Samwise NFL Newsletter
Thursday, April 23, 2026
2026 NFL Draft Round 1 Opens Tonight in Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft opens Round 1 on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ET from Pittsburgh, with coverage on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Pittsburgh marks the first time an active NFL franchise city has hosted the draft, with Acrisure Stadium and the North Shore riverfront serving as the backdrop. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza expected to be selected first. Round 2 continues Friday and Rounds 3 through 7 conclude Saturday. Significant intrigue surrounds potential draft-day trades after multiple front offices telegraphed their intentions during this week’s pre-draft press conferences in Pittsburgh.
Sources: CBS Sports
Fernando Mendoza Poised to Become Las Vegas Raiders' Franchise QB
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Indiana, is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft and is expected to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders. Mendoza led an undefeated Hoosiers squad to the national championship in 2025, impressing scouts with his intelligence, pocket poise, and pinpoint accuracy as a rhythm passer. While not an elite athlete, his ball placement, quick release, and line-of-scrimmage processing are widely praised. The Raiders strengthened his support system this offseason by signing center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million deal to anchor his interior offensive line.
Sources: Sky Sports NFL
Jets Narrowed No. 2 Pick to Reese or Bailey, Per Rapoport
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the New York Jets have narrowed their No. 2 overall selection to two pass rushers: Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey. Reese is frequently compared to Micah Parsons for his violent play style and relentless motor, while Bailey led college football with 14.5 sacks in 2025 and totaled 81 quarterback pressures, second in the nation. The Jets hold two first-round picks at No. 2 and No. 16 following the Sauce Gardner trade to Indianapolis. GM Darren Mougey separately downplayed Bailey’s canceled pre-draft visit, calling late cancellations routine pre-draft misdirection.
Sources: NFL.com
Cowboys Enter Draft Night With Two First-Rounders; Jones Open to All Trades
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters Wednesday that every kind of trade is possible, including those involving players and draft picks, as Dallas enters Thursday’s first round holding selections at No. 12 and No. 20. The Cowboys received the No. 20 pick from Green Bay as part of the Micah Parsons trade. Their defense finished last in the NFL in points allowed in 2025. Jones confirmed multiple clubs have already called about Dallas’s picks. The team expects to prioritize defense but Jones said he would not rule out offensive moves if the right player falls. Dallas may also consider trading down from one of its two positions.
Sources: NFL.com
A.J. Brown Skips Eagles Workouts as Trade to Patriots Looms After June 1
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is not expected to attend the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, a strong indicator that a trade is approaching. Brown has rarely missed voluntary sessions since arriving via a 2022 draft-night deal, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported any trade will likely require a future first-round pick in return. The Eagles reportedly plan to operate this draft as if Brown will not be on the Week 1 roster. New England is identified as the most likely destination, with the Patriots financially suited to absorb his contract. June 1 is the earliest date a trade would deliver favorable cap relief for Philadelphia, making that the anticipated timeline.
Sources: NFL.com
Nussmeier Spine Cyst Cleared; LSU QB Emerging as Draft's Top Value Pick
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, a projected Day 2 or Day 3 selection, is generating renewed interest after NFL combine testing revealed his persistent oblique pain throughout the 2025 season originated from a cyst on his spine pressing on a nerve. Nussmeier is scheduled for a minimally invasive procedure to remove the cyst and has been fully asymptomatic since before the Senior Bowl. Medical evaluators report no short-term or long-term risk and expect him to resume workouts within two to three weeks. Multiple analysts now project Nussmeier as the value pick of the 2026 class for any team willing to accept a brief recovery timeline before training camp.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Jeremiah's Final Mock Has Eagles, Saints Among Four Teams Trading Up
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his final 2026 mock draft Wednesday, projecting the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints as two of four teams expected to trade up in Thursday’s first round. His simulation showed movement throughout the back half of Round 1, driven by the unusual concentration of draft capital: six teams hold two first-round picks each while six other teams have none. The Eagles, operating this draft without A.J. Brown in their plans, are projected to move up to address a positional need. Jeremiah described this first round as one of the most strategically complex in recent memory due to the uneven distribution of picks.
Sources: NFL.com
Six Teams Locked Out of Round 1 After Trading First-Round Picks for Veterans
Six NFL franchises will sit out Thursday’s first round entirely — the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Jacksonville Jaguars — each having traded their 2026 first-round selection for a veteran player. Trades for Dexter Lawrence, Sauce Gardner, Micah Parsons, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Waddle consumed those picks. Six other teams hold two first-round picks each, creating a lopsided opening round. The arrangement reflects a league-wide trend of mortgaging draft capital for proven talent, though results have been mixed: Parsons missed Green Bay’s entire postseason run after tearing his ACL against Denver mid-season.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Wednesday Draft Buzz: Cowboys Fielding Trade Calls; Carnell Tate Gains Buzz
Wednesday’s Pittsburgh activity produced several pre-draft storylines. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the team received multiple trade calls for their two first-round picks, and former President Bill Clinton made a surprise appearance at Dallas’s media session. Jets GM Darren Mougey downplayed David Bailey’s canceled pre-draft visit as standard procedure. Separately, scouts have identified Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate as the cleanest wideout in the 2026 class, praising his polished route running and reliable hands as comparable to an immediate starter. Tate is projected to be selected late in the first round or near the top of the second round on Friday.
Sources: NFL.com
American Conference Divisions
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5–0 — GB: 2
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10–0 — GB: 7
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0 — GB: 11
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9–0 — GB: 2
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11–0 — GB: 4
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12–0 — GB: 5
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4–0
2. Houston Texans — 12–5–0 — GB: 1
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9–0 — GB: 5
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0 — GB: 10
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3–0
2. L.A. Chargers — 11–6–0 — GB: 3
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11–0 — GB: 8
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14–0 — GB: 11
National Conference Divisions
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1 — GB: 4
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12–0 — GB: 6
4. New York Giants — 4–13–0 — GB: 7
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–1 — GB: 1.5
3. Minnesota Vikings — 9–8–0 — GB: 2
4. Detroit Lions — 9–8–0 — GB: 2
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11–0 — GB: 2
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3–0
2. L.A. Rams — 12–5–0 — GB: 2
3. San Francisco 49ers — 12–5–0 — GB: 2
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–14–0 — GB: 11
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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