The 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 featured unexpected picks, including Carnell Tate going 4th to the Tennessee Titans. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza was the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Key points
Fernando Mendoza went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders
Carnell Tate was picked 4th by the Tennessee Titans
Round 1 included several unexpected selections
The draft ended months of rumors and speculation
Fernando MendozaCarnell TateLas Vegas RaidersTennessee Titans
On Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft finally delivered a definitive end to the months of rumors and speculation. As the world expected, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, as many suggested, things got interesting over the next 31 picks.
With that in mind, let’s look at the biggest surprises from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In early mock drafts, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate was projected to go fifth or sixth. However, as we got closer to Thursday, it looked more likely that he could fall outside the top 10 as Jordyn Tyson seemed to pass him on draft boards.
However, despite Arvell Reese still being available, the Tennessee Titans chose to get Cam Ward a new weapon and selected Tate. The Buckeye should be good at the next level, but it can’t be overlooked that he wasn’t even the best receiver at OSU last year. The Titans may have reached with Tate at No. 4.
For weeks, there were rumblings that the Los Angeles Rams were high on Alabama’s Ty Simpson. However, the idea of using the 13th overall pick on the quarterback seemed ridiculous. Especially since most projections had him going late in Round 1 or early in Round 2. But instead of getting a player that could make an impact during a season with Super Bowl hopes, LA boldly decided to draft Matthew Stafford’s successor.
Some may look at the decision as a big reach that will have no impact on the team over the next year or two. They are right. But many football analysts feel Simpson can be a very good NFL QB if given time to learn more and develop. He will get that in LA and could end up being a steal for the team down the line.
Heading into Thursday night, many NFL Draft evaluators felt confident that Reese was going second to the New York Jets. Especially when they cancelled their meeting with David Bailey last week.
However, the player many feel can be a superstar in a few years was passed on by three franchises and landed in the New York Giants‘ laps at No. 5. On paper, John Harbaugh now has an absurd amount of talent and looks in his linebacker corps with Reese and fellow first-round picks Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
NY Giants pass on Caleb Downs for Francis Mauigoa?
NFL Draft
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Speaking of the Giants, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs going to New York with their second pick in Round 1 seemed like a match made in heaven. John Harbaugh has had smart, elite safeties lead his defenses on successful teams in the past. He even suggested earlier in the offseason that Downs has Hall of Fame potential.
Yet, when they were on the board again at 10, instead of reteaming him with Reese, they chose to select Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Building from the line and out is not a bad team-building strategy. But the Giants just tried that with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal four years ago. And that hasn’t worked out so well.
Instead, top rival, the Dallas Cowboys, traded up one spot to get Downs, and now they will have to face the talented safety twice a year for the next decade.
There were rumblings that the Kansas City Chiefs might move up in Round 1 of this year’s event, since they owned two selections in the top 30. The speculation from many was that they might get a player like Jeremiyah Love or potentially a top receiver. Instead, they gave up a couple of extra picks to get LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
After trading All-Pro Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs clearly felt they needed to find his replacement early in this year’s event and liked Delane. However, it seems likely they could have still gotten him at No. 9 and wasted draft assets out of fear he might go earlier.
Rueben Bain Jr. lands with an unexpected Florida team
nfl draft
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Rueben Bain Jr.’s draft stock plummeted after the NFL Combine when draft evaluators found out his arms were shorter than those of productive players at his position. But the stats don’t lie, and he was still a top star for a Miami team that reached the National Championship game.
So when the Miami Dolphins were on the clock at 12, it made so much sense to keep the Hurricanes’ pass rusher in South Beach with the state’s most popular NFL team. But instead, they reached a bit on Alabama’s Kaydn Proctor. However, Bain Jr. will stay in Florida because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended up taking him three picks later.
The EDGE will remain in FL, but not with the team, some thought on Thursday.
After weeks of speculation, the Cowboys did make a trade in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. However, it wasn’t to move into the top five. They actually moved down three slots. But what made the move surprising is that they swapped positions with division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles.
There is an expectation that Philly will trade star receiver after June 1. That became a guarantee when the Eagles used the 20th pick on USC receiver Makai Lemon. So essentially, the Cowboys helped a rival get a replacement for a player they plan to trade and a nice new weapon for Jalen Hurts. Weird.
New York Jets get potential steal late in Round 1
NFL Draft
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The New York Jets had two picks in Round 1 and did well by selecting David Bailey at No. 2, then landing stud tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16. However, they surprised many when they traded back into Round 1 to get the San Francisco 49ers‘ pick at 30. With the pick, they took Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
There are quite a few draft evaluators who are very high on Cooper Jr. He had a really good junior year for the Hoosiers, as he made big plays often. Who knows if Mendoza wins the Heisman or goes No. 1 without the receiver? Considering his upside, New York may have gotten a steal at pick 30.
