NFL Draft 2026 First Pick Odds: Fernando Mendoza as the Top Favorite for First Pick Honor

The 2026 NFL Draft order is taking shape, and oddsmakers have set their board for the players most likely to be chosen with the first pick in April.

• The Las Vegas Raiders hold the rights to the first pick in the Draft

• Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the first pick

• Seven of the last eight players taken first in the draft were quarterbacks

2026 NFL Draft First Pick Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Use FanDuel promo code and place your bets on the NFL Draft First Pick: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets.

Top Odds to Be First Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

Fernando Mendoza (-20000) at FanDuel

Mendoza won the Heisman and guided Indiana to their first Big Ten Conference Championship since 1967, throwing for 3,172 yards, 36 TDs, and six INTs, while ranking second in QBR (89.5), as of the week of the CFP semifinal. The 6-foot-5 junior had a quick rise to fame after transferring from California, but he’s the prototypical quarterback with size, a strong arm, and the ability to make plays with his legs. He also seems to have terrific character, which would be needed to turn around the 3-14 Raiders.

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Arvell Reese (+10000) at FanDuel

Reese was a second-year player in the middle of Ohio State’s impregnable defense. While mostly playing off-ball linebacker, he totaled 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pass deflections, although he did not have a sack in his final six games. He has an elite physical profile at 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, terrific speed and strength, and great tackling instincts, and he should be an immediate starter on defense.

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David Bailey (+15000) at FanDuel

A 6-foot-3 edge rusher from Stanford, Bailey amassed 42 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. At 245 pounds, he possesses both explosive bend and a relentless motor, which he uses to dip under offensive tackles and collapse the pocket. He also has impressive versatility to drop into coverage, although there are questions about his functional strength and run-anchoring ability that will be scrutinized at the NFL combine.

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First-Overall NFL Draft Picks Since 2000