The story of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft surrounded a quarterback but it wasn’t No 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
As expected, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday after he led Indiana to the national title last season. But the shock of the night came when the Los Angeles Rams picked another quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, at No 13. The Rams current starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, was named NFL MVP last season and Simpson was projected to be a second-round pick by many analysts. However, Stafford turned 38 in February and the Rams are starting to plan for life without him, although head coach Sean McVay insisted the veteran will remain the starter for the time being. “This is Matthew’s team,” said McVay.
He added that Stafford had been “great” when told the Rams were drafting Simpson. “He’s a stud,” McVay said. “I mean, he’s always first class in every sense of the word.”
Simpson started just 15 games in college but he exuded confidence after the Rams selected him.
“Absolutely, I am confident,” Simpson said. “That’s why I decided to come [to the draft in person]. You know with the offensive infrastructure we had in Alabama with other coaches and the offensive system, the weight room, everything was set up to better you for the NFL. And that’s why I stayed at ’Bama.”
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
With McVay on his side and Stafford to learn from for at least the next season or two, his new team are giving him a long leash to develop, a good plan for a player whom many doubted could start early.
Meanwhile, Mendoza wasn’t in Pittsburgh for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami. He’ll be heading to Las Vegas on Friday to begin an NFL career that may have seemed improbable when few colleges were interested in him coming out of high school.
“The last five months have been such a blessing by God, and I can’t thank Him enough,” Mendoza said. “I’m just looking forward to getting to work, prove it at the next level. College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career, but now I step into a great game, the NFL. Look forward to proving and earning it every single day.”
Mendoza wasn’t even a prominent prospect at this time last year. But he had a sensational season with the Hoosiers, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Still, there are plenty of doubts about him in a quarterback-thin draft class. He’s determined to prove any critics wrong again.
Mendoza’s selection was expected for months. The intrigue began at No 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese. The Jets had two further picks in the first round, using them on offensive weapons. The Jets selected the top tight end in the draft at No 16, taking Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. They later traded with the 49ers to take Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr at No 30, drawing loud cheers from their fans in the crowd.
The Giants took Reese at No 5, adding a potential elite rusher less than a week after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati. “It’s surreal to me,” Bailey said. “It’s an awesome opportunity. I just want to get in there and be a sponge and soak up everything.”
Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. Love is the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No 2 to the New York Giants in 2018.
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was picked fourth by Tennessee in a surprise move that gives QB Cam Ward – last year’s No 1 overall pick – a top target.
The Chiefs traded up to No 6 to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City sent Cleveland the ninth pick along with Nos 74 and 148 to move up. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles went seventh to Washington, improving a defense that allowed the most yards in the league last season.
New Orleans selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No 8, giving QB Tyler Shough a 1-2 punch with Chris Olave. Utah’s Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman chosen, going to Cleveland with the ninth pick. The Giants followed up with another offensive tackle, taking Miami’s Francis Mauigoa at No 10.
The Cowboys moved up one spot to select versatile Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No 11. Dallas sent Miami a pair of fifth-rounders and the 12th pick. The Dolphins took Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Baltimore chose Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane at No 14 with a pick they had traded to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby but regained when they voided the trade.
Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr was selected by Tampa Bay with the 15th pick, giving the Buccaneers’ dismal pass rush a possible game-changer who was considered a top-10 talent.
“I know I’m the best in the country,” Bain said. “I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.”
Detroit moved up one spot to take Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick. The Lions swapped picks with division rival Minnesota, who chose Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, once expected to be a top-10 pick, was chosen by Carolina at No 19.
The Eagles moved up to 20th in another pick swap involving division rivals and took USC wideout Makai Lemon. Dallas got Philadelphia’s 23rd pick plus two fourth-rounders for No 20 and a seventh. Lemon thought he was heading to the Steelers.
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time. I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly,” Lemon said.
Mendoza is the fourth straight quarterback selected No. 1 overall following Cam Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. It’s the 10th time in 12 years a QB was the first pick. None of those 10 have won a Super Bowl, though Jared Goff and Joe Burrow each started one.
