The Las Vegas Raiders opened the 2026 NFL Draft with by far the most predictable pick of the night. They selected Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza to start the night, but the ensuing picks were anything but obvious.
At No. 3, the Arizona Cardinals selected arguably the most skilled player in the draft in Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. He’s now the first RB selected in the top three since the Cleveland Browns drafted Trent Richardson at No. 3 in 2012.
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One of the more stunning picks of the night was the Los Angeles Rams taking Alabama QB Ty Simpson at No. 13.
While it was up in the air if he would even be drafted in the opening round, he jumped up to 13th as the Rams reportedly told franchise QB Matthew Stafford that the pick was made in preparation for when his time with the Rams is over.
Here’s the full list of first-round selections:
- Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets: David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
- Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
- New York Giants: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
- Kansas City Chiefs (via Cleveland Browns): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
- Cleveland Browns (via Kansas City Chiefs): Spencer Fano, T, Utah
- New York Giants (via Cincinnati Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami (Fla.)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Miami Dolphins): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- Miami Dolphins (via Dallas Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama
- Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
- Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (Fla.)
- New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
- Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, T, Clemson
- Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
- Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, T, Georgia
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State
- Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (Fla.)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Philadelphia Eagles): Malachi Lawrence, edge, UCF
- Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
- Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
- Buffalo Bills (via Houston Texans): Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
- San Francisco 49ers: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
- New England Patriots (via Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills): Caleb Lomu, T, Utah
- Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams): Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
- New York Jets (via San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
- Tennessee Titans (via Buffalo Bills): Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
- Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
James Parker contributed to this story.
