It's been nearly three months since the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
Tonight, the wheel spins around again as teams get set for the NFL Draft, which takes place in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1947.
Over 500,000 fans are expected to descend on the city this weekend as 257 players get picked by the 32 teams.
Here are five storylines to keep an eye on:
Mendoza is a lock. Who will be next?
When Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the National Championship in January, it became glaringly obvious that he would be the first pick in tonight’s draft - and that Las Vegas would be his destination. The Raiders appear dead set on picking up their man.
Mendoza is a really interesting prospect in what is generally seen as a weaker quarterback class in 2026. It looks like he may be given crucial time to learn and prepare for the jump to the NFL, with the Raiders signing veteran Kirk Cousins in the off-season.
The biggest question going into tonight is which name will be read from the stage next. At the time of writing, it looks like a toss-up between Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey and Ohio State’s linebacker Arvell Reese.
The Jets cancelled a visit with Bailey last week, but they have told media and fans not to read too much into it. If the Jets go with Reese instead, they will be getting a prospect who could slot straight into the lineup as early as week one, while still developing into an elite talent for a team in rebuild mode.
That being said, Bailey had a remarkable final year in college football, recording 14.5 sacks as his Texas Tech team made a College Football play-off run.
There’s a strong feeling that with the Jets picking second and the Arizona Cardinals right behind them, one of these two players will land with either team - setting up a very interesting stretch of picks from four through 10.
All Love for Jeremiyah
On that fourth pick, let’s talk about Jeremiyah Love, a generational talent at running back. The Notre Dame star actually made his debut for the school at Aviva Stadium in Dublin three years ago. One thing guaranteed on Thursday night is that Love will be selected very early.
The question is where?
The Tennessee Titans hold the fourth pick in tonight’s first round and many Irish Titans fans will argue they haven’t had a proper bellcow running back since the Derrick Henry days under former head coach Mike Vrabel. Love could solve those running issues and give sophomore quarterback Cam Ward a big boost of confidence heading into the 2026 season.
What makes Love stand out is arguably his mileage. He shared reps at Notre Dame with Jadarian Price, another highly-touted prospect this weekend. Love wasn’t on the field for every snap and got plenty of rest, meaning he could have a longer, more durable career in the NFL.
For teams picking inside the top six or seven slots tonight, that could be priceless if he converts his college production into NFL success this autumn.
This feels like an opportunity the Tennessee Titans simply cannot pass up.
A giant night for New York
The New York Giants turned the draft cycle up a gear when they traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend. In return, Big Blue picked up the Bengals’ first-rounder, giving them two key picks at five and ten.
With new head coach John Harbaugh at the helm, the Giants will be looking to hit big.
Firstly, if the aforementioned Love somehow slips past the Titans at four, could New York make a play for the Notre Dame man and pair him with last year’s rookie sensation Cam Skattebo?
That would be a major upgrade to an already impressive run game in 2025 and take plenty of pressure off Jaxson Dart entering his second season at quarterback.
If they don’t get Love, the Giants could look at a safety, in Ohio State's Caleb Downs, who could play at a similar level to Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens. Picking up Downs early would let them build the defence immediately under their new defensive-minded head coach.
If Downs is gone, they could then turn their attention to Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who had a visit from Giants GM Joe Schoen last week.
Despite some past injury issues, Tyson has a high ceiling and would give the Giants a much-needed offensive weapon. Throw in a potential reunion with Odell Beckham Jr in the Big Apple and it could be a really positive start for Harbaugh as he settles into the NFC East.
Multiple Picks
Outside of the opening few selections, it’s a particularly intriguing draft for the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the team will have two first-round picks, including one inside the top-10.
As Andy Reid looks to reshape his roster and bring the Chiefs back to glory, it will be fascinating to see what they do tonight. They could trade down from the ninth spot to gather extra value for later rounds or even 2027, especially since they also hold the No. 29 pick plus two more selections inside the top 75 over the first two days.
The thinking here is that this is likely Travis Kelce’s final year in Kansas City, so they might try to find the next star tight end (easier said than done) or add another weapon to line up alongside Chris Jones.
The Chiefs have the luxury of knowing they still have talent all over the roster. This draft is about smart top-ups where needed and being clever with the rest of their selections as they bounce back from a disappointing season.
Their free agency addition of reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III earlier this spring was a clear reminder that they will be back, sooner rather than later.
Outside of Kansas City, keep an eye on the Dallas Cowboys, who also have two picks in the top-20. They could look to trade up and nab a potential star, possibly even one currently heading to their NFC East rivals in the New York Giants.
Steelers and Aaron Rodgers
Finally, this is a monumental weekend for the city of Pittsburgh. Just shy of eight months since the Steelers made history in Croke Park, they will host the NFL Draft to a worldwide audience.
The big question mark for the team this weekend is the future of Aaron Rodgers, who is not expected to announce any decision on a potential return before or during the draft.
With that uncertainty hanging over them, will the Steelers, who with 12 picks have more than any other franchise, draft a quarterback in the first round or later in the week?
