2026 NFL Draft Round 1 recap: Winners, losers and everything else

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The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday in Pittsburgh and ... it was pretty interesting!

The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets were among the clear winners of the first round, which is not something you can say about them often on draft day. Good for those teams and their fans! The City of Pittsburgh was also a big winner ... although the same cannot be said for the hometown team.

What else stood out from the opening of the NFL's Annual Player Selection Meeting? Here's the essentials:

• Analysis of every first round pick
• Grades for every first round pick
• 3 things that stood out in the first round
• Winners and losers from the first round
• Best players still available

Now, for a full breakdown...

NFL draft first round selections

There was plenty of moving via trades, like always, but here's how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft shook out:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
   • Not much surprise here. Tom Brady says it's 'Time to get to work'. Mendoza's LinkedIn is ready, too. Really. Peyton Manning confirmed not more powerful than #networking.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
   • The Cards made Love the highest-drafted RB since Saquon Barkley but there were some "technical difficulties" in making the pick.
4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
6. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)
    • This man is ready to die for Jaxson Dart!!!
11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
    • Here's a surprise! Sort of. It makes a level of sense the Rams look for an heir apparent to MVP QB Matthew Stafford in a rare year they actually have a first-round pick. Nick Saban (who you may be familiar with as the former Alabama football coach) says the pick is "perfect. Perfect. Perfect."
14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OL, Clemson
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
    • Somehow more phone shenanigans here ... but what this means for A.J. Brown's future is quite clear.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OL, Arizona State
    • This guy has a really cool story.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, OL, Georgia Tech
27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
31. Tennessee Titans, Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

HOT READS 🎯

🏈 The draft is not the biggest story in the NFL for at least one team: The scandal that has enveloped Patriots coach Mike Vrabel continues to build. The coach revealed he will not be with the team for Day 3 of the draft as he begins to seek counseling. The Pats are still "confident" in the coach, who largely talked around the scandal on draft night. It's become a pitiful saga, Jarrett Bell writes.

🏈  Former NFL receiver Alshon Jeffery has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud after failing to show up in court for his last scheduled court appearance March 9. Jeffery also issued a denial of the allegations against him through his attorney, Brian Watkins. “This case is just a miscommunication mishap,” Watkins told USA TODAY Sports after the court proceeding.

🏈 It's never too early to start looking ahead to the loaded 2027 QB class...

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