The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on April 23 and concludes on April 25. The last time Pittsburgh hosted the draft was in December of 1947. (The same year I was drafted onto this mortal coil, but I don’t remember a thing about this draft? But neither does Mel Kiper.) The Pitt Hotel was the site for the 1947 draft. The NFL had 10 teams at the time, five teams each in the Eastern and Western Divisions, and played a 12-game schedule.
The Los Angeles Rams was the only team west of the Central time zone. One team, the Boston Yanks, is no longer in the NFL (and Mike Cronin was not around to complain about the travel). The draft was 32 rounds long with 300 players drafted. In 1947, College Football was much more popular than pro ball, but nothing compared to the nation’s love of baseball. Our Mr. FishDuck paused from his study of Kentucky Derby odds before placing a bet, and to ponder about the “old-days” of the NFL Draft with me.
The first player picked was chosen by the team that won the pre-draft lottery. The Washington Redskins won the lottery, and the Alabama halfback, Harry (not Happy) Gilmore, was the first player off the board. The draft was not broadcast, but the bar was open, and the smoking lap was most definitely lit.
This year, an estimated 14 million people will watch the first round of the draft, will watch the Commodores instead of Redskins, see no smoke-filled rooms, and there will not be a spittoon in sight.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman has released his first-round mock draft. A draft projection based on comparing myriad preseason polls, speaking with NFL scouts, and speaking with college coaches whose teams competed against a prospective pick’s team.
Dillon Thieneman is one of the best safeties in America. (Photo by Brad Repplinger)
Feldman’s mock has 12 Big Ten players being chosen in the first round.
1. Fernando Mendoza QB – Indiana – Las Vegas Raiders
2. Arvell Reese – Edge/LB – Ohio State – New York Jets
5. Sonny Styles – LB – Ohio State -New York Giants
8. Carnell Tate – WR – Ohio State – New Orleans Saints
10. Caleb Downs – Safety – Ohio State – Cincinnati Bengals
13. Makai Lemon – WR – USC – LA Rams
15. Kenton Sadiq – TE – Oregon – Tampa Bay Bucs
18. Dillon Thieneman – Safety – Oregon – Minnesota Vikings
20. Denzel Boston – WR – Washington – Washington DC Commodores
21. Omar Cooper – WR – Indiana – Pittsburgh Steelers
22, Vega Ioane – G – Penn State – LA Chargers
28. Kayden McDonald – DT – Ohio State – Houston Texans
Five Buckeyes, two Hoosiers, two Ducks, one Trojan, Husky, and Nittany Lion. Ohio State and other football fans wonder how Ohio State failed to defend the 2024-25 title.
SEC – Feldman has eight SEC players going in the 1st Round. I’d wager that at the end of the draft, the SEC will again have the most players chosen, helped by at least six Oregon players returning who would have been drafted.
Two players each from Texas A&M and Tennessee. One each from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and LSU.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq gives a stiff arm to a USC defender en route to the end zone last Saturday in Eugene. Photo by Max Unkrich
In Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer’s seat is warming, and could be scalding hot if Alabama loses three games this season. And one first-rounder is not the norm for Kirby Smart and his Georgia Dawgs.
The good news for Kirby and Georgia is that 14 starters from 2025 are back in 2026, including QB Gunner Stockton.
Where are Sark’s uber-talented Longhorns?
ACC – Six first-round picks from teams on both ends of the 2025 spectrum: 13-3 Miami and 7-6 Clemson. Mario capitalized on his roster talent; Dabo definitely did not.
One of 2026’s most interesting games will be played on October 3rd when Miami visits Clemson Death Valley.
B12 – Four picks. Utah with two and ASU and Texas Tech with one each.
One pick from Toledo of the MAC, and one from Notre Dame. Miami at Notre Dame on November 7th should also be a very interesting game.
Thursday, April 23, 2026, will be a B1G Good Night.
Jon Joseph
Aiken, South Carolina
Top Photo by Brad Repplinger
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Jon Joseph grew up in Boston, Massachusetts but has been blessed to have lived long enough in the west to have exorcised all east coast bias. He played football in college and has passionately followed the game for seven decades. A retired corporate attorney Jon has lectured across the country and published numerous articles on banking and gaming law. Now a resident of Aiken South Carolina, Jon follows college football across the nation with a focus on the Conference of Champions and the Ducks.