Every spring, the NFL Draft makes dreams into reality in a matter of seconds. For their whole life, these athletes have poured everything into the game: early mornings, relentless training, and countless sacrifices, all leading up to one life changing moment when their name is finally called. In that instant, everything shifts. They’re no longer just prospects, but professionals stepping onto the biggest stage in football. No matter if you’re the first overall pick becoming the face of the franchise, or a seventh round pick coming from a small school, you’re going to a team that believes in you. Now, we’ll look into this year’s top three picks and the new face of the Chicago Bears defense.

After an abysmal 3-14 season for the Las Vegas Raiders, they landed themselves the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the number one overall pick, you have to make a boom in the draft and pick someone who will be the face of your franchise for years to come. With the memory of Jamarcus Russell in all Raiders fans’ heads after the last time they had the number one pick, they decided to go with a more safe and complete pick this time around as they selected Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion quarterback, Fernando Mendoza from Indiana University. Grayslake Central’s very own quarterback, senior Eli Gillette, said “I think the Mendoza draft pick is the best move they could’ve done, and having him sit to start off and not rush his development is gonna be critical to their future success.”

Mendoza is a student of a game without a doubt, and that’s what the Las Vegas Raiders wanted and needed. Even though Mendoza might not be the most athletic quarterback or have the highest ceiling, with the Raiders troubled past with the league and the law, they got the guy with the best PR training, game preparation, and someone who’s going to put his head down and grind.

Since the New York Jets are the most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL, they had their 10th straight losing season and finished at a whopping 3-14. On the other hand, the good news is that means they landed themselves the second overall pick. With that pick, they selected edge rusher David Bailey from Texas Tech. Bailey during his time at Texas Tech was a unanimous All-American, a Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and led the entire country in sacks. All Bailey has done is produce at the collegiate level, and the Jets are hoping he can bring those numbers to the Big Apple.

Next up, a lovely pick selection for the Arizona Cardinals as they get running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame as the third pick. Love was widely considered the best and most athletic prospect coming into the draft, but it still seemed like a reach of a pick to most. The Cardinals, after a 3-14 season, had a lot more holes to fill than running back, especially since they just spent 12.25 million dollars on a two year contract for another running back, Tyler Allgeier. Grayslake Central running back Jack Velez said “Jeremiyah Love was a strong pick for the Arizona Cardinals because he proved himself as a dynamic and reliable playmaker at Notre Dame. He consistently produced big plays and demonstrated the ability to perform in high pressure situations against top competition. His versatility as both a runner and receiver adds another dimension to the Cardinals offense.” Even though fans aren’t ecstatic, if Love plays even similarly to he did at Notre Dame, he will be widely considered one of the best running backs in the game and fans might change their mind about the pick after all.

After the Chicago Bears first playoff win in 15 years over their rival the Green Bay Packers, hopes are high for the upcoming season, and making a big splash in the draft keeps the fans locked in. The Bears in the draft wanted to make one thing clear: get faster and more athletic. So, at pick 25 they selected safety Dillion Thieneman from Oregon. Thieneman was a first team All-American safety at Oregon and posted a 85 athleticism score at the combine, and then fell perfectly into the Bears hands. Grayslake Central football player and Bears fan Sam Ullrich said “Dillon Thieneman is a strong pick for the Chicago Bears, especially with the departure of Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard. He brings immediate playmaking ability to the secondary with strong instincts, reliable tackling, and a knack for creating turnovers. With key veterans gone, the Bears would need someone who can step in and make an impact right away, and Thieneman’s versatility allows him to cover deep zones or support the run effectively. Adding him would help fill that gap in the secondary while also giving Chicago a young, dependable piece to build around for the future.” Ullrich echoes what most Chicago Bears fans feel: super excited. The immediate impact is what everyone is ecstatic for, so hopefully he pans out to one of the best safeties.

With NFL rookies finding new homes, the only thing left for them to do is start grinding and balling out. With the season yet to start, Jeremiyah Love is already the current favorite to win Rookie of the Year, while number one pick Fernado Mendoza might have other plans and try to win it for himself, and bring the Raiders back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. There will always be draft busts but the ones that shine the brightest will be remembered forever.