If you’re walking along Pittsburgh’s North Shore right now, you can’t miss it. There is a massive, steel-beam clock—modeled after the famous Sister Bridges—literally counting down the seconds. As of today, January 13, 2026, we are exactly 100 days until the NFL draft.
One hundred days.
That feels like a lifetime if you're a fan of a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who just secured the number one overall pick. But for the city of Pittsburgh? It’s a sprint. Mayor Corey O’Connor and local officials are basically vibrating with nervous energy. They’re expecting upwards of 600,000 people to descend on the "Steel City," which, for one weekend in April, is rebranding itself as "PicksBURGH."
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Honestly, the hype is starting to feel different this year. Maybe it’s because the 2025 regular season just wrapped up and the draft order is finally crystallizing. Or maybe it’s because we have a Heisman winner like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza sitting at the top of every mock draft, waiting to see if he’ll be the savior of a franchise.
The 100-Day Sprint to April 23
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23–25.
Most people think the draft is just about the podium and the hats. It’s not. In Pittsburgh, they are spending $3.4 million just to fix the leaks in the Point State Park fountain so it looks good on TV. They’re building a whole new outdoor space called "Arts Landing." They even announced a "PicksBURGH Draft Day 5K" for that Saturday, because apparently, some people want to run a race before watching their team draft a punter in the sixth round.
But let's talk about the actual football. The "days until the NFL draft" metric is the only thing keeping fanbases of eliminated teams sane. If you’re a New York Jets fan, you’ve basically been counting these days since October.
Current Top 5 Draft Order (Post-2025 Regular Season)
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
The Raiders are the big story here. This is only the second time in their history they've held the #1 pick. The last time? 2007. They took JaMarcus Russell. You don't need me to tell you how that went. The pressure to not "pull a JaMarcus" and instead grab a guy like Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore is immense.
Why the 2026 Class is Driving Everyone Crazy
Usually, by the time we hit the 100-day mark, there's a consensus. Not this year.
I was looking at the latest PFF big boards, and the scouts are all over the place. You've got Fernando Mendoza, who threw 41 touchdowns at Indiana this year. He's a pocket passer, which feels almost vintage at this point. Then you've got Dante Moore. Moore has that "it" factor, but he's also prone to the kind of "what was he thinking?" interceptions that make coaches lose their hair.
Then there’s the Travis Hunter factor.
Hunter is the "unicorn" of this class. Is he a wide receiver? Is he a cornerback? He played both at Colorado, and some teams are convinced he can do both in the league. If you're the Jacksonville Jaguars sitting at #2, do you take a guy who might need a nap by the third quarter because he never leaves the field? It’s a massive gamble.
The Quarterback Carousel
Arizona is the wildcard. They have Kyler Murray, but the rumors of a split are getting loud. If the Cardinals decide to move on, they might be looking at a guy like Ty Simpson from Alabama or even taking a defender like Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and waiting for a QB in 2027.
Honestly, the quarterback situation in the NFL right now is a mess. Half the league is looking for a "reset" button, and the draft is the only way to get it.
Pittsburgh’s "PicksBURGH" Transformation
Let's get back to the logistics, because if you're planning on going, you're already late.
The draft will be split between Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium. They’re calling the fan festival the "NFL Draft Experience." It's free, which is great, but "free" in NFL terms usually means a $15 beer and a three-hour wait to see a replica of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
- The Clock: Located on the Great Lawn on the North Shore.
- The Stage: Expected to be near the confluence of the three rivers.
- The Vibe: Pure chaos.
Kendra Whitlock Ingram, who runs the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, mentioned that the city is using the draft as a "deadline" to finish downtown modernizations. It’s like when you invite people over for a party and finally fix that broken cabinet you’ve ignored for three years. Pittsburgh is fixing its "cabinet" on a $300 million scale.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Countdown
People think the draft starts on Thursday night.
Technically, sure. But for the front offices, the "days until the NFL draft" countdown is actually a countdown to April 22—the deadline for visits and physicals. Once that window closes, the boards are set.
We also have the NFL Scouting Combine coming up in February. That’s where the "underwear Olympics" happen. A guy runs a 4.34 instead of a 4.42, and suddenly his draft stock jumps ten spots. It's irrational, but that’s the league.
I remember talking to a former scout who told me that by 50 days out, they usually know who they want. The remaining 49 days are just spent trying to convince other teams they don't want that guy so he falls to them. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
Real Talk: Is it worth going?
If you're a die-hard, yes. There’s nothing like the energy of the first round. But if you’re just a casual fan, stay home. The TV coverage has gotten so good that you see more from your couch than you do standing in a crowd of 200,000 people in the rain. And let's be real, it's April in Pittsburgh. It’s probably going to rain.
Actionable Steps for the Next 100 Days
If you're tracking the countdown, don't just stare at the clock. Here is how to actually prep for Draft Weekend:
- Book Your Stay Now: If you haven't booked a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, look at places like Cranberry or Greensburg and plan to take the T (the light rail). Downtown is likely sold out or priced at "sell a kidney" levels.
- Watch the Combine: Keep an eye on the defensive line group. Guys like Mason Graham (Michigan) and Abdul Carter (Penn State) are the real engines of this draft class.
- Study the Draft Order: It’s not just the first round. The Giants have two first-rounders this year. That’s where the real franchise-building happens.
- Download the One-Time 5K App: If you actually want to run that Draft Day 5K on Saturday, April 25, registration just opened and spots are limited.
We’re hitting the double-digit countdown tomorrow. The 2026 NFL Draft isn't just a meeting; it's the start of the next era for teams like the Raiders and Jets. Whether you’re in the Steel City or watching from home, the clock is ticking.
Pro-Tip: If you’re attending in person, the North Shore is going to be a parking nightmare. Use the Gateway Clipper shuttle from Station Square to get across the river. It’s faster, cheaper, and you get a better view of the skyline as you approach the madness.