2026 NFL draft: Greatest, worst first-round picks, trades, QBs

As rumored for months, quarterback Fernando Mendoza went to the Raiders to start out Spherical 1 of the 2026 NFL draft. However establishment went out the door after that, particularly with the Rams throwing a curveball at No. 13.

So with the 32 first-round picks now official, it is time to go over the whole lot that has occurred — the great picks, the overzealous reaches and the groups that completely stuffed their draft wants. NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Subject Yates answered among the largest lingering questions. Which trades stood out? Which groups stuffed their wants greatest? What are our largest mock draft regrets?

The second spherical will get underway Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/ESPN App). However first, here is our immediate response to Day 1.

Soar to a piece:
Greatest decide | Most complicated | QB questions
Greatest shock | Mock regrets | Obtrusive want
Greatest commerce | A number of picks | Love’s impression
Fantasy WRs | Day 2 lookahead

Who was one of the best decide of the evening?

Miller: Security Dillon Thieneman to the Bears. Nobody thought Thieneman would get previous the Vikings at No. 18, however he slipped and the Bears had been good to pick out him to be the brand new free security subsequent to enforcer Coby Bryant. The Bears have official Tremendous Bowl hopes, and Thieneman’s versatility and alignment flexibility are good for what coordinator Dennis Allen needs to do defensively.

Reid: Security Caleb Downs to the Cowboys. He is my second-ranked participant within the class, and the Cowboys acquired him with the No. 11 decide. Dallas wanted assistance on the again finish of its protection, because it struggled with giving up explosive performs. Downs helps resolve that downside immediately.

Yates: Linebacker Sonny Types to the Commanders. Not solely did Washington get good worth right here by selecting my No. 5 total participant at No. 7, however he fills a huge want on a Commanders protection that wants playmakers. As a former security, Types excels in protection and likewise confirmed pass-rushing chops with the Buckeyes. He might actually be a star for coach Dan Quinn.

What was probably the most complicated transfer of the evening?

Miller: Arvell Reese to the Giants. I really like Reese; he is an elite prospect, however the Giants do not want edge-rush assist with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the roster. Even when you make the case for Thibodeaux being traded, Burns is simply 28 years previous and has three years left on his contract. Greatest participant accessible is talked about quite a bit, however probably not at No. 5 total.

Reid: Ty Simpson to the Rams. In win-now mode, I assumed the Rams would wish to maximize the window of Matthew Stafford. Broad receiver Makai Lemon and tight finish Kenyon Sadiq had been on the board, and it made sense so as to add one other receiving menace. However the Rams acquired their QB of the longer term in Simpson.

With Ty Simpson off the board, what might different QB-needy groups do?

Miller: Punt to 2027? In all seriousness, that is why we noticed so many groups handle quarterback earlier than the draft began. The Jets added Geno Smith, making their state of affairs by no means determined. The Cardinals are the lone crew with a real “want” at quarterback, however they will have Jacoby Brissett again on the roster for 2026.

Reid: Simpson going inside the highest 15 helps push different QBs up the board for groups in search of Day 2 or middle-round choices. Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck are doubtless the subsequent two signal-callers to be chosen. I count on them to be drafted in Spherical 3 or Spherical 4.

Yates: Will Arizona pounce on a QB early? Sure, the Playing cards have Brissett, however can they actually afford to attend till Spherical 3 or Day 3 to get a teen on the place? We’ll work out the reply fairly rapidly, because the Cardinals have the second decide in Spherical 2 (No. 34).

What was the largest shock of the evening?

Reid: The Cowboys buying and selling again from No. 20 and permitting a division rival (the Eagles) to get the wideout they wished in Makai Lemon. The Cowboys made a surprisingly dangerous transfer, and I do not perceive why they allowed the Eagles to commerce up and discover what may very well be A.J. Brown’s alternative. Lemon matches completely alongside DeVonta Smith, as they’ve talent units that complement one another effectively.

Yates: Defensive sort out Caleb Banks to the Vikings. So far as expertise, Banks is sensible, as he is a top-15 participant when wholesome. However he hasn’t been wholesome for almost a 12 months. Banks was restricted to 90 snaps final season due to foot accidents and not too long ago underwent foot surgical procedure after being injured on the mix. If he is able to go, he may very well be a big-name participant for Minnesota. However that is a giant if.

What’s your largest remorse out of your ultimate mock draft after seeing Day 1 play out?

Miller: The excitement surrounding Arizona deciding on Jeremiyah Love was heating up within the days earlier than the draft, however there was sufficient pushback from sources who knew the Cardinals’ entrance workplace that I acquired scared off and caught with the chalk decide of Arvell Reese. Typically, the excitement is correct, and also you’d love to make use of hindsight to say you must have related the dots and realized the decide was occurring.

Reid: Not having the Chiefs taking a cornerback early. The Chiefs misplaced three corners this offseason in Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. It was clear that they’d have early curiosity in drafting a nook. Mansoor Delane matches their scheme completely and has an opportunity to be a real CB1 on the subsequent stage.

Yates: I used to be this near nailing the draft slots for Rueben Bain Jr. and Sadiq. I had Bain going to the Ravens at No. 14 and Sadiq coming off the board to the Buccaneers at No. 15. After all, Bain went to the Bucs and Sadiq went to the Jets at No. 16. So near mock draft glory!

Which crew greatest addressed a obvious want on Day 1?

Miller: Delane to the Chiefs. The trade-up to pick out Delane was a bit shocking, however I am going to applaud the transfer as Kansas Metropolis was determined for cornerbacks after buying and selling McDuffie to the Rams, then seeing Watson comply with him to Los Angeles in free company. Delane shall be tasked with changing the All-Professional McDuffie; apparently sufficient, that was my predraft comparability for the previous LSU nook.

Reid: OT Blake Miller to the Lions. After the discharge of Taylor Decker, offensive sort out was a transparent want in Detroit. Miller instantly turns into a plug-and-play starter reverse All-Professional Penei Sewell, who’s more likely to transfer over to left sort out. Miller might settle into his pure spot at proper sort out and assist the Lions get their line proper once more.

Yates: OT/G Francis Mauigoa to the Giants. Mauigoa is a tricky, bodily participant with the power to play inside and outdoors. Although he was a three-year starter for Miami, Mauigoa is greater than in a position to slide inside to protect and fortify the Giants’ safety of second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.

What was one of the best commerce up, down or for a participant throughout Spherical 1?

Miller: I am going to return to the Delane transfer. It was vital to leap the Commanders at No. 7 to safe Delane, however this was additionally a draft with only one positive factor at cornerback after harm considerations surfaced surrounding Jermod McCoy (Tennessee). The Chiefs clearly believed cornerback was a main want, and with no ensures {that a} starter-level-grade nook could be accessible at No. 29, the aggressive transfer to get Delane was smart.

Reid: The Browns buying and selling down and nonetheless getting OT Spencer Fano. One of many worst-kept secrets and techniques heading into the draft was the Browns’ want to commerce down. They achieved that and nonetheless ended up with one of many extra versatile offensive linemen on this 12 months’s class. Fano has the potential to play all 5 positions up entrance.

Yates: The Cowboys shifting up one spot to get Downs. It wasn’t an enormous transfer, however when a participant like that’s accessible, you’ll be able to’t go away issues to likelihood. Downs is a right away starter in Dallas and shall be important in enhancing one of many NFL’s worst defenses in 2025.

Which crew with a number of first-rounders fared greatest Thursday?

Miller: The Jets completely cooked Thursday evening. David Bailey, Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. is a heck of a haul for a crew that badly wants impression gamers. Bailey is right for the transition to a 3-4 protection because of his world-class pace off the snap. And although we do not know who the Jets’ long-term quarterback shall be, whoever it’s can have two enjoyable playmakers with the speedy Sadiq and Cooper, who operates in the course of the sector.

Yates: The Cowboys. I actually preferred the Downs decide (the participant and the worth), and Malachi Lawrence was one of many largest risers late within the predraft course of. The Cowboys’ protection wanted an improve in expertise, and each of those gamers ought to contribute instantly. Dallas additionally amassed some picks in buying and selling down earlier than the Lawrence decide. It was an amazing evening at The Star.

Predict Jeremiyah Love’s stat line for 2026.

Miller: 1,100 dashing yards, 450 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns

Reid: 1,200 dashing yards, 400 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns

Yates: 1,025 dashing yards, 420 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns

play

How Jeremiyah Love will bolster the Cardinals’ offense

How Jeremiyah Love will bolster the Cardinals’ offense

Which cross catcher can have the largest 12 months 1 fantasy impression?

Miller: Carnell Tate enters a implausible state of affairs in Tennessee, the place he has the instruments to be the crew’s WR1 by Thanksgiving. Tate is the lone Spherical 1 receiver headed to a crew that (A) has a longtime quarterback and (B) no established No. 1 wideout. It stands to motive he’ll get probably the most targets of any rookie wideout, and his means to make performs within the crimson zone will assist him accumulate the fantasy factors wanted to steer the pack.

Reid: Jordyn Tyson. He steps right into a state of affairs in New Orleans the place he is anticipated to be a heavy contributor immediately. Outdoors of Chris Olave, the Saints did not have a second choice, however Tyson is an immediate improve and a dependable playmaker for Tyler Shough on the perimeter.

Who’re you most shocked to see accessible on Day 2?

Miller: The highest-ranked participant on my board is Jermod McCoy at No. 10, however we knew he was more likely to slip due to the knee harm questions. Outdoors of McCoy, I am going to spotlight Toledo security Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He was my No. 20 prospect, nevertheless it’s very attainable he’ll be the primary decide of Spherical 2 to the 49ers.

Reid: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee. I assumed there may very well be as many as 4 cornerbacks drafted in Spherical 1. Contemplating Hood’s upside and polished approach, I am shocked a crew did not take an opportunity on him.

Yates: Nobody. My highest-graded participant was McCoy. I assumed Hood would possibly make his means into Spherical 1 with protection abilities, however there is not any one who was a giant shocker to me.

What is the largest story to look at Friday?

Miller: What are the Cardinals going to do at quarterback? With Simpson going to the Rams and Brissett skipping the offseason exercise program, the Cardinals have a huge query mark on the recreation’s most vital place. Maybe they’ll persuade Brissett to commit with a pay elevate, however this crew is determined for assist at quarterback. Will the Cardinals bounce on Carson Beck early in Spherical 2?

Reid: The place will McCoy land on Day 2? It was well-documented that he might fall into the second spherical due to sturdiness considerations. The expertise is not the query, however with out taking part in final season and the questions on McCoy’s knee, there wasn’t a crew that was prepared to take a danger on Day 1. McCoy doubtless will not have to attend lengthy to listen to his title referred to as on Day 2.

Yates: Will the deluge of trades proceed on the prime of Spherical 2? There was a whole lot of shuffling Thursday, particularly within the final third of the primary spherical. I’ve a sneaky hunch that there shall be extra wheeling and dealing early Friday.

Make one prediction for Day 2.

Miller: No quarterbacks will go in Spherical 2, regardless of needy groups such because the Jets and Cardinals. This quarterback crop is not cherished by the league, with the subsequent tier largely seen as backup-caliber gamers as an alternative of future starters. That, plus historical past telling us that quarterbacks have a tendency to slide after Spherical 1, has me pondering we’ll see QBs ready till late Friday evening to go.

Reid: Delane (Chiefs, No. 6) and Chris Johnson (Dolphins, No. 27) had been the one two corners drafted within the first spherical. I consider that many extra will come off the board rapidly in the course of the early components of Day 2. McCoy, Hood, Avieon Terrell, Brandon Cisse and D’Angelo Ponds are among the many high-quality corners nonetheless accessible.

Yates: The 49ers will begin issues off by taking Washington receiver Denzel Boston. San Francisco wants receiving assist, and Boston is among the most efficient on this class. He has a giant physique and a nostril for the tip zone, which might assist him make an impression in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.