For the third time in four years, a Heisman Trophy winner is going No. 1 in the NFL draft.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and national championship, is headed to the Las Vegas Raiders with the top overall pick. Traveling the route last taken by LSU’s Joe Burrow with the Heisman-natty-No. 1 pick trifecta, Mendoza is the only pro-ready quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Quarterbacks at the top are a virtual lock in the draft. This will be the 10th time it’s happened since Jameis Winston went No. 1 in 2015, and the eighth time in nine years a QB is the first player selected. Georgia defensive end Travon Walker went No. 1 in 2022.

But what happens after the Mendoza Family celebrates on Thursday night? Let’s connect some dots and project the top 32 picks in the 2026 draft. Zero anonymous general managers approved this exercise.

FIRST ROUND

1. Las Vegas Raiders

QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza might be more big brain than big arm, but so was Peyton Manning. Mendoza has the makeup to stay the course for a franchise with no track record of developing a winning quarterback. He meshes well with new coach Klint Kubiak’s scheme but protection must be a bigger priority.

2. New York Jets

LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The QB the Jets want is headed to Las Vegas and they’re still smarting over Oregon QB Dante Moore’s decision to return for his senior season. It goes without saying, the franchise can ill-afford another Zach Wilson (No. 2 in 2021) or Blair Thomas (No. 2 in 1990) whiff. Reese is a projection because he doesn’t have a natural position, but his versatility makes him a safer bet to find a role. New York is weaponized for an overdue rebuild with five total first-round picks in 2026 and 2027.

3. Arizona Cardinals

OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Another franchise pining for a fix at QB, the Cardinals could be a bridesmaid in that pursuit and opt to reinforce the line with a position-versatile blocker or trade down.

4. Tennessee Titans

RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Pairing Love with 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward puts Tennessee in a better position to compete in the sneaky solid AFC South division.

5. New York Giants

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

As tempting as the top wide receivers in the class are in this spot, what with the specter of putting Jaxson Dart’s development on hyperdrive with Malik Nabers and a co-No. 1, new coach John Harbaugh knows a safety with Downs’ traits can become a linchpin for a defense with ample pressure providers.

6. Cleveland Browns

DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Todd Monken will be twisting in knots if he has a pick of skill-position players but the top pass rusher in the draft is still on the board.

7. Washington Commanders

WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Some prefer Jordyn Tyson as their WR1 but the Commanders target Tate for his combination of size, durability and production.

8. New Orleans Saints

WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

The Tyler Shough support seems genuine and the Saints were respectable in the final month of 2025. Tyson and WR1 Chris Olave, when healthy, would be a lethal 1-2 punch.

9. Kansas City Chiefs

LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

A surprise if he’s still around. The Chiefs would have to weigh Styles’ value against the top offensive linemen left and LSU CB Mansoor Delane.

10. New York Giants

WR Makai Lemon, USC

A slot dynamo to step into the void created when Wan’Dale Robinson joined the Titans in free agency, the Giants are committed to adding weapons for Dart.

11. Miami Dolphins

DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Bain plays with intensity and stays in his college stomping grounds to help re-establish dominance at the line of scrimmage as a more explosive version of Kenny Clark up front.

12. Dallas Cowboys

CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Injuries and unpredictability at cornerback haunted the Cowboys even when the pass rush was lethal. Rumored to be a top candidate to move up for an edge, Delane is a sweet consolation prize.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)

OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

A massive blocker who forwards the mission of owning the line of scrimmage and keeping Matthew Stafford from taking punishment.

14. Baltimore Ravens

OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

One of the most competitive and physical players in the draft, Ioane puts defenders on their backs and restores the edge to the Ravens’ line.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

A put-me-in-coach option for the Bucs, Lomu helps preserve Baker Mayfield as he tries to rebound from a rough year of absorbing big blows.

16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts)

TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

A versatile big-play threat at tight end with slot versatility to take pressure off of WR Garrett Wilson.

17. Detroit Lions

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

The tug to dive into the offensive line pool is there but if there was a defender built to be in Detroit with Dan Campbell, the Lions found him in McNeil-Warren. He’ll add even more versatility to the mix-and-match secondary and somehow match Campbell’s energy and intensity.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Size and athletic ability are ample for Faulk to become a chess piece for Brian Flores, even if college production doesn’t imply elite rush skills.

19. Carolina Panthers

LB CJ Allen, Georgia

GM Dan Morgan is on a mission to add “dogs” to the Carolina defense. Allen qualifies, covering ground in every direction with a nose for the ball.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers)

DL Peter Woods, Clemson

A 4-3 defensive tackle at Clemson, Woods joins a line capable of creating a lot of headaches with Quinnen Williams inside and Kenny Clark at the other 5-technique spot.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

McCoy falls beyond the middle of the first round only because of the 2025 knee injury that kept him off the field. If he’s healthy and back to his pre-injury form, the Steelers move near the front of the line of defenses quarterbacks don’t want to face.

22. Los Angeles Chargers

CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

Speed for days, Cisse joins the Chargers’ secondary and Los Angeles keeps pace with the elite quarterbacks in the AFC West.

23. Philadelphia Eagles

WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

A supremely talented and tools-rich receiver to team with De’Vonta Smith if the Patriots-A.J. Brown flirtations go any further.

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)

CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

The Browns restock after last season’s trade which sent Greg Newsome II to the Jaguars.

25. Chicago Bears

Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Montez Sweat came on strong late in the season and the Bears are getting close as a defense. The one shortcoming remains a constant edge presence. Howell isn’t huge, but he’s sudden, dynamic and would add to Dennis Allen’s war chest along the front seven.

26. Buffalo Bills

S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

All-around safeties with position flexibility are a must-have, and Thieneman carries many swords. He can line up over a slot receiver or take solo patrol of the deep middle of the field in coverage.

27. San Francisco 49ers

OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Athletic and enormous, Proctor was not perfect at Alabama but he’s packing potential at a premium position and follows GM John Lynch’s track record of spending to restock quality linemen.

28. Houston Texans

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

A tone-setter at the heart of Houston’s dogged defense.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from L.A. Rams)

OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

A big winner at the Senior Bowl, he’s a pure right tackle for now but upside to be an option on the other side.

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos)

WR Denzel Boston, Washington

Tall with a sturdy frame, Boston beats defenders off the line with physical play and uses his long stride to get behind cornerbacks.

31. New England Patriots

OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Upside pick for his combination of ability, agility and upside, Freeling could have been in the conversation in the top 10 in the 2027 draft.

32. Seattle Seahawks

DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

McDonald just turned 21 and remains raw with the frame and upside to become a disruptive force inside. If Seattle loves Jadarian Price — the ultra-talented Notre Dame backup to Jeremiyah Love — he could be the pick after Seattle lost Kenneth Walker III to the Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

Three-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips will sign a one-day contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday and retire as a member of the franchise.

Saturday will be a big day for Phillips, who will be inducted into the Reds’ Hall of Fame. He joins Aaron Harang, Reggie Sanders and Lou Piniella as members of the 2026 class.

Phillips, 44, began his career with the Cleveland franchise in 2002 before joining the Reds in 2006, staying in Cincinnati through the 2016 season. He recorded the most hits (1,774), homers (191), RBIs (851) and doubles (311) by a second baseman in Reds’ history.

A four-time Gold Glove recipient, Phillips finished his career with the Atlanta Braves (2017), Los Angeles Angels (2017) and Boston Red Sox (2018).

–Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys will make wide receiver George Pickens play the 2026 season under the franchise tag, chief operating officer Stephen Jones said Wednesday.

“We’ve made a decision,” Jones told reporters in a pre-draft press conference. “… There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal.”

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pickens Feb. 27, the first time they had done so since 2022 with tight end Dalton Schultz.

Pickens, 25, would earn a guaranteed $27.3 million in 2026 under the tag, which he has not yet signed.

Jones said last week he had not received any trade inquiries about Pickens, who caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts) in his first season with the Cowboys in 2025.

The Steelers selected Pickens in the second round of the 2022 draft and he played his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. Pickens has produced 267 receptions, 4,270 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in 65 games (55 starts).

–Field Level Media