NFL Draft 2026: Thursday Kickoff

0:00It's April 22nd. Welcome in. This is California News Today, where local news meets AI. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off this Thursday, April 23rd in Pittsburgh, the first time there since 1948. Las Vegas Raiders hold the number one overall pick after the worst record last season, with a total of 257 selections across seven, rounds over three days. Teams like the Jets, Cardinals, and Titans are locked in for those top ten spots, all hunting franchise changers. Friday brings rounds two and three starting at seven p.m. Eastern time, then Saturday hits rounds four through seven at noon Eastern. It's all about reshaping rosters, with those early picks deciding who grabs the next big quarterback or ed rusher. Fans are buzzing because rebuilding squads need stars bad. Think Raiders potentially landing a stud to flip their fortunes quick. Pittsburgh's ready to host the circus, and every pick ripples through the league for years.

1:00Catch it live on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, or Stream via NFL Plus, FUBBO, and the ESPN app. 15 teams snag 33 extra compensatory picks in later rounds for losing top free agents last year. Keep eyes on prospects like Indiana's Fernando Mendoza at quarterback Ohio State's Arville Reese rushing the edge, and Notre Dame's Jeremiah Love ad. Running back, these college beasts could own Sunday soon.