Green Dot Sports

Written By: Logan Farren with Green Dot Sports, Apr 23rd, 2026

Tonight’s biggest takeaway is to always expect the unexpected. The NFL draft kicked off tonight with a bang. Trades, reaches, steals, and guys falling; it had it all. Here are tonight’s first-round picks and a few key things to point out:

#1 Las Vegas Raiders, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Grade: A-

• Obvious #1 overall pick
• Seamlessly plug into the Raiders offense

#2 New York Jets, David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Grade: B

• Should’ve been Reese
• He’ll be solid
• He’s someone to build off of, not around

#3 Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Grade: A

This could be a turning point for the Cardinals franchise. Love is a true three-down back with elite scoring instincts and, more importantly, very few glaring weaknesses. That combination made him hard for Arizona to pass up.

Pair him with Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson, and this offense suddenly has real structure and explosiveness. It’s not automatically elite, but it’s much closer to playoff-ready than people might think.

The bigger picture is what this means for the future at quarterback. If the Cardinals wait until next year, they’ll be able to drop a rookie into a much more complete situation, unlike prospects like Cam Ward, who are often drafted into offenses that still need to be built from the ground up.

#4 Tennessee Titans, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Grade: B

Carnell Tate gives Cam Ward the Wide Receiver 1 he’s needed. The wideout’s ability to track the ball in the air, high point it, and be physical at the point of catch is unmatched in this year’s draft class.

That being said, I can’t help but think drafting an offensive lineman would’ve been more beneficial than a receiver this year. If you’re the Titans, you just finished 4th in pressure rate on your rookie franchise QB; you also signed Wan’Dale Robinson to pair with Elic Ayomanor and Calvin Ridley. I don’t see why protecting Cam Ward wasn’t the top of the priority this offseason in Tennessee.

#5 New York Giants, Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

Grade: A-

• Dominant D-line with Carter, Reese, Burns, Thibodeaux
• Fell into New York’s lap
• Should’ve gone #2 overall

#6 Cleveland Browns -> Kansas City Chiefs, Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Grade: C+

When the Kansas City Chiefs moved up to No. 6, I thought for sure they were taking Caleb Downs. When Roger Goodell announced Delane, I actually laughed out loud. It just didn’t make sense to me; Delane likely would’ve still been there at No. 9, so trading up to get him felt unnecessary.

I don’t think he’s going to perform like a typical No. 6 overall pick, even though the Chiefs should still get solid value out of him. It feels like they’re hoping he turns into Trent McDuffie, but I just don’t see that level of impact in his game.

That said, this isn’t a knock on Delane as a player. In a different situation, and at a more appropriate draft spot, this could’ve been viewed much more favorably. He’s got elite man-to-man coverage ability, plays with a high motor, and has a real knack for finding the ball. I just don’t think the value matches the pick here.

#7 Washington Commanders, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Grade: B+

• Fits defense perfectly
• Day 1 impact
• Huge body covering lots of ground

#8 New Orleans Saints, Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Grade: C+

This was the last pick within the top 10 I thought was a definite reach. The Saints are another team that just watched their rookie QB shine, and instead of protecting him, they tried surrounding him with talent.

Now, I’m not saying Tyson isn’t talented. But he isn’t so elite to the point it makes him, Shough, and Olave a good offense. I still think the Saints have a long way to go, and picks like this slow them down. They should attack both sides of the line on day 2.

#9 Kansas City Chiefs -> Cleveland Browns, Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Grade: A

• Smart pick for the Browns
• Rebuild is looking great so far

#10 Cincinnati Bengals -> New York Giants, Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Grade: A-

• Great positional value
• I think they originally wanted Fano

#11 Miami Dolphins -> Dallas Cowboys, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Grade: A-

• Best safety in the class
• Injury concern
• Elevates any defense

#12 Dallas Cowboys -> Miami Dolphins, Kayden Proctor, OT, Alabama

Grade: D+

This is my bust prediction for this year’s first-round haul. Kayden Proctor to the Dolphins already feels like the wrong decision. He is a massive exterior lineman with slow feet and poor hip mobility. It doesn’t seem like the time or place to be taking an experiment on for the Miami Dolphins.

#13 Atlanta Falcons -> Los Angeles Rams, Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Grade: C

This is one of those picks where the room fell silent. Shock and confusion filled everyone’s faces as the Rams take the second quarterback off the board at the 13th pick. Not only do I think this was an unnecessary draft pick for them this year, but I also don’t foresee Simpson taking over LA as the next Matthew Stafford gunslinger. It’ll be interesting to see Ty’s progression under a great coaching staff and a veteran-led QB room.

#14 Baltimore Ravens, Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Grade: B

• The ‘safe pick’
• Helps a unit that lost Linderbaum

#15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Grade: A

• Fell to 15
• Fits defense like a glove
• Day 1 impact

#16 Indianapolis Colts -> New York Jets, Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Grade: B+

• Combine demon
• Lack of production in Oregon
• 80 catches, 892 yards, 11 TDs in 3 years at Oregon

#17 Detroit Lions, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Grade: C+

• Better tackles available
• Could’ve gotten better value at 17

#18 Minnesota Vikings, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Grade: C-

When Caleb Banks’ name was called tonight, I was beyond surprised. After losing star safety Harrison Smith to retirement, I thought a replacement was in order, and Dillon Thieneman was that replacement.

I guess the Vikings wanted to change things up and went with who they thought was the best DT available. Except, Caleb Banks wasn’t the best DT available, and Peter Woods, who’d eventually go #29 to the Chiefs, was. Hopefully this pick will prove me wrong, but for now, I don’t like this pick at all.

#19 Carolina Panthers, Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Grade: B

• Safe pick
• Great addition to help Bryce Young

#20 Dallas Cowboys -> Philadelphia Eagles, Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Grade: A

The Philadelphia Eagles’ pick became clear to me the second they moved up from No. 23 to No. 20. Makai Lemon was the best player available, and with the dicey receiver room in Philly right now, he could be a huge get.

Not only does Lemon potentially replace A. J. Brown, who’s slated to be traded following the draft, but he also adds that hybrid element that’s been trending around the league the last few years. Lemon has the chance to be that Amon-Ra St. Brown-type gadget guy in this Eagles offense, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. While he primarily lines up outside, he really excels in the slot. He’s the kind of player you can move around pre-snap and build endless concepts around.

I’m excited to see how the Eagles use him and what their identity looks like after moving on from A.J. Brown.

#21 Pittsburgh Steelers, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Grade: A-

• Great at ASU
• Blocked for 2024 Skattebo
• 2nd Sun Devil taken in the 1st round

#22 Los Angeles Chargers, Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Grade: B+

• Mesidor avoids dropping
• Could be a steady player for the Chargers
• I don’t see him getting more than 9 sacks in a season

#23 Philadelphia Eagles -> Dallas Cowboys, Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Grade: C

• Big reach
• Better defenders available, especially at EDGE

#24 Jacksonville Jaguars -> Cleveland Browns, KC Concepcion, WR, NC State

Grade: B-

I would have loved to see the Browns take a safer pick here. I think Concepcion could be good, but never a high-end WR1. I can see the Browns revisiting the receiver position in later rounds or next year in the loaded receiver class.

#25 Chicago Bears, Dillon Thieneman, S, Purdue

Grade: B+

• Excellent value here
• Combine demon
• Gardner-Johnson long-term replacement

#26 Buffalo Bills -> Houston Texans, Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech

Grade: B+

• Got the guy they wanted at the pick they wanted him at
• Filled a position of need
• Decent pick

#27 San Francisco 49ers -> Miami Dolphins, Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Grade: C

• Total reach
• Probably won’t hear of this guy a lot

#28 Buffalo Bills -> New England Patriots, Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Grade: A

What a genius decision from Vrabel and the Patriots to move up to 28 and take the last elite tackle from the first round. I think Lomu will work out nicely for the Patriots and will help them try to get back to the Super Bowl in 2026.

#29 Los Angeles Rams -> Kansas City Chiefs, Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Grade: B+

• Excellent pick value
• Fell deeper than expected
• Underrated pickup alongside Chris Jones

#30 San Francisco 49ers -> New York Jets, Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Grade: B+

Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr. That’s the four best players on the Jets offense and it’s not particularly close. Cooper will fit in nicely to a team that has a long way to go. Another pick in the right direction for the Jets, but I don’t see them competing for anything for another couple of years.

#31 Buffalo Bills -> Tennessee Titans, Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Grade: ?

• Why did he fall as far as he did?
• What’s going to be Faulk’s immediate impact to a lackluster unit?

#32 Seattle Seahawks, Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

Grade: B

Solid pick by the defending champs. After losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Chiefs this offseason, it was time for a replacement at running back. And what better value than Jadarian Price at 32? He has everything the Seahawks are looking for and need. He’ll offer sustained success in a stacked NFC conference alongside Zach Charbonnet. Excellent use of draft pick value.