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The 2026 NFL Draft, like any other, ignited mixed emotions among fans.
Broadcasting and social media erupted into debate on several topics, while controversy overshadowed the event for some this year.
Here’s all the biggest drama to come out of the 2026 NFL Draft:
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New England Patriots latest scandal
Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite photo with Russini holding an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Images)
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel left his team on Day 3 of this year’s draft as he turned his attention to his family after several scandalous photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini leaked in recent weeks.
Vrabel and the Patriots announced he would step away from the team early Thursday morning, and hours later, a photo showing Vrabel and Russini kissing was published by The New York Post.
Vrabel then held a press conference just before the start of the first round, amid speculation about his future with the team.
“My past actions do not meet the standard to which I hold myself,” he said at the news conference.
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Vrabel was asked to explain why he originally made the statement calling pictures of him and Russini at an Arizona resort “ridiculous” after they were published by the New York Post earlier in April.
“It is a private and personal matter. I don’t think those comments … it was an attempt to protect your family,” Vrabel said.
That was the last question Vrabel answered before storming off the podium and out of the room.
The Patriots then selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round, prompting viral jokes after his draft selection profile video showed him dancing, slowly spinning in a circle while raising his hands.
“This video will go triple platinum when Drake Maye gets fired for the 5th time in a half,” one user captioned an X post of the video by Lomu.
Arvell Reese and the New York Giants
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the New York Giants selected him with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, April 23, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
The Giants shocked many when they selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick.
Some fans and pundits believed the Giants would not add another linebacker with such a high pick, with several high investments at the position already on the roster. Some fans were even more frustrated when they used the 10th overall pick on offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and passed on hyped safety prospect Caleb Downs. Downs then went 11th overall to the rival Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, Reese emerged as a topic of debate for other reasons. Stories about how he had a 0.4 GPA in high school and then earned a 3.7 GPA at Ohio State spread like wildfire on the wooden night.
“I think the secret is just time and effort,” Reese told CBS Sports. “In high school, it was a time where I didn’t even try in school or didn’t really think school was important. So it just took me locking in and taking it seriously.”
But then New York sports radio host Craig Carton of WFAN went viral for commenting on Reese’s academic slide.
“How does a kid who had a 0.4 GPA through high school leave Ohio State with a 3.7 GPA?” said cardboard. “I want to find out.”
Reese also went viral in a series of moments when he interacted with the sports media in New York shortly after he was drafted.
During his introductory press conference, Reese drew praise and fear from fans and pundits for a comment about embracing “violence.”
“When you play defense, you have to be violent. You have to think about doing something violent,” he said.
In another press conference, Reese was asked an awkwardly worded question about how he would make an impact on veterans and children with disabilities.
Reese asked the reporter to repeat the question, then stammered before answering, saying “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“Who asks a newbie a question like this right out of the gate?” an X user wrote in response to a clip of the interaction.
ESPN and the new eight-minute draft clock
The NFL rolled out an all-new, shortened pick clock this year, reducing the amount of time teams have to pick from 10 minutes to eight minutes.
However, the decision appeared to draw a lot of backlash on social media, particularly against ESPN’s broadcast.
Several fans complained that they couldn’t even scroll X or open their phones without seeing results 3-4 picks ahead. One user wrote: “Personally I liked the 8 minute clock but it was super annoying the 1st 10 picks that I couldn’t even open my phone without being spoiled 4 picks ahead.”
Sean McVay and the Rams’ selection of QB Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson of Alabama celebrates after being selected as the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
When the Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, head coach Sean McVay didn’t look thrilled, and he admitted that on Friday.
McVay as he recapped the second day of Rams draft, opened his press conference acknowledging his behavior after Simpson’s election.
“I understand my behavior last night, but we’re excited about it. There’s different things. I’ll always be aware of how things play out and things like that. I’m very excited about last night and very excited about today. Couldn’t be more excited that we’re continuing to lead together, but every decision we make is collective and collaborative,” McV said.
“For any questions or misunderstandings that were just based on my behavior or attitude last night, I wanted to get it out of the way. This is my buddy right here,” McVay said with a smile as he reached out to general manager Les Snead.
“It was brought up because I got so many texts. It was never my intended way of coming out, but sometimes I can be a bit grumpy.”
A reporter followed up and asked the 40-year-old coach why he was grumpy.
“Well, there were other things that had nothing to do with it, like it’s normal life,” McVay said.
“The main thing was that I couldn’t be more excited to add him, but also to understand how much I love Matthew Stafford, how respectful you’ll always be and the way things can be interpreted. The demeanor would have been stoic in nature because you’re excited, but no way — this is Matthew’s football team.”
The Cardinals take a running back with the third pick
Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame celebrates after being selected as the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals made one of the boldest and most debated picks in this year’s draft, taking running back Jeremiah Love out of Notre Dame with the third overall pick. While Love is undeniably talented, the move has Draft Twitter in absolute chaos, with fans, analysts and scouts calling it everything from “dessert-first strategy” to outright “bad business.”
“Love the player. Hate the pick where it happened. Top 5 RB shouldn’t be happening these days,” wrote one X user.
Another user wrote, “I hope the jersey sales are nice because RB Jeremiah Love will be the worst pick of round 1. I think ownership stepped in.”
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ESPN reporter Myron Medcalf wrote on X: “I think Jeremiah Love is a great RB. And I still don’t think you can pick a RB in the first round in the current NFL. No. 3 feels like an incredible reach, based on where the game is today and the value at the position in later rounds.”
