Post-draft
Just two quarterbacks were selected, while two running backs were selected from the same school! Well, I guess now we’ve seen it all! Best of luck to all the newest NFL players.
First round
1 Las Vegas, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2 New York Jets, David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
3 Arizona, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4 Tennessee, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5 New York Giants, Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
6 Kansas City (from Cleveland), Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7 Washington, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
8 New Orleans, Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9 Cleveland (from Kansas City), Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
10 New York Giants (from Cincinnati), Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11 Dallas (from Miami), Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12 Miami (from Dallas), Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
13 LA Rams (from Atlanta), Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
14 Baltimore, Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
15 Tampa Bay, Rueben Bain Jr, LB, Miami
16 New York Jets (from Indianapolis), Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
17 Detroit, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18 Minnesota, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
19 Carolina, Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
20 Philadelphia (from Green Bay through Dallas), Makai Lemon, WR, USC
21 Pittsburgh, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
22 LA Chargers, Akheem Mesidor, LB, Miami
23 Dallas (from Philadelphia), Malachi Lawrence, LB, UCF
24 Cleveland (from Jacksonville), KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
25 Chicago, Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
26 Houston (from Buffalo), Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
27 Miami (from San Francisco), Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
28 New England (from Houston through Buffalo), Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
29 Kansas City (from LA Rams), Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
30 New York Jets (from Denver through Miami and San Francisco), Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
31 Tennessee (from New England through Buffalo), Keldric Faulk, DE, Clemson
32 Seattle, Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Second round
33 San Francisco (from New York Jets)
34 Arizona
35 Buffalo (from Tennessee)
36 Las Vegas
37 New York Giants
38 Houston (from Washington)
39 Cleveland
40 Kansas City
41 Cincinnati
42 New Orleans
43 Miami
44 New York Jets (from Dallas)
45 Baltimore
46 Tampa Bay
47 Indianapolis
48 Atlanta
49 Minnesota
50 Detroit
51 Carolina
52 Green Bay
53 Pittsburgh
54 Philadelphia
55 LA Chargers
56 Jacksonville
57 Chicago
58 San Francisco
59 Houston
60 Chicago (from Buffalo)
61 LA Rams
62 Denver
63 New England
64 Seattle
Third round
65 Arizona
66 Tennessee
67 Las Vegas
68 Philadelphia (from New York Jets)
69 Tennessee (from New York Giants via Houston and Buffalo)
70 Cleveland
71 Washington
72 Cincinnati
73 New Orleans
74 Cleveland (from Kansas City)
75 Miami
76 Pittsburgh (from Dallas)
77 Tampa Bay
78 Indianapolis
79 Atlanta
80 Baltimore
81 Jacksonville (from Detroit)
82 Minnesota
83 Carolina
84 Green Bay
85 Pittsburgh
86 LA Chargers
87 Miami (from Philadelphia)
88 Jacksonville
89 Chicago
90 San Francisco (from Houston via Miami)
91 Houston (from Buffalo)
92 Dallas (from San Francisco)
93 LA Rams
94 Miami (from Denver)
95 New England
96 Seattle
97 Minnesota
98 Philadelphia
99 Pittsburgh
100 Jacksonville
Fourth round
101 Buffalo (from Tennessee)
102 Las Vegas
103 New York Jets
104 Arizona
105 New York Giants
106 Houston (from Washington)
107 Cleveland
108 Denver (from New Orleans)
109 Kansas City
110 Cincinnati
111 Denver (from Miami)
112 Dallas
113 Indianapolis
114 Dallas (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)
115 Baltimore
116 Tampa Bay
117 Las Vegas (from Minnesota via Jacksonville)
118 Detroit
119 Carolina
120 Green Bay
121 Pittsburgh
122 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)
123 LA Chargers
124 Jacksonville
125 Buffalo (from Chicago via Kansas City and New England)
126 Buffalo
127 San Francisco
128 Detroit (from Houston)
129 Chicago (from LA Rams)
130 Miami (from Denver)
131 New England
132 New Orleans (from Seattle)
133 San Francisco
134 Las Vegas
135 Pittsburgh
136 New Orleans
137 Dallas (from Philadelphia)
138 Miami (from San Francisco)
139 San Francisco
140 New York Jets
Fifth round
141 Houston (from Las Vegas and Cleveland)
142 Tennessee (from New York Jets via Baltimore)
143 Arizona
144 Tennessee (from LA Rams)
145 New York Giants
146 Cleveland
147 Washington
148 Cleveland (from Kansas City)
149 Cleveland (from Cincinnati)
150 New Orleans
151 Miami
152 Dallas
153 Green Bay (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)
154 Baltimore
155 Tampa Bay
156 Indianapolis
157 Detroit
158 Carolina (from Minnesota)
159 Carolina
160 Green Bay
161 Pittsburgh
162 Baltimore (from LA Chargers)
163 Minnesota (from Philadelphia)
164 Jacksonville
165 Tennessee (from Chicago via Buffalo)
166 Jacksonville (from San Francisco via Philadelphia)
167 Buffalo (from Houston via Philadelphia)
168 Buffalo
169 Kansas City (from LA Rams)
170 Denver
171 New England
172 New Orleans (from Seattle)
173 Baltimore
174 Baltimore
175 Las Vegas
176 Kansas City
177 Miami (from Dallas)
178 Philadelphia
179 San Francisco (from New York Jets)
180 Miami (from Dallas)
181 Detroit
Sixth round
182 Buffalo (from New York Jets via Cleveland, Jacksonville and Las Vegas)
183 Arizona
184 Tennessee
185 Las Vegas
186 New York Giants
187 Washington
188 Seattle (from Cleveland)
189 Cincinnati
190 New Orleans
191 New England (from Kansas City)
192 New York Giants (from Miami)
193 New York Giants (from Dallas)
194 Tennessee (from Baltimore via New York Jets)
195 Tampa Bay
196 Minnesota (from Indianapolis)
197 Philadelphia (from Atlanta)
198 New England (from Minnesota via Houston and San Francisco)
199 Cincinnati (from Detroit via Cleveland)
200 Carolina
201 Green Bay
202 New England (from Pittsburgh)
203 Jacksonville (from Philadelphia via Houston)
204 LA Chargers
205 Detroit (from Jacksonville)
206 Cleveland (from Chicago)
207 LA Rams (from Houston via Tennessee)
208 Las Vegas (from Buffalo via New York Jets)
209 Washington (from San Francisco)
210 Kansas City (from LA Rams)
211 Baltimore (from Denver via New York Jets, Minnesota and Philadelphia)
212 New England
213 Detroit (from Seattle via Jacksonville)
214 Indianapolis (from Pittsburgh)
215 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)
216 Pittsburgh
Seventh round
217 Arizona
218 Dallas (from Tennessee)
219 Las Vegas
220 Buffalo (from New York Jets)
221 Cincinnati (from New York Giants via Dallas)
222 Detroit (from Cleveland)
223 Washington
224 Pittsburgh (from New Orleans via New England)
225 Tennessee (from Kansas City via Dallas)
226 Cincinnati
227 Miami
228 New York Jets (from Dallas via Buffalo and Las Vegas)
229 Tampa Bay
230 Pittsburgh (from Indianapolis)
231 Atlanta
232 LA Rams (from Baltimore)
233 Jacksonville (from Detroit)
234 Minnesota
235 Minnesota (from Carolina)
236 Green Bay
237 Pittsburgh
238 Miami (from LA Chargers via Tennessee and New York Jets)
239 Chicago (from Philadelphia via Jacksonville and Cleveland)
240 Jacksonville
241 Chicago
242 New York Jets (from Buffalo via Cleveland)
243 Houston (from San Francisco)
244 Minnesota (from Houston)
245 Jacksonville (from LA Rams via Houston)
246 Denver
247 New England
248 Cleveland (from Seattle)
249 Indianapolis
250 Baltimore
251 LA Rams
252 LA Rams
253 Baltimore
254 Indianapolis
255 Green Bay
256 Denver
257 Denver
That does it for our live coverage of the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft; thanks for following along with us! And from all of the Guardian team, wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and good night!
Updated
No 32: Seattle Seahawks pick Jadarian Price, RB
The champs finally weigh in with the final pick of the first round. What do you get the team that has everything? That would be Jadarian Price, the second running back from Notre Dame to be taken this evening. He’s not as talented as Love – particularly as a pass catcher – but has an ability to find gaps.
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No 31: Tennessee Titans pick Keldric Faulk, edge
The commish announces a record first night draft record, with 320,000 in attendance.
Meanwhile, the Titans are back, selecting Keldric Faulk, an edge rusher out of Auburn. Faulk isn’t quite the finished product yet but is quick and agile and is known as a good teammate.
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No 30: New York Jets pick Omar Cooper Jr, WR
Oh look who it is, the Jets! They’re back, again, for a third time tonight. A bit greedy aren’t they? They traded with the 49ers to get yet another first round selection. They round up their night with Omar Cooper Jr, the wide receiver out of Indiana. The Jets, whose offense has been woeful in recent years, have added two potentially explosive talents tonight. They still need a quarterback, an area they may well turn to in next year’s draft, where they have three first-round picks. Here’s his “catch of the year” against Penn State.
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No 29: Kansas City Chiefs pick Peter Woods, DT
It seems like years ago that KC traded up to get CB Mansoor Delane, but that was actually the sixth pick tonight. Now they’re back to try and find late-round gold. Could that be the Clemson defensive tackle out of Clemson? If it doesn’t go well, ESPN says he’s a good singer.
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No 28: New England Patriots pick Caleb Lomu, OT
NE traded with the Texans to secure this spot to grab Lomu, who has a good name for an offensive tackle. He is more of a project than the finished product and has to improve his run blocking. But he could make a big leap if he adds weight to his already imposing frame.
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No 27: Miami Dolphins pick Chris Johnson, DB
The Dolphins already selected offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor. Now they have traded up to the 27th pick with the 49ers. They select Johnson, a defensive back from San Diego State.
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No26: Houston Texans pick Keylan Rutledge, guard
The guard from Georgia Tech nearly lost a limb following traffic crash, but recovered to be selected in the first round of an NFL draft. The Texans are in need of extra talent on their o-line, so it’s a pick that makes sense.
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Trade!
The Bills have traded back.
Texans trade the Bills pick 28, 69, 167 Houston receives: Pick 26, 91.
No 25: Chicago Bears pick Dillon Thieneman, safety
The safety from Oregon has got aviator sunglasses on, which he won’t need in those gloomy Chicago winters.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: There are no holes in Thieneman’s game. Before the Combine, he was slated as a gifted safety who got by on his smarts, instincts and aggressive style. He was so dedicated to his craft at Oregon that they had to lock him out of the weight room because he was working out too much. Then he went to Indianapolis and tested like one of the most athletic prospects in recent history. He is the kind of player that does all the little things that make the nerds purr, and then, in a flash, can produce the high-wattage highlights that fuel the algorithm. At Oregon, he played as a part-time linebacker. Before that, when he was at Purdue, he played as an old-school, middle-of-the-field safety. Thieneman can be a linchpin piece for any secondary.
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No24: Cleveland Browns pick KC Concepcion, WR
KC is heading to Cleveland! The wideout from Texas A&M is a speedy, legitimate first target for whoever throws the ball for the Browns. And he returns punts as well. No wonder he won the “versatile” award.
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No23: Dallas Cowboys pick Malachi Lawrence, edge
Dallas already selected a highly sought after safety. Now they add an edge from the linebacker hub of the University of Central Florida.
AP analysis:
The 6ft 5in, 253lbs Lawrence had seven sacks among a career-high 11 tackles for loss as a senior at UCF. He was one of four players in the Football Bowl Subdivision to have at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons.
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No22: Los Angeles Chargers pick Akheem Mesidor, edge
He had 5.5 sacks in the playoffs, not bad for a kid from Ottawa. The University of Miami product is already 25, but will bring tenacity to the Chargers defensive line.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: First, the bad news: Mesidor will be 25 years old as a rookie and sustained multiple injuries throughout his college season. Age and injury red flags set off alarm bells in every NFL building – and Mesidor was off the board for multiple teams. But then you turn on the tape and here comes the good news: Mesidor is a juiced-up, technical pass-rusher who clowned offensive tackles. There are valid concerns about whether, at his advanced age, he was too developed for college linemen to cope with. At the next level, NFL linemen will know how to offset Mesidor’s best work. But speed and bend travel. And Mesidor has buckets full of both, regardless of his age. He may never be more than a rotational pass-rusher, but those are valuable.
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No 21: Pittsburgh Steelers pick Max Iheanachor, OT
They have waited and waited in preparation for this moment: the home town pick.
Jerome Bettis, fresh off his last announced pick of TJ Watt, tells the crowd that it’s the OT from Arizona State who will be coming to Pittsburgh, via Nigeria.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: In five years, Iheanachor has gone from not playing the sport to being a first-round pick.
The mammoth, 6ft 6in, 321lbs tackle only picked up football in junior college. Born in Nigeria before moving to Compton, California, for high school, Iheanachor’s first loves were soccer and basketball. His high school didn’t even have a football team, and he didn’t take his first snap until his second year in junior college. But he has fallen for the game and recently got a tattoo of the NFL shield. “It’s definitely something that means a lot to me,” Iheanachor said at his pro day. “I love football, love the game, so why not?”
After discovering football, Iheanachor quickly became a high-level junior college recruit and, over two years as a starter at Arizona State, rounded into a top-50 prospect. Despite his inexperience, he has shown all the traits of a starting NFL tackle: size, spring, balance, length and natural strength and power. He didn’t give up a sack in 2025 and conceded the lowest pressure rate of any of the tackle prospects.
Over the past five years, teams have shown they will bet on raw athletic tools along the offensive line in the first round rather than chase technical proficiency. There are only so many people who are big enough and athletic enough to keep up with the likes of Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons swooping in off the edge. The technical details are essential, but they can be taught. What Iheanachor has is unteachable size, athleticism and strength. And he is already ahead, technically, of where Jordan Mailata, Amarius Mims and Patrick Paul were when they entered the league.
There will be growing pains. Iheanchor got by in college largely due to his raw talent, and his technique is shaky. As a relative newbie to the sport, soaking up a pro playbook while trying to hone his craft will take time. But this draft class lacks linemen with prototypical size and agility for a tackle. Iheanachor is one of the few that checks those boxes. If he sneaks into the first round, it wouldn’t be a shock.
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No 20: Philadelphia Eagles pick Makai Lemon, WR
The Eagles traded with the Cowboys to get this wide receiver from USC. So the question now is, will the Eagles rid themselves of AJ Brown? It’s “a steal” according to ESPN TV in the US.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: How about drafting a smaller wide receiver with the mentality of a linebacker? Welcome to the Makai Lemon Experience. Lemon is a tough, quick receiver who does most of his damage out of the slot and when creating after the catch. He’s slippery enough at the top of the route to create separation at the NFL level and has the hops to rise and play above his 5ft 11in stature. Having versatile wide receivers who play inside and outside – Puka Nacua; Amon-Ra St Brown – is the name of the modern game. Lemon fits the billing.
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No 19: Carolina Panthers pick Monroe Freeling, OT
He’s a left tackle out of Georgia. They’re going to love him in Carolina, according to Ollie Connolly:
Freeling has been a late riser in draft season. He was only a one-year starter at Georgia, but he’s one of the few offensive linemen in the class who profiles as a legitimate left tackle in the NFL. He’s a bruising run blocker who stands at a touch over 6ft 7in and has enough juice to offset speed-rushers in pass protection. Teams are usually uncomfortable about drafting one-year starters high in the first round. But Freeling has the potential to be a solid starter at one of the sport’s most valuable positions.
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No 18: Minnesota Vikings pick Caleb Banks, DL
The defensive tackle out of Florida is 6ft 6in and well over 300 pounds. That’s a lot of defensive tackle.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict:
Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
If you’re looking for big nose tackles in this year’s class, you can take your pick. The draft is filled with heavy-footed run-stuffers who can survive in the mosh-pit that is an NFL line of scrimmage on early downs. But finding players who can trouble the quarterback on third downs is tough. It’s even trickier to find prospects who can fill both roles, playing all three downs and offering just as much thump against the run as pressure they generate on opposing quarterbacks.
The most likely candidate is Banks, a 6ft 6in, 335lbs bundle of size, speed and power. Banks is as disruptive as they come. He is the most naturally talented defensive lineman in the class, creating constant disruption thanks to his size and agility. Rarely do you find a lineman so big who can play so low to the ground who is also explosive off the ball. Not since Jordan Davis entered the draft has a 6ft 6in defensive lineman tested so well athletically.
But he also happens to have Joel Embiid’s feet. Banks missed almost all of the 2025 season with a foot injury. After a breakout season in 2024, he fractured his foot in Florida’s finale. He made it back for the team’s third game of 2025 against LSU, and then broke his foot again. Banks was able to return for Florida’s final two games of his final college season, but broke his foot again before he tested at the combine. A big man with persistent foot injuries will always make teams queasy.
Add to that, for a player who was bigger, faster and stronger than everyone he played, Banks’s production was relatively muted. He started just 24 games over his three seasons at Florida and was more disruptive than productive.
The upside, though, is through the roof. Every franchise in the league is chasing disruptive players along the interior. And on a per-snap basis, no one in college football lived in the backfield as often as Banks. He had a pressure rate of 21.4% on third down in 2024, which would place him in the 90th percentile among all DTs drafted in the last decade. And it would be by far the highest figure for any defensive lineman drafted over that span who weighed 320lbs or more. Tack on rock-solid run defense, and you’re looking at someone who could have a Dexter Lawrence-, Chris Jones- or Leonard Williams-type impact.
No prospect has a wider range of outcomes. Injuries could force him out of the league early, or he could be a foundational piece. The medical concerns will probably push him into the second round, but his potential may be too much for teams late in the first round to pass up.
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No 17: Detroit Lions pick Blake Miller, OT
So are Detroit ever going to win a Super Bowl? They took a step back last season, so Lions fans will hoping that Mr Miller, a tackle from Clemson can help.
Analysis from AP:
The Detroit Lions found a replacement for a longtime fixture on the offensive line. Detroit drafted Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the No 17 overall pick, selecting a massive and durable player to make up for the loss of Taylor Decker.
The 6ft 7in, 317lbs Miller started 54 games in college. The three-time All-ACC player broke a school record by playing 3,778 offensive snaps.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes says he drafts the best players on the team’s board, refusing to reach for needs.
Miller appears to be both a highly rated prospect and a player with a chance to play right away as a rookie for coach Dan Campbell after a relatively surprising move this offseason. Decker asked for his release , ending a 10-year run as the team’s starting left tackle.
All-Pro Penei Sewell will likely replace Decker on the left side. Detroit signed Larry Borom to possibly take Sewell’s spot on the right side and now he has competition from a first-round pick.
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No 16: New York Jets pick Kenyon Sadiq, TE
With David Bailey in the can, the Jets are back and looking for more. They don’t need a QB because they have Geno Smith. So instead, they select Kenyon Sadiq, a tight end from Oregon. Who they say is pretty good, that is, until he dresses in green. No, that’s mean. He’s good, just ask Ollie Connolly:
Sadiq has been the darling of the pre-draft process. He crushed it at the underwear Olympics, putting together a 9.52/10 Relative Athletic Score. But Sadiq isn’t a workout warrior; he’s a talented tight end with a special blend of size and speed that translates onto the field. Some tight ends are wide receivers in tight ends’ clothing. They aren’t interested in blocking and just want to catch passes. But as a blocker, Sadiq gives all-out effort. He’s willing to take on defensive linemen in the trenches and then has the speed to burst past linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks in coverage. There were some bad drops in college, but Sadiq made up for it with highlight reel grabs, dunking on the heads of some of the best cornerbacks in college football.
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No 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick Rueben Bain Jr, edge
Question, if you’re in the middle of that crowd of 300,000 or whatever it is, and you have to pee, what happens?
Rueben Bain Jr and his five sacks in the playoffs for Miami is heading to Tampa. So that’s a short jaunt.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: The Miami edge-rusher looks and plays like former Philly stalwart Brandon Graham. Bain is short, stocky and disruptive. Does he have small arms? Sure. But Bain makes up for that with technique and tenacity. He overwhelmed college tackles with a deep bag of pass-rush rooms and a non-stop motor. Bain may never be a dominant one-on-one pass-rusher, but he is a dependable, smart player who delights in rag-dolling his competition. Graham has had a 16-year career and notched 79.5 sacks. That is on the cards for Bain.
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No 14: Baltimore Ravens pick Olaivavega Ioane, guard
But you can call him “Venga” Jesse Minter is the new head coach in Baltimore after years and years of Harbaugh and he and his GM start with a guard.
AP analysis:
He’s a player who was expected to be one of Baltimore’s targets all along, and even the availability of Miami pass rushing star Rueben Bain Jr wasn’t enough to knock the Ravens off task. Ioane fills an obvious need for a Baltimore team that had problems in the middle of the offensive line last season.
“It’s hard to not see things for how they are – seeing a lot of mock drafts, things like that, of me coming there,” Ioane said. “I’ve definitely pictured myself blocking for all those people over there – great players.”
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No 13: Los Angeles Rams pick Ty Simpson, QB
They got this pick from the Falcons last year, and they turned it into Ty Simpson. Surprise! The QB is heading to LA, earlier than expected, no question about it. He spent four years in Alabama, and started just one.
With Stafford at the helm in LA, surely this is a pick for the future, right?
Pick analysis from AP:
Rams general manager Les Snead made a first-round pick for only the second time in the past decade – and he turned in a shocker by taking Simpson, who wasn’t considered a first-round talent on some draft boards.
Simpson was a starter for only one season with the Crimson Tide, passing for 3,567 yards and leading them to the Rose Bowl after three seasons as a backup.
Rather than adding available receiver Makai Lemon – the Biletnikoff Award winner at Southern California last season – to maximize their championship window with Stafford, the Rams chose to look to their future.
The 38-year-old Stafford has already announced he is returning to the Rams next season, his 17th in the NFL, but hasn’t committed beyond this year.
Simpson doesn’t have the arm strength or size of many top NFL quarterbacks, but the Rams apparently loved his technique and decision-making under pressure. Simpson could be Los Angeles’ backup quarterback next season if Jimmy Garoppolo decides to retire.
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No 12: Miami Dolphins pick Kadyn Proctor, OT
The offensive tackle a big boy, nearly 400lbs, from SEC giant Alabama. How many stone is that?
He’s had an up and down college career, but now expectations should be ratcheted up as he heads to the Dolphins.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: What if I told you there was an offensive lineman in the draft who played at close to 400lbs but carried the ball as a running back and caught passes as a receiver? Introducing you to Kadyn Proctor. Put simply, guys as big as Proctor should not be able to move so quickly. He is a devastating run blocker who is too big for pass-rushers to run through. At his size, he may move to guard in the NFL. But if he can keep his weight under control, he has quick enough feet to control the edge at tackle and force pass-rushers to run through his frame – and no one is running through his frame. No prospect has a wider range of outcomes than Proctor. He could be out of the league in three years or be a perennial All-Pro. Early on, he needs to play for a run-centric offense and prove that he can maintain his new, svelte frame.
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No 11: Dallas Cowboys pick Caleb Downs, safety
Correction, it’s just a swap with Miami, so the Dolphins pick 12th. Things are moving fast in Pittsburgh!
They take Caleb Downs, the safety from, you guessed it, OSU.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: Downs is a do-everything safety who can form the glue of any defense. He moved all over Ohio State’s defense, playing as a deep safety, nickel corner and linebacker. He’s physical against the run and can match up with tight ends in coverage. No safety in the past five drafts has lined up in coverage more than Downs or been more effective. He is also a superb blitzer, instinctive against the run and the best tackler at any position in this draft. The “wow” physical traits may not leap off the screen, but he is the kind of defensive force multiplier who will make everyone around him better. Downs may lack some of the size of Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton, but he brings a similar brand of positional flexibility.
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Trade!
Dallas traded into the 12th pick with Miami, so now have back-to-back picks. Who will they bring to Jerryville, or whatever it’s called?
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No 10: New York Giants pick Francis Mauigoa, OT
An offensive lineman from Miami should help the Giants O-line that took massive steps last season.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict:
Mauigoa (pronounced: Maui-noa) is a physically imposing tackle with slick feet and vice grips for hands. He was the power center of a Miami offense that made it all the way to the national championship game before losing to Indiana. Mauigoa’s game is built on power. He is a run-first tackle who can drive bigger defenders off the ball, but who struggles with speed off the edge as a pass protector. Mauigoa could wind up moving inside to guard in the pros, where his exposure in protection will be limited and he can be weaponized as a run blocker.
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No 9: Cleveland Browns pick Spencer Fano, OT
As a result of the earlier trade with KC, Cleveland are finally up. And it’s Spencer Fano, a tackle out of Utah. He was the offensive lineman of the year, so that should help bolster the Browns line in 2026. Check him out.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict:
Fano is a twitched-up lineman with the versatility to play all five spots along the offensive line. Most teams view him as a long-term guard, but he has enough juice out of his stance to be a capable starter at right tackle depending on the team’s needs. He played in a run-centric system at Utah that showcased his impact as a run blocker, but hid his flaws in pass protection. David Bailey pulverized Fano when the two matched up last season. It’s hard to see him sticking at tackle long-term when he will be seeing pass-rushers of Bailey’s caliber every week.
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No 8: New Orleans Saints pick Jordyn Tyson, WR
Goodell is back to the tune of “Sweet Caroline”, rather bizarrely.
The oft-injured wide receiver from Arizona State is heading to New Orleans for some gumbo, meat pies and hopefully, a few touchdowns.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: If you’re looking for wow plays, crack open a beverage and pull up some Tyson highlights. Squint hard enough – like, really squint – and you can convince yourself you’re seeing the next Odell Beckham Jr. Tyson is an acrobat receiver who can twist and contort in the air to snag off-target throws. He’s quick off the line and explosive at the top of routes. If you isolate his 20 best plays, there is no conversation about the best receiver in the draft. But consistency and durability are concerns. Tyson has dealt with significant knee and upper-body injuries and has had nagging hamstring problems throughout his college career. He worked out for teams a week before the draft to try to assuage their concerns, but he remains a close-your-eyes, turn-the-card-in and hope prospect.
And here’s some of those “wow plays”.
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No 7: Washington Commanders pick Sonny Styles, linebacker
Another Buckeye! The third one selected in the top seven picks. I guess OSU are pretty good.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict:
A former safety, Styles has ridiculous range for a 6ft 4inch linebacker who can thump with the best of them in the box. He flat out doesn’t miss tackles, and when he squares a player up one-on-one, he doles out vicious punishment. Styles is everything you’re looking for in a modern linebacker: athletic enough to play all over the defense and drop into coverage, a tackling machine and the springs to be a potent blitzer. The upside is Fred Warner, a cheat code at the second level.
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No 6: Kansas City Chiefs trade up for CB Mansoor Delane
A ball stop corner from LSU to be avoided at all costs. Don’t believe me?
SI say that “to move from the No. 9 overall pick to No. 6, the Chiefs reportedly surrendered the No. 74 and No. 148 overall pick, a hefty haul for a short jump inside of the top-10.”
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: There are two kinds of cornerbacks: lockdown corners and playmakers. Delane falls into the first bucket. He’s a small, smooth, explosive mover who has matched up with every conceivable kind of receiver in college. He might not be an elite playmaker on the ball, but he constantly forces opposing quarterbacks to look elsewhere. Delane is also the holder of the most bonkers stat in this draft class: he allowed just 13 catches in 2025, and no receiver caught two passes against him in a single game.
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No 5: New York Giants pick Arvell Reese
The Jim Harbaugh era is underway in NY! The losing and the Jets-like humiliation that has gone on for years and years, is it over? Their fans hope so.
It’s Arvell Reese, linebacker, all 6ft 4in of him.
Ollie Connolly’s profile: Is Reese an edge-rusher or a linebacker? In the modern game, does it really even matter? At Ohio State, Reese played all over the defense. Largely, he lined up as a traditional linebacker backed up off the ball, while offering some thump up on the line of scrimmage as an edge defender. But he’s yet to pin his ears back and play exclusively as a pass-rusher. When does rush, he plays with burst, power and flexibility. If he doesn’t work out as an edge-rusher, he can always shuffle back to linebacker, where he ranks as one of the best prospects in a generation. Wherever he winds up lining up, Reese will be a game-wrecker.
Cleveland are on the clock.
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No 4: Tennessee Titans pick WR Carnell Tate
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State is heading to Nashville!
He only caught 103 passes for 13 touchdowns in a powerful Buckeye attack. “Unselfish” and “safe pick” are some adjectives being used by ESPN to describe the wide receiver.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: Tate is a 6ft 2in, 192lbs jar of polish. He is a savvy receiver without any A-plus physical traits, coming from a long line of Ohio State-to-NFL receivers. He may never be “the guy” that terrifies opposing defenses, but he’s a smart route runner who understands how to separate and who catches everything in his orbit. At Ohio State, he produced more consistently than Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Emeka Egbuka. That’s a pretty nice resume. He may not be dynamic, but he will be productive.
Here come the Giants!
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No 3: Arizona Cardinals pick RB Jeremiyah Love
Are they going with Love? The pick is in! Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort select Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. Only 21 touchdowns last season for the Irish, which is OK, not great. No, seriously. I think it’s still a gamble to take an RB that high, especially when the team is bad and the offensive line is porous – see Barkley, see Jeanty.
What does Ollie Connolly think? I’m glad you asked:
Here is what you need to know about Love: 48.5 percent of his career rushing yards have come on explosive runs of at least 15-plus yards, one of the highest marks in the history of college football. As a receiver, he averaged 10.4 yards per reception in his final year at Notre Dame. He is, in every sense, a chunk play waiting to happen. Oh, and he’s also happy to stick his nose in and blast pass-rushers in pass protection. You can quibble about the value of running backs in the first round, but Love is more Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson than he is Leonard Fournette or Najee Harris. He will be an instant-impact player as a runner and receiver.
The Titans are on the clock.
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Mendoza Mania!
For more on the no1 overall pick, read all about him, right here.
No 2: New York Jets pick David Bailey, edge
The Jets nab David Bailey, the linebacker from Texas Tech. He should help the Jets do SOMETHING on defense after they regressed significantly last season, which is really saying something, even for the Jets. Bailey had 14.5 sacks for Tech last year.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: Bailey is the most explosive pass-rusher in the draft. He is all about burst off the ball and flattening to the quarterback. Think Denver’s Nik Bonitto. Speed-only pass-rushers have a dodgy history in the NFL; the bust rate is higher than that of players who rely on power. And Bailey’s outlook is no different. Right now, he’s a zero against the run, which could cap his ceiling. At times in college, he wasn’t an every-down player but was used as a pass-rush specialist. Still, he has the league’s most valuable commodity: unteachable hops. But he will need to develop as a run defender to become an every-down presence.
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Mendoza tells ESPN that “the last five months have been such a blessing…now I step into a great game, the NFL and look forward to improving every day.”
I am pretty sure that Mendoza practiced that response in his bathroom mirror a few thousand times.
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No 1: Las Vegas Raiders pick QB Fernando Mendoza
With the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select…
…Heisman Trophy winner, national champion and now no1 pick, Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana.
Oh, so that’s why the Raiders did a complete evaluation on the QB. I guess the silver and black liked what they saw, because he’s the top dog in 2026!
Mendoza’s close friends and family celebrate in his home as the QB dons a Raiders hat. It’s a somewhat muted celebration for sure.
So, what about Mendoza then?
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: Mendoza is a big-bodied, tough, accurate quarterback. He has the size of Carson Palmer with wheels that remind you of Daniel Jones: enough athleticism to stumble for first downs but not a five-alarm fire in the open field. As a passer, he wins with pre-snap recognition and accuracy. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but he can make all the throws. The knock on his game is the system he played in at Indiana – one drenched in RPOs – and his lack of quickness in the pocket. Mendoza can be a little robotic when navigating against pressure in the backfield. It will take some time for him to develop in a full-field, NFL offense, but he has the tools and intellect to be an upper-tier starter in the league. He will probably fall somewhere on the continuum between Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins.
The New York Jets are on the clock! Oh boy…
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Here comes the NFL Commish!
Roger Goodell walks on and eggs on the boos in Pittsburgh - what a good sport! He’s flanked by TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, just in case the crowd try anything.
I have to say, the sound quality off the mic isn’t great, surprising for such a big event.
Anyway, Heyward welcomes more Pittsburgh greats, including Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann. And the crowd goes wild!
Here comes the first pick….the Raiders are on the clock!
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Fernando Mendoza
The QB widely expected to be selected no1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, will be the first presumptive top pick to not attend the draft in person since Trevor Lawrence was selected by Jacksonville. Mendoza wants to be at home to share the moment with his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, his father, and other close family and friends. But don’t worry, ESPN TV in the US will have at least one camera inside the Mendoza home to document the moment.
And speaking of Mendoza, he’s going to be off the board shortly. Stick with us!
New Rules
If you’re after the whole kit and caboodle of how this thing works, you can find all the details here. But the main difference this year is that the time between first-round selections has been shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes. It’s the first timing adjustment since 2008, when draft windows dropped from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. So in an era when eyeballs are tougher to keep from straying, the NFL is trying to move things alomng just a bit quicker.
The timing for Round 2 is seven minutes, and after that, teams will have five minutes to make their selections.
1948
That was the last time the NFL held its draft in Pittsburgh. A bunch of cigar smoking, whiskey swilling men (that’s just a guess) gathered at the old Fort Pitt Hotel in December of 1947 to select the future NFL booms and busts. Harry Gilmer, a running back from Alabama went first to Washington because they won the draft lottery; that’s how the top pick was determined back then. The biggest name to come out of that draft has to be Y.A. Tittle, the LSU quarterback selected by Detroit, who gave us one of the most famous photos in NFL history. It was snapped at the end of his Hall of Fame career when he was with the Giants in 1964.
By the way, in case you don’t think your team can do well in the late rounds, in the 1948 draft, offensive lineman Louis Creekmur was selected by Philly with the 243rd overall pick in the, you guessed it, 26th round!
Creekmur was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
National Anthem
Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter KELS is performing the National Anthem. Ooooo! She’s a little off right there at the end. I was just about to give her an 8/10 score, but unfortunately I have to knock a point off it.
Player Introductions
The biggest names are being announced and walking on to the stage.
The most noticeable thing is that crowd that just seems to go on forever. I mean, Green Bay drew an estimated 600,000 fans, and Detroit had 775,000 in 2024. These numbers to watch players chosen are completely bananas, obviously, and Pittsburgh is expected to draw 500,000-700,000 fans over the three day event.
Honestly, I don’t really get it, but the thirst for anything and everything NFL never seems to end.
Some questions
Here’s a few things we can ponder as we lead up to the Raiders selecting Mr Mendoza.
1. What do the Jets do at two—edge rusher Arvell Reese or David Bailey?
2. How high will an NFL GM dare to draft running back Jeremiyah Love?Talented? Oh yeah, but he’s still a back. Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes it’s not.
3. Will Arizona trade pick three or take Love themselves? As always with thew Cards, anything is possible.
4. Where does Ty Simpson land as a quarterback? That’s the big QB question this draft. Last year, the big question was, “when will Shedeur Sanders go off the board?” The answer was late. Very late.
5. Where of the top edge rushers—Reese, Bailey, and a bit down the line, Rueben Bain Jr., go?
6. Does the Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort pull off a trade? See no3.
7. Will there be surprise trades early? Philly? New Orleans, KC? Will we have deals?
8. Where do receivers and offensive linemen get taken? And how will ghat impact remaining wideouts that are still available, Hill and Diggs for example.
9. What happens with some injury concerns like Caleb Banks’ foot? Will a team pick a defensive tackle with a repaired fractured fourth metatarsal in his left foot, early or later in this draft?
Chew on that for a bit.
Draft order
I’m just drop this right here. Is that OK?
1) Raiders
2) Jets
3) Cardinals
4) Titans
5) Giants
6) Browns
7) Commanders
8) Saints
9) Chiefs
10) Giants (from Bengals)
11) Dolphins
12) Cowboys
13) Rams (from Falcons)
14) Ravens
15) Buccaneers
16) Jets (from Colts)
17) Lions
18) Vikings
19) Panthers
20) Cowboys (from Packers)
21) Steelers
22) Chargers
23) Eagles
24) Browns (from Jaguars)
25) Bears
26) Bills
27) 49ers
28) Texans
29) Chiefs (from Rams)
30) Dolphins (from Broncos)
31) Patriots
32) Seahawks
So the teams with two first-round picks tonight are the Giants at five and 10, the Jets at two and 16, the Cowboys at 12 and 20, the Browns at six and 24, the Chiefs at nine and 29 and the Dolphins at 11 and 30.
One thing to keep an eye on is, with this draft being seen as kind of, sort of, below average - at least when it comes to quarterbacks – will any teams deal 2026 capital to get a spot in a 2027 draft, which is expected to have more box office names? Por ejemplo, Miami doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of interest in winning games this year – will they try to grab a shot at a Manning and the other premiere QB’s next year? Will they try to deal one or both of their first round picks to get into that arm race?
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Draft day is here!
Hello everyone and welcome to our rolling coverage of the 91st NFL Draft!
Let me begin by saying that the NFL off-season has two important dates. There’s the day that free agency begins, where moves just fly in at incredible speed and the NFL takes over sports for about a week. And of course, there’s the NFL draft, which is the Big Kahuna, and manages to bring the NBA playoffs to its knees despite the fact that not a single ball is thrown. Somehow, the NFL just continues to grow and eat everything in its path with each passing season, and that includes the draft, which is a premier showcase and a boon to whichever city hosts the event.
This year it’s in Pittsburgh, so it gets a 12,000 square foot fan village in its Point State Park, a red carpet event, and a draft theater so big that it’s inside the Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) parking lot. The whole zone takes about a half hour to walk from one end of the event to the other, all along its famous Three Rivers area.
So Yinzers are happy and so are visiting fans who can’t wait for the first of 257 picks to be chosen by the NFL’s 32 teams. Who will go first? Well all eyes are on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza who the Las Vegas Raiders may, could, probably, definitely will be snatched straight away. Then what? Well we’ll explore some of the story lines as we draw closer to draft time.
Until then, any thoughts, feelings or predictions? Feel free to drop me a line and providing you don’t say anything particularly offensive, I’ll get you in our coverage and make YOU famous!
More to come, stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, see who the Guardian’s staff of writers think is the most talented player in this year’s draft class:
Fernando Mendoza will go No 1. But the most talented player in this draft is ...
Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State. He is one of the best pure linebacker prospects in a generation, and he has the athletic traits to become a full-time edge defender. Some teams view him as a linebacker; those at the top of the board prefer him as an edge rusher. In an ideal world, Reese will do a bit of everything. Think Philly’s Zack Baun on Super Soldier Serum. Reese has a rare combination of smarts, speed and power. Whichever role he plays, he will be a force multiplier for a defense. Oliver Connolly
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. Not only is Love being discussed as a top-10 overall pick, but he’s also one of the most buzzed-about targets for teams looking to trade up. He’s a physical, explosive three-down back with breakaway speed (he ran a 4.36sec 40 at the combine), great hands and the ability to protect. All in a 6ft, 212lbs frame. Love is the total package. Melissa Jacobs
There’s so much to like about running back Love: effortless acceleration, feline elusiveness, stout pass protection, soft hands. Time and again at Notre Dame, he showed a knack for turning chain-moving plays into home runs. The last time a rusher was selected inside the top five was 2018, and Saquon Barkley has since proved his worth for two franchises. Love enters this year’s draft as nearly as complete a player, with all the teams in the top five in need of his services. Andrew Lawrence
If drafting was done on skills alone then Love would be the first cab off the rank. He’s a running back with explosive speed who is also a sublime pass catcher. His versatility draws very favourable comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs. A home-run pick. Graham Searles
