The Steel City is buzzing as the league prepares to descend upon Pittsburgh, and the stakes for the 2026 NFL Draft couldn’t be higher. With the Las Vegas Raiders on the clock at No. 1 and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza looming as the consensus prize of the class, the narrative is shifting from “what if” to “who’s next.” From the sheer gravity of Ohio State’s… well all of them Buckeyes (Sonny Styles, Carnell Tate, & Caleb Downs) to a deep, pool of first round talent that is sure to turn heads this season, this year’s board is a puzzle of elite instincts and high-upside gambles. As teams finalize their boards at the confluence of the three rivers, here is my look at how the first round will shake out in this 2026 Mock Draft, with more analysis to come as we get closer to Thursday night.

(Last Updated: 4/23/2026 9:49am)

• When Goes QB 2?
  • Mendoza to the Raiders has been the worst kept secret in the NFL… but what about which QB is going second? Simpson and Beck both seem like the next quarterbacks off the board, but will either of them go in the first round? Right now it looks like a one quarterback first round… but maybe we will see some trades into the back half of the first round to sneak ahead of the Jets & Cardinals that are both needing a quarterback and are picking early in the second.
• The New York Jets Decision?
  • NFL experts have been split on who the Jets are taking at the 2 spot – with many NFL experts and GMs assuming it is Bailey – but the Jets cancelled their meeting with him and seem to be all in on Reese, who matches what New York is looking for. If Reese drops past pick two, watch as teams try to trade into the 3rd and 4th picks to grab one versatile and ultra-athletic player in Arvell Reese.
• Trading Craze at 3 and 4
  • Arizona and Tennessee are both reportedly looking to trade down, while Arizona is also trying to bulk up for next year. Keep an eye on the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens – all teams that have a huge chance of climbing into one of those two spots. And don’t be shocked if the New York Giants try moving up from 5 to 3 – Love is the perfect RB for Harbaugh’s rebuild of the G-Men – wouldn’t be shocked if he sneaks a few picks earlier to grab his star running back.
• Will the Steelers Make the Crowd Go Wild?
  • Pittsburgh is in a tough spot, as by 21 almost all of the players they’ve looked at will have been drafted. So will Pittsburgh move up the board to try and get one of the offensive linemen they looked at in Olaivavega Ioane and Spencer Fano. Don’t be surprised if the new regime in Pittsburgh makes a splash.
• Could the Chiefs Start Another Run?
  • Kansas City is one of the teams most likely to be busy tonight, with two selections in the first round that they will definitely use to move up. Watch as KC tries to get earlier in the Top 10 or steal a player in the mid-round, to fill some of their gaps while building for the future as they replenish the aging and expensive talent that they might not have for much longer.

Saturday of the World Championships is an absolute gauntlet of races on tap. The world’s best hit Santa Anita Park with all that they have, and this is sure to be a day to remember. While the order of races may not be what we are used to, the racing day should be nothing but spectacular. Here is how I see the races on the day.

Race 3 – Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade I) | 1 Mile | Dirt | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $1,000,000
(1) Stage Raider | (3) Cody’s Wish | (4) Zozos
I do think this race runs through one main horse, Cody’s Wish, who can easily take this if he likes the two-turn trip; but his best is always around one turn, and he hasn’t been coming into this race off his best. I’ll use Stage Raider to beat him at a price; he was just a length from Zozos last out in the Ack Ack around one-turn, and really needs two turns to get his game going; his last win at Ellis Park was impressive, pulling away from the weaker stakes field – will need his best to win, but is poised for an upset. Zozos is the other talent here; Brad Cox has him ready. (Algiers was to be the play here, before he had to withdraw)

Race 4 – Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade I) | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | Three-Year-Olds and Upward, F&M | $2,000,000
(2) Warm Heart | (6) Inspiral | (7) Lindy | (11) Lumiere Rock
After rewatching each of the preps for this field, no one has a turn of foot quite like Warm Heart. Last out in the Qatar Prix Vermeille, Warm Heart easily coasted and fended off the challenge of Melo Melo. She should relish the firmer ground and should appreciate the cut back in distance. Inspiral on class alone would likely win this race – and give Dettori a Breeders’ Cup Flying Dismount – and was impressive in the Sun Chariot; if she handles the move up in distance and the firmer ground, she will be dangerous. Lindy and Lumiere Rock are the longshot plays for me – Lindy showed impressive turn of foot last out and will respond well to the step up in pace, while Lumiere Rock puts her best on firmer ground and is not too far from the top of this field – if she can get to the front early she will easily hold on for a piece of it in the end.

Race 5 – Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade I) | 7 Furlongs | Dirt | Three-Year-Olds and Upward, F&M | $1,000,000
(1) Goodnight Olive
Not going to try and rewrite the book here – Goodnight Olive is much the best here in a race that came up very soft.

Race 6 – Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade I) | 1 Mile | Turf | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $2,000,000
(6) Mawj | (10) Songline | (11) Kelina | (14) Master Of The Seas
This is an absolute thriller on paper! So much talent in what may be the best Breeders’ Cup Mile in a long time. The 1000 Guineas winner, Mawj, gets my top vote here, as she had the ideal prep heading into this spot and has really taken well to the American turf. Her last out was an impressive gate to wire win at Keeneland and should move up off that. But her challengers are fierce. The Japanese back-to-back Yasuda Kinen winning mare, Songline, is the real deal – if she transfers her form and turn of foot overseas, she will be very difficult to stop; whether she makes the trip well is really the only question mark for a horse that continues to swallow up ground very quickly. Meanwhile the Wertheimer et Frere entry of Kelina may be the forgotten one, and could be open at a price, after an impressive win over Kinross in the Prix de la Foret last out; she is a fighter who is coming into her own now. Of course, it would be a mistake to leave out the Appleby-Buick runner, Master Of The Seas, who is an excellent horse in his own right; the pair have won this race the last two years and have another tough challenger with this winner of the Woodbine Mile.

Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade I) | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | Three-Year-Olds and Upward, F&M | $2,000,000
(7) Wet Paint | (4) Idiomatic | (2) A Mo Reay
The Distaff has come up with a ton of front speed and lots of horses that want the front. The expected fast pace sets up well for those with tactical speed and closers, which leads me to Wet Paint and Idiomatic. Both are must use in my opinion, with both looking to set just a bit off the quick early pace and sweeping by. Wet Paint is coming into her own well and should step up again here, while Idiomatic is one that has excelled from anywhere in the track and should be placed right behind the leaders or taking over if no one else does by Florent Geroux. A Mo Reay gets the price here – no way she should be anywhere near 20/1 – trouble has caused her to lose some lengths in her last three, but last out was showing exactly what you’d want and should continue to improve – a clean trip for her likely gets her into the money, if not better.

Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade I) | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $4,000,000
(9) Mostahdaf | (5) Auguste Rodin
Can’t say there is much money to be won here, but some of the best turf stars in the world hit the Arcadia turf for a thrilling showdown. Auguste Rodin is by far the class of the field and will get most of the money – a thrilling sight to see the Irish Champion and dual Derby winner here for the Breeders’ Cup. But Mostahdaf will be my top choice here – should get him at twice the odds of Auguste Rodin and with just as much talent – the Juddmonte and Princes of Wales’s winner relishes this firmer ground and has shown to travel so well. He has grown so much since the Dubai Sheema Classic and should be in top form for Jim Crowley and John Gosden.

Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $6,000,000
(13) Proxy | (8) Ushba Tesoro | (11) Bright Future
I’ve been a huge fan of Proxy for over a year now… just waiting for his time to shine. Here might be it. The son of Tapit is one with a ton of tactical speed but has found his way into some tough spots all year round. He finally has started to grow these last two and looks to be gearing up for another big run entering this spot. His best stuff comes at 10 furlongs, and his great positioning should keep him in a spot to pounce down the stretch against what looks to be a pretty quick pace. Ushba Tesoro is a must use – he is one of the best horses in the world and the quick pace here should bode well for him to get a big last run down the stretch and close on for victory. I’ll take a price in Bright Future who has found his preferred race as of late and should press the pace early and have the stamina to keep on going.

Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade I) | 5 Furlongs | Turf | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $1,000,000
(12) Arzak | (11) Jasper Krone | (3) Caravel
What a great betting race in the Turf Sprint! Arzak gets my pick – love his Woodford win last out and this is the type of spot he loves to be in – this race suits his style well and puts him right where he needs to be to win. His form is developing well coming into the Breeders Cup. Jasper Krone ships in from Japan and the cutback in distance to 5 furlongs should bode him well – nice run in the Kitakyushu Kinen earlier this year and has a ton of talent to show up today. Meanwhile Caravel is always a must use in these spots and, while the last two have been terrible trips, she should rebound to find her way near the front at the end.

Race 11 – Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade I) | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | Three-Year-Olds and Upward | $2,000,000
(2) Dr. Schivel | (6) The Chosen Vron
I’m taking two of the top horses from the last two major sprint races in California, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship winner Dr. Schivel and the Bing Crosby winner The Chosen Vron. Both have tactical speed, are in great form, and relish this tricky track in Arcadia. Seeing how front running speed didn’t bode well for horses on Friday gives credence to those in the second flight.

The World Championships of Horse Racing are among us once again – the Breeders’ Cup! With a stacked Future Stars Friday card on the docket, Friday is an exceptional day of racing for any fan. No race is a true give-me with Juvenile races having diverse and challenging fields that are sure to cause the best horses to rise to the occasion.

Race 5 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade I) | 5 Furlongs | Turf | Two-Year-Olds | $1,000,000
(2) No Nay Mets | (9) Starlust | (11) Slider
Speed will be the name of the game for these two-year-olds in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. No Nay Mets has by far the best speed in this field, has drawn near the inside, and is fresh coming into this spot. Irad should be able to easily navigate this field from the front and pull away near the end to take the opening Championship race. I’d add Starlust and Slider underneath at prices; Starlust will definitely move up on this firmer turf while Slider is very comfortable on this course and should be running near the front in the end.

Race 6 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | Two-Year-Old Fillies | $2,000,000
(7) Tamara | (1) Candied | (2) Jody’s Pride
Is Tamara much the best in this field? Absolutely. If she runs her race, she crushes this field, but if she doesn’t repeat her effort in the Del Mar Debutante, the Alcibiades winner Candied isn’t going to be too far behind her. Candied has been impressive in both her starts and is showing great turn of foot for being so young. Both ridden by elite jockeys that will be putting their mounts in the best position. But if not them, watch out for a young two-year-old by American Pharoah out of a Scat Daddy mare; Jody’s Pride may have been sprinting against fields that really wanted to be on turf, but she has taken both races in great stride and was ultra impressive drawing away in the Matron last out at Aqueduct. While this will be a step up for her, and a much longer distance, her pedigree suggests she gets the distance and at 15/1, it is hard to avoid a horse that should definitely be at a shorter price.

Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade I) | 1 Mile | Turf | Two-Year-Old Fillies | $1,000,000
(8) Life’s An Audible | (5) Content | (7) Gala Brand | (10) Austere
This is by far the toughest race of the day to handicap. The Euros look good here, but the obvious stand-outs have too many questions about distance to put a lot of eggs in their basket. Instead, I go with a longshot coming in from NY, Life’s An Audible, who was charging hard last time out against an incredible slow pace. She won’t get that here and should get the quick pace she was hoping to have – that will work well for her turn of foot and help her do just one better this time. Underneath, I’ll take the mount of Ryan Moore, Content, who had a flying win last out in the Staffordstown Stud and should easily make the distance – she has been getting better as the races get longer and should be a contender. I’ll also use a second runner out of the Ms Grillo, Gala Brand, who was impressive in the With Anticipation and looks to get a trip that won’t have her in the middle of the track. I also can’t leave this race without looking at Austere, who could end up being the best of this bunch a year from now; I think she is just a bit green still, but watching her win at Kentucky Downs is all you need to know she is a future star.

Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) | 1 1/16 Mile | Dirt | Two-Year-Old Colts & Geldings | $2,000,000
(8) General Partner | (4) Timberlake | (10) Muth
The Champagne Stakes one-two look to be coming into form well. Timberlake put his best performance on the track in the Champagne last out, but General Partner may be the better one here; looked like the slop just hampered his ability to finish, but that won’t be the problem here. Both of these are much the best in the field. Muth has a lot of talent and sure to at least test anyone down the stretch.

Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade I) | 1 Mile | Turf | Two Year Old Colts & Geldings | $1,000,000
(8) Unquestionable | (14) Carson’s Run | (2) River Tiber
Aidan O’Brien does look to be the one to come away with another Juvenile Turf this year, with a very tough to stop Unquestionable. He should easily hit the money and looks to tower over this field. While he does have a few blemishes on his record, he has been racing against the top and continues to impress. Meanwhile, Carson’s Run comes out of a tough Summer Stakes at Woodbine that he won in funky fashion – a more straightforward trip will bode well for him (also watch if Gala Brand wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf earlier in the day; he finished behind her in the With Anticipation). I’ll throw the other talented Aidan O’Brien into the card, with River Tiber shipping well and sure to be a threat.