The story of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft surrounded a quarterback but it wasn’t No 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.As expected, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday after he led Indiana to the national title last season.But the shock of the night came when the Los Angeles Rams picked another quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, at No 13.The Rams’ current starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, was named NFL MVP last season and Simpson was projected to be a second-round pick by many analysts.However, Stafford turned 38 in February and the Rams are starting to plan for life without him, although head coach Sean McVay insisted the veteran will remain the starter for the time being.

“This is Matthew’s team,” said McVay.He added that Stafford had been “great” when told the Rams were drafting Simpson.“He’s a stud,” McVay said.“I mean, he’s always first class in every sense of the word.”Simpson started just 15 games in college but he exuded confidence after the Rams selected him.

“Absolutely, I am confident,” Simpson said.“That’s why I decided to come [to the draft in person].You know with the offensive infrastructure we had in Alabama with other coaches and the offensive system, the weight room, everything was set up to better you for the NFL.And that’s why I stayed at ’Bama.”First round1 Las Vegas, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana2 New York Jets, David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech3 Arizona, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame4 Tennessee, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State5 New York Giants, Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State6 Kansas City (from Cleveland), Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU7 Washington, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State8 New Orleans, Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State9 Cleveland (from Kansas City), Spencer Fano, OT, Utah10 New York Giants (from Cincinnati), Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami11 Dallas (from Miami), Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State12 Miami (from Dallas), Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama13 LA Rams (from Atlanta), Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama14 Baltimore, Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State15 Tampa Bay, Rueben Bain Jr, LB, Miami16 New York Jets (from Indianapolis), Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon17 Detroit, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson18 Minnesota, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida19 Carolina, Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia20 Philadelphia (from Green Bay through Dallas), Makai Lemon, WR, USC21 Pittsburgh, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State22 LA Chargers, Akheem Mesidor, LB, Miami23 Dallas (from Philadelphia), Malachi Lawrence, LB, UCF24 Cleveland (from Jacksonville), KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M25 Chicago, Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon26 Houston (from Buffalo), Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech27 Miami (from San Francisco), Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State28 New England (from Houston through Buffalo), Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah29 Kansas City (from LA Rams), Peter Woods, DT, Clemson30 New York Jets (from Denver through Miami and San Francisco), Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana31 Tennessee (from New England through Buffalo), Keldric Faulk, DE, Clemson32 Seattle, Jadarian Price, RB, Notre DameSecond round 33 San Francisco (from New York Jets)34 Arizona35 Buffalo (from Tennessee)36 Las Vegas37 New York Giants38 Houston (from Washington)39 Cleveland40 Kansas City41 Cincinnati42 New Orleans43 Miami44 New York Jets (from Dallas)45 Baltimore46 Tampa Bay47 Indianapolis48 Atlanta49 Minnesota50 Detroit51 Carolina52 Green Bay53 Pittsburgh54 Philadelphia55 LA Chargers56 Jacksonville57 Chicago58 San Francisco59 Houston60 Chicago (from Buffalo)61 LA Rams62 Denver63 New England64 SeattleThird round65 Arizona66 Tennessee67 Las Vegas68 Philadelphia (from New York Jets)69 Tennessee (from New York Giants via Houston and Buffalo)70 Cleveland71 Washington72 Cincinnati73 New Orleans74 Cleveland (from Kansas City)75 Miami76 Pittsburgh (from Dallas)77 Tampa Bay78 Indianapolis79 Atlanta80 Baltimore81 Jacksonville (from Detroit)82 Minnesota83 Carolina84 Green Bay85 Pittsburgh86 LA Chargers87 Miami (from Philadelphia)88 Jacksonville89 Chicago90 San Francisco (from Houston via Miami)91 Houston (from Buffalo)92 Dallas (from San Francisco)93 LA Rams94 Miami (from Denver)95 New England96 Seattle97 Minnesota98 Philadelphia99 Pittsburgh100 JacksonvilleFourth round101 Buffalo (from Tennessee)102 Las Vegas103 New York Jets104 Arizona105 New York Giants106 Houston (from Washington)107 Cleveland108 Denver (from New Orleans)109 Kansas City110 Cincinnati111 Denver (from Miami)112 Dallas113 Indianapolis114 Dallas (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)115 Baltimore116 Tampa Bay117 Las Vegas (from Minnesota via Jacksonville)118 Detroit119 Carolina120 Green Bay121 Pittsburgh122 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)123 LA Chargers124 Jacksonville125 Buffalo (from Chicago via Kansas City and New England)126 Buffalo127 San Francisco128 Detroit (from Houston)129 Chicago (from LA Rams)130 Miami (from Denver)131 New England132 New Orleans (from Seattle)133 San Francisco134 Las Vegas135 Pittsburgh136 New Orleans137 Dallas (from Philadelphia)138 Miami (from San Francisco)139 San Francisco140 New York JetsFifth round141 Houston (from Las Vegas and Cleveland)142 Tennessee (from New York Jets via Baltimore)143 Arizona144 Tennessee (from LA Rams)145 New York Giants146 Cleveland147 Washington148 Cleveland (from Kansas City)149 Cleveland (from Cincinnati)150 New Orleans151 Miami152 Dallas153 Green Bay (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)154 Baltimore155 Tampa Bay156 Indianapolis157 Detroit158 Carolina (from Minnesota)159 Carolina160 Green Bay161 Pittsburgh162 Baltimore (from LA Chargers)163 Minnesota (from Philadelphia)164 Jacksonville165 Tennessee (from Chicago via Buffalo)166 Jacksonville (from San Francisco via Philadelphia)167 Buffalo (from Houston via Philadelphia)168 Buffalo169 Kansas City (from LA Rams)170 Denver171 New England172 New Orleans (from Seattle)173 Baltimore174 Baltimore175 Las Vegas176 Kansas City177 Miami (from Dallas)178 Philadelphia179 San Francisco (from New York Jets)180 Miami (from Dallas)181 DetroitSixth round182 Buffalo (from New York Jets via Cleveland, Jacksonville and Las Vegas)183 Arizona184 Tennessee185 Las Vegas186 New York Giants187 Washington188 Seattle (from Cleveland)189 Cincinnati190 New Orleans191 New England (from Kansas City)192 New York Giants (from Miami)193 New York Giants (from Dallas)194 Tennessee (from Baltimore via New York Jets)195 Tampa Bay196 Minnesota (from Indianapolis)197 Philadelphia (from Atlanta)198 New England (from Minnesota via Houston and San Francisco)199 Cincinnati (from Detroit via Cleveland)200 Carolina201 Green Bay202 New England (from Pittsburgh)203 Jacksonville (from Philadelphia via Houston)204 LA Chargers205 Detroit (from Jacksonville)206 Cleveland (from Chicago)207 LA Rams (from Houston via Tennessee)208 Las Vegas (from Buffalo via New York Jets)209 Washington (from San Francisco)210 Kansas City (from LA Rams)211 Baltimore (from Denver via New York Jets, Minnesota and Philadelphia)212 New England213 Detroit (from Seattle via Jacksonville)214 Indianapolis (from Pittsburgh)215 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)216 PittsburghSeventh round217 Arizona218 Dallas (from Tennessee)219 Las Vegas220 Buffalo (from New York Jets)221 Cincinnati (from New York Giants via Dallas)222 Detroit (from Cleveland)223 Washington224 Pittsburgh (from New Orleans via New England)225 Tennessee (from Kansas City via Dallas)226 Cincinnati227 Miami228 New York Jets (from Dallas via Buffalo and Las Vegas)229 Tampa Bay230 Pittsburgh (from Indianapolis)231 Atlanta232 LA Rams (from Baltimore)233 Jacksonville (from Detroit)234 Minnesota235 Minnesota (from Carolina)236 Green Bay237 Pittsburgh238 Miami (from LA Chargers via Tennessee and New York Jets)239 Chicago (from Philadelphia via Jacksonville and Cleveland)240 Jacksonville241 Chicago242 New York Jets (from Buffalo via Cleveland)243 Houston (from San Francisco)244 Minnesota (from Houston)245 Jacksonville (from LA Rams via Houston)246 Denver247 New England248 Cleveland (from Seattle)249 Indianapolis250 Baltimore251 LA Rams252 LA Rams253 Baltimore254 Indianapolis255 Green Bay256 Denver257 DenverWith McVay on his side and Stafford to learn from for at least the next season or two, his new team are giving him a long leash to develop, a good plan for a player whom many doubted could start early.

Meanwhile, Mendoza wasn’t in Pittsburgh for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami.He’ll be heading to Las Vegas on Friday to begin an NFL career that may have seemed improbable when few colleges were interested in him coming out of high school.“The last five months have been such a blessing by God, and I can’t thank Him enough,” Mendoza said.“I’m just looking forward to getting to work, prove it at the next level.College was fantastic.

I’m so blessed to have that career, but now I step into a great game, the NFL,Look forward to proving and earning it every single day,”Mendoza wasn’t even a prominent prospect at this time last year,But he had a sensational season with the Hoosiers, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions,Still, there are plenty of doubts about him in a quarterback-thin draft class.

He’s determined to prove any critics wrong again.Mendoza’s selection was expected for months.The intrigue began at No 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese.The Jets had two further picks in the first round, using them on offensive weapons.The Jets selected the top tight end in the draft at No 16, taking Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq.

They later traded with the 49ers to take Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr at No 30, drawing loud cheers from their fans in the crowd.The Giants took Reese at No 5, adding a potential elite rusher less than a week after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati.“It’s surreal to me,” Bailey said.“It’s an awesome opportunity.I just want to get in there and be a sponge and soak up everything.

”Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick,Love is the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No 2 to the New York Giants in 2018,Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was picked fourth by Tennessee in a surprise move that gives QB Cam Ward – last year’s No 1 overall pick – a top target,The Chiefs traded up to No 6 to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane,Kansas City sent Cleveland the ninth pick along with Nos 74 and 148 to move up.

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles went seventh to Washington, improving a defense that allowed the most yards in the league last season.New Orleans selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No 8, giving QB Tyler Shough a 1-2 punch with Chris Olave.Utah’s Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman chosen, going to Cleveland with the ninth pick.The Giants followed up with another offensive tackle, taking Miami’s Francis Mauigoa at No 10.The Cowboys moved up one spot to select versatile Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No 11.

Dallas sent Miami a pair of fifth-rounders and the 12th pick.The Dolphins took Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.Baltimore chose Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane at No 14 with a pick they had traded to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby but regained when they voided the trade.Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr was selected by Tampa Bay with the 15th pick, giving the Buccaneers’ dismal pass rush a possible gamechanger who was considered a top-10 talent.“I know I’m the best in the country,” Bain said.

“I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.”Detroit moved up one spot to take Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick.The Lions swapped picks with division rival Minnesota, who chose Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, once expected to be a top-10 pick, was chosen by Carolina at No 19.The Eagles moved up to 20th in another pick swap involving division rivals and took USC wideout Makai Lemon.

Dallas got Philadelphia’s 23rd pick plus two fourth-rounders for No 20 and a seventh.Lemon thought he was heading to the Steelers.“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time.I guess it was meant to be.I’m super excited to be in Philly,” Lemon said.

Mendoza is the fourth straight quarterback selected No.1 overall following Cam Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young.It’s the 10th time in 12 years a QB was the first pick.None of those 10 have won a Super Bowl, though Jared Goff and Joe Burrow each started one.