NFL draft 2026: Rams make shock pick of QB Ty Simpson at No 13 as Mendoza goes No 1 – as it happened
Post-draftJust two quarterbacks were selected, while two running backs were selected from the same school! Well, I guess now we’ve seen it all! Best of luck to all the newest NFL players,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 DenverThat does it for our live coverage of the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft; thanks for following along with us! And from all of the Guardian team, wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and good night!No 32: Seattle Seahawks pick Jadarian Price, RBThe champs finally weigh in with the final pick of the first round,What do you get the team that has everything? That would be Jadarian Price, the second running back from Notre Dame to be taken this evening,He’s not as talented as Love – particularly as a pass catcher – but has an ability to find gaps,No 31: Tennessee Titans pick Keldric Faulk, edgeThe commish announces a record first night draft record, with 320,000 in attendance.
Meanwhile, the Titans are back, selecting Keldric Faulk, an edge rusher out of Auburn.Faulk isn’t quite the finished product yet but is quick and agile and is known as a good teammate.No 30: New York Jets pick Omar Cooper Jr, WROh look who it is, the Jets! They’re back, again, for a third time tonight.A bit greedy aren’t they? They traded with the 49ers to get yet another first round selection.They round up their night with Omar Cooper Jr, the wide receiver out of Indiana.
The Jets, whose offense has been woeful in recent years, have added two potentially explosive talents tonight,They still need a quarterback, an area they may well turn to in next year’s draft, where they have three first-round picks,Here’s his “catch of the year” against Penn State,No 29: Kansas City Chiefs pick Peter Woods, DTIt seems like years ago that KC traded up to get CB Mansoor Delane, but that was actually the sixth pick tonight,Now they’re back to try and find late-round gold.
Could that be the Clemson defensive tackle out of Clemson? If it doesn’t go well, ESPN says he’s a good singer.No 28: New England Patriots pick Caleb Lomu, OTNE traded with the Texans to secure this spot to grab Lomu, who has a good name for an offensive tackle.He is more of a project than the finished product and has to improve his run blocking.But he could make a big leap if he adds weight to his already imposing frame.No 27: Miami Dolphins pick Chris Johnson, DBThe Dolphins already selected offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor.
Now they have traded up to the 27th pick with the 49ers.They select Johnson, a defensive back from San Diego State.No26: Houston Texans pick Keylan Rutledge, guardThe guard from Georgia Tech nearly lost a limb following traffic crash, but recovered to be selected in the first round of an NFL draft.The Texans are in need of extra talent on their o-line, so it’s a pick that makes sense.Trade!The Bills have traded back.
Texans trade the Bills pick 28, 69, 167 Houston receives: Pick 26, 91,No 25: Chicago Bears pick Dillon Thieneman, safetyThe safety from Oregon has got aviator sunglasses on, which he won’t need in those gloomy Chicago winters,Ollie Connolly’s verdict: There are no holes in Thieneman’s game,Before the Combine, he was slated as a gifted safety who got by on his smarts, instincts and aggressive style,He was so dedicated to his craft at Oregon that they had to lock him out of the weight room because he was working out too much.
Then he went to Indianapolis and tested like one of the most athletic prospects in recent history.He is the kind of player that does all the little things that make the nerds purr, and then, in a flash, can produce the high-wattage highlights that fuel the algorithm.At Oregon, he played as a part-time linebacker.Before that, when he was at Purdue, he played as an old-school, middle-of-the-field safety.Thieneman can be a linchpin piece for any secondary.
No24: Cleveland Browns pick KC Concepcion, WRKC is heading to Cleveland! The wideout from Texas A&M is a speedy, legitimate first target for whoever throws the ball for the Browns,And he returns punts as well,No wonder he won the “versatile” award,No23: Dallas Cowboys pick Malachi Lawrence, edgeDallas already selected a highly sought after safety,Now they add an edge from the linebacker hub of the University of Central Florida.
AP analysis:The 6ft 5in, 253lbs Lawrence had seven sacks among a career-high 11 tackles for loss as a senior at UCF.He was one of four players in the Football Bowl Subdivision to have at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons.No22: Los Angeles Chargers pick Akheem Mesidor, edgeHe had 5.5 sacks in the playoffs, not bad for a kid from Ottawa.The University of Miami product is already 25, but will bring tenacity to the Chargers defensive line.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: First, the bad news: Mesidor will be 25 years old as a rookie and sustained multiple injuries throughout his college season.Age and injury red flags set off alarm bells in every NFL building – and Mesidor was off the board for multiple teams.But then you turn on the tape and here comes the good news: Mesidor is a juiced-up, technical pass-rusher who clowned offensive tackles.There are valid concerns about whether, at his advanced age, he was too developed for college linemen to cope with.At the next level, NFL linemen will know how to offset Mesidor’s best work.
But speed and bend travel.And Mesidor has buckets full of both, regardless of his age.He may never be more than a rotational pass-rusher, but those are valuable.No 21: Pittsburgh Steelers pick Max Iheanachor, OTThey have waited and waited in preparation for this moment: the home town pick.Jerome Bettis, fresh off his last announced pick of TJ Watt, tells the crowd that it’s the OT from Arizona State who will be coming to Pittsburgh, via Nigeria.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict: In five years, Iheanachor has gone from not playing the sport to being a first-round pick,The mammoth, 6ft 6in, 321lbs tackle only picked up football in junior college,Born in Nigeria before moving to Compton, California, for high school, Iheanachor’s first loves were soccer and basketball,His high school didn’t even have a football team, and he didn’t take his first snap until his second year in junior college,But he has fallen for the game and recently got a tattoo of the NFL shield.
“It’s definitely something that means a lot to me,” Iheanachor said at his pro day.“I love football, love the game, so why not?”
After discovering football, Iheanachor quickly became a high-level junior college recruit and, over two years as a starter at Arizona State, rounded into a top-50 prospect.Despite his inexperience, he has shown all the traits of a starting NFL tackle: size, spring, balance, length and natural strength and power.He didn’t give up a sack in 2025 and conceded the lowest pressure rate of any of the tackle prospects.Over the past five years, teams have shown they will bet on raw athletic tools along the offensive line in the first round rather than chase technical proficiency.
There are only so many people who are big enough and athletic enough to keep up with the likes of Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons swooping in off the edge,The technical details are essential, but they can be taught,What Iheanachor has is unteachable size, athleticism and strength,And he is already ahead, technically, of where Jordan Mailata, Amarius Mims and Patrick Paul were when they entered the league,There will be growing pains.
Iheanchor got by in college largely due to his raw talent, and his technique is shaky.As a relative newbie to the sport, soaking up a pro playbook while trying to hone his craft will take time.But this draft class lacks linemen with prototypical size and agility for a tackle.Iheanachor is one of the few that checks those boxes.If he sneaks into the first round, it wouldn’t be a shock.
No 20: Philadelphia Eagles pick Makai Lemon, WRThe Eagles traded with the Cowboys to get this wide receiver from USC.So the question now is, will the Eagles rid themselves of AJ Brown? It’s “a steal” according to ESPN TV in the US.Ollie Connolly’s verdict: How about drafting a smaller wide receiver with the mentality of a linebacker? Welcome to the Makai Lemon Experience.Lemon is a tough, quick receiver who does most of his damage out of the slot and when creating after the catch.He’s slippery enough at the top of the route to create separation at the NFL level and has the hops to rise and play above his 5ft 11in stature.
Having versatile wide receivers who play inside and outside – Puka Nacua; Amon-Ra St Brown – is the name of the modern game,Lemon fits the billing,No 19: Carolina Panthers pick Monroe Freeling, OTHe’s a left tackle out of Georgia,They’re going to love him in Carolina, according to Ollie Connolly:Freeling has been a late riser in draft season,He was only a one-year starter at Georgia, but he’s one of the few offensive linemen in the class who profiles as a legitimate left tackle in the NFL.
He’s a bruising run blocker who stands at a touch over 6ft 7in and has enough juice to offset speed-rushers in pass protection.Teams are usually uncomfortable about drafting one-year starters high in the first round.But Freeling has the potential to be a solid starter at one of the sport’s most valuable positions.-No 18: Minnesota Vikings pick Caleb Banks, DLThe defensive tackle out of Florida is 6ft 6in and well over 300 pounds.That’s a lot of defensive tackle.
Ollie Connolly’s verdict:If you’re looking for big nose tackles in this year’s class, you can take your pick,The draft is filled with heavy-footed run-stuffers who can survive in the mosh-pit that is an NFL line of scrimmage on early downs,But finding players who can trouble the quarterback on third downs is tough,It’s even trickier to find prospects who can fill both roles, playing all three downs and offering just as much thump against the run as pressure they generate on opposing quarterbacks,The most likely candidate is Banks, a 6ft 6in, 335lbs bundle of size, speed and power.
Banks is as disruptive as they come.He is the most naturally talented defensive lineman in the class, creating constant disruption thanks to his size and agility.Rarely do you find a lineman so big who can play so low to the ground who is also explosive off the ball.Not since Jordan Davis entered the draft has a 6ft 6in defensive lineman tested so well athletically.But he also happens to have Joel Embiid’s feet.
Banks missed almost all of the 2025 season with a foot injury.After a breakout season in 2024, he fractured his foot in Florida’s finale.He made it back for the team’s third game of 2025 against LSU, and then broke his foot again.Banks was able to return for Florida’s final two games of his final college season, but broke his foot again before he tested at the combine.A big man with persistent foot injuries will always make teams queasy.
Add to that, for a player who was bigger, faster and stronger than everyone he played, Banks’s production was relatively muted.He started just 24 games over his three seasons at Florida and was more disruptive than productive.The upside, though, is through the roof.Every franchise in the league is chasing disruptive players along the interior.And on a per-snap basis, no one in college football lived in the backfield as often as Banks.
He had a pressure rate of 21,4% on third down in 2024, which would place him in the 90th percentile among all DTs drafted in the last decade,And it would be by far the highest figure for any defensive lineman drafted over that span who weighed 320lbs or more,Tack on rock-solid run defense, and you’re looking at someone who could have a Dexter Lawrence-, Chris Jones- or Leonard Williams-type impact,No prospect has a wider range of outcomes.
Injuries could force him out of the league early, or he could be a foundational piece.The medical concerns will probably push him into the second round, but his potential may be too much for teams late in the first round to pass up.No 17: Detroit Lions pick Blake Miller, OTSo are Detroit ever going to win a Super Bowl? They took a step back last season, so Lions fans will hoping that Mr Miller, a tackle from Clemson can help.Analysis from AP:The Detroit Lions found a replacement for a longtime fixture on the offensive line.Detroit drafted Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the No 17 overall pick, selecting a massive and durable player to make up for the loss of Taylor Decker