NFL Draft Round 1: Ty Simpson Goes To LA, Caleb Downs Falls To Dallas

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss round one of the NFL Draft night and last night's NBA games.

Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft featured a mix of expected picks and a few surprises at the top. The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by edge rusher David Bailey going to the New York Jets and running back Jeremiyah Love landing with the Arizona Cardinals. Early in the round, wide receiver Carnell Tate went to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Arvell Reese was taken by the New York Giants, highlighting a strong group of skill and defensive talent. One of the more notable moves came when the Dallas Cowboys traded up to select safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.

There were also some unexpected developments, including the Los Angeles Rams taking quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 despite already having Matthew Stafford, suggesting a focus on the future at the position. Teams like the Chiefs and Cowboys made aggressive trades to move up the board, while others such as the Buffalo Bills opted to trade out of the first round entirely to accumulate more picks. Additional notable selections included wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to the New Orleans Saints, pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and edge defender Akheem Mesidor to the Los Angeles Chargers. How did your team do?

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