It’s time for pro football journeys to begin in earnest. Some teams will mine franchise cornerstones from the 2026 NFL Draft, while others will plant fateful decision trees that will torment fans for years to come.
This year’s draft goes down in Pittsburgh, where Terrible Towels and bright yellow grandstands welcome a deep rookie class. The ceremony is broadcast across several different networks. Here’s what to know, when to tune in and how to follow along.
All times listed are ET.
How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft, Round 1
Venues: Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium — Pittsburgh
Time: 8 p.m., Thursday
TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network
Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)
ABC is free over the air. All ESPN programs are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription. NFL Network is also available on NFL+.
NFL Draft broadcast options
There will be no shortage of telecast choices for this year’s viewership, including here at The Athletic. At 7:30 p.m., there will be a special live edition of “The Athletic Football Show” with Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman. Draft guru Dane Brugler and college football insider Bruce Feldman will be on hand to offer their expertise as the night unfolds.
Four different networks will air the proceedings, too.
On ABC, coverage will emphasize who the draftees are and how they made their way to the NFL. Rece Davis will be the anchor, flanked by Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and Desmond Howard on the studio desk. They’ll put on a draft-centric version of “College GameDay” on ESPN starting at 5 p.m., then break down the picks on ABC once the main event begins at 8 p.m.
Draft analyst Field Yates and sideline reporter Molly McGrath will dispatch from the green room. They’ll talk to prospects and their families throughout the night. Beforehand on ESPN, McGrath will interview players as they walk the red carpet. Reporter Pete Thamel will also bring updates and developments from the night.
The ESPN broadcast will be focused more on the football aspect of the draft. Joining anchor Mike Greenberg will be longtime draftnik Mel Kiper Jr., as well as former pros Booger McFarland and Louis Riddick. Adam Schefter will contribute; Laura Rutledge is set to interview players fresh off the draft stage.
There’s an NFL Network option, too, which will also lean into the analytical side. Rich Eisen will host his 20th NFL Draft airing. Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis and Joel Klatt will be on the desk, while league insider Ian Rapoport and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner will weigh in on site.
For Spanish-language coverage, ESPN Deportes will have Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega and Ciro Procuna in the studio. Sebastián Martinez Christensen and Katia Castorena will report live from Pittsburgh.
All of the aforementioned networks are now owned or operated by the Walt Disney Company, so viewers can also tune in with Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions.
Over on the ESPN app, Pat McAfee will hold down “The Draft Spectacular” alt-cast. McAfee, a Pittsburgh native, comes with a crew that comprises 2006 first-round pick AJ Hawk and 2009 second-rounder Darius Butler. Guests will include commentator Peter Schrager and former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher. The program can also be streamed on YouTube, X and TikTok.
Of note, college football reporter Taylor McGregor clocks in from Fernando Mendoza’s family home in Miami. The presumed top selection will not be in attendance Thursday, citing family reasons and travel concerns related to his mother’s autoimmune disease. McGregor’s interview with Mendoza is going to be on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
The full NFL Draft first-round order
Each franchise has eight minutes, shortened from 10 minutes in recent drafts, to make a first-round pick. Here’s the first-round order entering Thursday, though it’s subject to change if teams swing draft-day trades:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
New York Giants (from CIN)
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Rams (from ATL)
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Jets (from IND)
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys (from GB)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns (from JAX)
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR)
Miami Dolphins (from DEN)
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
A quick look at the projected top picks
Mendoza is the consensus top quarterback in the draft and the favorite to go No. 1 following his breakout season at Indiana. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion threw 41 touchdowns to six interceptions across 16 games. He added seven TDs on the ground, capped by his gutsy fourth-down score in the national title game. The Raiders’ last No. 1 overall selection was their ill-fated JaMarcus Russell pick in 2007.
Brugler’s comprehensive prospect ranking, The Beast, has three Ohio State defenders in the top five. Edge rusher Arvell Reese is first, linebacker Sonny Styles is fourth and safety Caleb Downs is fifth. Mendoza grades out at No. 3 for Brugler, while Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love gets the No. 2 spot. Love posted 21 total touchdowns and averaged 6.9 yards per carry as a junior.
Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey went third to Arizona in both Jeff Howe’s league insider projections and Nick Baumgardner’s mock draft. Each had him behind Reese to the Jets and Mendoza to the Raiders.
Other standouts with top-10 potential include Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., LSU corner Mansoor Delane, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano and Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate. Bain, Delane and Tate are also among those who will be at the draft Thursday night. The full 16-player list of attendees can be found here.
Recent NFL Draft No. 1 picks
YearPickTeamCollege
2025
Cam Ward (QB)
Tennessee Titans
Miami
2024
Caleb Williams (QB)
Chicago Bears
USC
2023
Bryce Young (QB)
Carolina Panthers
Alabama
2022
Travon Walker (DE)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Georgia
2021
Trevor Lawrence (QB)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Clemson
2020
Joe Burrow (QB)
Cincinnati Bengals
LSU
2019
Kyler Murray (QB)
Arizona Cardinals
Oklahoma
2018
Baker Mayfield (QB)
Cleveland Browns
Oklahoma
2017
Myles Garrett (DE)
Cleveland Browns
Texas A&M
2016
Jared Goff (QB)
Los Angeles Rams
California
2015
Jameis Winston (QB)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Florida St.
2014
Jadeveon Clowney (DE)
Houston Texans
South Carolina
2013
Eric Fisher (OT)
Kansas City Chiefs
Central Michigan
2012
Andrew Luck (QB)
Indianapolis Colts
Stanford
2011
Cam Newton (QB)
Carolina Panthers
Auburn
2010
Sam Bradford (QB)
St. Louis Rams
Oklahoma
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