The prestigious first round of the 2026 NFL Draft took place in Pittsburgh, PA, on Thursday, April 23. When Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped onto the stage, some fans booed, some fans cheered, and some even waved their Terrible Towels. From the Raiders at pick one to the Seahawks at pick thirty-two, let’s break down how this year’s first round went.
Pick #1: Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The inevitable #1 pick. Mendoza loves the red zone, with a touchdown-interception ratio of 38-0 within the opposing team’s 20-yard line in his lone season with the Hoosiers. The defending national champion also spent three seasons under Justin Wilcox at Cal before transferring. Fits in well with the new head coach, Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme.
Pick #2: New York Jets select David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Man, I wish the Jets had taken Arvell Reese with this pick instead of Bailey. However, Bailey led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss in college this past season. A very fast pass rusher who gives blockers the business.
Pick #3: Arizona Cardinals select Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
I was thinking Arizona would take Francis Mauigoa and bolster their offensive line, but they instead chose to bolster their RB room. Love becomes only the second Notre Dame RB to be drafted in the first round since Jerome Bettis in 1993. How will the nation’s best rusher fit in with a current RB room of James Conner and Tyler Allgeier under new head coach Mike LaFleur?
Pick #4: Tennessee Titans select Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Some expected a linebacker to fall into its hands here, but Tennessee upgrades its receiving core with Carnell Tate, who is very good at contesting the catch against his defenders. Won a national title with Ohio State in the 2024-25 season. Cam Ward gets some extra help through the air.
Pick #5: New York Giants select Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The first pick in the John Harbaugh era for Big Blue ends up being Arvell Reese, an off-ball linebacker who prioritizes piercing through opposing offensive lines. With Dexter Lawrence and Bobby Okereke gone, Reese will bring a new life to the struggling Giants defense.
Pick #6 (Via Cleveland): Kansas City Chiefs select Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Acquired via trade with the Browns, the Chiefs desperately needed to fix their secondary after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams. Mansoor Delane likes to defend the ground game, but will often get caught up in blocks or miss tackles. I have my doubts about how the Chiefs are finding their replacements.
Pick #7: Washington Commanders select Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Reese’s partner-in-crime, Sonny Styles, becomes a division rival in DC. Styles is known for defending hook WR plays as well as defending runs. He can also keep up with tight ends well. It will be fun to see which of Ryan Day’s two LBs will perform better this season.
Pick #8: New Orleans Saints select Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Coming off a torn ACL, Mickey Loomis drafted Jordyn Tyson, a wide receiver who likes to cut to the side rather than running all the way downfield. Like Tate, he does well at contested catches and can also get defenders lost in vertical routes. Tyler Shough has his man.
Pick #9 (Via Kansas City): Cleveland Browns select Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Browns trade down to draft top offensive lineman Spencer Fano at ninth overall. Fano is versatile and can get back up when knocked off balance. He is destined to be a solid replacement for Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, but can he let the struggling QB room buy enough time?
Pick #10 (Via Cincinnati): New York Giants select Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Mauigoa falling to tenth is a good sign for the Giants, as they have taken two players that should have been selected higher. New York acquired this pick from the Bengals in the Dexter Lawrence trade. He creates clean pockets when pressured to the death and creates open lanes for his running backs. Jaxson Dart has some insurance, as the question remains whether he’ll be starting at tackle or guard.
Pick #11 (Via Miami): Dallas Cowboys select Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Look out, special team defenses. KaVontae Turpin and Caleb Downs might be the scariest kick return combination in the NFL. Has a quick reaction time to break up passes and force fumbles. This jack-of-all-trades is a pick that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and special teams coordinator Nick Sorenson will praise for years to come.
Pick #12 (Via Dallas): Miami Dolphins select Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Due to how Alex Leatherwood and Evan Neal have panned out at the professional level, I haven’t been high on Alabama offensive linemen ever since. This massive lineman thrives best in creating gaps for run-heavy offensive schemes and using his hands to push away pass rushers. Also has good recovery skills. Protecting Malik Willis/Quinn Ewers will certainly be a task for Proctor under the new head coach, Jeff Hafley.
Pick #13 (Via Atlanta): Los Angeles Rams select Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The only acceptable response to this pick would be, “Jordan Love 2.0.” Like the bond between Love and Aaron Rodgers, the long-term plan is for Simpson to sit behind Matthew Stafford until he departs the Rams. Moreover, Simpson can lead his receivers into the right spots in zone coverage while making tight throws in man coverage. His throws reach the third level of defense despite his weaker arm. When will Simpson get the call?
Pick #14: Baltimore Ravens select Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Baltimore needed to fix their offensive line after losing Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, and they’ve done so by selecting Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State. While he can finish run blocks, thrive in pass protection, and steamroll pass rushers, he often plays off balance by reaching over his toes. Can he maintain the privilege of blocking the best ground game in the NFL?
Pick #15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
With longtime LB Lavonte David’s retirement, Reuben Bain Jr. was selected by the Bucs. Once projected to go top ten, Bain can manipulate both the ground and passing game despite his small wingspan. He blasts through the chests of offensive linemen and blockers as he hungers for tackles. This will give Todd Bowles something to cheer about.
Pick #16 (Via Indianapolis): New York Jets select Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Just one year removed from selecting Mason Taylor in the second round, the Jets took Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon in the first round, thanks to the Sauce Gardner trade. With the versatility and athleticism of a receiver, Sadiq picks up a ton of yards after the catch. He excels in the short/intermediate pass game and on contested/diving catches. Will this aggressive blocker finally fit in as the Jets’ premier tight end?
Pick #17: Detroit Lions select Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Miller will fill the gap left by the retiring Taylor Decker. He provides difficulty for blitzers to get around during pass protection, but often plays off-balance while run blocking and lunges toward the defense. Will Clemson’s all-time snap leader for offensive linemen provide much-needed stability for Jared Goff?
Pick #18: Minnesota Vikings select Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Vikings are risking it for the biscuit by adding Caleb Banks to Brian Flores’s defense. He is coming off foot injuries that limited him to just three games played in 2025. He does not succeed at pass rushing, but has the ability to track down the ball and make stops in the backfield. With a new general manager, Minnesota aims to get back on track in a stacked NFC North.
Pick #19: Carolina Panthers select Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Following a first-round playoff exit in a surprise playoff appearance, the Panthers decided it was best to protect Bryce Young by selecting Freeling. Blitzers will often blow past him with their speed, and his recovery skills aren’t great. Despite this, he has a good wingspan, keeps the pocket on lockdown in pass protection, and climbs to the upper level in run blocking. With an aging offensive line, he might be the better way to go than 2022 first-rounder Ikem Ekwonu.
Pick #20 (From Green Bay via Dallas): Philadelphia Eagles select Makai Lemon, WR, USC
It’s not Amanda, but Philly took Pittsburgh by surprise and made Makai Lemon real nice. The Steelers were on the phone with Lemon and ready to pick him before Howie Roseman swooped in. He is a consistent wide receiver who sacrifices his body to make catches, gets behind his defenders over the middle, and has only dropped three passes in his college career. Thanks to this brilliant strategy, the Eagles have their long-term replacement for AJ Brown, who is rumored to depart the team in favor of reuniting with Mike Vrabel in New England.
Pick #21: Pittsburgh Steelers select Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Throughout the past four years, the Steelers’ front office has been trying to improve their offensive line. They selected Broderick Jones in 2023 and Troy Fautanu the following year. This year, they selected Max Iheanachor, a former juco standout from Arizona State. Max’s power can be inconsistent, often using too much to put himself off-balance. However, he goes light on his feet in order to get to the second level. Whether it’s Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, or Will Howard, protecting the Steelers QB might be more crucial than any other franchise.
Pick #22: Los Angeles Chargers select Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
25-year-old linebacker Akheem Mesidor was taken by the Chargers at #22. Los Angeles lands a linebacker who knocks pass blockers off-balance and excels at defending the run, in addition to locating the ball. Reuben Bain’s second-in-command is looking forward to working with new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary.
Pick #23: Dallas Cowboys select Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
Dallas continues to add on to its revamped defense by taking Malachi Lawrence from UCF. Lawrence makes it tough for offensive linemen to lock onto him by getting to the blocker’s chest. He loves to tackle tight ends and stop the run, too. Can the Cowboys finally fix their defensive line in year 2 of the post-DeMarcus Lawrence era?
Pick #24 (Via Jacksonville): Cleveland Browns select KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Unfortunately, he’s not a Chief, but KC Concepcion was picked at #24 by the Browns. Concepcion dropped over 10% of targeted passes in 2025, but easily beats defensive backs at the line of scrimmage to get open. His speed also makes him a polished special teamer. Cleveland gets a quality receiver to pair up with Jerry Jeudy and tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Pick #25: Chicago Bears select Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman goes from the city where it never rains to the windy city at #25. The Purdue transfer can play nickel in addition to safety, but gets lost in the sauce on short routes. He can read quarterbacks well (See last year’s Penn State Whiteout game), but his cons come to show with the ground game and making tackles. Newcomers Coby Bryant and Thieneman will enhance the quality of Chicago’s secondary.
Pick #26 (Via Buffalo): Houston Texans select Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Following an AFC Divisional Round exit, Nick Caserio vows to give CJ Stroud protection by selecting GT’s Keylan Rutledge. Things can get wonky when he spins around edge rushers, but he keeps them firm when latching his hands onto them. After extending Ed Ingram and bringing in Wyatt Teller, the Texans’ first AFC Championship game appearance seems imminent.
Pick #27 (Via San Francisco): Miami Dolphins select Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Oh, look! It’s CJ2K… oh, wait a minute. The other “Chris Johnson” is a speedster who can track down the ball with his back turned. He brings the heat when defending the run, too. He will certainly turn the heads of Jeff Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan during training camp.
Pick #28 (From Houston via Buffalo): New England Patriots select Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Patriots go offensive line for the second year in a row by taking Caleb Lomu, Spencer Fano’s teammate in Utah. He knows where to place his hands, but he is often weak when trying to maintain blocks. With an aging offensive line and Will Campbell’s embarrassing performance in the Super Bowl, Drake Maye needs Lomu to patch those holes.
Pick #29 (Via Los Angeles Rams): Kansas City Chiefs select Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Chiefs have found their long-term replacement for Chris Jones in Clemson’s Peter Woods. Don’t let his small wingspan fool you, since his hands are quite strong. He is very flexible when making plays in the backfield, excels when lined up on the outside, and contains a multitude of pass rush moves. Defense could get the Chiefs back to familiar territory.
Pick #30 (From Denver via Miami and San Francisco): New York Jets select Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Darren Moguey has been all about a winning culture during the first round. National champion Omar Cooper Jr. is off and running once he leaves the line of scrimmage. He can use defensive flaws to his advantage in zone coverage and creates separation in man coverage, but can’t get out of breaks. He can break tackles and physically block, but has trouble with sustaining said blocks. With the pressure on Garrett Wilson, Cooper could be the Jets’ new WR1.
Pick #31 (From New England via Buffalo): Tennessee Titans select Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
New head coach Robert Saleh finally gets his defensive first-rounder: Auburn’s Keldric Faulk. Unlike Woods, his wingspan is very long, and he beats offensive tackles with his vertical rush speed. He’ll go for interceptions when he realizes he cannot get to the quarterback. Saleh will surely turn Faulk into the best version of himself, in addition to reuniting with former Jets defensive standouts Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers.
Pick #32: Seattle Seahawks select Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Who would’ve thought that two Notre Dame running backs were first-round material? Well, the champs needed a replacement for the departing Kenneth Walker III and got it with Price. This highly-touted runner uses a one-cut, change-of-direction style to open up spaces and get loose. Whether to beat out or sit behind Zach Charbonnet, who is coming off a season-ending injury, remains the question in training camp.
Some picks weren’t surprising, and some turned heads, but these thirty-two athletes will forever be a part of NFL history. Will they be remembered for the right reasons, like John Elway, or will they be total busts like, JaMarcus Russell? September will give us the first answers.
