The NFL Draft kicks off tonight in Pittsburgh and the number one pick has been decided for months. Fernando Mendoza will go first overall. What isn't decided is everything that follows, who the Jets take at two, where Jeremiyah Love lands, and plenty of other questions surrounding the rest of the top prospects.

Meanwhile the NBA and NHL playoffs roll into a critical stretch this weekend with series on the line and seasons hanging in the balance.

Here's your weekend preview starting with what matters most.

The first round of the NFL Draft begins tonight in Pittsburgh and for many franchises across the league, this is the most important night of their year. A single pick can change the trajectory of a franchise for the next decade while the wrong decision at the top can set a team back for years to come.

This year's top five is one of the more compelling in recent memory. The number one overall pick has been settled for months now. What is not settled is everything past that. Here is our breakdown of the top five picks and the storylines worth following tonight.

Pick #1 Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: This pick has been a done deal for months. After transferring from Cal, Mendoza took Indiana on the most improbable winning streaks in college football history, a 16-0 season, a National Championship, and a Heisman Trophy. He threw 41 touchdowns while giving up just 6 interceptions on a 72% completion rate. He’s known for his elite football IQ and ability to quickly read defenses. This is a no brainer pick for a Raiders franchise desperately in need of a young quarterback to build around.

Pick #2 New York Jets | David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech: All signs point to the Jets taking Bailey at two. Bailey led the entire country with 14.5 sacks last season and ran a 4.50 forty at 251 pounds, a combination of size and speed that does not come around often. He is a lightning fast speed rusher with a first step that offensive tackles struggled to handle all season. The Jets are hoping Bailey could bolster their pass rush that ranked second to last in the NFL in sacks last season.

Pick #3 Arizona Cardinals | Potential Trade: This is where things truly get interesting. The Cardinals have been linked to making a trade at this pick. If they stay put the two names most connected to this pick are Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back many consider the best overall player in this draft, and Arvel Reese, the Ohio State linebacker whose ceiling is as high as anyone in this class. Watch which direction Arizona goes, this pick has legitimate ripple effects for the rest of the first round.

Pick #4 Tennessee Titans | Sonny Styles: Tennessee has a new head coach in Robert Saleh and that will have an impact on who they go for with this pick. Saleh spent years as the 49ers' defensive coordinator coaching Fred Warner, the best linebacker in football, and knows how important that position is to a team. Sonny Styles is exactly the kind of player Saleh wants on his defense. At 6'5" and 244 pounds with one of the most impressive Combine performances in recent memory, Styles has the elite mix of size and speed that makes him an immediate impact player. The Fred Warner comparisons were already being made before Saleh arrived in Tennessee. This profiles to be Saleh’s guy.

Pick #5 New York Giants | Caleb Downs: In a draft full of elite athletes and physical specimens, Caleb Downs stands out for a different reason. He is one of the smartest, pro-ready players in the class. With this pick the Giants shore up their secondary and instantly raise the floor of their entire defense. Downs is a safety with the range and instincts to protect the entire back end of a defense, he is exactly the kind of player you build a secondary around. New York could get someone who elevates everyone around him with this pick.

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: If you need extra incentive to stay locked in tonight, here is our favorite first round bet. Caleb Downs under 9.5 picks which is currently sitting around +100 odds. Safeties simply do not get drafted early as they are not viewed as a premium position in the NFL. But we’re focusing on talent here and the blueprint already exists.

Kyle Hamilton was a consensus top-ten safety talent who fell to pick 14 in 2022 because teams overthought the position. He is now one of the most impactful defensive players in the league and teams won’t forget that. Downs is arguably the most pro-ready prospect in this class. Trust the talent. Take the under.

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Knicks vs. Hawks | Game 3: This series is tied 1-1 and it is not going the way New York expected. Atlanta walked into Madison Square Garden and stole Game 2 on a last second comeback led by veteran CJ McCollum. The Knicks have reached the second round three straight years and they know what is at stake. Failing to win on the road this weekend would be a serious indictment of where this team is headed. Game 3 tonight is pivotal. If New York cannot win on the road the pressure shifts entirely onto their shoulders heading into Game 4 in what would be a must win situation.

Lakers vs. Rockets | Game 3: LeBron James is doing something nobody saw coming. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both sidelined, he has willed a shorthanded Lakers team to a 2-0 series lead over a Houston squad that was supposed to dominate this series. The Rockets have looked lost and their coach Ime Udoka is reportedly on the hot seat if this roster loses to a short-handed Lakers team in the first round. Game 3 on Friday in Houston is a must-win. A loss and major changes could be made this offseason.

Stars vs. Wild | Game 4: Dallas fired their coach after three straight Conference Finals appearances heading into this season. That decision is under the microscope now if they struggle to win this series. After getting blown out 6-1 in Game 1 the Stars have responded with back-to-back wins including a double-overtime thriller in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. Now the series heads into a critical stretch. This series has been highly competitive and has proven it can flip in an instant. A loss in Game 4 on Saturday ties it back up, and the Stars momentum evaporates. Win and Dallas takes commanding control and starts looking like exactly the team that was supposed to be here.

Lightning vs. Canadiens | Game 3: Tampa Bay has one of the most decorated rosters of the last decade but they have not won a playoff round in three straight years. Montreal's rebuild has accelerated faster than anyone expected with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and rookie Lane Hutson playing like a team ahead of schedule. This series is tied 1-1 heading into the weekend and the stakes could not be higher for Tampa. Losing this weekend in Montreal will leave many wondering if the window for this team is closing.

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