Welcome to the 2026 NFL Draft!
As we do every draft season, we’ll be here for each and every pick with analysis as it happens during the first round. Keep refreshing to see how round one goes and join us in the comments section below to discuss the night’s action.
NFL Draft Preview: As a Denver Broncos fan, this will be a pretty uneventful evening for me. However, it will allow me to casually enjoy the process as an NFL fan and hate on and doubt every decision made by the hated AFC West rival teams.
The Las Vegas Raiders will pick first and likely go quarterback, which I will obviously hope turns out to be the net JaMarcus Russell because I am a petty Broncos’ fan. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have two picks in the first round and they are likely Denver’s biggest threat next season if they hit on both picks. Patrick Mahomes is always annoying to deal with. I fully expect the Los Angeles Chargers to win the draft and be the offseason Super Bowl pick only to flame out in big games and be picking in the lower 20s against next year.
Overall, the Broncos will need to hit paydirt on their second round pick. Their roster is good, but they can’t rely on winning 11-12 one score games again next season. I do like their chances to win the AFC West again next year.
Heading outside of the AFC, the one darkhorse team that I think could turn into a contender this year is the New York Giants. They have a good defense and a promising young offensive core. With two top 10 first round draft picks at their disposal, they could become an NFC contender immediately. Keep an eye on their picks tonight.
Enough with the preview, here are the actual live results tonight with some instant analysis from our very own Christopher Hart for each pick:
2026 NFL Draft Results – First Round
R1, Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Klint Kubiak gets his quarterback of the future with Indiana standout Fernando Mendoza. After two seasons at Cal, the junior signal caller had an impressive 2025 season with 41 touchdowns and over 3,500 yards passing to help lead the Hoosiers to a national title. Time will tell if he has what it takes to go head-to-head with the top-notch defenses in the AFC West, but at least the Raiders have a little hope now that they won’t be the divisions bottom-dwellers for much longer.
R1, Pick 2: New York Jets
David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
Darren Mougey and the Jets opt to select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with their top pick. A lot of people penciled Ohio State prospect Arvelle Reese in here, but Bailey’s much more ready to hit the ground running as a pass rusher to help revitalize the Jets’ defense. He has drawn comparisons to Broncos’ edge rusher Nik Bonitto.
R1, Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Despite being a running back, a lot of teams presumably had Jeremiyah Love as one of their top-ranked prospects in the draft. He’s a dynamic playmaker who will add versatility as a runner and receiver to the Cardinals’ backfield. He has a chance to become one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL. I’m a fan of this selection for Arizona.
R1, Pick 4: Tennessee Titans
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Titans throw the first big curve ball of the draft by selection Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. They are clearly trying to build around Cam Ward and give him a shot to succeed in year two. Almost everyone had them going defense here. There is no doubt Tate is a great prospect who should make a year one impact, but this is a bit of a headscratcher for me.
R1, Pick 5: New York Giants
Arvelle Reese, LB, Ohio State
John Harbaugh and the Giants stick at the pick and select Ohio State defender Arvelle Reese. He profiles as a top notch off-ball linebacker in the NFL, but his athleticism and traits could also make him be a great edge rusher at the next level. He just needs a lot of work switching to that position. It will be interesting to see how Harbaugh deploys him. This is a huge swing for them and should quickly help revamp their defense.
R1, Pick 6: Kansas City Chiefs (via CLE)
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The first trade of the draft happens with the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to the six spot which was originally held by the Cleveland Browns. They take standout LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. After trading away a lot of their top cornerbacks the past few offseasons, they needed a player who can come in right away to help in the secondary. Delane has the traits and playstyle to be an All-Pro player in the NFL. As a Broncos fan, I’m bummed Delane landed with Kansas City.
R1, Pick 7: Washington Commanders
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Commanders were rumored to have wanted Mansoor Delane who was snatched up by the Chiefs, but getting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at #7 is a nice consolation prize. A former safety, Styles’ elite athleticism and physical traits should allow him to be a transcendent talent for Dan Quinn’s defense. I really like this pick. Great value for Washington with the Buckeyes standout.
R1, Pick 8: New Orleans Saints
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The New Orleans Saints continue to revamp their offense by taking Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at #8 overall. He is a versatile receiving threat, but some injury concerns sprung up during the pre-draft process. Either way, the Saints must feel comfortable about his medicals and believe his playmaking ability will help get their offense going in the right direction. We’ll see how it pans out. I’m not sure any of the QBs they have on the roster are “the guy” long-term.
R1, Pick 9: Cleveland Browns (via KC)
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
After their trade down with the Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns pick at #9 and take offensive tackle Spencer Fano. Fano was a force for the Utah Utes at both left tackle and right tackle and has 36 career starts, but his short arms might prompt him to make a move to the inside in the NFL if they become an issue. Nevertheless, the Browns need an instant starter at a variety of positions and Fano will be a Day 1 rookie who comes in and competes at a high level regardless of position.
R1, Pick 10: New York Giants (via CIN)
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
With the tenth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, which the Giants got from the Bengals for trading Dexter Lawrence they take Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. He was ranked as the top blindside tackle by most outlets, but a back issue that came up during his pre-draft medicals may have caused him to slide. He will compete with Jermaine Eluemunor to start at right tackle as a rookie, with Andrew Thomas manning down the left tackle spot for the G-Men.
R1, Pick 11: Dallas Cowboys (via MIA)
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Another Ohio State player comes off the board with the Dallas Cowboys trading up one spot to select safety Caleb Downs. He is a ballhawk that is a tremendous fit for what Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker is trying to establish there. I love this pick for them.
R1, Pick 12: Miami Dolphins (via DAL)
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
A third offensive lineman comes off the board with the Dolphins adding some much needed beef by adding Alabama standout Kadyn Proctor to their offensive trenches. He should be an immediate starter for them at right tackle. He has unteachable size and traits and has the shot at becoming a Pro-Bowl caliber player if he continues to work on his technique and can handle the speed and power off NFL defenders.
R1, Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger, but I’m a little shocked to see Ty Simpson picked so early. Over the past few weeks, a lot of smoke was out there about Sean McVay being a big fan of the Crimson Tide signal caller, and it appears that turned out to be fire. Simpson only has one year of a starter, but he lands in a good situation getting to learn behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback and getting coached by one of the NFL’s best offensive minds.
R1, Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens
Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Baltimore Ravens seemingly always do a great job of finding great players in the first round. Getting Penn State guard Vega Ioane at fourteen is no exception. He might not be a tackle, but he is a plug-in-play guard who should be a long-time starter in the NFL. He has all the ability to be an All-Pro player. Ioane will give Lamar Jackson some much needed protection he needs up front and help the Ravens develop and reforge an aging offensive line.
R1, Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
R1, Pick 16: New York Jets (via IND)
R1, Pick 17: Detroit Lions
R1, Pick 18: Minnesota Vikings
R1, Pick 19: Carolina Panthers
R1, Pick 20: Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
R1, Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers
R1, Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers
R1, Pick 23: Philadelphia Eagles
R1, Pick 24: Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
R1, Pick 25: Chicago Bears
R1, Pick 26: Buffalo Bills
R1, Pick 27: San Francisco 49ers
R1, Pick 28: Houston Texans
R1, Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)
R1, Pick 30: Miami Dolphins (via DEN)
R1, Pick 31: New England Patriots
R1, Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks
