The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is complete, with plenty of surprises as teams picked up the first of their incoming rookies.
Up first was Fernando Mendoza, who, as expected, was taken first overall by the Raiders. After winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to a national championship last season, Mendoza will now step in as Las Vegas’ QB1.
Only one other quarterback went in the first round: Ty Simpson, who was taken by the Rams at No. 13 in a surprise move. Los Angeles picked Simpson earlier than expected, clearly with an eye for the successor to Matthew Stafford at quarterback.
There was plenty of movement on the first day, starting with the Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6. Shortly afterwards, the Cowboys swapped with the Dolphins to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11, and later helping the Eagles trade up, with Philadelphia taking USC wide receiver Malakai Lemon.
Round 1 grades | Best available players for Day 2 | Draft guide
Ohio State, by the way, cleaned up, with three top 10 picks and three of the Buckeyes’ top defenders going in the top 11.
Meanwhile, Buffalo Bills fans will have to wait another day to see their team make a pick. The Bills traded away their first-rounder — first to the Texans, then the Patriots, and finally to the Titans. The draft will resume on Friday with the second and third rounds.
Check out our first-round draft grades here, and the best available remaining players here heading into Day 2.
No. 1, Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
No. 2, New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
No. 3, Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 4, Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No. 5, New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
No. 6, Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No. 7, Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 8, New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 9, Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
No. 10, New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No. 11, Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 12, Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 13, Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 14, Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
No. 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
No. 16, New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 17, Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 18, Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 19, Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 20, Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
No. 21, Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 22, Los Angeles Chargers: Akeem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
No. 23, Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
No. 24, Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 25, Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 26, Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
No. 27, Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 28, New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 29, Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 30, New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
No. 31, Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
No. 32, Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
With Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft complete, here are the 10 best players available heading into the second round on our big board:
1. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
2. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
3. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
4. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
5. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
6. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
7. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
8. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
9. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
10. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The last time two running backs from the same school went in the first round? 2008, when Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were first-round picks.
Losing Kenneth Walker III hurts, but this is still a surprise. Price was seen more as a Day 2 pick, but the Seahawks must be enthralled with his ability to play a similar style as Walker. Seattle needed a running back in a big way, but this feels like a reach here in the first round.
Grade: D
The over/under for wide receivers in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was 5.5 at BetMGM, with juice to the over.
We end with five wideouts (Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr.) in Round 1, so the under cashes.
The Seattle Seahawks let running back Kenneth Walker III walk this offseason, and they’ve officially found their replacement, selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.
Price is now the second Notre Dame running back to be drafted in Round 1, following Jeremiyah Love, who went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
Over the past two seasons, Price has gained 1,420 rushing yards (18 touchdowns) as Love’s complement.
Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice writes:
The other Notre Dame running back is a talent in his own right. Price wins with his vision and ability to tempo his runs. His strength and balance make him an effective runner between the tackles, but he has enough speed to get to the edge. He’s also been a dynamic kick returner in his career, something that only adds to his appeal. Price is also a valid receiver and pass protector who can stay on the field for every down and fulfill a variety of roles. He should be a good pro who can split a backfield or eat a majority of touches as long as his size can withstand it.
Faulk, 20, was one of the youngest players in the draft, and is already a stout run defender. His best season came as a sophomore when he posted seven sacks.
Faulk easily could have gone a lot earlier than this, so to get him at this spot is incredible value. He has elite run defense skills already and will have a better shot to rush the passer in the NFL than he did at Auburn due to him playing inside a lot. He can be a more impactful version of John Franklin-Myers, who has been a longtime favorite of Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
Grade: A
The Kansas City Chiefs took their second defensive player of the night, drafting Clemson DT Peter Woods with the 29th overall pick.
It’s been a busy night on the trade front, with the Tennessee Titans trading back into the first round in a swap with the Buffalo Bills to select Keldric Faulk.
With Faulk’s selection, it becomes official — every prospect in attendance for Day 1 of the draft was selected in the first round.
This pick was connected to the Jets for a long time and Cooper might be a solid WR2 to Garrett Wilson. He’s not the most athletic player out there, but he’s solid and should be a capable starter and help complete the Jets’ rebuilt wide receiver room. This might not the best value, but it fits a need with a competent player at this spot.
Grade: C
The Jets traded back into the first round (and the 49ers traded out). New York received pick No. 30, while San Francisco received picks No. 33 and 179.
With the 30th pick, the Jets selected Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who came in at No. 40 on Yahoo Sports’ consensus big board.
Nate Tice writes:
Good things seem to happen when the ball goes Cooper’s way. Cool things seem to happen, too. Cooper’s contact balance and ball skills lead to exciting, and explosive, plays. He is a tough runner with burst, feels like the first tackler never brings him down. There is some rigidness with his movement, but he is strong and can keep his feet going and find ways to create a few yards with the ball in his hands.
His hand-eye coordination is also an asset and makes him a valid weapon in the red zone and in contested situations. He primarily worked from the slot, but has some strong reps on the outside. He at the very least looks like he can be a strong inside option that can moonlight on the outside, too. He’s almost like a premium version of Khalil Shakir
Cooper posted a 69-937-13 campaign as the Hoosiers’ leading receiver on the way to a national title.
Kansas City has now taken defensive tackles in the first two rounds of the draft in each of the past two years. Omar Norman-Lott’s rookie season was cut short in 2025 thanks to an ACL tear. With Chris Jones still one of the elite defensive tackles in the NFL and the signing of Khyris Tonga in free agency, the Chiefs have made a clear effort in the middle of their defensive line.
This could be a huge boom pick for the Chiefs. Woods was projected to be one of the first picks in the draft prior to the season, but (like the rest of Clemson’s team) his production wasn’t where it should be. He’s got incredible, tangible upside to be a player who develops for the long haul next to Chris Jones.
Grade: A
This pick can be a two-for-one upgrade for the Patriots. Lomu can slide in as a legit long-term left tackle prospect and allow Will Campbell to play elsewhere along the line if that’s what the Pats choose to do. The Patriots desperately needed to upgrade their front after getting sledgehammered by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and this pick should help them get better up front.
Grade: A
There is a definite theme to the first round of this draft.
The New England Patriots manage the rare intradivisional trade (incredibly, our second of the night), moving up in a swap with the Buffalo Bills, selecting Utah tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick.
This is a pick to get on base, which a rebuilding team like the Dolphins need. He’s not the sexiest cornerback prospect, but he still should project as a solid starter. It feels like a reach, but it’s hard to say a roster with this many holes is really reaching on anyone. Time to keep adding talent and building this thing out.
Grade: C-
This is a sensible pick for the Texans here, even if the prospect is surprising. Rutledge is a mean, athletic offensive guard who helped pave the way for one of the toughest offenses in college football last season. This is higher than Rutledge was projected to go, but taking him here is sensible for sure.
Grade: C
We have yet another trade! The Miami Dolphins have traded up in a swap with the San Francisco 49ers, selecting San Diego State CB Chris Johnson 27th overall.
Trade terms, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Dolphins get: Pick No. 27
49ers: Picks No. 30, 90
Johnson’s 91.6 defensive grade and 92.4 coverage grade both ranked second among all cornerbacks (min. 500 snaps) this past season, allowing a 41.9% catch rate and 16.1 NFL passer rating in coverage, per PFF.