Key Facts

• The NFL Draft was held in Pittsburgh, known as the Steel City, from April 23 to 25, 2026.
• Over 805,000 fans attended the event in person, with more than 320,000 attending just the first round.
• The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick, the first player from Indiana to be drafted first.
• The first round featured surprising choices, including the Los Angeles Rams picking Ty Simpson at No. 13 and Philadelphia trading up to select Makai Lemon.
• ESPN reported that the first round averaged 13.2 million viewers across its platforms, making it the third highest-rated first round in NFL Draft history.
• The NFL Draft has evolved from a modest event into a major cultural moment with live festivals and extensive TV and streaming coverage.
• Factors making the NFL Draft popular include stories about players, trades, multi-platform broadcast, and the influence of betting and fantasy football.
• The 2027 NFL Draft is planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and is expected to draw up to one million attendees.