The 2026 NFL Draft was full of trades and surprises on Thursday night, April 23rd.
In a significant move, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
After the first round, some teams are fully committed to their future, while others are dangerously close to being eliminated.
Who’s with
The Las Vegas Raiders are in without a doubt. With the first overall pick, they drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, who will be the face of the franchise going forward.
All four teams in the NFC East are in contention now. The New York Giants are in after drafting Arvell Reese from Ohio State and tackle Francis Mauigoa. The Dallas Cowboys are after trading up to select “transformative” safety Caleb Downs. Even the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders landed top talent.
The Los Angeles Rams are looking to build for the future. By taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick, they have guaranteed themselves their man under center when Matthew Stafford retires.
Who’s out
The New York Jets didn’t find the right path. Despite having three first-round picks, officials panned their move and called edge rusher David Bairly at No. 2 for a big reach.
Another setback was the Arizona Cardinals. Drafting a running back like Jeremiah Love with an underperforming offensive line and dire needs defensively made one wonder if the team had already fired.
The Miami Dolphins disappointed just as much. After spending in free agency on a quarterback like Malik Willis, they didn’t give him anything of value offensively.
Predictions for Round 2 and Round 3
As rounds 2 and 3 approach, analysts are making big predictions.
Starting in Round 2, San Francisco will select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as their safety at No. 33 overall, while Arizona will select Carson Beck as their future starting quarterback at No. 34 overall.
Buffalo will take a chance by selecting Josh Allen’s red zone target Denzel Boston at No. 35 overall, while New York adds to their depth with Jermod McCoy at No. 37.
Meanwhile, Baltimore is going after another falling star in Avieon Terrell at No. 45 overall. Teams in need of a quarterback will be watching closely when the Steelers draft Garrett Nussmeier at No. 53 overall.
In Round 3, Philadelphia drafts an offensive tackle to help improve their offensive line with Caleb Tiernan at No. 68 overall, while Cleveland takes care of one more defensive player.
Miami selects tight end Oscar Delp No. 75 overall, and Pittsburgh looks to continue rebuilding its secondary. As the third round progresses, expect runs on receivers and interior offensive linemen.
