8 biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza should sit for Raiders, Diego Pavia still relevant, more

8 biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza should sit for Raiders, Diego Pavia still relevant, more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There are always fair reactions to a just-completed NFL Draft — and there are always blatantly overhyped overreactions.

The 2026 NFL Draft is no different, as some negative takes got too much shade and some positive storylines got too much shine. Based on the biggest headlines from all seven rounds — starting with the top quarterback drafted and a QB not drafted at all — let's counter the hyperbole with reality.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Full results | Grades for all 32 teams | Winners and losers

Biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft

"Fernando Mendoza was a great No. 1 pick and can't-miss but Raiders should sit him for Kirk Cousins"

Mendoza joined Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020) in the three-member exclusive club of going from meteoric rise to national champion and Heisman-winning quarterback, and parlaying that to a top pick in the NFL Draft.

No one even considered Newton or Joe Burrow sitting. Andrew Luck, James Winston, Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence didn't hear much of that either after going at the top. When the Rams sat Jared Goff in 2016 and the Browns did the same with Baker Mayfield in 2018, they were coaching mistakes.

The "Mendoza sits" is overrating the value of Kirk Cousins as the backup. Mendoza is the better QB at this point. Cousins saw post-Achilles' injury diminishing returns with the Falcons last season, and his arm wasn't as dynamic passing downfield. Now he's about to turn 38 in August and was signed very late in free agency. Mendoza, meanwhile, has been touted as a talent who checks all the boxes.

The Raiders can't rule out winning big with him under Super Bowl-champion offensive-minded coach Klint Kubiak right away. The clock starts ticking to take a shot at loading up a potential playoff team when a QB is on a team-friendly rookie deal. A healthy Kolten Miller at left tackle, an elite center in Tyler Linderbaum, a top young back in Ashton Jeanty and a dominant tight end in Brock Bowers is plenty of support for a rookie QB.

Mendoza proved he is a quick study and will work hard to start right away. Kubiak took the Raiders job knowing he would be attached to Mendoza, not Cousins. Let the kid loose and get more competitive in the AFC West right away.

MORE:Big board of top 50 NFL Draft prospects for '27

"Diego Pavia not being drafted is relevant to anything in the NFL or college football anymore"

Pavia is the Shedeur Sanders of the 2026 quarterback class, a notable college star (Heisman Trophy finalist, no less) who fell hard. Except unlike Sanders, Pavia wasn't even drafted. 10 quarterbacks, from Mendoza in the first round to LSU's Garrett Nussmeier as the last of three seventh-round QBs, were taken.

All of them, including non-household college name Athan Kaliakmanis had some kind of flash as a nice-sized passer and athlete, to be selected over Pavia. The only surprise is that Baylor's Sawyer Robertson, Illinois' Luke Altmeyer and Kansas' Jalon Daniels also were drafted instead of Pavia.

Pavia's spunky playmaking was valuable to Vanderbilt finishing 10-3 and finishing seventh in the SEC. But nothing in his skill set, intangibles and size (5-foot-10, 207 pounds) says he has any business even being considered as a pick or even as an undrafted free-agent signing. At least Tim Tebow was a likable leader with national championships and a Heisman under his belt, so much so he shot up all the way into the first round .

Pavia had the numbers to elevate Vanderbilt, but that's it. There's no way, no how he had NFL makeup for a team to waste a pick on him, even late. Chase Daniel (6-foot-0, 220 pounds) was a little bigger and lot smarter football-wise coming out of Missouri, to the point he was meant to be a key long-term backup. Pavia wasn't even an intriguing No. 3.

Pavia shouldn't have been drafted based on talent alone. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Pavia will participate in the Ravens rookie minicamp, so the quarterback has a shot to prove his worth in that environment.

But let's put him in the rearview please, and focus on QBs who actually got drafted or still starting in college.

MORE:What's next for Diego Pavia after not being drafted?

"Sean McVay hates the Rams' Ty Simpson pick because he doesn't like Ty Simpson the quarterback"

GM Les Snead no doubt flexed his personal connection to Ty Simpson's college football coaching father Jason (Tennessee-Martin) in taking his son at QB No. 13 overall, despite having reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at the positiion.

McVay has to roll with that decision, one that won't help win Super Bowl 61 after the 2026 season. Much analysis has been made about facial expression and body language in reacting to the Rams taking Simpson. Simpson may not be his type of QB, given the limited starting experience in college and arm strength. But the bigger issue was the Rams using such a pick to get Simpson as a stash for several seasons into the future while Stafford is playing his best and isn't hinting at retirement anytime soon.

No. 13 could have been used for many things such as trading down for more capital, getting a dynamic impact defensive player and following through for a third top wide receiver with upside who can take over for Davante Adams as a No. 2 in a couple seasons. Instead, it was a careless luxury pick. Had the Rams not had a franchise passer, McVay might have been OK with the team taking a shot on Simpson. But in their current state, with Stafford playing well and with only four other draft picks, that was a throwaway selection. Snead passed up on need, and that is worthy of making McVay perturbed.

IYER:First 2027 NFL Mock Draft

Imagn Images -- Kirby Lee

"The Cardinals and Seahawks made big mistakes in taking Notre Dame running backs early and late in the first round"

Jeremiyah Love wasn't a luxury pick at No. 3 for Arizona. It was a way to jumpstart the running game for the league's most pass-happiest offense from last season. Picking Love over a defensive player may not have made sense, but they decided to become an offensive-minded team with Mike LaFleur taking over from Jonathan Gannon.

Love can do a little bit of everything to take pressure off Jacoby Brissett or whoever starts at QB. The Cardinals have Tyler Allgeier and James Conner too, suggesting a flip to a run-heavy and more balanced approach to better set up the downfield passing game could be in the works.

For Seattle going with Price at No. 32 was the case of a weak running back class where much of the prospects were the same. Case in point was the rival 49ers reaching for power back Kaelon Black late in the second round. This isn't a sequel to Rashaad Penny. This is GM John Schneider realizing he needed a back to carry a balanced run-dedicated offense with Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet shelved for a while.

Price can be a complete back for the Seahawks and fills the most direct need for them to take a real shot at repeating as Super Bowl champions.

BENDER:Breaking down the 2027 NFL Draft QB rankings

"The Titans' pick of Carnell Tate at No. 3 was the biggest surprise of the first round"

Sporting News did give the Titans a wide receiver, Tate or Jordyn Tyson, in many early mocks but as the draft drew near, No. 4 seemed to become more automatic for Jeremiyah Love. But then again, Love wasn't there in reality to mirror the mocks. Once the Cards went Love, Tate was the no-brainer and the right pick with the temptation of running back gone.

Tate can be a transcendent player in their offense under Brian Daboll, filling a void for second-year QB Cam Ward. As much as Daboll could have made the most of Love, his history says a big-time wideout is more critical. The Titans also don't have a true weakness in the backfield (see Tony Pollard) like they did at receiver.

There was just so much praise given to Love with that projection to forget the easy pivot was sniping Tate before the Giants and Browns were on the clock.

IYER:Best late-round steals of 2026 NFL Draft

"Rueben Bain Jr.'s draft fall to No. 15 was justified and Buccaneers still reached for him"

Bain's arm length measurement at the Combine was bound to make some teams shy away. The Buccaneers were smart not to let his slide continue. The Ohio State defenders, between Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs had gotten so much buzz that Bain would become a massive value for some team.

Curveballs such as Kayden Proctor (Dolphins) at No. 12 and Simpson at No. 13 put the Buccaneers in business, because the Ravens got so enamored with guard Olaivavega Ioane late to be their near-lock at No. 14. Bain's tape just shows vicious pass-rush production. Good for him to make the walk to the podium with some channeled anger and ferociousness, hinting at the kind of no-nonsense pass-rushing producer he will be for many seasons in Tampa Bay.

Makai Lemon

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

"The Steelers should be embarrassed about trying to draft Makai Lemon when the Eagles were about to draft him"

Mistakes happen in drafts. Not all of them are caught on viral video such as Steelers GM Omar Khan having a "we're drafting you" conversation with Lemon, the third wide receiver off the board. The Eagles swooped in and made the pick at No. 20 late, taking the rival Cowboys off the clock before the Steelers at No. 21.

Dallas would not be taking a receiver with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens already employed. It was also bizarre they accepted a trade to help rival Philadelphia get a receiver to help replace A.J. Brown, especially when former Eagles assistant Christian Parker was hard at work building a new-look Cowboys' pass defense to combat the Eagles.

In the end, the Steelers not getting Lemon and taking offensive tackle Max Iheanachor was the better move, because they were able to get rising slot ace Germie Bernard from Alabama to fill their wide receiver hole between Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf. Philly got its guy, but Pittsburgh had no harm or foul except a little egg on the face while playing fantastic host to the draft.

MORE:11 worst value picks of the 2026 NFL Draft

"The Steelers, Cardinals and Jets all had to take a quarterback at some point in the draft, so don't blame them"

The Steelers made fine picks in Iheanachor and Bernard. But Drew Allar was a wasted pick, given he doesn't provide a better young starting contingency to Aaron Rodgers than Will Howard, the better QB from the Big Ten. Blame Rodgers' lingering decision into forcing the hand a little, but Pittsburgh would have been better off loading up elsewhere.

The Cardinals, much like the Steelers, didn't need to force themselves into Carson Beck when Simpson was long gone before Day 2. The Jets, with Geno Smith being acquired in a trade to be a solid bridge until 2027, didn't need to take their shot on Cade Klubnik. If anyone, Nussemeier would have been the acceptable pick late on Day 3.

It's fine to have developmental backups, but Allar, Beck and Klubnik have limited appeal in any capacity. Hey, at least none of the teams wasted any kind of pick on Pavia.

MORE:Best value picks of the 2026 NFL Draft