The primary spherical of the 2026 NFL draft was troublesome to foretell proper up till the clock began ticking. And the harder it’s to foretell, the extra seemingly we get some chaos and big-time surprises.
It did not take lengthy for the shockers to start out rolling. Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 to the Raiders as all of us knew would occur, and David Bailey went No. 2 to the Jets as most anticipated would occur. However then the Cardinals put a jolt into Spherical 1 with Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Chiefs adopted by buying and selling as much as No. 6 for Mansoor Delane, and the Cowboys hopped up one spot to take Caleb Downs at No. 11. However the actual stunner got here midway by way of the primary spherical, with the Rams taking Ty Simpson at No. 13. I can not wrap my mind round that one.
Now that 32 prospects are off the board, let’s put some context on these picks. Which groups have been the large winners of the evening? I actually appreciated a bunch of those alternatives; I see some affect gamers who got here at stable worth. However there additionally have been some head-scratchers. I sized up the nice, the dangerous and every part in between, leaning by myself Massive Board rankings and prospect grades to get a way of which groups bought steals and which groups reached. Every roster’s largest wants and any trades concerned within the picks — each up and down the board — have been additionally vital concerns.
We’ll be again for Rounds 2 and three on Friday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App). Solely two gamers from my high 25 are left on the board. I listed my finest obtainable gamers on the backside right here with some early second-round ideas. However first, let’s recap the highs and lows of Spherical 1.
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Greatest winners and finest picks from Spherical 1
The choose: Fernando Mendoza (No. 1)
All of us knew it was going to occur, they usually had the good thing about simply getting to choose earlier than another workforce. However that should not low cost Las Vegas’ evening — the Raiders bought a franchise quarterback and my No. 1 total prospect on this class. Mendoza’s ball placement is super (72% completion fee in 2025), and do not sleep on his mobility and arm.
Las Vegas has a reasonably good offensive battery with Mendoza, working again Ashton Jeanty and tight finish Brock Bowers, the workforce’s three most up-to-date first-round picks. New coach Klint Kubiak can cap this by discovering an affect receiver and/or offensive lineman on Day 2. I might like to see Washington receiver Denzel Boston go to them at No. 36. The Raiders have 9 extra picks to maintain constructing.
The choose: Jeremiyah Love (No. 3)
We began listening to some buzz that Arizona may go this manner earlier this week. And I do know, I am not supposed to love a working again within the high 5. This is not a working again. Love is a lot greater than that — he is a real all-purpose offensive playmaker who’s going to alter this offense. He was No. 2 on my board behind Mendoza.
The Cardinals did not actually have an id on that aspect of the ball; that unit was fairly bland. However coach Mike LaFleur goes to line up Love within the backfield and let him break dwelling runs together with his 4.36 pace. He’ll get Love within the slot and likewise out broad as a dynamic go catcher. No pun supposed, however I like this match, even with James Conner and Tyler Allgeier in that RB room. This 20-year-old goes to energise the fan base.
The choose: Spencer Fano (No. 9), KC Concepcion (No. 24)
Everybody talked about how the Browns needed to depart Spherical 1 with an offensive sort out and a large receiver. However doing that and selecting up further middle-round picks after buying and selling again from No. 6? That is spectacular work by normal supervisor Andrew Berry. As soon as on the clock at No. 9, Cleveland took Fano, who was my No. 2 offensive sort out and is a particularly versatile lineman. Cleveland is remaking this line, bringing in Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins. However Fano goes to be the important thing possibility. He performs with energy and quickness, and he gave up just one sack over the previous two seasons. The query now: Will he keep at sort out, or will his 32⅛-inch arms kick him inside?
The following Browns choose checked the opposite field. To be clear, I assumed Concepcion may fall just a little bit, and he was my eighth-best receiver. I am unsure he was the proper receiver to take right here. However he is explosive and might do work beneath. Not fairly an A-plus first spherical — Denzel Boston would have achieved it for me there — however I’ve to provide Cleveland reward for hitting its two large wants and getting some picks again in a commerce.
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What Olaivavega Ioane brings to the Ravens
What Olaivavega Ioane brings to the Ravens
The choose: Caleb Downs (No. 11), Malachi Lawrence (No. 23)
Dallas traded two fifth-round picks to maneuver up one spot, but it surely was price it. The Cowboys bought my No. 6 prospect and a culture-changer for a protection that wanted one. That they had a top-five offense final season. It did not matter. Dallas would get into the top zone, and opponents would instantly go the opposite manner and rating. However Downs will not tolerate that on the again finish of the secondary. He diagnoses and sniffs out performs, and he has the protection and tackling skill to restrict the large performs that buried the Cowboys in 2025 (54 performs allowed of 25 or extra yards, most within the NFL).
It seems these traded picks have been coming proper again, too. Placing apart the truth that it was an in-division transfer, how in regards to the Cowboys buying and selling again three spots from No. 20 to No. 23 with the Eagles and getting a pair of fourth-rounders in return? (Although, they despatched a 2027 seventh-rounder to Philly as a part of the deal.) The Cowboys turned the No. 23 choose into Lawrence, who has risen very quick over the previous few months. As we noticed each on tape and on the mix, he can fly off the sting. Lawrence had seven sacks final season and helps a protection that tied for twenty second in that space in its first 12 months with out Micah Parsons (35).
The choose: Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14)
I like this choose. Ioane is a 6-foot-4, 320-pound blocker with gentle toes and immense energy, and he refuses to surrender sacks. He hasn’t given up one since 2023. Baltimore wasn’t capable of preserve middle Tyler Linderbaum, and although it signed John Simpson to play one guard spot, it wanted to improve the opposite one in a giant manner. Ioane is a protected, high-floor prospect who’s going to spice up this unit and open some dashing lanes for the Ravens’ wonderful run recreation.
The choose: Makai Lemon (No. 20) In the event you’ve adopted my predraft preview content material and listened to me on the “First Draft” podcast, you recognize I completely love Lemon’s recreation. I had him because the No. 11 prospect on my board. He is a real baller who assaults the ball within the air and creates after the catch, ending eighth within the FBS in receiving yards final season (1,156). Additionally, what a slot in Philadelphia, which seems to be on the verge of buying and selling A.J. Brown to the Patriots. We knew the Eagles have been in all probability going to focus on a receiver, however I did not assume Lemon would nonetheless be on the board this late. I gave the Cowboys props for the commerce, so I’ve to say the flipside right here. However given the worth of the prospect and the clear want on the not-so-distant horizon, I feel it additionally is sensible for Philadelphia. I had Jordyn Tyson above Carnell Tate on the WR board, however they have been again to again at Nos. 7 and eight, respectively. So I had no drawback with Tennessee taking Tate at No. 4 and getting Cam Ward some rapid assist. The Titans’ offense scored 15 factors per recreation final season, and it was useless final in yards per dropback at 4.6. The Titans dropped some huge cash on Wan’Dale Robinson within the slot this offseason to affix Calvin Ridley within the receivers room, however they wanted a game-breaking go catcher. Tate runs nice routes and has terrific fingers. He’ll be Ward’s new finest buddy. The Jets made three picks Thursday, beginning with edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2. I personally would have most popular Arvell Reese there, however I can not argue with Bailey’s bend, burst and manufacturing. Tight finish Kenyon Sadiq was an attention-grabbing choice in the midst of the spherical — he is an after-the-catch maven with explosive traits — and touchdown receiver Omar Cooper Jr. again at No. 30 after buying and selling again into the primary will completely increase this lackluster receivers room behind Garrett Wilson. Three good gamers for New York. The Commanders watched Love and a bunch of the highest defenders come off the board earlier than we bought to No. 7. However they nonetheless landed the No. 4 prospect on my board in linebacker Sonny Kinds, which is large for a Washington protection that gave up 6.0 yards per play in 2025 (thirtieth within the NFL). Kinds is a former security, and you may inform on the tape. He’ll use that 4.46 pace to fly across the subject and make performs on the ball. The Giants had a whole lot of choices, and a few may query the match of Arvell Reese at No. 5, contemplating edge rusher wasn’t actually a necessity. They simply took Abdul Carter at No. 3 final 12 months, they usually have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. However on the identical time, Reese is a top-three prospect total, and I might see New York utilizing him as an off-ball linebacker as he develops and realizes his immense potential as an NFL edge rusher. Reese is a whole soccer participant, and he’ll be an element no matter how defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson makes use of him. The Dolphins-Chris Johnson match is enjoyable. The Miami cornerback room was barren, and Johnson is a ball hawk. He had six interceptions and 16 go breakups over the previous three seasons, and he’ll be a day one starter on the surface. Buffalo did not choose any gamers Thursday, but it surely added some picks in three trade-backs. The Payments entered with seven picks and now have 9. In a 12 months with out many gamers with true first-round grades, that is good administration of the board for normal supervisor Brandon Beane. Perhaps Buffalo makes use of one or two of these to maneuver up for somebody resembling Georgia receiver Zachariah Department on Day 2? The Payments want a linebacker, too, and CJ Allen (Georgia), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) and Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) are nonetheless obtainable. The choose: Mansoor Delane (No. 6), Peter Woods (No. 29) There’s rather a lot to unpack right here. First, we have now to acknowledge that the Chiefs gave third- and fifth-round picks to Cleveland to maneuver as much as No. 6 to even make this choose. I had Delane because the No. 14 prospect on my board, so it appears like a slight attain. It is an aggressive transfer for a workforce that hasn’t entered a draft with a top-10 choose since 2013. However then again, Kansas Metropolis had a large cornerback drawback after buying and selling Trent McDuffie and letting Jaylen Watson stroll in free company. And with the medical considerations round Jermod McCoy’s knee, there wasn’t one other elite CB1 on the board this 12 months. It was no lock that Delane could be there at No. 9, particularly with the Commanders and Saints selecting forward of the Chiefs. Delane is instinctive and has ball-hawking protection expertise (eight interceptions over his profession). He’s a day one starter. However between the attain and the draft capital headed to the Browns, I am unsure this was the savviest transfer. With their second choose, the Chiefs bought Woods to line up subsequent to Chris Jones. Denzel Boston and Missouri edge rusher Zion Younger have been the 2 finest gamers on the board at that time, they usually each would have hit wants. As an alternative Kansas Metropolis rolled the cube on an inside lineman whose 2025 manufacturing (two sacks) did not match his expertise. If defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo can coach him up, perhaps this seems to be nice in a number of years. However I noticed extra constant prospects at positions of want sitting there for the taking. The choose: Ty Simpson (No. 13) Nicely, this was wild. I had Lemon to the Rams in my remaining mock draft, and the USC receiver was nonetheless on the board when L.A.’s choose got here round. This workforce is in win-now mode because it tries to capitalize on a extremely good roster with 38-year-old Matthew Stafford enjoying on a year-to-year foundation. I actually thought the Rams would go get one other playmaker for Stafford, or at the very least increase his safety with somebody resembling sort out Monroe Freeling. It is a Tremendous Bowl-caliber workforce! As an alternative, the Rams took Simpson, who I wasn’t constructive would even go in Spherical 1, not to mention this excessive. I did have Simpson in my remaining mock however not till late within the 20s. So this was just a little shocking to say the least. There was discuss that the Rams have been occupied with him at No. 29 earlier than they traded that choose, however No. 13? Means, manner too wealthy. Simpson is an correct passer with a whole lot of promise, and he regarded like the true deal for half of the 2025 season. However he fell off down the stretch and declared for the draft regardless of solely 15 profession begins. I get that Simpson is the inheritor obvious right here, and Los Angeles is wise for planning for the long run. However utilizing the No. 13 choose on a QB with lingering questions when the Rams had the prospect to do one thing to assist them proper now does not match with the competition window. The choose: Caleb Banks (No. 18) Massive-time attain for me. Banks was No. 62 on my board, the largest stretch of the evening. Certain, there’s cause to consider this might work out for the Vikings. Banks can cease working backs of their tracks, and he will get sufficient inside push to be an element within the go rush. He strikes nicely for a 6-foot-6, 327-pounder. However he has been coping with a foot damage for some time now, and he simply had surgical procedure on it after the mix. A number of danger right here, even when Banks wholesome and at his finest can shore up the inside. This was made worse by the truth that security Dillon Thieneman was nonetheless on the board. Everybody thought that pairing made sense. Harrison Smith remains to be unsure to return for 2026, and even when he comes again, he is 37 years outdated. Thieneman would have been good in Brian Flores’ protection. Unsure I perceive this one. Listed here are one of the best gamers on my board nonetheless obtainable for Day 2. I’ve their predraft top-150 rankings in parentheses. 1. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (21) I’ve talked about a handful of those gamers, however as you may inform by this record, there will probably be some stable linebackers and defensive tackles on the market early on Day 2. Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, Arizona security Treydan Stukes and Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis might go rapidly. I used to be listening to their names rather a lot Wednesday evening earlier than the draft. And with Simpson off the board, one of the best QB nonetheless out there’s Miami’s Carson Beck — who’s ranked No. 111.
Extra picks I appreciated in Spherical 1
Questionable picks and reaches from Spherical 1
Kiper’s finest obtainable prospects for Spherical 2
2. Zion Younger, Edge, Missouri (22)
3. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia (28)
4. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (29)
5. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (33)
6. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon (34)
7. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma (36)
8. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (37)
9. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (38)
10. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia (39)
