The NFL has officially invited 16 prospects to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Per a league press release, nine defenders and seven offensive players will be in-person for April’s big event.
They are: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, Tennessee CB Colton Hood, Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese, Miami (FL) EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., USC WR Makai Lemon, Alabama QB Ty Simpson, LSU CB Mansoor Delane, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State WR Carnell Tate, Miami (FL) OT Francis Mauigoa, Ohio State S Caleb Downs, LSU EDGE Keldrick Faulk, Ohio State NT Kayden McDonald, Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson, and Alabama OL Kadyn Proctor.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, widely expected to become the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, will not attend. Instead, he will watch the draft from a party at home. It’s uncommon for a consensus No. 1 pick to opt against attending but presumably the decision is related to his mother’s MS and health issues that make travel challenging. Other top prospects may have been invited but declined the opportunity.
A pass rusher is likely to be the first prospect to walk across the stage when the New York Jets pick at No. 2 overall. Reese, David Bailey, and Bain Jr. are all in contention to become the selection.
Mauigoa could be the first offensive lineman selected. Yet to turn 21, he played right tackle for the Hurricanes and figures to do the same for whichever team drafts him. The Arizona Cardinals are a possibility at No. 3.
Tate is almost certain to be the first wide receiver selected. Playing second fiddle to Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jeremiah Smith throughout his college career, Tate is a talented player in his own right and one of the draft’s highest-character players. He’s expected to be selected in the Top 10, potentially even landing with the receiver-needy Cleveland Browns at No. 6.
Ohio State products will fill up the green room with five of the 16 hailing from Columbus.
Love is easily the top running back prospect of this year’s class and the best of the past few cycles. The Tennessee Titans could consider him at No. 4. If not, Love is likely to land within the top ten selections.
The secondary will be well-represented at the draft. Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy are battling to become the first cornerback off the board while the safety class is as strong as its been in years. Downs, Thieneman, and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren are all likely to be taken in the first round. Only Downs, however, is going to the draft.
Ty Simpson’s invite is notable and could mean the NFL views him as a first round pick. Still, invited quarterbacks have fallen out of the draft before. Last year, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe attended the draft but wasn’t selected until the third round. Last year, 15 of the 17 invites were selected in the first round. Michigan CB Will Johnson fell to the second round.
To date, the Steelers have brought in just one name on the list in Lemon. They showed interest in Hood at Tennessee’s Pro Day, sending multiple personnel members while former CB and current scout Ike Taylor worked him out.
This will be the second time Pittsburgh’s ever hosted the draft after being the chosen city for the 1948 NFL Draft. This is the first time Pittsburgh will hold the event in the modern era with prospects walking on stage to hug Roger Goodell and officially realize their NFL dreams.
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