257 names were called over the course of the 2026 NFL draft. Will these rookies pan out? Right now, the answer remains unknown. However, it doesn’t mean ESPN hosts and armchair analysts attempt to grade how well each team drafted.
Here’s my breakdown of the key winners of the first round. Some came away with great picks and improved their situation. Others lost, weakening their chances of competing for a Lombardi.
Winner: Las Vegas Raiders
They got their guy at the No. 1 overall pick in Indiana University quarterback and 2026 Heisman Winner, Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders are notorious for their previous No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, where they selected LSU quarterback Jamarcus Russel.He is now known to be one of the biggest busts in NFL history after only throwing 18 touchdowns to 23 interceptions in three years. Mendoza comes into a young team with an unproven offense, and I expect him to flourish if the Raiders don’t push him to start immediately. If they let him sit a year behind veteran QB Kirk Cousins, Mendoza will be able to develop nicely.
Loser: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City had a down year, missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. The Chiefs’ front office decided to make a splash when they traded away the ninth overall pick, the 74th pick and the 148th pick to the Cleveland Browns to move up to the No. 6 pick. With that selection, they took LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. I don’t understand the rationale. They traded up for a guy they could have gotten at No. 9, as the next corner didn’t go off the board until pick 27. The Chiefs sacrificed a lot of capital for a player they could’ve instead been patient for.
Winner: New York Jets
There was much debate over who the Jets should take with the No. 2 pick. I believe they made the right choice in Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. In his final season with the Red Raiders, Bailey tallied 52 tackles and 14.5 sacks. The Jets shored up a shaky defensive front four that totaled only 26 sacks throughout the season while allowing the second most points per game. The Jets made moves throughout the rest of the first round, securing Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. Not only did the front office bolster a weak defensive unit, they also acquired weapons for quarterback Geno Smith.
Loser: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals fell victim to taking the best available player, instead of addressing a real need. Don’t get me wrong, I believe Jeremiyah Love will be a fantastic running back with a long career ahead of him. I just don’t believe he was the right pick for the Cardinals. Instead, they should have selected Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate. Tate had a solid year with the Buckeyes, racking up 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Pairing him with Marvin Harrison Jr. would've been electric and kept opposing secondaries guessing.
With the NFL draft wrapped up, offseason training and rookie camp will begin for the 2026 draft class. Late round hidden gems and a generational bust will have to wait for the regular season. The NFL returns to action on Thursday, August 6 at the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers. The game will start at 8pm in Canton, Ohio.
