NFL Draft Round 1 live online: draft board, teams, picks and analysis

Last year the Cowboys got rid of Micha Parsons and suffered for it on the defensive end. Now they bring in Malachi Lawrence hoping he can fill the shoes left by Parsons in the pass rush. 

With the 23rd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select: 

Malachi Lawrence, LB, UCF

This kid is a human highlight reel. He was a late bloomer, starting to play in high school in Canada, but he is going to be a force to be reckoned with on the LA pass rush. 

With the 22nd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers select: 

Akheem Mesidor, LB, Miami

It´s another tackle! Six tackles already taken in the first 21 picks. It's a good night to be a tackle. It's a good night to be Max Iheanachor.

With the 21st pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select: 

Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 21st pick in the NFL Draft. 

There is a lot of talk about AJ Brown heading to down the exit ramp in Philly, and this pick might have just secured his fate. Lemon had 11 TD catches and 1,156 yards last season at USC. Great hands and an excellent route runner with big play ability. 

With the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select:

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

There have been a whole lot of tackles taken in this first round. Protection is a priority for teams in this first day of the NFL Draft. 

With the 19th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select: 

Monroe Freeling, T, Georgia

Don't be fooled by his number 88, this dude gets after the QB. He is a disruptor off the line, and can plug up holes in the run game. Caleb Banks is heading to Minnesota where they have a rich history of D Linemen. 

With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select: 

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Detroit Lions bring in a big body to protect Jared Goff and open up the running game for Jahmyr Gibbs. 

With the 17th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select: 

Blake Miller, T, Clemson

Kenyon Sadiq is an absolute monster at the TE position. Great body, can get down the field and sky for those balls over DBs. He can also put his knuckles in the dirt and block the big boys on the line. 

With the 16th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select:

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Ruben Bain Jr. is heading to Raymond James to join Todd Bowles defense after winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year last year. He had 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss last year. 

With the 15th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: 

Ruben Bain Jr., LB, Miami

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the clock with the 15th pick. 

He looks like a Raven, and sounds like a Raven. Olaivavega Inoana is heading to Baltimore to protect Lamar in the pocket and open up run lanes for Derrick Henry. 

WIth the 14th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select: 

Olaivavega Inoana, G, Penn State

The Baltimore Ravens are on the clock with the 14th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft

This might be the biggest shock of the night so far. The Rams take a QB for the future. The Alabama gun slinger is going to come in and be able to learn from Matt Stafford with no pressure out of the gate to start. Great pick. Interesting pick. 

With the 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams select:

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The LA Rams are on the clock with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft. 

The new era of the Miami Dolphins starts with a big boy to plant on the line. Kadyn Proctor was one of the best tackles in the SEC last year at Alabama. He heads south to Miami to protect new QB Malik Willis in the backfield. 

With the 12th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select: 

Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama 

The Miami Dolphins are on the clock with the 12th pick in the NFL Draft. 

The Cowboys traded up a pick just to make sure they could get their hands on Downs. They need some help on the defensive end, and this should be a player that comes in and plays immediately. 

With the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select:

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Dallas Cowboys are on the clock after trading the 12th pick to the Dolphins for the 11th pick and a couple of fifth round picks. 

The big man from Miami will be brought to the Big Apple to protect Jaxson Dart, and will be a big help in the run game. 

With the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft the New York Giants select: 

Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami

The Cleveland Browns are going to have to figure out who their QB is going to be, but at least they have a offensive tackle for the future. This tank out of Utah is going to plug in nicely on that Cleveland O line. 

With the 9th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select: 

Spencer Fano, T, Utah

The Cleveland Browns are on the clock with the 9th pick of the NFL Draft. 

Tyson just broke down on the way to the stage. That's the kind of passion New Orleans is going to get. They are also going to get a certified stud at the WR position. 

With the 8th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select: 

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Another Buckeye is off the board, and it´s Sonny Styles. He was a versitile defender that can play DB, or LB, and can play on any and every down. 

With the 7th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders select: 

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Washington Commanders are on the clock with the 7th pick in the NFL Draft. 

The first DB selected off the board, and it's the shut down corner out of LSU. The Chiefs going defense and they got one of the best. Delane just said, KC just made the best move in the draft. 

With the 6th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select:

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock with the sixth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

The New York Giants aren't shy of pass rushers, but why not add another? Reese had 43 tackles and 3.5 for a loss at Ohio State last year. 

With the 5th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select: 

Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

The New York Giants are on the clock with the fifth pick. 

The Cleveland Browns just traded their sixth pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Titans have the No. 1 pick from last year in Cam Ward, and now they just brought in one of the best WRs in the Draft. Tennessee meet Carnell Tate. 

With the fourth pick in the NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select: 

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the 4th pick in the NFL Draft. 

Many call this kid the best talent in this draft class. Arizona needs a little spark after a flat season last year. Love should come in and make an immediate impact in the desert. 

With the 3rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select: 

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

The Arizona Cardinals are on the clock with the 3rd pick in the draft. 

The Jets select David Bailey, a linebacker out of Texas Tech that will improve this Jets pass rush and hopefully help the secondary come up with some INTs after not getting a single pick last year. 

With the 2nd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select: 

David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech

The New York Jets are on the clock with the 2nd pick of the first round. 

CFP National Champìon, Heisman Trophy winner, and No. 1 overall pick. He´s the third person to follow this path. The other two: Cam Newton, and Joe Burrow. 

With the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select: 

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana University. 

Comminsioner Goodell came out with TJ Watt and Cam Heyward to get this Steelers heavy crowd going to start things off. They brought out a couple of legends including Hines Ward, Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger. 

Commissioner Goodell has come out on to the stage to put the Raiders on the clock. 

The 2026 NFL Draft has officially started. 

NFL

2026 NFL Draft: Which college has had the most No.1 draft picks in history?

College football factories for the NFL 

The shape of the college football landscape has been changed forever. That's never been more evident than this year with one of the losing programs in history winning the National Title. Indiana has taken advantage of some great recruiting and coaching lately, but there are some Universities that have been and will be institutions for producing college talent. Alabama, Miami, USC and Ohio State are just a few of those colleges that mass produce at the NFL level. For more, here’s Jen Bubel. 

NFL

The biggest steals in NFL draft history: Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Tony Romo...

Biggest gems 

While draft busts are always the easiest to remember, there are some fantastic success stories of players who slipped down the board to the low rounds of the draft and in some cases the final picks of the final day. Those names have made their mark on the NFL, and given hope to those who may not hear their name called on the first day of the draft. Tom Brady is the most recognizable, and of course we can forget Mr. Irrelevant himself, Brock Purdy. Here is Jen Bubel with more. 

NFL

These are the biggest busts in NFL draft history: Ryan Leaf, Jamarcus Russell, Akili Smith...

Biggest busts 

This is a night that dreams are fulfilled. Kids who strap on the helmet and pads in pee wee football wait for this moment for years, or decades. Just because you get drafted doesn't always mean you are destined for greatness. There have been plenty of cases in which top tier college players have been taken with high draft picks and never panned out. Ryan Leaf is one of the most famous cases, but JaMarcus Russell is another among the long list of draft busts. Our Jen Bubel has more. 

Teams with most picks 

If six teams have no picks, that means that six other teams are going to have multiple picks in this first round of the NFL Draft. The New York Giants, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins all have two picks in this draft, and all of those teams have high picks in the top 12, so it will be a very busy night for those in the war room of those six teams. 

Teams with no picks 

While most teams will be working tirelessly around the clock to make sure they make the right pick with their selections tonight, there will be some that have to wait until tomorrow to get into the action. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals. 

How it goes 

By now, you know how this goes. Just in case you forgot, we are here to refresh your memory. Tonight we will get through just one of the first seven rounds that are coming throughout the weekend. In theory all 32 teams get picks in each rounds, all determined on how each team finished the season. The lowest teams get the highest picks and vice versa. That is never the case. Trades, and league punishments and a handful of other factors lead to a chaotic looking draft board, but we will try to keep on top of everything for you throughout the night. The first 32 picks of the first round will be announced by commissioner Roger Goodell after each team goes on the clock. Each team has eight minutes to carefully weight the pros and cons of each player before making their selection. 

No QBs in this class?

For the last few years, all anyone wanted to talk about was the quarterback class. Last year it was Cam Ward, and the eventual spiraling down the board of Shedeur Sanders. The year before that it was Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. For the last five years there have been some big names to be drafted at the quarterback position during the first round. This year, that is not likely to be the case. Fernando Mendoza might just be the only QB drafted in the first round this year. 

NFL

Has there ever been a player to win the Heisman, National Championship and get drafted first overall in same year?

Mendoza making history tonight?

The Heisman Trophy winner and the College Football Playoff National Champion has a chance to complete the trifecta tonight by getting drafted number one overall in the NFL Draft. The Boston, Massachusetts native who went to high school in Miami, Florida was recruited by the California Bears, and played there for his first three years. He became the starter after redshirting for a year, but the two years he spent at Cal were only building him up to transfer to the University of Indiana. He went a perfect 16-0, throwing for 3,535 yards 41 TDs and just 6 INTs while completing 72% of his passes. Tonight he has a chance to join a very exclusive shortlist. 

Draft order 

We know is picking first in tonight's selection show, but lets take a look at each of the picks from 1-32. The Seattle Seahawks have the final pick of the first round after winning the Super Bowl while the Raiders have the first pick after finishing the season with the worst record in the league. 

1) Las Vegas Raiders

2) New York Jets

3) Arizona Cardinals

4) Tennessee Titans

5) New York Giants

6) Cleveland Browns

7) Washington Commanders

8) New Orleans Saints

9) Kansas City Chiefs

10) New York Giants (via CIN)

11) Miami Dolphins

12) Dallas Cowboys

13) Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)

14) Baltimore Ravens

15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16) New York Jets (via IND)

17) Detroit Lions

18) Minnesota Vikings

19) Carolina Panthers

20) Dallas Cowboys (via GB)

21) Pittsburgh Steelers

22) LA Chargers

23) Philadelphia Eagles

24) Cleveland Browns (via JAX)

25) Chicago Bears

26) Buffalo Bills

27) San Francisco 49ers

28) Houston Texans

29) Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)

30) Miami Dolphins (via DEN)

31) New England Patriots

32) Seattle Seahawks 

Raiders are on the clock 

The Las Vegas Raiders have the privilege of being the team with the first pick in the Draft tonight, and everyone seems to think they have had their minds made up since the end of Week 18 when the secured the top pick in the selection show. They have needed a QB in Sin City since the Raiders moved to Vegas. It's been a bumpy ride since their arrival, but they are hoping to bring a little consistency at QB position. Everyone is expecting them to draft Fernando Mendoza out of the University of Indiana. They have a new coach in Klint Kubiak who just led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title as their offensive coordinator, and will now be in charge of turning things around at Allegiant Stadium. 

We are live from the Steele City 

Hello everyone and welcome to Pittsburgh where Steelers nation will be showing out tonight, but there will be fans that have traveled from all over the country looking to be first hand witnesses to their favorite team's newest player. It’s the biggest day of the NFL offseason, so strap in and enjoy the show. We will filling you in on all of the predraft buzz, and all of the behind the scenes snaps and shot before the show starts. Las Vegas Raiders, you are officially on the clock. 

NFL Draft Day 1 

It's NFL Draft Day from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where tonight, there will be 32 players selected in the first round of the selection. Thirty two dreams that will come true tonight. Thirty two picks that will give teams around the league hope for the now and hope for the future. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, and analysis with highlights of each player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.