Matt Johnson
Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night and everyone knows that Fernando Mendoza will be selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, there could be chaos and we’re attempting to project a few surprises that could happen on draft night.
Let’s dive into our final set of bold 2026 NFL Draft predictions for Round 1.
New Orleans Saints Trade Up for No. 3 Pick
A myriad of NFL Draft rumors have made it pretty clear the Arizona Cardinals are engaged in talks to trade down from the No. 3 overall pick. A deal with the Kansas City Chiefs is certainly possible, but the history of draft-day aggressiveness from general manager Mickey Loomis leads us to believe it will be the New Orleans Saints. With a quarterback in place, New Orleans needs to find its blue-chip talent for the defensive side. That will be Arvell Reese. While David Bailey is the better pass rusher right now, Reese offers greater versatility with a high ceiling overall as a player. He can be the centerpiece of the Saints defense for a decade.
Related: Small-School Prospects to Know in the 2026 NFL Draft
New York Giants Snag Jordyn Tyson, Caleb Downs
The Dexter Lawrence trade allows the New York Giants to double-dip in this enticing prospect pool, addressing needs on both sides of the ball. We think the New York Giants will use the fifth overall pick on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, betting his injury issues are behind him. When healthy, Tyson is a true No. 1 receiver whose skillset would complement Malik Nabers quite nicely. For the Giants, this gives Jaxson Dart two No. 1 receivers to pair with tight end Isaiah Likely. With the 10th overall pick, head coach John Harbaugh makes a move reminiscent of what the Baltimore Ravens did a few years ago with the selection of Kyle Hamilton. In grabbing All-American safety Caleb Downs at No. 10, New York gets a high-end starter who can do it all.
Washington Commanders Draft Jeremiyah Love
While there’s been plenty of buzz suggesting the Tennessee Titans might select running back Jeremiyah Love, we believe Robert Saleh will get his guy in edge rusher David Bailey. So, with Tyson landing in New York, the Washington Commanders‘ dream scenario unfolds. Running back might not be the Commanders’ top need, but the blue-chip edge defenders are off the board. It’s also worth remembering here that multiple teams view Love as the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft. He might be just a tier below Bijan Robinson as a prospect, but Love’s three-down ability and home-run explosiveness are reminiscent of the All-Pro. That’s the caliber of running back you want to pair with Jayden Daniels, and Washington will get him.
Related: Why The Titans Shouldn’t Draft Jeremiyah Love
Los Angeles Rams Load Up Offense with Makai Lemon
If it hasn’t been made clear already, the Los Angeles Rams are all-in on the 2026 season and putting the best supporting cast they possibly can around Matthew Stafford. That means selecting wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 13th overall pick. Lemon will walk into a situation where there are a lot of mouths to feed in this Rams’ passing game, but he’ll also share the field with Puka Nacua and receive mentorship from Davante Adams. If he can be even a discount version of Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Rams’ passing attack could be one of the best the NFL has seen in a decade-plus.
Arizona Cardinals Trade Up in Round 1 for Ty Simpson
We think a pair of NFC West teams will become unlikely trade partners in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the Seattle Seahawks actively seeking more draft capital this year, the Cardinals take advantage. After moving down earlier in the night from No. 3 overall and selecting right tackle Francis Mauigoa, the Cardinals tap into their war chest of draft picks to move up two spots from 34th overall to the 32nd selection. It secures the fifth-year option on quarterback Ty Simpson, while Seattle picks up a few extra draft picks and likely lands a player with the second pick in Round 2 that it would’ve taken to end Round 1. A win-win for everyone, and Simpson walks into a situation with an upgraded offensive line and a great supporting cast of weapons in Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson.
