It’s safe to say that the 2026 NFL Draft lacks the star power and sizzle of years past, and not just at quarterback.
While Fernando Mendoza will likely be the only quarterback to be chosen in the top-10 picks, and perhaps even in the first round, there are also going to be several prospects who are taken in the first round, who might have otherwise been chosen a round or two earlier.
NFL Executive bearish on this year’s NFL Draft class
2026 NFL Draft
January 7, 2026; The 2026 NFL Draft logo is displayed atop the NFL Draft countdown clock.
Turns out, that opinion is one shared by some folks inside the league.
“It’s a ho-hum, below-average draft,” an NFC West Personnel Executive tells Between The Hashmarks.
Top prospects such as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, or Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs, have the potential to be Day 1 difference makers upon arrival, there might not be 32 fully first-round graded prospects in this year’s class.
Ultimately, this is a year where the front offices that prioritize high-floor “glue guys” over chasing non-existent stars will be the ones that win the weekend. In a draft this thin, the goal isn’t necessarily to find a savior … it’s to ensure you don’t leave Pittsburgh with a bust.