PITTSBURGH (April 24) –  The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off from downtown Pittsburgh last night.

As Roger Goodell appeared in front of an NFL Draft record three-hundred thousand fans, Indiana quarterback and unanimous number one pick Fernando Mendoza went off the board first to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Night one continued with plenty of surprising picks and moves from teams across the league. To the surprise of many, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was selected by the Arizona Cardinals and did not fall to the Tennessee Titans like many had expected. The shocker continued, as the Titans selected wide receiver Carnell Tate from Ohio State with the fourth overall pick. 

WKRN-TV sports anchor Julian Mininsohn, who follows the Titans all season, was surprised just like the rest of football fans about the pick.

“We all thought Love would fall to four, but obviously that didn’t happen,” Mininsohn said following round one. “I definitely think it’s a reach at four, and you want to get your money’s worth at that spot, but you can’t win games zero to zero.”

As shocking as the three and four picks were, the ultimate shocker of the evening was Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson going to the Los Angeles Rams to be the heir of Matthew Stafford.

Fox Sports football analyst Joel Klatt knew Simpson would be a wild card in round one, but he certainly didn’t think that pick thirteen was the spot. 

“The ultimate intrigue in this year’s draft is Simpson,” Klatt said on Wednesday before the draft. “Where is he going to go? Late first round or early second round would be my guess. Don’t expect him to go in the middle picks.” 

With Simpson gone, Steeler fans across the city began to wonder who the Steelers would select at pick 21.  

The answer came when Goodell called the name of Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, who will likely be a replacement for Broderick Jones if his neck injury is severe enough to keep him out long term. 

As exciting as the event is for fans and players, the draft is a tremendous opportunity to show the nation what Pittsburgh is about. 

“The draft is huge because you don’t typically see events or conferences come to Pittsburgh in a manner of what you are seeing this week,” Charlie Batch said on Wednesday. 

Batch, who grew up in Homestead, has been an influential part of bringing the draft to the city and the development of Steelers Country at the Point State Park activation zone. 

“With over 700,000 people over a three day period, it truly is awesome,” Batch said. “It also gives people from outside of the city an opportunity to come and see what Pittsburgh truly has to offer.” 

The draft rolls on with the remaining rounds today and Saturday from Pittsburgh.