1 of 5 | Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson holds his new jersey after being picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) — Fernando Mendoza fulfilled expectations by landing with the Las Vegas Raiders as the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
But, in typical fashion, draft night mayhem ensued, with eight trades and a sprinkling of unanticipated selections. More than 320,000 fans, a record attendance for the event, were on hand for the festivities near Acrisure Stadium.
“I’m just looking forward to getting to work, proving it at the next level,” Mendoza said on the ESPN broadcast. “College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career.
“But now I step into a great game, the NFL. I look forward to proving it and earning it every single day.”
Edge rusher David Bailey and running back Jeremiyah Love joined the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals with the respective Nos. 2 and 3 selections after the Raiders started the night by picking the Indiana quarterback.
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate (Tennessee Titans) and his former Buckeyes teammate, edge rusher Arvell Reese (New York Giants), rounded out the Top-5 selections.
“You know, even before the draft I always said that nothing was guaranteed,” Reese told reporters when asked if he thought he’d be picked earlier. “It was all just speculation and mocks and stuff.
“Whatever happened was God’s plan. I wasn’t questioning anything, I wouldn’t say I was surprised or not. I’m just blessed to be here.”
Love was the earliest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018. His Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price, went with the final pick (No. 32) to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. With that selection, Price and Love became the first teammates to be the first running backs picked in an NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams made arguably the most surprising pick of the night when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13.
The Jets, who picked three times, were among seven teams with multiple first-round selections, while eight teams did not pick a player. The Jets landed Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 and Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30, in addition to Texas Tech’s Bailey.
The Titans picked up Auburn edge Keldric Faulk at No. 31, in addition to Tate. The Giants, who acquired the No. 10 selection when they traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, landed Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa with that pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded up for the Cleveland Browns’ No. 6 pick to acquire LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and snagged Clemson Peter Woods at No. 29. The Browns picked Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9 and Texans A&M wide receiver K.C. Concepcion at No. 24.
The Dallas Cowboys acquired Ohio State safety Caleb Downs (No. 11) and UCF edge Malachi Lawrence (No. 23). The Miami Dolphins picked up Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 12) and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (No. 27).
The full list of first-round selections is below. Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, which will feature the second and third rounds, will air at 7 p.m. EDT Friday on NFL Network, ABC and ESPN. The final day, which will include rounds four through seven, will air at noon Saturday on the same platforms.
2026 NFL Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
3. Arizona Cardinals
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Tennessee Titans
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5. New York Giants
Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
6. Kansas City Chiefs (traded from Cleveland Browns)
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7. Washington Commanders
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9. Cleveland Browns (traded from Kansas City Chiefs)
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
10. New York Giants
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11. Dallas Cowboys (traded from Miami Dolphins)
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12. Miami Dolphins (traded from Dallas Cowboys)
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Rams
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
14. Baltimore Ravens
Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami
16. New York Jets
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
17. Detroit Lions
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18. Minnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
19. Carolina Panthers
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
20. Philadelphia Eagles (traded from Dallas Cowboys)
Makai Lemon, WR, USC
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
23. Dallas Cowboys (traded from Philadelphia Eagles)
Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
24. Cleveland Browns
K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
25. Chicago Bears
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
26. Houston Texans (traded from Buffalo Bills)
Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
27. Miami Dolphins (traded from San Francisco 49ers)
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
28. New England Patriots (traded from Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans)
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
30. New York Jets (traded from San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins)
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
31. Tennessee Titans (traded from Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots)
Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
32. Seattle Seahawks
Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Keldric Faulk, defensive end of the Auburn Tigers and prospect in the NFL Draft, instructs Special Olympics athletes during a practice session at the Hazelwood Green Park Field near downtown Pittsburgh on April 22, 2026. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
