The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and we have fresh, hot takes for the first 32 selections of the draft. From the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall to the Seattle Seahawks capping the first round by drafting Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price, we learned plenty on draft night.
There are always winners and losers of the draft, and 2026’s edition is no exception. Who found good value while fitting needs, and which teams dropped the ball with head-scratching decisions? Let’s jump into the best and worst picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Make your 2026 NFL Draft predictions on PrizePicks Team Picks, including where prospects will be drafted, what team they'll land on, and more draft picks.
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Best Picks of the First Round in the 2026 NFL Draft
Let’s start with the best. Which teams adequately met their needs? Which prospects brought excellent value as the first round unfolded?
Check out our five best picks of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 7: Washington Commanders – Sonny Styles, LB
The Washington Commanders didn’t overthink it and went with the best available prospect with the No. 7 overall pick. On Wednesday evening, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Ohio State LB Sonny Styles would be a “dream pick” for head coach Dan Quinn.
Quinn’s dreams came true, with Styles sliding to Washington’s selection. The Commanders let LB Bobby Wagner walk in free agency, and they’ve replaced him with a potential generational talent at linebacker. Styles posted a mind-boggling 9.99 relative athleticism score (RAS), ranking fourth out of 3,480 linebacker prospects evaluated since 1987.
Furthermore, the Ohio State product finished third on our 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, giving Washington terrific value to kick off its 2026 draft class. The Commanders allowed 4.8 yards per rushing attempt last season (27th).
Round 1, Pick 11: Dallas Cowboys (via Dolphins) – Caleb Downs, S
The Dallas Cowboys were the second team to trade up in the first round, sending the 12th, 177th, and 180th selections to the Dolphins for the No. 11 overall pick. Dallas landed perhaps the best defensive back in the class with Ohio State S Caleb Downs.
In the 2025 season, the Cowboys allowed 30.1 points per game (32nd) and 6.1 yards per play (31st). There was no question Dallas would target defense in the first round, and it gained a potential team captain and new heartbeat of the defense in Downs.
He’s an all-around terrific safety, bringing excellent IQ as a quarterback of the defense. Downs’ productivity playing in the box can help address the Cowboys allowing 4.7 yards per carry in 2025 (26th). Dallas surrendered 8.1 yards per passing attempt (31st), and the former five-star high school recruit showcased his ability to roam and make plays on the ball, too.
One of the worst defenses in football added a potential long-term leader in Downs.
Round 1, Pick 20: Philadelphia Eagles (via Cowboys) – Makai Lemon, WR
Once again, the Philadelphia Eagles navigate to terrific value in the NFL Draft. This time, it was USC WR Makai Lemon sliding, as he finished 13th on our Big Board. With trade rumors ramping up around WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia found a potential replacement.
This required a trade-up, with the Eagles surrendering the 23rd, 114th, and 137th picks in a swap with the Cowboys. Considering the fit and value of Lemon, this still felt like strong value.
Lemon brings a steady skillset, understanding coverages with quick bursts for separation. He has reliable hands and can consistently win contested catches. The USC product mostly produced from the slot as the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, and he sports the potential to rack up yards on the perimeter.
Round 1, Pick 25: Chicago Bears – Dillon Thieneman, S
One could argue this was the best value of the entire first round. The Chicago Bears need a defensive overhaul, giving up 24.3 points per game (23rd) and 5.9 yards per play (29th) a season ago.
Oregon S Dillon Thieneman is a Swiss army knife, with the ability to play all three safety positions. Do you need him to play in the box against the run? No problem. Is a tight end providing trouble in the passing game? Thieneman can play sticky coverage in the nickel spot. He even has the range to roam the middle of the field as a free safety.
This is backed by elite athleticism, proven by Thieneman’s absurd 4.35 40-yard dash, 41” vertical jump, and 10’5” broad jump. That yielded a 9.72 RAS, ranking in the 97th percentile. Ranking 17th on our Big Board, the Bears found themselves a gamer.
Round 1, Pick 30: New York Jets (via Dolphins) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR
The New York Jets loaded up on talent in the first round, selecting Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey at No. 2 overall, followed by Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th pick. New York capped their night by trading the 33rd and 179th overall selections to land its third first-round pick of the night.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. was a slight slide at 30th overall and fills a hole for the Jets. New York WR Garrett Wilson needed a running mate, and Cooper is just that. He primarily played in the slot during the 2025 season, displaying yards after the catch while making some incredible contested receptions.
Wilson and Cooper create an intriguing duo with versatility. Both targets can produce on the perimeter and in the slot, led by strong hands while racking up yards after the catch. Plus, Sadiq set the tight end record with an eye-popping 4.39-second 40-yard dash. New York’s targets just got a much-needed boost.
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Worst Picks of the First Round in the 2026 NFL Draft
There are always a few first-round picks that feel like major reaches. Maybe a prospect was taken 10 picks too early, or a franchise entirely ignored a glaring need.
Which selections felt underwhelming as the worst picks of the first round?
Round 1, Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals – Jeremiyah Love, RB
Is Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love a fantastic player? Absolutely, he finished No. 2 overall on our 2026 NFL Draft Big Board.
Love was extremely productive with over 1,100 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons to finish his collegiate career, and he brings elite measurables with a silly 4.36 40-yard dash. However, this is about what the Arizona Cardinals ignored to select Love.
Arizona logged 4.3 yards per rushing attempt in the 2025 season (15th) and has a solid stable of running backs with James Conner and Tyler Allgeier. Meanwhile, the Cardinals allowed 0.08 expected points added (EPA) per play last season (tied for 26th), per Sumer Sports.
Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese was available, potentially upgrading the Cardinals’ fifth-lowest sack rate from 2025. The run defense also allowed 4.4 yards per carry (ninth-most); Ohio State LB Sonny Styles would have addressed another weakness.
Love could make a big impact, but Arizona ignored its flaws for the shiny skill position player.
Round 1, Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) – Ty Simpson, QB
Rams QB Matthew Stafford is 38 years old. Los Angeles had its sight on the future by selecting Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the 13th pick.
The fit makes a ton of sense. Simpson flashed potential in his sole season as a starter, displaying mobility, strong footwork, and consistent accuracy. Sitting behind Stafford could be the perfect fit for Simpson, and he may eventually benefit from throwing to a talented receiving group led by WR Puka Nacua.
However, this felt far too early to draft Simpson. The Alabama product ranked 38th on our Big Board. Simpson was likely to fall late in the first round, but 13th overall is at least 10 picks too soon. If Los Angeles had found a way to trade back, this move would have been an easier pill to swallow.
Round 1, Pick 23: Dallas Cowboys (via Eagles) – Malachi Lawrence, EDGE
After trading down from the 20th overall pick to 23rd, the Cowboys may have regrets. Dallas saw Miami (FL) EDGE Akheem Mesidor go 22nd overall to the Chargers. The Cowboys stuck with a defensive end by grabbing UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence.
This fits a definite need, but Lawrence may have been available on Day 2 of the draft. Furthermore, Dallas needed help on defense across the board, meaning Tennessee CB Colton Hood or Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez could have still filled holes.
Giving the Cowboys the benefit of the doubt, Lawrence boasts ideal size at 6’4 3/8” and 253 pounds, while earning a ridiculous 9.94 RAS (99th percentile). He did not post a double-digit sack season in college, but Lawrence’s athleticism could mold him into a productive starter.
Plenty of defensive talent is left on the board for Day 2, as well. Dallas took a risk with this pick, and the process makes sense considering Lawrence's elite measurables.
Round 1, Pick 24: Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars) – KC Concepcion, WR
Similar to the Cardinals selecting Jeremiyah Love, Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion is a fine value with the 24th overall pick, but this is about fit. The Cleveland Browns certainly needed a wideout, and perhaps that was spoiled by the Titans drafting Ohio State WR Carnell Tate with the No. 4 selection.
Cleveland lacks a dominant presence on the perimeter. Instead of drafting a target that can produce on the outside, the Browns are put into a box with Concepcion. The Texas A&M product has excellent versatility as a “gadget weapon,” but that means primarily producing from the slot, the backfield, or off motion.
This receiving corps simply feels too weak for this kind of luxury. Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. or Washington WR Denzel Boston would have been stronger fits as larger targets with the ability to win contested catches.
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Round 1, Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks – Jadarian Price, RB
The reigning Super Bowl champions ended the first round with a head-scratching pick by grabbing Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price.
The Seattle Seahawks did not re-sign RB Kenneth Walker III. That likely meant adding a rookie alongside Zach Charbonnet. After not committing resources to Walker, why spend a first-round pick on Price? Furthermore, this was a reach, selecting Price as many as 10 selections too early.
The Notre Dame product generated 6.0 yards per carry over three collegiate seasons, but his ceiling is likely limited to being an early-down back at the next level. Seattle will likely lean on Price in the ground game, while Charbonnet rotates in for third downs. It’s the same one-two punch formula for the Seahawks, but they could have filled the same need with better value on Day 2.
Make 2026 NFL Draft Picks on PrizePicks
After some questionable picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s value to be had on Day 2. Which of the best players available will be the first off the board when the second round kicks off on Friday night?
Make your 2026 NFL Draft picks for the second and third rounds on PrizePicks and earn real money if you’re right.
You can make predictions on specific 2026 NFL Draft picks, team selections, position groups, and more. Additionally, the NFL tab is already open with Super Bowl LXI winner picks available.
Keep it right here with the Playbook for continued NFL predictions, picks, news, and analysis all year long.
