As the NFL Draft finished on Saturday, so did one of the most important times of the offseason for all 32 teams.
Each year, fans are introduced to the players who will bring their franchise to glory or the guy who will set their favorite team back. As with every draft, there was chaos and uncertainty, and this year, fans were truly kept on their toes.
The first name called out was never in question, as Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders finally became official; the rest of the first round was a different story.
The first true shocker of the draft came when the Arizona Cardinals selected Jeremiyah Love out of the University of Notre Dame third overall, the highest a running back has been taken since 2018. Love’s skill is undeniable, and he’s surely a top-three talent in the draft, but the Cardinals simply weren’t ready to take a running back. With the longevity of careers at that position declining, the bulk of his prime will be wasted on a team that isn’t ready to compete.
The most surprising pick of the draft came from the Los Angeles Rams, who selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. The Rams already have last year’s Most Valuable Player in Matthew Stafford, who is 38 years old; I understand taking a quarterback, but this was simply too early for it.
The biggest winners of day one have to be the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants had Arvell Reese fall into their lap at five and would later snag Francis Mauigoa at 10th overall. Two solid picks, although they may have also made the biggest mistake of the night when they passed on Caleb Downs, who the Dallas Cowboys would snag at 11, becoming one of the biggest steals in the draft.
Last year, Will Johnson inexplicably fell to 47th overall; a similar story played out this year with Jermod McCoy. He was finally drafted with the first pick of day three at 101st overall. Injury concerns caused McCoy, who many thought to be a top 10 prospect, to fall down the board. If he can attain a clean bill of health, this will be a fantastic selection for the Raiders.
One blockbuster trade stood out amongst the others. The Philadelphia Eagles traded their third-round pick for this year and next year for Pro Bowl edge rusher Johnathan Greenard. In the draft, their first-round pick, wide receiver Makai Lemon, almost ensures that Pro Bowl wide receiver AJ Brown will be traded post-June 1.
One of the most heartwarming picks of the draft came in the second round when the Atlanta Falcons selected Avieon Terrell, who will now be paired up in the same secondary with his older brother, AJ Terrell. On top of the fact that they are brothers, Aveion was also a top prospect who was the third-ranked cornerback and 22nd player overall, according to ESPN.
Mr. Irrelevant this year belonged to Red Murdock, the linebacker who was extremely productive in his time for the University at Buffalo, setting an NCAA record 17 forced fumbles over his collegiate career.
The 2026 NFL Draft delivered everything fans expected: chaos throughout and storylines that will unfold for years to come. From surprising reaches to unbelievable steals, teams shaped their futures. While some franchises positioned themselves for what they hope to be immediate success, others took long-term developmental gambles. The true winners and losers won’t be known until these rookies take the field and prove their value where it matters most.
