Draft-night trade drama

The 2026 National Football League draft opens Thursday night in Pittsburgh with no clear script after Las Vegas at No. 1 and active trade calls around the top 20. (espn.com) Round 1 starts at 8 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, April 23, with rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24, and rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday, April 25. ESPN’s draft guide says the seven-round event will produce 257 total picks. (espn.com) The Raiders hold the No. 1 pick, and ESPN’s full order lists Las Vegas first and Denver last at No. 257. That leaves the biggest early suspense centered on what happens from No. 2 forward. (espn.com) CBS Sports reported Thursday that the New York Jets are expected to take Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2. NFL.com said earlier in the week that Bailey and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese had been the two names most closely tied to the Jets. (cbssports.com) (nfl.com) Trade chatter is driving much of the uncertainty. NFL.com reported Wednesday that Dallas, which owns picks No. 12 and No. 20, has enough draft capital to move either up or down, while CBS Sports said the Cowboys have been fielding calls and could slide back. (nfl.com) (cbssports.com) That matters because the first round sets the market for the rest of the weekend: once one team moves, the clubs behind it have to decide whether to pay more to climb or wait for talent to fall. NFL.com’s draft page on Thursday featured multiple projected first-round trades, a sign that league-wide expectations for movement remain high. (nfl.com) Quarterback uncertainty is part of the volatility. CBS Sports reported Thursday that Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is rising into first-round discussion, while ESPN’s draft coverage has framed Fernando Mendoza as the class’s top quarterback prospect. (cbssports.com) (espn.com) Pittsburgh is hosting the draft, but the Steelers do not pick until No. 21 in the first round. ESPN reported earlier this month that Pittsburgh has 12 total selections, including Nos. 21, 53 and 76 in the first two days. (espn.com) By Thursday night, the question is less who goes first than how long the board stays intact after that. If the Jets lock in Bailey at No. 2 and Dallas starts moving, the draft’s opening hour could reset the rest of Round 1. (cbssports.com) (nfl.com)