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By Megan Armstrong
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It's refreshing, isn't it?
After weeks and weeks of 2026 NFL Draft mocks and hypothetical projections, with some reported intel mixed in, we have concrete draft results to base analysis around. The first round is underway in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
An astounding six teams entered the night with two first-round picks — the New York Jets (Nos. 2 and 16), New York Giants (Nos. 5 and 10), Kansas City Chiefs (Nos. 9 and 29), Miami Dolphins (Nos. 11 and 30), and Dallas Cowboys (Nos. 12 and 20). Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cincinnati Bengals are empty-handed until Friday's second and third rounds.
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Nothing is certain in the draft, except for the annual booing of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and, this year, the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Heisman-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
Beyond that, expect chaos.
We'll be tracking it all in real time. Join us.
This is a live tracker and will be updated after each new first-round pick is announced.
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1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Congratulations to all mock drafters for starting the evening 1-for-1.
It's finally official: Fernando Mendoza is a Raider. Whether or not Mendoza is QB1 for the 2026 season remains to be seen, but the Raiders are invested in him as the future face of the franchise. Mendoza is, in some ways, similar to new teammate Kirk Cousins — certainly in terms of demeanor and football IQ. Newly hired Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak worked wonders with Cousins in Minnesota from 2019 to 2021. Now, both occupy Kubiak's QB room in Vegas.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
David Bailey is the first Texas Tech player to go off the board in the top five in the common draft era, so he starts his NFL career with bragging rights over Patrick Mahomes, who went No. 10 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. The initial analysis here is pretty simple. The entire Jets defense compiled 26 sacks in 2025, while Bailey led the nation with 14.5 sacks in 14 games last season.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Cardinals are hoping the second time is the charm. Arizona went all-in on offensive star power by drafting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. fourth overall in 2024. So far, Harrison Jr. carrying the Cardinals to contention has not worked out. Even more pressure will be on Love, as the Cardinals don't currently have a clear-cut QB1.
That said, Love has been touted as a once-in-a-generational athlete for months. Temptation outweighed conventional wisdom in the Cardinals' war room. The Heisman finalist becomes the first running back drafted in the top three since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.
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4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Second-year Titans quarterback Cam Ward is beaming somewhere. Carnell Tate immediately becomes Tennessee's WR1, a position he never held at Ohio State.
Tate jostled for targets with Emeka Egbuka, who went 19th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, and Jeremiah Smith, who is expected to be the next top-tier prospect out of Wide Receiver U next year. Tennessee doesn't care about any of that. Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll hopes he can jumpstart Ward with Tate. He saw what Stefon Diggs did for Josh Allen in Buffalo.
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
On Wednesday, Arvell Reese told Newsweek that whichever team drafted him would be "getting somebody who will play with relentless effort and a high level of violence." Music to John Harbaugh's ears. Many people believed the Giants would select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles here, but they probably didn't think Reese would fall to No. 5 overall.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (via Cleveland): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Five words: Brett Veach better be right.
The Chiefs traded their Nos. 9, 74, and 148 overall picks to the Cleveland Browns to move into the No. 6 overall pick and select Mansoor Delane. The aggressive move to trade up is debatable. But Kansas City desperately needed a cornerback after trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. Cornerback Jaylen Watson also departed for the Rams in free agency. The Chiefs hope defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has a new chess piece in Delane.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Commanders get Bobby Wagner's successor in Sonny Styles, who has been likened to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Fred Warner. Washington is crossing every available finger that Styles follows anything close to Warner's career arc and serves as the "mike" linebacker for the next decade.
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8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Don't look now, but the Saints might be good next season. New Orleans went 4-1 down the stretch last season, and while momentum does not carry over from season to season, it signaled hope that first-year head coach Kellen Moore's program could work.
Similar to the Titans' picking Tate, the Saints prioritized supporting second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. Tyson's narrative entering the NFL is also similar to that of Saints wide receiver Chris Olave: When healthy, he's a gamebreaker.
9. Cleveland Browns (via Kansas City): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Francis Mauigoa was widely considered the best offensive tackle in this draft, but Cleveland favored Spencer Fano. Regardless, the Browns didn't stray from addressing a glaring need. While it's still anyone's guess who will be quarterbacking the Browns — Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, even Deshaun Watson somehow remains in the mix — but whoever it is should be more comfortable in the pocket.
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Welp, there goes Mauigoa!
This is a very Harbaugh-ian pick. Jim Harbaugh used his first pick as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach on offensive tackle Joe Alt in 2024, and now his brother is using his second pick with the Giants in the same vein. John Harbaugh's history as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens forecasted that he would craft the team's identity around the offensive line and running game.
11. Dallas Cowboys (via Miami): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Speculation ran rampant all week that Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys were itching to trade up in the first round. However, nobody thought it would manifest like this.
The Cowboys traded their Nos. 12, 177, and 180 overall picks to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for No. 11 overall, which Dallas used to nab standout Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Micah Parsons and Nick Saban were among the chorus calling Downs the best overall player in this draft, and Dallas desperately needs that level of star power on defense.
12. Miami Dolphins (via Dallas): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Nobody questions Kadyn Proctor's athletic ability, but he may need time to develop into a reliable NFL starter. That shouldn't be a problem in Miami, as the Dolphins are on the ground floor of a rebuild after tearing down their roster this offseason.
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13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
What?!
FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that Rams head coach Sean McVay "actually told Matthew Stafford today of their decision" to draft Ty Simpson, his successor, "and made it clear it's for whenever Stafford decides to move on." That makes more sense. Stafford is the reigning NFL MVP, but he's also 38.
Drafting Simpson in the first round is at odds with the Rams' win-now strategy last month, including trading for McDuffie and signing Watson. But maybe that's why they did it: Aggressive moves in March allowed Los Angeles to plan ahead in April. Either way, the Rams remain the Super Bowl favorites next season.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Direct any underwhelmed Ravens fans in your life to this PFF stat: Olaivavega Ioane did not allow a sack in all of 2024 and 2025. Two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, and he doesn't scramble as much as he used to. If Jackson needs a cleaner pocket to work within moving forward, Ioane should help.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr.'s slide ends in Tampa Bay, and his patience is rewarded by getting to team up with Vita Vea along the Buccaneers' defensive line.
The main football concern teams had about Bain Jr. is his arm length, but he shot that down at Miami's pro day: "Like Mike Tyson [...] he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn't the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him." The Bucs hope the NFC South feels Bain Jr.'s wrath for years to come.
16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Jets reunited with veteran quarterback Geno Smith, and while he is almost assuredly there as a bridge quarterback, he should have more fun than he did last year in Las Vegas.
New York retained running back Breece Hall in free agency and hopes to have a healthy Garrett Wilson in 2026 after a chronic knee injury limited him to eight games in 2025. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq to Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, who was an All-Pro with 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Sadiq joins second-year tight end Mason Taylor in the TE room, which could be a scary duo if the Jets don't Jets.
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Lions' offensive line suddenly became a liability outside of three-time All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell. Head coach Dan Campbell didn't complicate things, going with Blake Miller to start rebuilding what used to be his team's calling card.
The offensive line is always the most important group of any contender, but it's especially true for a Jared Goff-quarterbacked team. Goff is sensational when he's protected, but when the pocket gets a little muddy, it all breaks down.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores has put quarterbacks in hell over the past few seasons, and it appears the Vikings still view that as their team's identity for at least one more season. This pick makes sense after the Vikings released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Panthers spent their first-round pick on offense for the fourth straight year by selecting Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling.
Carolina drafted left tackle Ikey Ekwonu, drafted sixth overall in 2022. He ruptured his patellar tendon in the Panthers' NFC Wild Card loss in January, so Freelng could compete with Rasheed Walker to be the Week 1 starter.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (via Dallas): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Eagles are preparing for life after A.J. Brown. While Brown is on Philadelphia's roster, he's widely expected to be traded after June 1, most likely to the New England Patriots.
Why the Cowboys decided to make that easier on their NFC East foe is a wonder, but the Cowboys traded their No. 20 overall pick to Philly in exchange for Nos. 23, 114, and 137.
The Eagles were already more prepared than most NFL teams to divorce from their WR1, as DeVonta Smith is a WR1 waiting to happen. Not to mention, the Jalen Hurts-led Eagles have always been run-first, and they still employ Saquon Barkley. Makai Lemon falling to the Eagles is just the latest example of the rich getting richer under general manager Howie Roseman.
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21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Steelers left tackle Broderick Jones reportedly underwent spinal fusion surgery after suffering an injury in Week 12 of last season, which could impact his availability for next season. That made it more likely the Steelers would use a first-round pick on an offensive lineman, but Max Iheanachor played right tackle at Arizona State, and Pittsburgh drafted right tackle Troy Fautanu 20th overall in 2024.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Chargers saw defensive coordinator Jesse Minter leave to become the Baltimore Ravens' next head coach, so they decided to help out new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary.
Akheem Mesidor was Rueben Bain Jr.'s running mate in Miami, and Mesidor led the Hurricanes (and the entire ACC) with 12.5 sacks last season. The only potential downside of spending a first-rounder on Mesidor is that he enters the NFL at 25 years old.
23. Dallas Cowboys (via Philadelphia): Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
The Cowboys needed to improve a defense that ranked dead last in scoring (30.1 points per game) and third-worst in total defense (377 yards per game). Landing Downs earlier in this round already adds a dimension that went out the door when Micah Parsons was traded to Green Bay, and Malachi Lawrence fits defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme, per ESPN's Matt Miller.
24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
KC Concepcion is made in the image of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, according to ESPN's Ben Solak, so it makes sense that newly hired Browns head coach and former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken drafted him.
As mentioned when Cleveland drafted Spencer Fano earlier in the night, the Browns still have a gigantic question mark at quarterback, but Concepcion figures to round out a young, promising skill group alongside running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Bears led all NFL defenses with 33 takeaways last season. History suggests that's not easily replicated year over year, especially after losing the leaders who caused those turnovers in free agency.
Chicago lost safety Kevin Byard to New England, cornerback Nahshon Wright to the Jets, safety Jaquan Brisker to the Steelers, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to the Giants.
The Bears already added former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant in free agency, and they added Dillon Thieneman here to pair with him in hopes of making safety play more consistently dominant.
26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Honestly, it really wouldn't have mattered which offensive lineman remained on the board by the time Houston went on the clock at 26. The Texans have failed to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud for two straight seasons.
Houston traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington in March 2025 and traded Juice Scruggs, their best remaining offensive lineman, to Detroit in exchange for running back David Montgomery last month. The Texans owed it to Stroud to reinfuse the offensive line, especially as he enters a crucial contract year.
27. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Dolphins traded their Nos. 30 and 90 overall picks to the San Francisco 49ers to draft San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27. As previously stated, the Dolphins need everything, including a new starting cornerback.
After going offense at No. 11 overall, new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley got his pick to create Miami's defense in his image. Hafley built the Packers' defense into a shutdown unit as their defensive coordinator over the past two seasons, though Micah Parsons certainly helped in 2025.
28. New England Patriots (via Buffalo): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Buffalo Bills traded the No. 28 overall pick to the Patriots in exchange for the Nos. 31 and 125 overall picks.
The Patriots went 14-3 and reached Super Bowl LX, but a big reason the Seahawks are the reigning champions instead of New England is that quarterback Drake Maye spent most of the game on his back.
Maye was sacked 47 times in the regular season, fourth-most among all QBs, and took 21 more sacks across four playoff games, including six in the Super Bowl. The 2024 third overall pick proved he is the face of the Pats for the foreseeable future and can repeatedly lead them to the promised land, but he can only fulfill that promise if he's protected. Caleb Lomu, come on down!
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29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Again, five words: Brett Veach better be right.
Even after losing most of their defensive backfield in March, the Chiefs' most glaring need is edge rusher. That will remain a need on Day 2. Kansas City chose to go with defensive tackle Peter Woods. That's fine if his eye-popping flashes become regular game-day occurrences. It's somewhat surprising the Chiefs declined to take Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk.
All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones just can't be the only threat to reach the quarterback in 2026, especially considering Jones is entering his age-32 season. For what it's worth, Jones approves, writing on X, "There we go….."
30. New York Jets (via San Francisco): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The 49ers opted out of the first round entirely, trading the No. 30 overall pick they just acquired from Miami to the Jets in exchange for the Nos. 33 and 179 overall picks.
New York lands Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who made the catch of the year in college football last season when he toe-tapped in the back of the end zone to preserve Indiana's undefeated season against Penn State. Many experts mocked Cooper Jr. to the Jets at No. 16 overall, but instead, New York got Kenyon Sadiq and Cooper Jr. in the first round.
It's always dangerous to declare draft winners before a snap is played, but the Jets should be thrilled heading into Day 2.
31. Tennessee Titans (via Buffalo): Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
The Bills also opted out of the first round. Buffalo traded their Nos. 31, 69, and 165 overall picks to Tennessee in exchange for the Nos. 35, 66, and 101 picks.
After drafting Carnell Tate for quarterback Cam Ward to start the night, new Titans head coach Robert Saleh bolsters his defense with Keldric Faulk. ESPN's Matt Miller envisions Saleh using Faulk as he used DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead during his first stint as San Francisco's defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020. That'll play.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
When you're the defending Super Bowl champions, you earn the luxury of taking a flier.
Jadarian Price was never Notre Dame's starting running back, but that's hard to hold against anyone sharing a backfield with Jeremiyah Love. Even while splitting carries, Price logged 674 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish last season.
This isn't totally a luxury pick for Seattle, either. The Seahawks lost running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, to the Chiefs in free agency. Plus, Zach Charbonnet is working back from a torn ACL suffered during the NFC Divisional Round on Jan. 17.
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