrum. He is not just a running back — he is a dual-threat weapon who can line up in the slot, run routes against linebackers, and function as a legitimate receiving weapon in any modern NFL system.

The only reason Love might not go in the top three is pure positional economics. Teams at the top of the board have other needs — pass rushers, quarterbacks, offensive tackles. But for a team at four or five with a young quarterback who needs an offensive weapon, Love is a dream pick. In Jeremiah’s mock, he lands with the Giants at five and immediately becomes the most exciting offensive skill player on the roster.

Other Mock Draft Analysts to Watch — Draft 2026 Predictions

Beyond the Daniel Jeremiah mock draft, several other major analysts have published their final first-round projections for the 2026 NFL draft. Here is a quick summary of how the major boards compare at the top:

Lance Zierlein 2026 Mock Draft

Zierlein has Jeremiyah Love cracking the top three in his final version — a bolder projection than Jeremiah’s mock, which has Love falling to five. Zierlein also projects the Cowboys trading up for Arvell Reese rather than Love going that late. The Zierlein final mock represents the most bullish take on Love’s draft position and the most aggressive Cowboys projection.

Bucky Brooks 2026 Mock Draft

Brooks has the Giants gifting Jaxson Dart top-10 picks at both running back and wide receiver — effectively the most optimistic take on New York’s draft night. Brooks sees the Giants being aggressive with their two first-round picks to build around their second-year quarterback, which would be an extraordinarily bold approach from a franchise that needs help everywhere.

Eric Edholm 2026 Mock Draft

Edholm has the Giants doubling down on Buckeyes in the top ten and projects the Cowboys making a bold choice at linebacker — the most contrarian top-five projection among the major analysts. Edholm’s mock tends to lean harder into the specific team intelligence he has gathered rather than consensus rankings.

What all four major mock drafts agree on: Fernando Mendoza goes number one to the Raiders, there is significant trade activity in the first ten picks, and the range of outcomes beyond pick three is genuinely wide open. This is a draft where the first four or five picks could shuffle in any order depending on which trades materialize on the night.

What Time Is the NFL Draft Tonight — Everything You Need for Draft Day

For fans organizing a draft day watch party, here is the complete information checklist for the 2026 NFL draft:

• NFL Draft 2026 date: April 23, 24, and 25, 2026
• NFL draft start time: 8:00 PM ET on Thursday April 23 (Round 1)
• When does the NFL draft start on Friday: 7:00 PM ET (Rounds 2 and 3)
• When does the NFL draft start on Saturday: 12:00 PM ET (Rounds 4 through 7)
• NFL draft location 2026: Pittsburgh, PA — Acrisure Stadium North Shore area and Point State Park
• TV channels: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
• Streaming: NFL Plus, ESPN App
• Radio: ESPN Radio, Westwood One Sports, SiriusXM NFL Radio channel 88

Draft Day Watch Party — How to Make NFL Draft Night Special

For the most passionate NFL fans, draft day is as significant as any game day. Round 1 on Thursday night is appointment viewing — three to four hours of picks, trades, analysis, and the kind of drama that can change a franchise for the next decade. And unlike game days, the draft is an indoor event that lends itself perfectly to a group watch party experience.

If you are organizing a draft day watch party in New York, New Jersey, Long Island, or Connecticut for a group of friends or colleagues, the logistics are worth thinking through in advance. Draft night typically runs from 8 PM to midnight or later. If your group is meeting at a bar, restaurant, or private venue and people are traveling from multiple locations — getting everyone there and home safely requires a plan.

This is where pre-booking a car service or party transportation for draft night makes real sense. Rather than everyone driving separately or dealing with surge-priced rideshare apps at midnight when the first round wraps up, a single pre-booked vehicle handles the whole group. You arrive together, you watch together, and everyone gets home safely regardless of how many rounds of drinks the first round of picks inspired.

Limo and Car Service for NFL Draft Watch Parties in NYC and NJ

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are home to some of the most passionate NFL fan bases in the country — Giants fans, Jets fans, Cowboys fans (there are a lot of them in the tri-state area), Patriots fans, and Eagles fans all packed into one of the densest sports markets in the world. Draft night brings all of them out.

For groups of 6 to 14 people heading to a draft watch party, a luxury sprinter van is the ideal transportation solution. One vehicle, one driver, everyone arrives together and leaves together. No one is driving after a night of celebrating their team’s picks. The driver handles all the parking and navigation while your group focuses on the draft board. For more on group transportation options, see our complete guide to Sprinter Van Rental NYC and NJ 2026.

For smaller groups of four to six people, a luxury black car or SUV service is the smart choice for draft night. Pre-book round trip so you are covered for both arrival and the late-night departure after the first round wraps. See our guide on Black Car Service NYC for booking options that work for both corporate and personal use.

Driving to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft

For fans who made the trip to Pittsburgh to attend the draft in person — and hundreds of thousands are expected — ground transportation in and around the North Shore venue and Point State Park is a critical consideration. Pittsburgh is a city with limited parking near the event footprint, and the crowds around Acrisure Stadium during the draft will be enormous.

The smart move for fans attending from out of town — particularly those flying into Pittsburgh International Airport — is to pre-book airport car service from the airport to downtown Pittsburgh or the North Shore. The drive from Pittsburgh International Airport to downtown is approximately 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic, but draft week conditions in Pittsburgh will be far from normal. A pre-booked car service means your driver is waiting at arrivals regardless of traffic conditions, with a fixed rate and no surge pricing surprises.

For NFL fans who drove to Pittsburgh from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, pre-booking a ride back to your hotel or parking location at the end of each draft night session is worth doing in advance rather than competing with thousands of other fans for rideshare availability after the first round ends around midnight.

NFL Draft 2026 — Key Storylines to Watch on Draft Night

Will the Raiders Really Take Mendoza First Overall?

Fernando Mendoza has been the consensus number one pick all pre-draft season, but consensus number one picks have been wrong before. The Raiders have been locked in on Mendoza from all reported indications — but draft night has a way of producing surprises at the very top of the board. If a team makes an aggressive offer to trade up to number one, or if the Raiders get cold feet, the entire board reshuffles.

Arvell Reese or David Bailey at Number Two?

The Jets at number two have been the source of the most debate in the final days before the draft. Jeremiah goes with Bailey. Zierlein projects the Cowboys eventually getting Reese. Multiple reports suggest the Jets are genuinely torn between the two defensive players and could go either way right up until they walk to the podium. This pick will set the tone for the entire board.

Does Jeremiyah Love Crack the Top Three?

Zierlein has Love going top three. Jeremiah has him at five. The real answer depends entirely on whether the Cardinals stay at three or trade down. If Arizona stays put, Love may well be their pick. If they trade down as Jeremiah projects, Love becomes available for a team like the Giants or the Titans — both of whom would have legitimate reasons to make the pick.

Cowboys Double Dip

Dallas has two first-round picks in 2026 — their own at 12 and the Green Bay pick at 20 acquired in the Micah Parsons trade. How they use both selections will tell you a great deal about the organization’s priorities and their evaluation of the roster heading into next season. Jeremiah has them taking Caleb Downs at 12 and Malachi Lawrence at 20 — a safety and an edge rusher — which would be an aggressive defensive investment for a team that gave up 30.1 points per game last season.

How Many Trades Happen in Round One?

Jeremiah projects four trades in the first round in his final mock. The actual number is almost certainly different. Pre-draft intelligence consistently suggests significant trade interest around picks 6 through 16, with multiple teams willing to move up for a specific offensive tackle or defensive player. Draft night trades add the most unpredictability to an already chaotic event.

2026 NFL Draft Sleepers and Day Two Targets

The first round gets all the attention, but the 2026 draft class has genuine depth beyond the first 32 picks. Day Two — Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday April 24 — is where teams with strong scouting operations build their rosters. A few players to watch as value picks in rounds two and three:

• Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama — Jeremiah has him going in the late first round to Arizona, but if he slips he becomes arguably the best quarterback available in Day Two and a player multiple teams will be fighting for
• Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson — Projected as a late first-round pick by Baltimore in the Jeremiah mock. Elite interior pass rusher who could easily go higher if teams are aggressive
• Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona — Significant pre-draft buzz around this versatile defensive back who can play nickel, free safety, or outside corner. Multiple teams are expected to have him in their first-round grades
• Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah — A sophomore offensive tackle with enormous upside. If he slips out of the first round, he becomes one of the best value picks available in Round 2

What the 2026 NFL Draft Means for the Transportation Industry

This might seem like an unusual connection, but the NFL draft has a direct and meaningful impact on the ground transportation and limousine industry in the markets around every NFL franchise. When a team drafts a highly anticipated player — particularly a quarterback or running back who generates immediate fan excitement — season ticket demand spikes, stadium attendance projections improve, and the entire local transportation ecosystem that supports NFL game days responds accordingly.

In the New York tri-state area, draft picks by the Giants and Jets directly affect demand for limo service to MetLife Stadium, party bus bookings for home game watch parties, and corporate transportation bookings for client entertainment at games. A compelling draft class — the kind that makes fans believe their team is on the rise — translates into increased transportation demand throughout the NFL season that follows.

For limo and car service companies operating in NFL markets, the draft is also one of the best times of year to market group transportation packages for game day, training camp visits, and stadium events. Fans who are excited about their team’s new players start planning their season schedules early — and transportation booking follows that excitement closely.

Planning Your Season Around the 2026 NFL Draft Class

If the Giants land Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate as projected in the Jeremiah mock, or if the Jets add David Bailey to a defense that already has Will McDonald IV, the excitement level around home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is going to be genuinely elevated next season.

For fans who want to attend multiple Giants or Jets home games next season — or who want to plan a group trip to MetLife for a marquee game — booking transportation in advance is the smart play. A party bus or sprinter van from Manhattan, Long Island, or Connecticut to MetLife Stadium handles the parking situation and the post-game traffic entirely, letting your group enjoy the experience without the stress. See our complete guide on How Much Is a Party Bus NYC for current pricing and packages.

For corporate clients entertaining guests at NFL games next season — a common use case across the tri-state area’s financial services, real estate, and tech sectors — a corporate black car service account handles all game day transportation from client pickup to stadium drop-off and return. See our guide on Corporate Limo Service NYC 2026 for how executive sports entertainment transportation works.

NFL Draft 2026 — The Complete Prospect Profiles

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The consensus number one pick in the 2026 NFL draft is a redshirt junior from Indiana who rebuilt his reputation over two full seasons as the Hoosiers starter. Mendoza has above-average arm strength, above-average mobility for a pocket passer, and exceptional pre-snap processing that stood out at every level of his college career. He is not the most spectacular prospect in this class but he is the most consistent and the most NFL-ready, which is exactly what the Raiders need after years of quarterback instability.

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey is the more polished and technically refined of the two top edge rushers in this class. Where Arvell Reese offers more raw upside and versatility, Bailey offers a more predictable, defined role as a dedicated pass rusher who is NFL-ready from day one. His hand usage and counter moves are among the most advanced of any player in this class regardless of position. Bailey had 15.5 sacks in his final season at Texas Tech against Big 12 competition and did not face a starting offensive tackle all year who gave him consistent trouble.

Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State

Reese is the wildcard of the 2026 draft class. His combination of athleticism and position versatility is genuinely rare — a player who can rush from a two-point stance off the edge, stand up in space at linebacker, and cover tight ends in the intermediate zone all within the same defensive scheme. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles used Reese in more ways than any other player on the roster, and NFL defensive coordinators are salivating at the possibilities. His ceiling as a pure pass rusher is as high as Bailey’s. His value as a system player is potentially higher. He is, depending on your evaluation philosophy, either the best or second-best non-quarterback in this entire draft.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love is the most exciting offensive player in the 2026 NFL draft. His forty time of 4.38 seconds is elite for a running back of his size (215 pounds). His receiving numbers at Notre Dame — over 70 catches in his final season — demonstrate a route-running ability that most NFL running backs never develop regardless of how long they are in the league. Love is a genuine dual-threat weapon who can operate in the backfield as a runner, in the slot as a route runner, and in the open field as a yards-after-contact machine. For the right franchise and the right offensive system, Love has Pro Bowl upside from his first NFL season.

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles is the son of former NFL defensive back Lorenzo Styles and brings exceptional football IQ alongside impressive physical tools. He played a hybrid linebacker role at Ohio State that would translate directly to the modern NFL’s demand for linebackers who can do more than just run downhill and stop the run. His coverage ability is the most underrated part of his game — he can match up with tight ends and cover running backs out of the backfield without significant liability.

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Fano is the top offensive tackle in the 2026 class by most evaluations. His combination of athleticism, footwork, and power at the point of attack is as complete a package as any offensive lineman prospect in recent drafts. He is the kind of player who could start at left tackle from day one in the NFL, which is an exceptionally rare quality for a college lineman who has not yet played a professional snap.

How to Watch the 2026 NFL Draft — Complete Channel and Streaming Guide

The NFL Draft 2026 is one of the most widely broadcast sporting events in the United States. Here is the complete guide to watching and streaming the draft:

Television

All three days of the 2026 NFL draft are broadcast simultaneously on ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network. This means you can watch on any of the three channels and receive the same coverage. ESPN and NFL Network feature their regular analyst teams. ABC carries the same ESPN feed.

Streaming

NFL Plus — the league’s official streaming subscription service — carries the full draft. The ESPN app carries the full ESPN feed with a TV provider login or ESPN Plus subscription. Both are available on all major streaming devices including Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and smart TVs.

Radio

ESPN Radio carries full draft coverage. Westwood One Sports has national radio coverage. SiriusXM NFL Radio is available on channel 88 for satellite radio subscribers. Spanish-language coverage is available on ESPN Deportes.

Social Media and Digital

The NFL’s official accounts on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok provide live pick announcements, player reaction videos, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the draft. The NFL app also provides real-time pick notifications, trade alerts, and analysis.

The 2026 NFL Draft and What It Means for New York and New Jersey Fans

The Giants and Jets both entered the 2026 draft with significant needs but also significant assets. The Giants hold two first-round picks — at number five and number ten (from Cincinnati) — which gives them a rare opportunity to address multiple positions of need in a single draft night. With Jaxson Dart heading into his second season as the starting quarterback, the pressure is on the Giants’ front office to put playmakers around him. The projected picks of Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate would represent exactly that.

The Jets at number two have the most consequential pick of draft night outside of the Raiders. The decision between David Bailey and Arvell Reese — or some trade-down scenario — will define the direction of the Jets defense for the next several years. New York’s defense has the talent to be elite if it gets the right edge-rushing complement to Will McDonald IV. Pick two is the moment to find that player.

For fans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who are watching this draft with intense interest in their team’s direction, draft night is genuinely appointment television. Block your calendar from 8 PM ET on April 23. Get your group together. Pre-book your transportation if you are heading out to watch somewhere. And prepare for the kind of drama that only the NFL draft can deliver.

Book Your Draft Night or NFL Season Transportation Today

Whether you are planning a draft night watch party for your group, booking game day transportation to MetLife Stadium for next season, or organizing corporate entertainment around NFL games in the 2026-27 season — pre-booking with a professional car service is always the smarter play than hoping rideshare surge pricing is kind on the night.

For drunk driving prevention during any sporting event or celebration, see our complete guide on DUI Limo NYC — Safe Alternatives to Drunk Driving. For airport transportation if you are traveling to Pittsburgh for the draft, see our guide on Corporate Car Service NYC. For general NFL season game day transportation planning, check the official NFL official draft page for all current event details.

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