All the mock drafts, all the speculation, all the what-ifs: it all down to tonight when 32 young men see their NFL dreams come true.
The 2026 draft class isn't considered to be loaded with superstars, but that should make for a wild ride. There could be plenty of jockeying for position as a handful of teams battle for the cream of the crop and then everyone switches to a more pragmatic mode, trying to maximize the value of each high-stakes pick.
The Cowboys will be one of the teams everyone is watching closely. They currently sit on the No. 12 and No. 20 overall selections, but whether they actually stay with those picks has become the top question in Dallas.
The festivities get underway from Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. ET. Fans watching from home can expect a more expeditious show on opening night; teams will have just eight minutes on the clock in the first round, down from 10 minutes in the first adjustment the league has made in that regard since 2008.
But with Dallas in the mix to perhaps trade up as far as No. 3 according to a few prognosticators, Cowboys Nation will want to be locked in from the very beginning.
Twenty-six of the league's 32 teams currently have a first-round pick. Here's a look at where everyone currently stands in the order, and what the rumor mill is saying as the first pick rapidly approaches.
For months, the Raiders have been widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the draft. And with nine picks still to make after that, the club wouldn't seem terribly motivated to move out of the top spot just to amass more swings at the plate. But GM John Spytek has said the Raiders are "open to all options," and they do have Kirk Cousins ready to roll out for 2026...
The drama could start at No. 2, where the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn have a ton of needs. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is the popular pick and would provide an immediate boost to the defense, but Ohio State's edge-rushing linebacker Arvell Reese is someone to build a unit around for future success. The Jets canceled a private visit with Bailey; have they already made up their mind one way or the other?
Bailey or Reese? Whichever player the Jets don't take at No. 2 could be the pick here for the Cards. But there's been plenty of buzz about Arizona trading out of this spot, to somewhere in the late first round. That would give them extra picks, but it would also put them in position to land Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, perhaps the player the team truly covets for offensively-minded head coach Mike LaFleur.
The Titans have stated they'll take the best player on their board at No. 4. That could be Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, as new head coach Robert Saleh puts his stamp on the Tennessee defense. But it could just as easily be Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, with the club looking to pair the running back with second-year QB Cam Ward as a set-it-and-forget-it offensive playmaking duo.
The Giants have been talking about many of the same defensive names as Cowboys Nation. NFL insider Adam Schefter believes the pick will come from Ohio State- either Styles if he's available, or safety Caleb Downs as a Plan B. But Love and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa have also been frequent mock choices for Big Blue with this pick; Daniel Jeremiah likes Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.
Things could get interesting with the No. 6 pick. The Browns are widely expected to trade down out of this spot, and the Cowboys are thought to be a possible partner... though the Saints and Chiefs have also been mentioned. Cleveland has needs, to be sure, but most players they're targeting (other than Ohio State WR Carnell Tate) could still be available to them later in the first round.
If Dallas does trade up to No. 6, it's because they fear losing their chosen player to the rival Commanders with this pick. Washington reportedly loves Love, but they're also high on Downs and Styles. Rueben Bain Jr. could be a name to watch here, with the Miami edge rusher looking like the kind of player head coach Dan Quinn would be drawn to. They could trade back, if they can find a willing partner.
If Tyler Shough is the answer at quarterback in New Orleans, he's going to need some pass-catchers alongside Chris Olave. At least one of the top wideouts in the class- Tate, Tyson, and USC's Makai Lemon- will be available here, but the Saints have defensive needs as well. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, frequently mocked to Dallas, would be an attractive "hometown" option.
Adding an elite wide receiver is one of the Chiefs' priorities in 2026. Tyson has been a consistent choice in the pre-draft mocks. The team is also on the hunt for cornerback and edge rusher, but it's believed they may wait until the second of their first-round picks to address other needs. But if Bain- or, somehow- Bailey is still hanging around here, Kansas City could re-arrange their board to take advantage.
The Dexter Lawrence trade gives the Giants a second top-10 pick, and while they could theoretically snatch a pair of premier defenders before the Cowboys turn in their first card, it's looking instead like they may lean toward a wide receiver here. The club has reportedly fallen in love with Tyson; he's been a major riser in recent days, and New York GM Joe Schoen flew to Arizona for a private dinner with him just last week.
The Dolphins are sitting on seven top-100 picks, and they have a new GM who's looking to stock the shelves with lots of young and affordable talent as they embark on a long ground-up rebuild. (It's not just a coincidence that Troy Aikman is consulting on how to best do that.) With this pick, they're looking at the same cornerbacks and edge rushers that Dallas is, with Delane and McCoy among the favorites.
The Cowboys are a wild card and will be watched to possibly trade out of No. 12: maybe up, maybe down. If they stay put, they'll take a cornerback... or an edge rusher... or maybe a linebacker. There's even talk of a wide receiver like Tyson or Tate... but Jerry Jones could just make it sound like he'd pounce in order to get someone else to blink... and leave one more of the Cowboys' defensive targets on the board.
The Puka Nacua drama this offseason may have the Rams poised to make a splash with a wide receiver insurance policy early, and they could trade up to do it, especially if they can secure Tate. But they might be able to end up with Lemon by staying put, and they could likely trade back and draft Washington's Denzel Boston. Remember, QB Matthew Stafford is now 38 years old; it's win-now mode.
Some picks are easier than others to forecast. In Baltimore, three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is now gone, but Lamar Jackson still needs O-line protection. Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane and Utah tackle Spencer Fano seem to be the consensus options here, with either shoring up the Ravens' front five for years to come. But if Tyson or Boston are still waiting here, things could change.