Steel City Dreams: 16 Prospects Are Headed to Pittsburgh for the Draft — and One Big Name Is Staying Home
Fernando Mendoza | Indiana Football
PITTSBURGH — In two weeks, 16 young men will put on their best suits, sit in a room full of cameras and anxiety, and wait for a phone call that changes their lives forever. Welcome to the NFL Draft Green Room — the most glamorous way to age 10 years in a single evening.
The NFL confirmed Thursday that 16 prospects have accepted invitations to attend the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light in Pittsburgh, where the first round kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23. They'll get the full Hollywood treatment: red carpet, green room, a walk across the stage, and a handshake with Commissioner Roger Goodell while wearing a hat they've never tried on before.
There's just one notable absence. Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback widely expected to become the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, will not attend — opting instead to watch the draft from a party at home in Miami. It's a bold move for a presumed top pick, but nobody's going to argue with the man about to become a millionaire.
Ohio State Is Running This Draft
If you want to know which school owns this draft class, look no further than the guest list. Ohio State will have five players in attendance — more than any other program — with Alabama and Miami each sending two. The Big Ten leads all conferences with six confirmed attendees, followed by the SEC with five.
The Buckeyes contingent alone reads like a first-round wish list: safety Caleb Downs, widely regarded as the top safety in the class; linebacker Sonny Styles, a Combine standout; wide receiver Carnell Tate; defensive tackle Kayden McDonald; and linebacker Arvell Reese. Columbus may as well rent out a suite.
Who's Making the Trip
Defensive prospects make up nine of the 16 attendees, reflecting the genuine strength of this draft class on that side of the ball — great news if you're a team desperately in need of a pass rusher, less great if you're hoping for a wide receiver to fall to you.
Here's the full guest list for Pittsburgh:
Offense: QB Ty Simpson (Alabama), RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), WR Makai Lemon (USC), WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State), WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), OL Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
Defense: LB David Bailey (Texas Tech), DE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), DB Mansoor Delane (LSU), DB Caleb Downs (Ohio State), DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn), DB Colton Hood (Tennessee), DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), LB Arvell Reese (Ohio State), LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State)
Alabama's Ty Simpson could be the second quarterback off the board, though there's a real chance he doesn't go until Day 2. Attend at your own risk, Ty. Last year, Alabama's Jalen Milroe attended the draft and wasn't selected until the third round. The Green Room has humbled better men.
Pittsburgh Makes History (Again, Sort Of)
This isn't just any draft city. Pittsburgh is stepping into the spotlight for the first time in nearly eight decades. The city last hosted the NFL Draft in 1948— before televisions were common household items, before most of the players' grandparents were born, and long before anyone needed a red carpet.
The draft returns to Pennsylvania for the first time since Philadelphia hosted in 2017, and from everything the city has planned, Pittsburgh is not taking this moment lightly. Expect the iconic skyline, the rivers, and the bridges to be front and center all weekend.
How to Watch (and What to Expect)
The full schedule breaks down like this: Round 1 kicks off Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET, with Rounds 2 and 3 following Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4-7 wrapping up Saturday at noon ET. There will be 257 total selections, including 33 compensatory picks awarded to 15 teams.
Coverage airs on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with radio options on Westwood One, SiriusXM NFL Radio and ESPN Radio. For cord-cutters, the NFL Channel streams everything free on Roku, Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV and more.
The only question left: which of these 16 young men walks across that stage on Thursday night, and which ones are still sitting in their seats when Friday arrives? That's the part nobody can predict — and the part that makes the Green Room must-watch television every single year.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh.
