(Over)Reacting to the 2026 National Football League Draft
Photo courtesy of Bobak Ha’eri/Wikimedia Commons
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza headlines the 2026 NFL Draft after a dominant, award-winning college season, arriving as a potential franchise-changing selection with massive expectations in the league.
This past weekend, the National Football League (NFL) held its 90th annual draft, in which teams across the league signed the country’s best college football stars in the hopes of either revitalizing those struggling or finding that one player who will finally push his team to the ultimate goal of Super Bowl glory. The NFL draft is synonymous with unpredictability, and this year was no exception, with big trades and risky moves playing out in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The conclusion of the event left plenty for analysts to talk about, and here are some of the most interesting stories coming out of the offseason’s most anticipated event.
Las Vegas:
With the number one overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders took the Heisman Trophy-winning and College Football Playoff National Champion-winning Quarterback (QB) Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza, who went undefeated in his incredible 48 touchdown (41 passing, seven rushing), 3,535 yard season with the Indiana Hoosiers, was the natural pick for a Raiders team in desperate need of a franchise player. Vegas, who struggled to find stability in the position following the release of Derek Carr in 2023, aimed to rebuild after an abysmal season from former Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith, who threw 17 interceptions over a 15-game stretch. Mendoza’s raw talent and high potential make him an exciting prospect for the desperate Raiders franchise.
Whether Mendoza starts the 2026 NFL season for the team, however, is a different story. The Raiders recently signed former Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to a five-year, 172 million dollar contract (though only one year and 20.5 million of that deal are guaranteed). If Mendoza starts at all during his first year in the NFL, expect it to be in the middle of the season, much like New England Patriots QB Drake Maye’s first season, where he took over after Jacoby Brissett started that season for the Patriots. Despite that, the ceiling for Fernando Mendoza is extremely high, and he has the potential to be a great quarterback in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills:
On night one of the draft, the Buffalo Bills traded back from their initial 26th overall pick, ultimately trading out of the first round in exchange for several picks in the middle of the draft. This is not the first time the Bills’ front office has done trades like this, as they did something similar in the 2024 draft (which led them to take wide receiver Keon Coleman at 33rd overall). While a first-round talent almost certainly may have been a boost to the Bills, who are desperate to win while QB Josh Allen is still playing at an elite level, the lower round picks the team received are more beneficial to a team with a precarious financial situation.
In 2027, according to salary cap tracking sites such as Sportrac, the Buffalo Bills are over the salary cap by roughly 34 million dollars, which is ranked 31st in the league that year. The Bills had 10 total picks in the draft this year, with eight of them being after pick 100. These lower draft picks allow the team to sign young players to re-energize the roster while signing them at team-friendly deals. The Bills were able to fill many of their defensive roster holes and get a new weapon for Allen in UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell. Whether this roster can go the distance remains to be seen.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Philadelphia Eagles, under General Manager Howie Roseman, have been characterized by constant trades and deals with other teams. Once again, Roseman has made bold moves to add to a dominant Eagles roster, trading with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to pick 20 in the first round, taking USC receiver Makai Lemon. This trade came with some controversy, as Lemon was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the Eagles called to say he was headed to Philadelphia. The nature of this deal especially stings for Steelers fans, given the draft being held in Pittsburgh and the brutal ongoing Stanley Cup Playoff series between the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
However, this trade for Makai Lemon seems to confirm the imminent departure of star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has been linked to the Patriots in trade rumors ever since the start of the offseason. While the Eagles have an impressive lineup of receivers, with former Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown currently on the roster, the potential loss of Brown will no doubt be a tough one for the team.
Sneaky Good Drafts: New York Jets and Cleveland Browns
Two teams infamous for their seasonal struggles, both the Jets and Browns, had surprisingly strong draft classes this year. The Jets, who had three first-rounders following the Sauce Gardner trade with the Indianapolis Colts, and a draft-day trade with the San Francisco 49ers, took highly touted offensive talents Kenyon Sadiq (tight end) and Omar Cooper Jr. (wide receiver), and edge rusher David Bailey at number two overall. The Browns not only got versatile offensive tackle Spencer Fano, but also got excellent receiver talent in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Both teams also bolstered their defensive depth in an attempt to finalize rosters that can feasibly compete within their divisions.
The NFL Draft brings great change and excitement to the league’s offseason, and with the official schedule reveal coming in mid-May, the 32 teams can truly begin the work towards the new season, as fans across the world eagerly await the moment their favorite teams take the field again for the 2026 season.