Due to our short/zapped attention spans, here lies my brief, snappy analysis of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft:
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana – Attempt at a franchise QB for Klint Kubiak’s offense featuring outside zone runs and play-action concepts off of that.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech – Jets are switching to 3-4 defense, made evident by their trade of Wide-9 rusher Jermaine Johnson for behemoth nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat. NYJ is banking on David Bailey as cleanest 3-4 OLB projection.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame – Explosive, home run threat for new HC Mike LaFleur’s zone-rushing scheme equipped with pre-snap motion, condensed formations.
4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio St – Possible WR1 for Titans QB Cam Ward. Can alternate between X and Z-receiver spots and will compliment fellow newcomer Wan’Dale Robinson, who is a high-volume slot option brought over by new OC Brian Daboll.
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio St – LB/Edge hybrid who Ohio State DC/former Patriots DC Matt Patricia compared to Jamie Collins. Considering NYG’s current edge rusher/OLB room (Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, etc), Reese could play as an early-down, off-ball LB. But he will also rush the QB from different alignments in the Nickel 2-4-5 scheme brought over from Baltimore.
6. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU – Looking to build the secondary back up here with a potential shutdown CB1.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio St – All-time LB prospect in terms of athleticism. Has the range to play similarly to Fred Warner. Commanders GM Adam Peters came to Washington from San Francisco.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona St – Fluid (when not overselling) route-runner who can win at the catch point and compliment Chris Olave, who Tyson has both similarities and differences with.
9. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah – Versatile and athletic lineman who likely projects at LT or RT here.
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami – Gap-scheme mauler to set tone for John Harbaugh-era Giants at RT or RG.
11. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama – Gargantuan offensive tackle prospect with high ceiling, but this is a big swing from the rebuilding Dolphins.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, SAF, Alabama – Renowned prospect that should make the Cowboys happy. Likely projects more as a true 2-high safety who can be versatile after the snap, rather than a “Big Nickel.”
13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama – Shocker, especially since Ian Rapaport/NFL Network is reporting a Matthew Stafford contract extension is in the works.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn St – Ravens simply had to improve at guard after last season, especially after losing center Tyler Linderbaum in FA. Ioane is a force in the run game with pass pro skills. High floor prospect.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ruben Bain, Edge, Penn St – Fun fit on the defensive line next to Vita Vea. Will likely play as a stand-up rusher/3-4 OLB here.
16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon – Explosive. Seam-stretcher + Underneath YAC target. Can play as an ‘F’ from the slot or from the wing, where he can also help as movement blocker in run game.
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson – Plug-and-play RT as Penei Sewell moves to LT.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida – Size, power and potential chaos inducer at 3-tech for Brian Flores.
19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia – Likely franchise LT in Carolina considering Ickey Ekwonu’s health.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, Georgia – A.J. Brown should be a Patriot come June, so this makes sense on the surface, but I have questions about the fit with Jalen Hurts, who does not like throwing over the middle-of-the-field. Also does not like going under-center, which would set up PA crosser elements that Lemon could thrive on. Lemon is mostly a slot WR with flanker ability in 2-WR sets and condensed formations. 3-WR sets likely to have Lemon in the slot with DeVonta Smith (Z) and Dontayvion Wicks (sacrificial X). The Eagles also added Big slot/F Eli Stowers in Round 2.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona St – When Iheanachor likely takes the field, be it in 2026 or 2027, it will be at RT. Troy Fautanu will probably move to LT.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami – Older prospect (25) but is ready to take the field tomorrow as a menacing pass rusher who can also help in run support. Edge rushers in this system are stand-up OLBs in base Nickel 2-4-5 looks.
23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF – Size/length and speed here to join a three-man rotation of OLBs (Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary in new Vic Fangio-inspired Nickel 2-4-5 (3-4 defense/principles). Dallas also added LB/edge rusher Jaishawn Barham and LT Overton (edge/DT) in later rounds.
24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M – Ultra-quick WR with violent cuts and separation ability as a route-runner. Projects as a high-volume option at both Z/flanker and slot. May lead Browns in targets in 2026.
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon – Versatile safety with athleticism and speed who will compliment Coby Bryant in Bears 2-high looks.
26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech – Gap scheme guard with some nastiness. Should fit in nicely with the addition of David Montgomery at RB this offseason. I think Houston OC Nick Caley may tap into more of his Josh McDaniels Patriots roots this year in the run game. Rutledge can serve as a puller on power concepts and will help in double teams on duo runs.
27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego St – Cornerback who Miami hopes can thrive as an aggressive CB in both man and zone. Miami may use a good amount of Cover 2 and Cover 6 under new HC Jeff Hafley. Johnson is praised for breaking on the ball in off coverage.
28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah – I wonder if Patriots think there’s a possible OL configuration in 2027 that has Lomu at LT. Can move Campbell from blindside to RT, where he can provide nastiness in run game. Lomu is praised for his movement ability/pass pro, and then you have the length factor for the left tackle position. Just a thought.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson – Eventual full-time 3-tech replacement for Chris Jones. For now, can rush from opposite B-Gap in pure passing downs and come onto the field as lone 3T when Spagnuolo lines Jones up at DE (370 snaps here in ’25 for Jones, per PFF).
30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana – Another YAC threat for the Jets after drafting Sadiq. Can thrive in the slot and has the juice/speed to play in 2-WR sets or on the perimeter. 11P with Garrett Wilson (Z/X), Cooper (slot), Adonai Mitchell (X/Z) and Sadiq (TE) is exciting on paper.
31. Tennessee Titans: Kedrick Faulk, DL, Auburn – A cross between Mykell Williams and Arik Armstead for HC Robert Saleh’s 4-man fronts brought over from San Francisco. Should mostly see time as a big base end opposite Wide-9/speed rusher Jermaine Johnson.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame – Seahawks needed a RB and they get one. Has the requisite vision and one-cut ability for their outside zone runs.
*Bonus* (Round 2) 33. San Francisco 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss – Most seem convinced that Stribling is a replacement for Jajuan Jennings’ role with more juice. Stribling is praised for his blocking so he should be able to do the dirty work. As a receiver, he profiles as an unpolished route runner but has size (6-2, 207), speed (4.36) and YAC ability. He’ll likely battle Christian Kirk for Z/Slot snaps in 3-WR sets to start, as Mike Evans (X) and Rickey Pearsall (Z) profile as the 2-WR set frontrunners. He will likely start off as a Power slot who is a YAC threat, with the potential to play X in condensed formations in 2027 with some refinement. Stribling’s career can really go in any direction, so I’m curious to see how Kyle Shanahan uses him.
No Guts No Glory 