The total announced by commissioner Roger Goodell smashed the previous mark of 275,000 in Detroit in 2024.

The number also dwarfed the 205,000 who attended Day 1 of the 2025 draft in Green Bay.

The attendance in the Steel City included fans at Acrisure Stadium, site of the main stage, and Point State Park, the location for the NFL Draft Experience.

Pittsburgh officials had anticipated the large crowds in the city, expanding public transportation and shifting public school classes to remote-based learning. Organizers anticipated a total turnout for the three-day draft of between 500,000 and 700,000 fans.

The bar has been set for Washington, D.C., site of the 2027 NFL Draft.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee -- McCoy missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn right ACL, and his drop isn't surprising given the news that there was still some work to do in the healing process. McCoy still being on the board means that, on Day 2 of the draft, a team will get a high-level player in terms of pure football talent. McCoy's best reps from the 2024 season would have cemented him as a top 10 player had they occurred this year, but with the time away from the sport, McCoy slid.

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee -- It wasn't just an injured Tennessee secondary player who fell, as even a healthy one is still on the board. Hood being available in Round 2 is legitimately surprising, as his burst and physicality made him an obvious candidate for an early selection, not to mention his clean bill of health. You have to wonder if McCoy's injury is hurting Hood's stock. It will be interesting to keep track of what ultimately wins out, health or ability.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo -- While two safeties came off the board in Round 1 (somewhat of a rarity), McNeil-Warren was not one of them. Perhaps it was to do with his Group of 5 background, or because his man-coverage ability still needed some cleanup. His zone instincts and impressive athleticism should make McNeil-Warren one of the first players to come off the board in Day 2, turning the Toledo defensive back into an early starter for a team.

Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M -- Most of the edge rushers selected on Thursday came with standard measurements, outside of Rueben Bain Jr., who slid to No. 15. Howell is likely still on the board because of his arm length, measured between 30 and 31 inches, depending on who you ask. If a team is willing to take a chance on an unorthodox player, it will get one of this draft's most prolific speed rushers with a habit of converting pressures into sacks. Howell also does strong work dropping into coverage, so he should be chosen pretty early in Round 2.

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State -- Four Ohio State players heard their names called Thursday night, but McDonald was not one of them. Teams may not have seen a lot of creativity with McDonald, who profiled primarily as a run-stopping nose tackle. While that evaluation could leave you believing McDonald had limited value, if a team needs an anchor in the defensive front, McDonald will hear his name called earlier in Round 2. Here's a secret: His pass-rush reps aren't so bad either.

If you had a bet out on Tate being the first Ohio State player taken, you probably made some money. The Titans had many needs and committed heavily to taking wide receivers in the mid-rounds last year, so the position wasn't really on the radar for Tennessee.

Tate fits extremely well into the wide receiver room, providing a true alpha complement to Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, who showed promise, but not quite enough to elevate quarterback Cam Ward early. Pairing their franchise quarterback with a high-level wideout early could spell promise for this offense.

Chiefs select LSU CB Mansoor Delane at 6

It's not surprising that there was some jockeying to get higher in the draft in a class with a limited number of blue-chip players, but most assumed that if the Chiefs were going to move up it would be for an edge rusher. The Chiefs lost a chunk of cornerbacks this offseason, but moving up for Delane was unexpected.

However, head coach Andy Reid should welcome Delane to the team, given the limited outside talent on the team. The group should feel a little more solid with Delane's well-rounded coverage ability.

Rams select Alabama QB Ty Simpson at 13

The first-year Alabama signal caller has been gifted the perfect chance to develop. With Rams head coach Sean McVay on his side and a solid starter in Matthew Stafford to learn from for at least the next season or two, Simpson looks like he'll be able to be in prime form like we saw in the first half of his final college season. The Rams are giving him a long leash to develop, a good plan for a player whom many doubted could start early. Still, this selection was a shocker for a team many believe is ready to compete for a Super Bowl this season.

Vikings select Louisville DL Caleb Banks at 18

Without the foot injury that sidelined Banks for most of the 2025 season, this would not be much of a shock. But Banks suffered another foot injury at the NFL Combine, and many believed his stock had dropped as a result.

The Vikings, though, clearly saw the impressive movement skills Banks showed off at the combine and jumped at the chance to draft him. Time will tell if this is a major upside play or an unforced blunder, that's between Minnesota and the doctor's office.

The Las Vegas Raiders tabbed Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. The 22-year-old will be the centerpiece of a franchise rebuild following his meteoric rise at Indiana, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led the program to its first national title.

Mendoza had 41 touchdown passes and six interceptions for Indiana last season, completing 72% of his passes to post a perfect 16-0 record not many outside the program saw coming. Indiana entered the season with the most losses in FBS history (715).

It came as no surprise that the Raiders, who finished 3-14 in 2025, used their top pick on Mendoza. The selection had been expected for months as Las Vegas eyed a potential franchise quarterback, and now the only question is whether Mendoza will immediately step in as the starter or whether he will serve as an understudy to veteran Kirk Cousins to start the season.

What the Raiders' top pick lacked in suspense, the rest of the top 10 made up for with surprises.

The New York Jets tapped Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 pick. Bailey racked up 14.5 sacks in 14 games last season, and he prompted the Jets to bypass highly touted edge rusher Arvell Reese to select him instead.

At No. 3, the Arizona Cardinals added Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The Cardinals had needs at other positions but decided they could not skip out on a home-run hitter in Love, who averaged 6.9 yards per carry and rushed for 18 touchdowns last season.

The Titans added another twist at No. 4 when they bypassed high-end defenders to select wideout Carnell Tate from Ohio State. In 2025, Tate caught 51 passes and hauled in nine touchdowns.

Tate had a message for Cam Ward, his new quarterback with the Titans.

"I'm a reliable target for him," Tate said. "Whenever he needs me, I'm there for him. I'm always open."

The New York Giants pounced on Reese at No. 5, where he will join what could be one of the league's more talented pass-rushing units.

"The Giants told me they're going to get unique with me," Reese said. "They said they're going to use me in a bunch of unique ways. I'm looking forward to that."

Next came the first trade of the evening, as the Kansas City Chiefs struck a deal with the Cleveland Browns to move up from No. 9 to No. 6. To jump three spots on the draft board, the Chiefs gave up a third-round pick (No. 74) overall and a fifth-round pick (No. 148 overall).

Kansas City then selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

Delane said the Chiefs were not heavily involved in his pre-draft process, a tactic that appeared to be subterfuge as soon as they called his name.

"They said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneak move," Delane said. "And they made the best move in the draft. So I'm excited."

The Washington Commanders followed at No. 7 by selecting linebacker Sonny Styles -- the third Buckeye to go in the top seven picks. At No. 8, the New Orleans Saints drafted Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

A pair of offensive linemen rounded out the top 10.

Cleveland got first dibs as it used the No. 9 pick to select tackle Spencer Fano from Utah. Moments later, the Giants took advantage of their second pick of the first round to take Miami Hurricanes tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.

The Chiefs moved from No. 9 to No. 6 overall, while the Browns received a third-rounder (74th overall) and a fifth-rounder (148th) in addition to the ninth overall pick from Kansas City.

Cleveland drafted Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano in the No. 9 slot, the first offensive lineman taken.

The Chiefs, coming off their first missed postseason since 2014, had a need at cornerback after dealing two-time All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams last month.

Delane, the first cornerback selected Thursday, was a unanimous All-American in 2025 after recording two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 45 tackles in 11 games for LSU. He spent his first three college seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring ahead of the 2025 season and finished his college career with eight interceptions, 27 pass breakups, 191 tackles and seven tackles for loss.

The 22-year-old becomes the centerpiece of a franchise rebuild following his own meteoric rise, culminating in the Hoosiers claiming a football national title for the first time in program history.

Las Vegas went 3-14 last season and fired Pete Carroll as head coach, which prompted a change at quarterback under first-time head coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders traded starter Geno Smith to the Jets and signed Kirk Cousins to bridge any potential gap for Mendoza to be deemed ready for the QB1 role.

General manager John Spytek and Kubiak said their "perfect world" would allow for Mendoza to be worked into the starting role gradually. Considered a cerebral field general more than a physical freak or elite specimen at quarterback, Mendoza has already openly discussed the presence of a priceless sounding board in Las Vegas: minority franchise owner Tom Brady. He read the "TB12 Method" book before the NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for a potential interaction with Brady.

That didn't come until he took his official team visit to meet the team's top brass.

"Everything that he's all about is something that I've always emulated as a football player," Mendoza said in February. "And anything the coaching staff has as coaching points, like, ‘Hey Fernando, we need you to get better at this, this and that,' I'm gonna be like, ‘Hey Tom, how do I get better at this, this and that?' If I get selected by Mr. Spytek and the Raiders, if that does happen, it'd be a great opportunity."

Mendoza is the first No. 1 pick for the Raiders since drafting LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007. The Raiders haven't won a postseason game since the 2002 playoffs and have earned only two trips (2016, 2021) since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to the Buccaneers. The Raiders also last won the AFC West division in 2002.

All of the losses have placed the Raiders in position to stock the roster with blue-chip talent in the draft. Tight end Brock Bowers (13th pick, 2024) made a record-setting splash in his first season with 112 catches for 1,194 yards. Running back Ashton Jeanty (sixth overall pick, 2025) had 10 touchdowns last season despite being an easy target behind a ragtag offensive line.

Spytek insists a 180 turn by the Raiders from 3-14 in 2025 won't be about one player or position. Las Vegas entered Thursday with 10 total draft picks and was next slated to pick at No. 36 overall, the fourth pick in the second round on Friday.

The Raiders have numerous position needs after averaging 14.2 points and allowing 25.4 points per game in 2025. The climb can be steep. As a team, the Raiders scored 40 fewer touchdowns (25) than the Rams. But the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are living testaments to what a franchise-caliber quarterback can bring to a team.

The Commanders selected Jayden Daniels in 2024 and advanced to the NFC Championship during his rookie season. New England was in the Super Bowl in February with Drake Maye, the quarterback drafted one spot after Daniels, playing at an MVP level in a rapid rebuild.

Mendoza had 41 touchdown passes and six interceptions for Indiana last season, completing 72% of his passes to post a perfect 16-0 record not many outside the program saw coming. Indiana entered the season with the most losses in FBS history (715).

Overlooked coming out of high school, Mendoza didn't get recruited by Miami -- the team Indiana beat in the national championship game -- despite growing up about a mile from campus and leading Columbus High to a state title in 2019. He wound up at Cal and played for the Bears for two years before transferring to Indiana.

"He had a lot of success last year," Kubiak said of his early impressions of Mendoza. "He won a national championship, and that's what you want. You want a winner."

Mendoza, dressed in a black suit and silver tie, witnessed the selection surrounded by friends and family rather than attending the draft in Pittsburgh, opting to make the occasion all about those responsible for helping him make the dream sequence a reality. He thanked his mom, Elsa Mendoza, for being his biggest supporter during the Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in December. Elsa Mendoza is battling multiple sclerosis and the Mendoza family was more comfortable sharing the moment in Miami.

Mendoza revealed Thursday afternoon he was launching the Mendoza Family Fund -- a charitable fund in partnership with the National MS Society -- to raise money to fight MS. Mendoza announced he contributed a personal $500,000 donation.

Merritt, 54, was arrested on Wednesday night and booked into the Johnson County jail, the Kansas City Star reported.

Per the report, the Johnson County District Attorney's Office filed a complaint and accused Merritt of "unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly" causing bodily harm to a daughter, which is the basis for domestic charges filed Thursday morning in Missouri.

A spokesman for the Chiefs told the Kansas City Star that the team is aware of Merritt's arrest and has no comment.

Merritt is due in court on Thursday, the same day as the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

He served as a defensive position coach with the New York Jets, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals before joining the Chiefs in 2019.

A college linebacker, Merritt was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He also played with then-Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals during his brief career.

The New York Post's Page Six published the photos Thursday, one day after the New England Patriots head coach announced that he will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft on Saturday to attend counseling.

The scandal began on April 7 when the Post published photos of Vrabel and Russini, then an NFL reporter for The Athletic, holding hands and hugging at a luxury resort in Sedona, Ariz.

The pictures published Thursday were supposedly taken at the Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of March 11, 2020 and appear to show the pair sitting close together at the bar and sharing a kiss. "They were kissing and they were all over each other. He had a ring on," an eyewitness told Page Six.

At the time of the photos on March 11, 2020 -- remembered as the day COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization -- Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans and was already married to his current wife, while Russini was engaged to her current husband.

Vrabel, 50, gave a statement to the Post for Thursday's story.

"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.

"I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be," Vrabel continued. "This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."

Vrabel will be with the Patriots on Thursday night when they make their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 31 overall, and also when they choose players late in the second and third rounds on Friday. He will be absent for the last four rounds on Saturday.

Russini resigned from The Athletic last week amid an investigation by the New York Times-run organization into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel.

When the Arizona photos initially came out, Vrabel said the pictures "show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable."

Vrabel became the head coach of the Patriots -- one of the teams for which he played -- ahead of the 2025 season and guided New England to Super Bowl LX. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29-13.

Vrabel earned his second AP NFL Coach of the Year honor last season after winning the award in 2021 when he led the Titans. He was Tennessee's head coach from 2018-23.

Attorney Yale Sanford told ESPN on Thursday that his client also agreed to stay away from ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson of the WNBA's Chicago Sky.

Pearce, 22, still is facing a potential league suspension after being arrested on Feb. 7 in Doral, Fla., on multiple criminal charges including felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting arrest and a misdemeanor stalking charge.

Pearce allegedly crashed his vehicle into a car driven by Jackson, his ex-girlfriend. Jackson also has accused Pearce of abuse on multiple other occasions and was granted a temporary protective order following his arrest.

A trial date had been set for May 4. Pearce is scheduled to appear in Miami-Dade County Court on May 7 to finalize the details of the resolution.

The Falcons declined to issue a comment to ESPN on Thursday.

Pearce was selected by the Falcons in the first round (26th overall) of the 2025 draft. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after recording 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, five passes defensed and 26 tackles in 17 games (three starts).

He will play the 2026 season on the final season of his four-year, $14 million rookie contract, with the $27.3 million option covering the 2027 season.

The two sides still are likely to negotiate a contract extension in the coming months, although the wide receiver market has been reset. Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, also selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, recently signed a contract that will make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL -- four years for $168.6 million, or an annual average value of about $42 million.

The deadline to pick up the fifth-year option for 2023 first-round picks is May 1.

Flowers, 25, was the No. 22 overall pick out of Boston College in 2023.

In three seasons and 50 games (48 starts), he has 237 catches for 3,128 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards in 2024 and '25 and was selected to the Pro Bowl both seasons.

His 1,211 receiving yards in 2025 are a franchise record for a wide receiver. He already ranks in the top five in Ravens history for pass receptions and yardage.