Who Were the Biggest First-Round Reaches and Steals in the NFL Draft?

Nevertheless, Tate’s confidence shone. At his press conference, when asked about his game, he echoed that notion. “I believe I bring everything to the table. I’m a complete player,” Tate said. And he wasn’t lying. He poses all sorts of problems on jump balls and inside routes, whether against zone or man coverage.

Though the move may have been unexpected, it wasn’t necessarily a bad one. The Titans desperately needed a receiver, and Tate was the best of the bunch. Pairing a young QB in Ward with a young receiver in Tate sets Tennessee up very well for the future.

His size, athleticism, and quarterback-friendly play make him the perfect target for Ward. Though they could’ve gotten Reese and taken a receiver late, Tate could easily be the Titans’ WR1 of the future.

Giants Grab Reese

If you asked any analyst before the draft, they’d tell you Arvell Reese would go #2 or #3, depending on whether David Bailey went first. Nobody expected Reese to be sitting there at pick five.

The Giants are already loaded with edge talent. With Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge was the last position they needed. Including the Burns trade, the Giants have now used three first-round picks and a second-round pick on edge players since 2022. However, many consider Reese a generational athlete with otherworldly talent. How could they pass on that?

Additionally, Reese’s versatility is what truly justifies this pick. While he’s listed as an edge player, he’s equally adept, if not more so, at inside linebacker. The Giants were expected to take Sonny Styles so that they could slot Reese right into that linebacker position. Then, when one of their edge players leaves, either by free agency or trade, they have Reese ready to go.

As he said at his press conference, “I just want to prove that I can be a team player and help my team win.”

The pick doesn’t make the most sense from a positional standpoint, but if Reese pans out the way many expect, it could be the steal of the draft.

Down Goes Downs

Everyone in the NFL Draft media room watched with anticipation as Caleb Downs slid out of the top ten. Nearly everyone expected him to be gone by then. But the Commanders wanted Styles, the Saints wanted a receiver in Tyson, and the Browns and Giants opted for the offensive line. Finally, the Cowboys couldn’t wait any longer, so they traded up one spot with the Dolphins to take him.

Maybe Downs slid because of his injury. Or maybe it was because the safety position doesn’t carry as much value as a lineman, edge, or receiver. Either way, this may go down as the steal of the draft.

Downs’ versatility allows him to play pretty much anywhere on the field. His athleticism enables him to make plays regardless of the play call, formation, or personnel. In fact, at his press conference, he described his game as “very instinctual.” Downs continued, saying, “I play with a quick trigger, great eyes, and the ability to make plays in all facets of the field.”

Dallas desperately needed an upgrade in the secondary, and they got the best possible option without having to move into the top ten spots.

Simpson Shocker

The Rams taking Ty Simpson with the 13th pick easily goes down as the biggest shock of the first round. The gasps in the press conference room were as loud as I’ve ever heard them.

The logic is understandable: the Rams just made the NFC Championship, and they don’t have any pressing needs. So use the pick to take a quarterback to replace Matthew Stafford. However, that doesn’t make it a worthwhile pick.

Ty Simpson has enough question marks to be a day two pick. He had some monumental moments, but he always seemed to follow them up with monumental mistakes. His accuracy, decision-making, and frequent turnovers raised constant red flags. Additionally, few teams truly needed a quarterback in this draft.

Maybe the Jets were going to take Simpson at 16, but that felt unlikely. If the Rams truly wanted a quarterback, they could have at least traded down or taken one in a later round.

The Rams also had positions of need. Right now, their wide receiver room consists of the highly controversial Puka Nacua, an aging, uncertain veteran in Davante Adams, and Konata Mumpfield. Meanwhile, Makai Lemon was on the draft board, waiting to hear his name. The Rams did not make the Super Bowl last year. They are not invincible. Maybe Stafford will mentor Simpson, and he will turn out fine. But using a #13 pick on a player who won’t play is very risky.

Buccaneers Bag Bain

Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs were steals. There’s no debate about that. But Reuben Bain, sliding all the way to fifteen, gives him a better chance of being the biggest steal of the day.

At the start of the mock draft cycle, Rueben Bain was near the very top. Even as the season ended, he remained near the very top. Then measurements came out, and front offices became concerned about his undersized arm length. This caused him to slide below the likes of Arvell Reese and David Bailey at the edge position.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers were always going to take a pass rusher. The question for them was whether it would be Akheem Mesidor or Keldric Faulk. When they saw Bain still available at 15, their eyes must have lit up like Christmas lights.

Many teams opted for the offensive line instead, with a lineman taken at picks 10, 12, and 14. This allowed Bain to slide into the waiting arms of Tampa Bay. Regardless of his arm size, Bain is a tremendous talent and a ferocious pass rusher. He has an ability to get to the quarterback that simply cannot be taught. Bain will more than prove his worth as a #15 pick, and Tampa will keep counting its lucky stars.

Surprising Synopsis

This draft was definitely a wild one. The sheer number of trades sent media members into a whirlwind. Mock drafts proved entirely irrelevant, as players like Caleb Banks, Keylan Rutledge, Peter Woods, and Jadarian Price made their way into the first round.

Expected first-round picks like Kayden McDonald, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Jermod McCoy will have to wait until day two.

Rebuilding teams are trying to assemble young cores. Contenders are trying to fill out their rosters. As teams duel for the best players, chaos ensues, and the 2026 draft was about as chaotic as they come.

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