2026 NFL Draft: Day 1 Recap

Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the record books!

In case you missed it, here's the highlight reel of Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh Breaks All-Time Round One Attendance Record

You read that right. According to the NFL, 320,000 fans turned out for round one of the 2026 NFL Draft, topping the 275,000+ who attended in Detroit in 2024. That's more than the population of the City of Pittsburgh from the 2024 Census!

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Las Vegas Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza 1st Overall, Pittsburgh Steelers Pick Max Iheanachor at 21st Overall

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft saw some of the biggest names taken in the top slots. Fernando Mendoza was expectedly taken with the Las Vegas Raiders' first overall pick, while some selections came as a shock to fans and projections. The Philadelphia Eagles traded for the 20th overall pick as the clock was winding down and selected Makai Lemon, leading into the 21st pick where the Steelers took Max Iheanachor, right after the crowd got hyped to "Renegade," of course.

Top Prospects Stun on the Red Carpet at Point State Park

The biggest names in the future of football stunned on the red carpet at Point State Park. Between talking to local and national media, screen-printing their portrait Andy Warhol-style, and showing off their sense of style, these top prospects had a blast before getting drafted to the big leagues.

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Three Sister Bridges Representing Each Team Drafting Their Picks

Alongside the projection on the face of the Wyndham Grand, Pittsburgh's Three Sister Bridges (Warhol, Clemente, Carson) have their own light display during the Draft. Each time a team is selecting a pick, the bridges shine their colors - red, white and blue for the New England Patriots; green for the New York Jets; and yes, even purple for the Baltimore Ravens. This stunning display is just one example of how the whole city has gotten in on the Draft hype.

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Penn State's Nittany Lion Wins The Great Pennsylvania Mascot Race

It was the race of the century between mascots from all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and only one could come out on top. Despite fierce competition, Penn State's Nittany Lion breezed across the finish line and claim the championship, alongside a silver trophy and bragging rights in the name of Pennsylvania sports rivalries.