NFL Draft 2026: Raiders' Mendoza Pick

0:00It's April 8th. From kickoff to the final whistle, this is NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. Pittsburgh lands the 2026 NFL draft, set for April 23rd through 25th. It's a big nod to history, exactly 90 years after the first one kicked off right there in the steel city. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the top spot this time, and Buzz has Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as their likely prize. A fresh arm to turn things. A raggle hoe. That original 1936 draft saw the Philadelphia Eagle snag Jay Burwinger first overall, a star back from the university of Chicago. Crazy part, he never suited up for his single NFL snap, jumping straight to Pro Football's rocky start. Fast forward through the decades, and number one picks have been a wild mix running backs like OJ. Simpson and Earl Campbell, legends like Terry Bradshaw and Peyton Manning, even defensive studs like Bruce Smith. But quarterbacks have ruled lately, from Joe Burrow to Caleb Williams last year.

1:04Teams like the Steelers grabbed a couple early on. Bill Dudley in 1942, and Bradshaw in 1970, Pittsburgh's hosting feels poetic, especially with so many busts haunting that top slot, like Jamarcus Russell for the Raiders, back in 2010. With Mendoza projected to go first, the Raiders are chasing that rare home run, building on a draft legacy full of highs, lows, and everything in. Between as the league keeps evolving.