The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the Las Vegas Raiders will make the first pick.

It’s just the second time in franchise history the Raiders have owned the No. 1 overall selection.

Here’s a look at the NFL teams that have had the most and fewest No. 1 picks in the Super Bowl era (since 1967).

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Colts (6)

(Baltimore, Indianapolis): 1967, 1983, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2012

Best pick: Peyton Manning (1998)

It’s difficult to believe this actually came down to Manning or, ahem, Ryan Leaf as the choice at No. 1 in 1998. And, yes, the Colts did draft John Elway No. 1 overall in 1983, but he demanded a trade and was dealt to Denver without ever playing a down for Baltimore.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5)

1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 2015

Best pick: Lee Roy Selmon (1976)

As the first-ever pick in Tampa Bay’s history, Selmon became a three-time first-team All-Pro and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He remains the team’s all-time sack leader, and in 1979, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Bills, Bengals, Browns, Patriots (4)

Buffalo Bills: 1969, 1972, 1979, 1985

Cincinnati Bengals: 1994, 1995, 2003, 2020

Cleveland Browns: 1999, 2000, 2017, 2018

New England Patriots: 1971, 1982, 1984, 1993

Best pick: Bruce Smith, Bills (1985)

This is where it starts getting tricky: Picking only one best pick from these four teams. Could have gone with O.J. Simpson (Bills 1969). Kidding, but just sayin’. Or Myles Garrett (Browns 2017), who’s closing in fast on my pick: Bruce Smith. Buffalo’s bad, bad man (Not O.J. bad, just sayin’) is the NFL’s all-time sack leader (200), was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and is a Hall of Famer (2009).

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Falcons, Cowboys, Texans, Rams, Oilers/Titans (3)

As much as I wanted to select Earl Campbell, I had to go with Troy Aikman. You could also make the case for Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace (No. pick 1997), but the Cowboys Hall of Fame QB (2006) led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in four years (1993, 1994, 1996). Hard to beat that.

Atlanta Falcons: 1975, 1988, 2001

Dallas Cowboys: 1974, 1989, 1991

Houston Texans: 2002, 2006, 2014

Rams (St. Louis, Los Angeles): 1997, 2010, 2016

Tennessee Titans: 1973, 1978 (as the Houston Oilers), 2025

Best pick: Troy Aikman, Cowboys (1989)

Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, Raiders (2)

Carolina Panthers: 2011, 2023

Detroit Lions: 1980, 2009

Jacksonville Jaguars: 2021, 2022

Las Vegas Raiders: 2007 (as the Oakland Raiders), 2026

Best pick: Matthew Stafford, Lions (2009)

Stafford was stellar in Detroit, but Lions fans sure wish he had led them to a Super Bowl title, instead of MVP-ing the Rams to the top of the NFL world in 2015.

Cardinals, Bears, Chiefs, Chargers, Dolphins, Vikings, Saints, Jets, Steelers, 49ers (1)

Arizona Cardinals: 2019

Chicago Bears: 2024

Kansas City Chiefs: 2013

Los Angeles Chargers: 2004 (as the San Diego Chargers)

Miami Dolphins: 2008

Minnesota Vikings: 1968

New Orleans Saints: 1981

New York Jets: 1996

Pittsburgh Steelers: 1970

San Francisco 49ers: 2005

Best pick: Terry Bradshaw, Steelers (1970)

Even if you think Bradshaw is, in the words of Charles Barkley, “turrible” as an NFL analyst, he was a terrific QB. The Hall of Famer guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) during Pittsburgh’s incredible run in the 1970s under coach Chuck Noll.

Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks (0)

A bit of a surprise, no? It’s a testament to their consistency of winning year after year that these three franchises have never made the No. 1 pick. Instead, they have 61 total postseason appearances collectively and have accounted for seven Lombardi Trophies.

Other NFL franchises with No. 1 draft picks prior to 1967

Green Bay Packers

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Commanders

Best pick: Paul Hornung, Packers (1957)

Hornung was nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” but he was tough as bronze. Legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung “the greatest player I ever coached”. Heavy praise for the bruising running back.

Conclusion

Well, there’s little doubt that the Raiders are going to take Fernando Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday.

They can only hope the promising Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t become the next JaMarcus Russell, inarguably the worst No. 1 overall draft pick in NFL history.

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For many prospects, hearing their name called on draft night in front of a national audience is the dream. But for Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 NFL Draft is about something more personal. Instead of attending the event in Pittsburgh, Mendoza has chosen to stay home, and his reasoning says everything about who he is.

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Choosing Family Over the Spotlight

“Pittsburgh is a great opportunity, and it’s a great venue,” Mendoza said. “It’d be a dream for a lot of guys.” But for him, the decision wasn’t about the stage or the spotlight; it was about the people. “My mom really wanted to do it at home. It’s a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation.”

Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, has been battling multiple sclerosis for years. Traveling across the country for the draft would have made an already emotional moment more difficult. Staying home allows the family to celebrate together in a way that’s comfortable and meaningful. Sometimes, the biggest moments in sports aren’t about where you are. They’re about who you’re with.

A Journey Worth Sharing

Mendoza’s path to this moment hasn’t been typical. From barely receiving scholarship opportunities to leading the Indiana Hoosiers football team to an undefeated season and the first national championship in program history, his rise has been fueled by a strong support system.

And he wants them there. “I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey,” Mendoza said. “Mentors, coaches, family, friends.”

More Than Just a Draft Moment

For many prospects, draft night is a quick walk across a stage. For Mendoza, it’s a shared experience.n “To be able to share that moment with all of them is going to be the best memory that I can make, rather than limiting it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh.” It’s a perspective that shifts the focus from the spectacle to the substance.

Fernando Mendoza isn’t skipping the spotlight; he’s redefining it. By choosing family, comfort, and connection over the traditional draft experience, he’s turning one of the biggest nights of his career into something even more meaningful. And no matter where he hears his name called, it’s clear he’s already won in the ways that matter most.

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