The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
is well underway and the 2026 NFL Draft
is just two months away. Who holds the No. 1 overall pick in the draft this year?
The Las Vegas Raiders
are on the clock with the top selection in this year's draft, and they're widely expected to use it to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza
.
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Given his status as the clear-cut top quarterback in the draft class, the Heisman Trophy winner opted out of participating in drills
at the NFL combine in Indianapolis
. In Mendoza's absence, the class's other quarterbacks will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28 to boost their draft stock and get the attention of a team looking to improve their quarterback situation.
Meanwhile, the Raiders
will continue their evaluation of the draft class at the NFL combine. Whether any player can sway them enough to move off selecting Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft is still to be determined.
Here's what to know about the 2026 NFL Draft:
1
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
1
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
2
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans
(Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
3
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
4
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
5
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
6
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars
(Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports)
7
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals
(Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)
8
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)
9
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns
(Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports)
10
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns
(Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports)
11
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams
(Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports)
12
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)
13
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
14
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions
(Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images)
15
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
16
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders
(Pouya Dianat, US PRESSWIRE)
17
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)
(Chris Trotman, Getty Images)
18
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
19
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans
(RONALD MARTINEZ, GETTY IMAGES)
20
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons
(Gabe Palacio, Getty Images)
21
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns
(M. David Leeds, Getty Images)
22
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
23
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts
(Matt Kryger, Indianapolis Star)
24
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams
(US PRESSWIRE)
25
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
26
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals
(MARK PHILIPS, AFP via Getty Images)
27
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals
(US PRESSWIRE)
28
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts
(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)
29
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys
(Markus Boesch, Getty Images)
30
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
31
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY Sports)
32
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons
(Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images)
33
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No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Joe Patronite, Getty Images)
34
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)
(ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY Sports)
35
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills
(Malcolm Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)
36
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots
(Bob Martin, Getty Images)
37
/ 37
No. 1 NFL draft picks since 1983
1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
(Malcolm Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)
Who has the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. It's the first time Las Vegas
has the top selection since its move to the desert in 2020.
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The last time the Raiders picked first was in 2007, when the then-Oakland Raiders selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU with the top pick.
2026 NFL Draft order
Order via
Tankathon
for the first round.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place between April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Thursday, April 23: Round 1
Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:
2026 NFL Draft order: Which team owns the top pick?
