NFL Draft 2026 Draft Order - Yahoo Sports

News

Finance

Sports

Mail

Filters

Round

Team

Position

School

Player Details

Default

Condensed

RD1, PK1 Round 1, Pick 1

Fernando Mendoza

QB

Indiana
6' 5"

Height

225

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

22

Age

Draft Grade: B+ The Raiders got their franchise quarterback here following the rocket ship level ascension of Mendoza. They’re in store for yet another rebuild and now have a chance to start that process with a new quarterback. This was the only sensible pick at the top of the draft, and Mendoza is good enough to be the first pick. Now they can focus on trying to get back into the AFC West race with new head coach Klint Kubiak and their new quarterback.

Attributes

Dart Thrower

Howitzer

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK2 Round 1, Pick 2

David Bailey

OLB

Texas Tech
6' 3"

Height

250

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Draft Grade: C- The Jets got their pass rusher in this class, but he’s not a complete player like Arvell Reese in terms of physicality and run defense. The Jets adding T’Vondre Sweat via trade makes this a bit more palatable, but Bailey might be a one-trick pony early on. Whether or not he can develop as a run defender may end up defining his rookie year because there’s still a lot of work here. Still, the Jets defense got a talent that they needed off the edge.

Attributes

Rocket

Gumby

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK3 Round 1, Pick 3

Jeremiyah Love

RB

Notre Dame
6' 0"

Height

214

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Draft Grade: D This is not the player that the Cardinals needed at this time. Love is an explosive running back who will make plays in space when he gets there, but this team just signed Tyler Allgeier and has so many holes to fill as they try to rebuild in the toughest division in the NFL. This just doesn’t seem like the right team for a luxury pick. Look at what just happened with Ashton Jeanty last year, even though he played well. This is a tough spot to take a running back.

Attributes

Phonebooth

Rocket

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK4 Round 1, Pick 4

Carnell Tate

WR

Ohio St.
6' 3"

Height

195

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Draft Grade: C Cam Ward gets a quality target on the outside with Tate, and he should be a productive player for a long time. He doesn’t have the greatest athleticism and wins a lot on tough plays so he might not be that high-end No. 1 wide receiver, but he’s going to be a strong piece of the passing game for years to come. It’s just a little high for someone of Tate’s skill set.

Attributes

Chameleon

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK5 Round 1, Pick 5

Arvell Reese

LB

Ohio St.
6' 4"

Height

243

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Draft Grade: A+ This is how you get value in the top five of the draft. Reese easily could’ve been the second overall pick and nobody would have batted an eye. To get him here is a bit further than most people thought he would fall, and the Giants need to replenish front seven talent after trading away Dexter Lawrence. Reese can play any linebacker or edge rusher moving forward at a high level.

Attributes

Brick House

Gumby

Rocket

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK6 Round 1, Pick 6 (Browns to Chiefs)

Mansoor Delane

CB

LSU
6' 0"

Height

190

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Draft Grade: C+ The Chiefs are in need of a cornerback, but this feels a little rich for Delane. He’s a talented player who will fit right in on a weak Chiefs secondary, but this is a bit surprising with Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs still on the board. Not a bad pick, but he possibly could’ve been had at the ninth overall pick without trading up. Regardless, they just had to do something at cornerback. Walking into the season without a major upgrade wasn’t an option.

Attributes

Glove

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK7 Round 1, Pick 7

Sonny Styles

LB

Ohio St.
6' 5"

Height

243

Weight

Sr.

Class

21

Age

Draft Grade: A+ Another A+ Buckeye pick here. The Commanders desperately needed to upgrade their back seven on defense and got a potential unicorn at linebacker with Styles. He has the range, size and physicality that Dan Quinn looks for in middle linebackers and will be a massive upgrade over the play that Bobby Wagner gave them last year.

Attributes

Professor X

Rocket

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK8 Round 1, Pick 8

Jordyn Tyson

WR

Arizona St.
6' 2"

Height

200

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

21

Age

Draft Grade: C New Orleans needed some extra juice on offense and took a swing here on the talented, but banged up, Jordyn Tyson. He’s a big bodied wide receiver who has a lot of talent, but he’s not the cleanest when it comes to the finer nuances of the position. He needs some refinement, but he should be a quality starter next to Chris Olave.

Attributes

Magnets

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK9 Round 1, Pick 9 (Chiefs to Browns)

Spencer Fano

OT

Utah
6' 6"

Height

308

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Draft Grade: B This is a nice process from the Browns. Trading down to get a versatile offensive lineman in Fano might be exactly what this team needed. He could potentially play all five spots at the next level and will allow the Browns to keep their best five offensive linemen on the field at all times. He might not stick at left tackle, but his floor and ceiling are both really high.

Attributes

Chameleon

Dancing Bear

Player Comparisons
RD1, PK10 Round 1, Pick 10 (Bengals to Giants)

Francis Mauigoa

OT

Miami (FL)
6' 6"

Height

315

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Draft Grade: B- The Giants didn’t necessarily need to add to their offensive line here, but they must have really liked the potential of Mauigoa, who should be a versatile starter at multiple spots assuming his back can stay healthy after a herniated disc diagnosis. He’s got a lot of size and power to grow at right tackle or guard for the long term and will stabilize the offensive line immediately.

Attributes

Brick House

Player Comparisons