2026 NFL Round 1 Recap: Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 as expected, chaos follows

Saints eat the chalk, select Jordyn Tyson to pair with Chris Olave

The Saints’ No. 2 receiver before the draft was … well, they didn’t have one. It was something that had to be addressed. It might as well be at No. 8 overall, where they arguably landed the draft’s highest-upside wideout, but one of its riskiest, too. Tyson runs and cuts with a ferocity that stresses out his lower body. He could barely stay on the field at Arizona State. That’s not usually a skill players tend to learn as they age, but Tyson can play everywhere and catch everything. He has all the potential in the world. Will he have availability? If he can stay healthy through the summer, he will be worth a WR3 flier in this on-the-rise offense.

Rams shock the world — and their own players — with Ty Simpson selection

One sign you’re making a weird pick? When you have to call your best player beforehand to explain it. The Rams had actually been connected to Simpson. But it was expected to be via trading back into the first round or trading up in the second. To the Rams’ credit, that wasn’t a terribly realistic scenario if someone else was in on Simpson late on Day 1. The late-picking Rams weren’t going to win too many bidding wars. But Simpson at 13 when this is the very definition of a “win now” roster isn’t just too clever by half, it’s too clever by whole. Simpson will now sit and develop as the Rams go ring chasing. Sensible in some places, but likely a huge waste of time and resources in L.A.

Jets replenish skill corps with toolsy TE Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr.

Few teams entered the draft with fewer offensive weapons than the Jets. They corrected that in a big way even after using the No. 2 overall pick on EDGE prospect David Bailey. Sadiq has raw skill and projectable talent for days. Does he have a position? Although he is a “tight end,” he’s built more like a “big slot.” He is probably the kind of player who is going to require expert scheming and elite positional coaching to experience early career success. That isn’t what we would expect from Frank Reich and company, but perhaps 4.39 speed in a 241-pound body will answer every question. There are fewer obvious concerns with Cooper, though he’s also a slot specialist. The Indiana prospect feasts after the catch. Although we can debate if Sadiq and Cooper might end up cannibalizing each other for targets, there’s no question they deepen this offense and relieve the pressure on a beleaguered Garrett Wilson.

Eagles continue to move on from A.J. Brown, trade up for Makai Lemon

If AJB somehow wasn’t certain to be traded before, he most definitely is now. The draft’s WR3 in Lemon fell a little farther than expected, but he ended up with a team that’s made a name for itself stopping the slides of big name, power conference players. Lemon is arguably the safest receiver in this year’s class, but supposedly not the highest upside. If he is anything like the player he is most frequently compared to, fellow former Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown, he could make that conventional wisdom look silly in a hurry. Although the Eagles seem to be in perpetual offensive crisis and have no shortage of mouths to feed, Lemon should be expected to make 2026 noise in re-draft leagues.

Browns add desperately needed wideout in KC Concepcion

The Browns needed receiver help any possible way they could get it. No. 24 overall with perhaps the draft’s most underrated player was a great way to do it. Although undersized at 5-foot-11, Concepcion is versatile and explosive, and profiles as an immediate manufactured touch weapon. That can sometimes read as a red flag, but Concepcion has also proven himself on the boundary. Although he could use a little overall refinement — on his routes, his hands, and his blocking — Concepcion is oh-so close to being an off-the-bat, all-purpose weapon. He’s a person of interest in fantasy despite the Browns’ quarterback woes. There are just so many targets for the taking in this left-behind attack.

Seahawks make Clyde Edwards-Helaire memorial pick with Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price

Just won the Super Bowl and don’t know what to do at 32? Take a committee running back. Unlike CEH before him, Price’s pace-changing didn’t come as a pass catcher, but as a game-breaker. That’s despite “just” 4.49 speed. Price also made a name for himself on kick returns, though the Seahawks already have one of the league’s best in Rashid Shaheed. If that makes Price seem like a curious selection, he at least comes at a position of need. If he is ready to handle (much) bigger workloads than he did as a Domer, Price could be a surprise 2026 RB2 despite his lack of pass-catching prowess. There will be drives to finish at the goal line in an offense that will likely be missing Zach Charbonnet (ACL) for several regular season months.