“How did Jermod McCoy perform at his pro day? Who is the third-best QB in this class? Our NFL draft experts weigh in with new intel three weeks out.”

Jermod McCoy will perform well at his pro day

“Matt MillerCloseMatt MillerNFL draft analystMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation's top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report., Jordan ReidCloseJordan ReidNFL draft analystJordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation's top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18., Field YatesCloseField YatesESPN NFL InsiderField Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs.Multiple AuthorsApr 24, 2026, 12:50 AM ETAs rumored for months, quarterback Fernando Mendoza went to the Raiders to start Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft. But status quo went out the door after that, especially with the Rams throwing a curveball at No. 13.So with the 32 first-round picks now official, it's time to go over everything that has happened -- the good picks, the overzealous reaches and the teams that perfectly filled their draft needs. NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates answered some of the biggest lingering questions. Which trades stood out? Which teams filled their needs best? What are our biggest mock draft regrets?The second round will get underway Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/ESPN App). But first, here's our instant reaction to Day 1.NFL draft coverage: Kiper's Day 1 winners | Trade grades Best availa”

Dillon Thieneman will be the new free safety next to enforcer Coby Bryant for the Bears.

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Olaivavega Ioane will fill a significant need for the Ravens

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

R Mason Thomas will be an explosive pass rusher and powerful against the run for the Chiefs

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Kayden McDonald will be an immovable force and clog running lanes for the Texans

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Omar Cooper Jr. will be a productive running mate for Garrett Wilson with the Jets

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Caleb Lomu will be used at right tackle or guard for the Patriots and has NFL-level tools

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Dillon Thieneman will be a favorite of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for the Bears

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Monroe Freeling will grow into a starting role at left tackle for the Panthers in a year or two

“The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL draft, and what a week it was in Pittsburgh.Of course, the Raiders kicked off Round 1 by drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but then the real fun began. The Rams shocked everyone by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was No. 16 on my board, fell all the way to Round 4 because of injury concerns. And there were 41 draft-day trades by the end of Round 7, the second most in a single draft since 1990, per ESPN Research.Draft preparation for what should be an exciting 2027 class starts soon, but here is my annual look at the five picks I loved most in each round. These aren't necessarily the best players from each round, but rather the picks I loved the most when factoring in player, value and scheme fit.Let's start with the Ravens, who snagged one of the most steady Round 1 prospects in this class.Jump to round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7Round 1Note: For the first round, I've focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings.Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore's long-standing "stick and pick" preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined.Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd.Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entir”

Olaivavega Ioane will fill a significant need and be the clear-cut best natural guard in the class for the Ravens

“Field Yates Close Field Yates ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. and Mel Kiper Jr. Close Mel Kiper Jr. Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. Multiple Authors Apr 23, 2026, 06:40 AM ET We've finally reached the 2026 NFL draft , and Field Yates is in Pittsburgh. But before the Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1, he projected all 32 first-round picks in his final mock draft -- which includes one big late trade for a team to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson . After months of studying the top prospects, he wove together what he's hearing, big team needs and how the board stacks up to match players to each pick. The first selection is clear at this point, but the questions start immediately with the Jets at No. 2. At the bottom here, Mel Kiper Jr. shared some buzz he's hearing in the final hours before Round 1 begins. He has notes from conversations with executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL on some top picks and late risers. Let's get to it, starting with Yates' final predictions for Round 1. Jump to: Yates' picks | Kiper's notes See more on the NFL draft: Yates' top 150 | Kiper's top 150 Recent mock drafts Yates projects Round 1 Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana In an unpredictable draft, Mendoza to the Raiders has been the only sure thing for months. According to ESPN Research, this pick would put him alongside Joe Burrow , Jameis Winston and Ca”

Sonny Styles will be drafted #4 overall by the San Francisco 49ers

Prediction verified correct

Actual: Sonny Styles was pick #4.0 (Round 1.0) by WAS; Claimed pick #4, actual #4

“Field Yates Close Field Yates ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. and Mel Kiper Jr. Close Mel Kiper Jr. Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. Multiple Authors Apr 23, 2026, 06:40 AM ET We've finally reached the 2026 NFL draft , and Field Yates is in Pittsburgh. But before the Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1, he projected all 32 first-round picks in his final mock draft -- which includes one big late trade for a team to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson . After months of studying the top prospects, he wove together what he's hearing, big team needs and how the board stacks up to match players to each pick. The first selection is clear at this point, but the questions start immediately with the Jets at No. 2. At the bottom here, Mel Kiper Jr. shared some buzz he's hearing in the final hours before Round 1 begins. He has notes from conversations with executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL on some top picks and late risers. Let's get to it, starting with Yates' final predictions for Round 1. Jump to: Yates' picks | Kiper's notes See more on the NFL draft: Yates' top 150 | Kiper's top 150 Recent mock drafts Yates projects Round 1 Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana In an unpredictable draft, Mendoza to the Raiders has been the only sure thing for months. According to ESPN Research, this pick would put him alongside Joe Burrow , Jameis Winston and Ca”

Jeremiyah Love will be drafted #3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals

Prediction verified correct

Actual: Jeremiyah Love was pick #2.0 (Round 1.0) by ARI; Claimed pick #3, actual #2; retroactive fuzzy-match fix #997

“Field Yates Close Field Yates ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. and Mel Kiper Jr. Close Mel Kiper Jr. Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. Multiple Authors Apr 23, 2026, 06:40 AM ET We've finally reached the 2026 NFL draft , and Field Yates is in Pittsburgh. But before the Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1, he projected all 32 first-round picks in his final mock draft -- which includes one big late trade for a team to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson . After months of studying the top prospects, he wove together what he's hearing, big team needs and how the board stacks up to match players to each pick. The first selection is clear at this point, but the questions start immediately with the Jets at No. 2. At the bottom here, Mel Kiper Jr. shared some buzz he's hearing in the final hours before Round 1 begins. He has notes from conversations with executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL on some top picks and late risers. Let's get to it, starting with Yates' final predictions for Round 1. Jump to: Yates' picks | Kiper's notes See more on the NFL draft: Yates' top 150 | Kiper's top 150 Recent mock drafts Yates projects Round 1 Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana In an unpredictable draft, Mendoza to the Raiders has been the only sure thing for months. According to ESPN Research, this pick would put him alongside Joe Burrow , Jameis Winston and Ca”

Arvell Reese will be drafted #5 overall by the New York Giants

Prediction verified correct

Actual: Arvell Reese was pick #3.0 (Round 1.0) by NYG; Claimed pick #5, actual #3; retroactive fuzzy-match fix #997

“Field Yates Close Field Yates ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. and Mel Kiper Jr. Close Mel Kiper Jr. Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. Multiple Authors Apr 23, 2026, 06:40 AM ET We've finally reached the 2026 NFL draft , and Field Yates is in Pittsburgh. But before the Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1, he projected all 32 first-round picks in his final mock draft -- which includes one big late trade for a team to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson . After months of studying the top prospects, he wove together what he's hearing, big team needs and how the board stacks up to match players to each pick. The first selection is clear at this point, but the questions start immediately with the Jets at No. 2. At the bottom here, Mel Kiper Jr. shared some buzz he's hearing in the final hours before Round 1 begins. He has notes from conversations with executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL on some top picks and late risers. Let's get to it, starting with Yates' final predictions for Round 1. Jump to: Yates' picks | Kiper's notes See more on the NFL draft: Yates' top 150 | Kiper's top 150 Recent mock drafts Yates projects Round 1 Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana In an unpredictable draft, Mendoza to the Raiders has been the only sure thing for months. According to ESPN Research, this pick would put him alongside Joe Burrow , Jameis Winston and Ca”

Fernando Mendoza will be drafted #1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders

Prediction verified correct

Actual: Fernando Mendoza was pick #1.0 (Round 1.0) by LV; Claimed pick #1, actual #1

“Field Yates Close Field Yates ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs. and Mel Kiper Jr. Close Mel Kiper Jr. Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. Multiple Authors Apr 23, 2026, 06:40 AM ET We've finally reached the 2026 NFL draft , and Field Yates is in Pittsburgh. But before the Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1, he projected all 32 first-round picks in his final mock draft -- which includes one big late trade for a team to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson . After months of studying the top prospects, he wove together what he's hearing, big team needs and how the board stacks up to match players to each pick. The first selection is clear at this point, but the questions start immediately with the Jets at No. 2. At the bottom here, Mel Kiper Jr. shared some buzz he's hearing in the final hours before Round 1 begins. He has notes from conversations with executives, coaches and scouts from around the NFL on some top picks and late risers. Let's get to it, starting with Yates' final predictions for Round 1. Jump to: Yates' picks | Kiper's notes See more on the NFL draft: Yates' top 150 | Kiper's top 150 Recent mock drafts Yates projects Round 1 Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana In an unpredictable draft, Mendoza to the Raiders has been the only sure thing for months. According to ESPN Research, this pick would put him alongside Joe Burrow , Jameis Winston and Ca”

Fernando Mendoza will be selected by the Raiders as the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft

Prediction verified correct

Actual: Fernando Mendoza was pick #1.0 (Round 1.0) by LV; Claimed pick #1, actual #1