Thoughts on the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft

On Wednesday I wrote my NFL draft preview. Round one happened last night and I have some thoughts.

The first few picks went as expected. The Raiders got Mendoza and he has the skills to  be their franchise QB. He just needs time. David Bailey went second overall. I told you all that the Jest canceling a meeting with him meant nothing to me. They knew he was good, they wanted him and they took him. This was a smart move. I think Jeremiyah Love has all the skills in the world, but he will be behind a mediocre line and I just wouldn't take a running back this high in the modern NFL. I hope he proves me wrong, but drafting a pure running back at 3 overall scares me.

It was pretty chalk after those three, until the Rams took a massive swing at 13. The Titans needed a wideout, and while I would have taken Jordyn Tyson, who wound up at 8 with the Saints, they went with Carnell Tate, who should be good. The Giants took Arvell Reese, and he and Abdullah Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux have the ability to wreck backfields. The Chiefs traded up and shored up their secondary with Mansoor Delane. Sonny Styles brings aggressiveness and will be a tackling machine for the Commanders. The Browns drafted the best o lineman in the draft in Spencer Fano. The Giants got some much needed o line help with the very next pick in Francis Mauigoa. Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart will adore him. The Cowboys traded up to take the best player in the draft, in my opinion, in Caleb Downs. I hate that the Cowboys actually did something right and they just drafted a star. Miami took Kadyn Proctor, and if he can stay on the field he should protect whoever the Dolphins throw out there at QB.

Then we have the weirdest pick of the night. The Rams, who traded up to 13, took Ty Simpson, the QB from Alabama. This makes zero sense to me. The Rams are a win now team. They could have gotten Simpson later in round one. Matthew Stafford was the MVP last year. Simpson will get next to no time on the field. He may be the second best QB prospect in this draft, but every other QB is miles behind Mendoza. It appears that Sean McVay didn't like this pick. This is very weird and has left me with a ton of questions still today. I don't get it and I don't think I ever will. Time will tell, but this felt like a reach and a bad pick.

The Ravens set things straight, getting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry some much needed protection in taking Olaivavega Ioane at offensive guard. The Buccaneers got a great edge rusher in Ruben Bain Jr. This reminds me so much of when they took Warren Sapp in his draft. The slide and the potential are very similar. And after these picks, nothing was too wild. I love that the Eagles jumped ahead of the Steelers so they could take Makai Lemon. Apparently the Steelers wanted him, and were ready to pick him, but the Eagles jumped in and swiped him. That's hilarious to me. The Lions drafted Graham Glasgow's replacement in Blake Miller. The Chargers took Akeem Mesidor, and if you don't know his story, go read about him. This kid deserves all the credit in the world and he fully changed his game to make it here. Kenyan Sadiq had a little bit of a drop, falling to 16. But the Jets have someone they can finally count on to catch passes and make plays. I feel like the Browns got a steal when they took KC Concepcion at 24 overall. He is a very good wideout and will give Shadeur Sanders a solid target in the passing game. The Bears got a good player in Dillon Thieneman. He should start very soon and will help the secondary right away. And the Jets made another solid pick when they got Omar Cooper Jr, one of Indiana's wide receivers. He is consistent and smart. The Jets had a good night last night,

Rounds 2 and 3 are tonight and there is some first round talent still available. My man Derrick Moore from Michigan should get picked tonight. Some other guys still on the board are Jermod McCoy, Denzel Boston, Avieon Terrelll, Zion Young and Casshius Howell, among many others. Jaishawn Barham, another Michigan guy I love, is still on the board as well. This is when the draft matters most to me, and many others. This is where you find the diamonds in the rough. This is where you can really build your team.

Last night's round one was mostly chalk, except for the Rams and Cardinals. And, as I mentioned above, I fully believe the Jets had the best night and they look to be going in a solid direction. Time will tell, but they made some good moves. On to night two. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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