The article identifies the three worst picks from the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting concerns about the selections made. It emphasizes that while all players are talented, not all were the best choices available.
Regardless of what we think about the 32 players who were selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, they are all pretty talented. Were they the best 32 players available? No, that’s something I can’t commit to, and I’m not sure there would be any disagreement either. In evaluating the first round, we have the benefit of hindsight after seeing how the entire board transpired. There are multiple factors to consider, but here are the three picks that stood out to me as being the worst.
MORE: 3 best picks in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
After committing to Cam Ward last season, it’s only reasonable that the Titans get him a weapon. You can make the argument, and likely with minimal disagreement, that Tate was the best receiver available. Yes, he did benefit from playing alongside Jeremiah Smith last season, but we can’t argue with the results and talent.
My issue is that the Titans need a lot more than just a receiver. They passed on some legitimate impact players on the defensive side of the ball, but they also could have traded down and accumulated additional draft picks. Whether it was Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, or Omar Cooper, there was receiver depth later in the first round.
Take your pick on the issue here. Simpson only has 15 games as a starting quarterback in college under his belt. He benefited from playing at Alabama, and he didn’t consistently stand out last season.
The Rams are looking to make another run this season behind Mathew Stafford, and this was a draft pick that could have helped make an immediate impact. Instead, drafted a player who, in a perfect world, doesn’t see the field at all in 2026. And if he does, I’m not sure that it goes well.
The article discusses three specific players identified as the worst picks, but only Carnell Tate of the Tennessee Titans is mentioned in the excerpt.
Evaluating NFL Draft picks involves considering player talent, team needs, and the overall draft board dynamics.
While Carnell Tate is seen as a talented receiver, concerns may arise from the context of his selection and the team's overall strategy.
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Also, assuming they need to replace Stafford for next season, the 2027 draft class is going to be a lot better for quarterbacks.
I very well could be wrong about this one, as Mauigoa was the highest-ranked lineman in the draft and could have even gone higher. However, there are some injury concerns that could be a factor.
From a run blocking perspective, Mauigoa is great, and he’s also versatile between guard and tackle. The concern is that his versatility works against him in the sense that he’s shuttled around too much and isn’t a master at either position. And if the Giants use him at guard, was this the best use of the draft pick?
There were a lot of other linemen selected just after Mauigoa, so the Giants could have traded back and gotten similar production. We also have the opportunity cost of letting Caleb Downs pass them by.