2026 NFL Draft: Mike Vrabel Controversy, Rare Down Year For Alabama Prospects, Fernando Mendoza Absence

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, including its start in Detroit, the controversy surrounding Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, Fernando Mendoza’s decision to skip the event and Alabama’s unusually thin group of top-tier prospects compared to recent years.

The 2026 NFL Draft begins tonight and runs from April 23-25, 2026, with the first round on Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday, and rounds four through seven on Saturday. The event is being held in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the NFL’s rotating host city format.

One of the major storylines involves Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini. After photos surfaced in April showing the two together in Arizona, Vrabel initially downplayed the situation but later acknowledged it had created personal and professional fallout. He said he’s had difficult conversations with his family and organization and will briefly step away during the draft to seek counseling, while the NFL has said it is not investigating the matter.

On the player side, Fernando Mendoza will not attend in person, choosing to stay in Miami with his family due to his mother’s health. Despite being projected as a top pick, he will experience the draft privately, reflecting a growing trend of prospects skipping the event.

As for college programs, the Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to have a lighter presence in the early rounds than usual, with more mid-round and developmental prospects rather than the high volume of first-round picks they’ve typically produced in recent years.