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This week’s annual NFL Draft will be held in the Steel City of Pittsburgh beginning Thursday night.
Several hundred thousand NFL fans will come to town to support (or boo) their favorite team’s selections for three days.
Thursday is exclusively dedicated to Round 1. Friday night brings Rounds 2 and 3. The event ends Saturday with a marathon of Rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Every team will arrive in Pittsburgh with a shopping list for the NFL’s “grocery store” to select several talented young players capable of upgrading their team this fall.
The non-playoff teams must uncover the best bargains at the NFL Draft “store” to upgrade their chances of playing in the postseason this fall.
In western Pennsylvania, fans of the host city’s black and gold Steelers are (as usual) discussing who should or shouldn’t be their next quarterback. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t signed-on for a second year yet. Pittsburgh (a city with six Super Bowl trophies) has struggled at the position following the 2021 retirement of likely Hall-of-Famer Ben Roethlisberger.
QB or Not QB? That is the question!
It’s not just Pittsburgh in need of a new leader at the quarterback position. Several of the NFL’s 32 teams could use an upgrade at that position.
The problem with this year’s NFL draft is a perceived lack of top-level quarterback prospects coming out of college. Indiana’s Heisman Trophy and national championship quarterback Fernando Mendoza is easily at the top of this year’s rookie class.
But is he really worth the top overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders?
Curiously, the Raiders recently sunk $20 million into acquiring expensive journeyman Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons. Vegas has the option to retain Cousins for a total of five years if they are willing to part with a total of $172 million.
Why would the Raiders select Fernando Mendoza when this team still has an offensive line with more holes than Swiss cheese?
I’m still of the opinion that the Raiders may consider a last-minute trade of the #1 overall pick – for the right price.
Arizona’s Cardinals have the #3 pick in the first round and could use a top quarterback, too. Their investment in 2019 #1 overall selection Kyler Murray failed. The Cardinals played in just one playoff game over Murray’s seven seasons in Phoenix. Kyler Murray was released recently and quickly signed by the Minnesota Vikings.
Host city Pittsburgh won’t select until the 21st pick in the first round. The Steelers started 42-year old veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers last year and made it into the first round of the playoffs.
Rodgers is playing coy once again and is 50/50 as to whether he returns to Pittsburgh this fall. He is a free agent and appears to be seeking a combination of cash and a reasonable chance to win his second Super Bowl ring. Aaron Rodgers might also retire, so the Steelers should draft as if Rodgers won’t return this fall.
The New York Jets select #2 overall and are loaded with top picks
New York’s Jets have two first round selections (#2 and #16 from Indianapolis). They are slated to make four of the opening 44 picks in this year’s draft.
That’s the good news for Jets fans. The bad news is that the J-E-T-S have a long history of making poor choices with their top draft choices. Look for the Jets to consider making a few more deals prior to the end of Thursday night’s first round.
Washington QB Jayden Daniels would Love to add the Notre Dame running back!
Will Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love be available for Washington at #7 on Thursday night? Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels could use another offensive weapon to give opposing defenses something else to focus on next season.
If Washington does not select the talented running back in the first round, look for them to take a top wide receiver instead. Washington’s offense needs more spark.
New Orleans is now on the clock at #8 and solved its QB problem last year
The Saints’ second round selection of former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough paid handsome dividends for Louisiana’s favorite black and gold team. New Orleans desperately needs another talented wide receiver to take the pressure off Chris Olave. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson could make a good choice.
Perhaps Texas A&M’s cocky “I am the best wide receiver in this draft” wide receiver KC Conception might be in play here.
Then again, the Saints (which finished 6-11 last year) could use some help on both the offensive and defensive lines. Don’t be surprised if New Orleans trades down a few places from the #8 pick to add a third or fourth round pick this year.
Surprise! The Kansas City Chiefs hold the #9 pick in the first round
Kansas City’s reign of terror for other NFL teams ended in 2025. The Chiefs sputtered all season long and crashed to Earth with a 6-11 record. They will get the #9 pick in the opening round of the draft Thursday night.
Many expect KC to go shopping for a top defensive or offensive line player such as Miami defensive end Reuben Bain, Jr. or Utah’s massive offensive lineman Spencer Fano. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes may have some input about the first round selection, so don’t be surprised if KC opts for a speedy wide receiver.
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys select at #12 and 20 Thursday night
The Dallas Cowboys just celebrated their 30th year without an appearance in the Super Bowl or even the NFC championship game. An entire generation of Cowboys fans is waiting for their favorite team to participate in a meaningful title game.
Big D really needs a D (as in defense).
The Dallas offense scores nearly 30 points per game. However, the Cowboys finished 7-11 last year, because their defense gave up even more points. Look for Dallas to select the best defensive player available with their first round pick. Most anyone available at #12 should be an automatic upgrade for this team’s defense.
Dallas also has the 20th choice in the first round as compensation for sending defensive specialist Micah Parsons to Green Bay.
Anything less than a rousing success with picks #12 and 20 on Thursday’s opening night will be blamed on 83-year old meddling team owner Jerry Jones.
Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 21st pick
The chants of “Here we Go, Steelers!” will sound like a big pep rally as Pittsburgh makes its first round selection Thursday night.
Terrible Towels will be waved by thousands in the crowd as Steelers Nation breathlessly awaits their team’s first round selection.
It was 2001 when Michael Vick was selected with the #1 overall pick by Atlanta. After that, no other quarterbacks were taken until Purdue’s Drew Brees was picked early in the second round. Yes, the same Drew Brees entering the NFL Hall-of-Fame this summer.
This year could mimic 2001 with the #1 pick likely to be quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Pittsburgh may be tempted to jump the gun and select Alabama’s hot and cold quarterback Ty Simpson at #21 (if he is still available).
Steelers fans are rightfully nervous about Ty Simpson in the first round.
Pittsburgh “reached” for local college product Kenny Pickett at #20 in Round 1 just four years ago, Unlike the prolific Pickett at Pitt, Ty Simpson’s final college season at Bama was rather unimpressive. Pittsburgh could use offensive line help and wait for other QB prospects in later rounds.
The Philadelphia Eagles (at #23) will be booed even louder than NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
There’s no love lost in Pennsylvania between the AFC’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles which roost at the eastern fringe of the Keystone state.
The green-clad pioneers of the NFL’s Tush Push are expected to trade their perpetually unhappy (but well paid) wide receiver A.J. Brown soon. That might give the Eagles some trade bait to move up from their current #23 spot. Drafting a talented replacement wide receiver makes perfect sense for Philly.
Houston Texans don’t need defensive help selecting at #28 of the first round
The Texans developed into a terrifying defensive team in 2025. They returned to the playoffs and were a tough out.
It’s their on-and-off again offense which needs a difference maker to give this team a jolt.
The best offensive player available (including at quarterback) should be what the Texans go for at pick #28 late Thursday evening. I believe that current quarterback CJ Stroud could use a little competition. Don’t be surprised if the Texans take a chance to add another young quarterback during the early rounds of this week’s draft.
Truth – Most NFL drafts don’t turn a team into a Super Bowl contender in Year #1
There is a reason why some teams keep showing up early in the first round most every year. The ability to properly identify your team’s needs and then select the player(s) which best fill the needs of your team is difficult to master.
Eight quarterbacks (Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Jared Goff) have been taken with the #1 overall draft selection in the past ten years.
Only Joe Burrow’s 2021 Cincinnati Bengals and Jared Goff’s 2018 L.A. Rams have made it to a Super Bowl (both teams lost).
The Raiders may, indeed, select quarterback Fernando Mendoza at #1 on Thursday night. Las Vegas has nine other draft selections (including three in Round 4) which must be just as solid in order to give this team a much-needed lift.
It’s possible, but don’t hold your breath.