What Five Storylines Stand Out From 2026 NFL Draft First Round?

Styles and Downs Follow Reese

The next Buckeye off the board was linebacker Sonny Styles, a 6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound machine out of Pickerington, OH. With the seventh overall pick, the Washington Commanders picked up a new second-level defender who registered 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception in 2025. Pair those numbers with a blazing 4.46 40-yard dash time, and it appears as though Washington has begun crafting its defensive core for the future.

The final, and perhaps most notable, Ohio State prospect to come to the NFC East was star safety Caleb Downs. Downs, a highly coveted secondary piece for years, now finds himself in Navy and White after the Dallas Cowboys traded up to grab him. The 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year had an exclamation point-worthy performance in his closing season, registering 68 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Similar to his aforementioned teammate Reese, he too won NCAA consensus All-American honors. Now, in a defense looking to find its footing, look for Downs to be in contention for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Ty Simpson‘s Unique Fit in LA

With the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams took quarterback Ty Simpson out of the University of Alabama. In a move that few saw coming, Simpson now appears to be the franchise’s inevitable successor to 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

Simpson finished with 305 completions for 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his final junior season. With those stats culminating in a 64.5% completion rate, Simpson’s profile points towards a traditional pocket-passer archetype, with some comparing him to the likes of Brock Purdy and Jared Goff.

The more notable question with this pick, however, is what Stafford’s future looks like with the Rams. After a lingering back injury delayed the start of his 2025 season, the longtime veteran went on a tear that ultimately culminated in him winning the league’s MVP.

Now, less than a year removed from his career year, Los Angeles has drafted his successor. As a team that many viewed in win-now mode, the selection sent shockwaves across the league. Yet, as Head Coach Sean McVay shared in a recent press conference, Simpson’s future, for now, will gear towards a battle for the backup quarterback position.

“Let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew [Stafford]’s team,” McVay said in the team’s first round press conference. “…We’ll see…he’s going to compete with [Stetson Bennett] for the backup job.”

The Buccaneers Snag Rueben Bain Jr.

In a surprising slip to No. 15, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nabbed top EDGE prospect Rueben Bain Jr. NFL evaluators had reportedly been concerned about his character following a car crash that resulted in a death. A factor that, paired with his short arms, has now been shown to impact the prospect’s draft stock. Analysts originally projected the Miami Hurricane to come off the board within the first ten picks. Defensive mastermind Lovie Smith, however, ultimately selected him later in the draft.

Now, Bain Jr. will look to bring the juice to a front line that ranked 14th in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. In his junior season, which ultimately ended in a championship loss, he posted strong production. He totaled 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Additionally, he also tacked on an interception and a forced fumble. Winning NCAA consensus All-American honors, he headed a Miami defense that took the college football world by storm. If Bain Jr. can translate that production to the next level, Tampa Bay could have a major steal.

Philadelphia Steals Makai Lemon

After an offseason revolving around trade rumors with star receiver A.J. Brown, the Philadelphia Eagles began to quietly make moves at wide receiver. First, the team picked up Elijah Moore and Hollywood Brown. Then, they followed that up with a stunning trade for Packers’ wideout Dontayvion Wicks. With ten receivers on the roster before Thursday night’s first round, it would have been a fair assessment to say that the Eagles were done looking for pass catchers. Yet, as the picks began to fall, general manager Howie Roseman decided to take one final swing for the fences.

After a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia was on the clock with the 20th overall pick. Their choice? Makai Lemon, a 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pound slot receiver who won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. Originally projected to be a top-15 pick, Lemon’s fall now results in him heading to the City of Brotherly Love.

In his award-winning season, Lemon totaled 79 catches for 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Now, he joins DeVonta Smith in a receiving room that appears to be suggesting it will be without Brown for the upcoming season.

Should Brown’s absence become a reality, Lemon won’t just be a complementary piece — he’ll be expected to produce. All in all, with his polished route-running and incredible production, all signs point to Philadelphia being prepared for Brown’s seemingly inevitable departure.

Kansas City Makes a Splash for Delane

When the Kansas City Chiefs dealt star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, they immediately needed a replacement. With McDuffie nearing the end of his rookie deal, general manager Brett Veach looked for a younger, more affordable option. Thus, the Chiefs then traded with the Cleveland Browns to move up three selections in the draft. With the No. 6 pick, they took LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

Delane, a 2025 Jim Thorpe Award finalist for the nation’s top defensive back, made noise in his senior year. Across his final season, Delane racked up 45 tackles, two interceptions, and an eye-popping 11 passes defended. With McDuffie now out of the picture, Delane steps into a secondary in need of immediate production. If his senior season is any indication, he has the instincts and playmaking ability to keep Kansas City’s secondary among the elite.

Looking Forward

Early evaluations will continue to evolve, but the first round provided insight into how these teams are looking to plan for their future. For these players, however, the expectations are already in place—the next step will be to meet them.

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