2026 NFL draft: Kiper's Round 1 winners, losers, value picks - ESPN

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft was difficult to predict right up until the clock started ticking. And the more difficult it is to predict, the more likely we get some chaos and big-time surprises.

It didn't take long for the shockers to start rolling. Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 to the Raiders as we all knew would happen, and David Bailey went No. 2 to the Jets as most expected would happen. But then the Cardinals put a jolt into Round 1 with Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Chiefs followed by trading up to No. 6 for Mansoor Delane, and the Cowboys hopped up one spot to take Caleb Downs at No. 11. But the real stunner came halfway through the first round, with the Rams taking Ty Simpson at No. 13. I can't wrap my brain around that one.

Now that 32 prospects are off the board, let's put some context on these picks. Which teams were the big winners of the night? I really liked a bunch of these selections; I see some impact players who came at solid value. But there also were some head-scratchers. I sized up the good, the bad and everything in between, leaning on my own Big Board rankings and prospect grades to get a sense of which teams got steals and which teams reached. Each roster's biggest needs and any trades involved in the picks — both up and down the board — were also important considerations.

We'll be back for Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App). Only two players from my top 25 are left on the board. I listed my best available players at the bottom here with some early second-round thoughts. But first, let's recap the highs and lows of Round 1.

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