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NFL Draft

Follow the selections, explore the history and understand what happens when a team is on the clock.

2026 first overall selection

Fernando Mendoza

Quarterback, Indiana. Selected by Las Vegas Raiders.

Explore all 257 selections

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The start of the 2026 draft

All first-round picks

Scroll across for drafting team, position and college.

First five selections in overall pick order
PickPlayerRoundDrafting teamPositionFinal college
1Fernando Mendoza1Las Vegas RaidersQBIndiana
2David Bailey1New York JetsOLBTexas Tech
3Jeremiyah Love1Arizona CardinalsRBNotre Dame
4Carnell Tate1Tennessee TitansWROhio St.
5Arvell Reese1New York GiantsLBOhio St.

The draft ended with Red Murdock, a linebacker from Buffalo, selected by Denver Broncos at No. 257. The final selection is known as Mr. Irrelevant.

When and where is the 2027 NFL Draft?

The next draft runs from Thursday, April 29 through Saturday, May 1, 2027, in Washington, D.C. The Draft Theater is planned for the National Mall in front of the Capitol. The fan experience spans Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 7th Streets.

The dates and locations are announced. A final selection order, player selections, start time and broadcast listing are not confirmed here.

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How many rounds are in the NFL Draft?

The current draft has seven rounds, spread over three days. Round one is on Thursday, rounds two and three are on Friday, and rounds four through seven are on Saturday. Teams begin with one selection per round, but trades and additional compensatory selections change how many picks each team ultimately makes.

A round number describes a stage of the draft. An overall pick number counts through the whole event. In 2026, the second round began at overall pick 33 and the third began at 65.

Understand order, trades and selection clocks

Explore the draft beyond one year

The pick archive covers every draft from 1980 to 2026. Compare each year's first and final selections, see the change from twelve rounds to eight and then seven, or open the complete selections for a year.

Draft history by yearDraft picks by collegeCombine measurements and resultsCurrent rookie statistics

Draft questions

Who was the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Las Vegas selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana with the first overall pick.

Who was Mr. Irrelevant in 2026?

Red Murdock was the final selection, No. 257 overall, made by Denver in round seven. The nickname describes draft position, not a player's ability or future career.

Does a drafting team show where a player plays now?

No. These records identify the team that made the selection. Later trades, signings and releases can change a player's team. Use a player's current profile or roster for present-day status.

Does every team make seven picks?

No. Seven rounds do not guarantee seven selections for every club. Teams can trade picks, and qualifying teams can receive compensatory selections.

Can I search older drafts?

Yes. Draft history includes all 47 covered years from 1980 to 2026, with year, round, team and player-name filters.