The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here, and teams will be looking to bolster their roster with some of the top collegiate talent from across the country. The first round of the draft kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where it’s expected to be an intriguing Night 1 with plenty of speculation about teams looking to trade up or back, a predicted run on offensive tackles and perhaps some unexpected selections along the way.
Make sure to follow along for live updates and analysis on every pick throughout the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
USA TODAY Sports will analyze each pick, one through 32, as We see made Thursday night, so stay right here.
How to watch the NFL draft: The 2026 draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN and ABC and streamed on NFL+ and ESPN+ over the next three days: Thursday, April 23 (Round 1 starts 8 p.m. ET), Friday, April 24 (Rounds 2-3 start 7 p.m. ET), Saturday, April 25 (Rounds 4-7 start 12 p.m. ET).
How might trades impact Round 1? The NFL draft and trades are synonymous. In any given year, the “annual player selection meeting” might entail two dozen deals or more – to say nothing of the picks swapped during the 12 months (or more) in advance of it. After the Giants and Bengals engaged in a blockbuster involving a top-10 pick over the weekend that sent Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati, six teams (Browns, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins and the Jets being the others) now have multiple first-round selections in the 2026 draft.
Point being? Anything can happen − and often does.
Unknown date & location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) carries the ball during the 1987 season. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 1972; St. Louis, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus (51) in action against the Chicago Bears at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 1985; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears lineman Dan Hampton defensive end Dan Hampton (99) in action against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 1969; St. Louis, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears running back Gayle Sayers (40) in action against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Bears 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2010; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) takes the field against the New York Jets at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears celebrates after defeating the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in October….
CBS News provides the 2026 NFL Draft first round order showing when your team will get their next picks.
Peter Schrager breaks down the differences between David Bailey and Arvell Reese, and why he feels the Jets will take Bailey.
