2026 NFL Draft Order: Full Round 1 Results and Day 2 Mock Predictions

The Las Vegas Raiders shocked no one. They took Fernando Mendoza. The New York Jets passed on a quarterback. The Arizona Cardinals made everyone scratch their heads.

Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft is finished. Day 2 starts Friday at 7 PM ET . Over 100 prospects still wait for their phone to ring.

I have tracked every pick from Thursday night. I have talked to scouts. I have run my own board. Here is your complete guide to theNFL draft order 2026 predictionsfor Day 2.

Round 1 Results: The Complete Top 10

The first round delivered exactly what the mock drafts promised. Plus one giant surprise that changed everything.

Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

TheLas Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza with No. 1 NFL draft pickbecame official at 8:14 PM ET . Mendoza led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and won the Heisman Trophy. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Mendoza joins Joe Burrow and Cam Newton as the only players to win a Heisman, a national title, and go No. 1 overall in the same year.

What this means for Day 2:The Raiders hold pick No. 36. They need to protect their new franchise quarterback. An offensive tackle or wide receiver is the likely target.

Pick 2: New York Jets – Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

The Jets passed on quarterback Ty Simpson. They took Ohio State's best pass rusher instead.

ESPN ranked Reese as the No. 1 prospect in the entire draft class . The Jets now have a cornerstone defender for their new regime under Aaron Glenn.

Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

This pick turned heads. Arizona had quarterback questions. They passed on every QB available, including Miami's Carson Beck and Alabama's Ty Simpson.

Instead, they took the most versatile linebacker in the draft. Styles can cover tight ends, rush the passer, and stop the run. The Cardinals are building a defense first under head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Pick 4: Tennessee Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Bailey has the length and power that new head coach Robert Saleh loves in a defensive end. The Titans are comfortable with their quarterback room. They went with the best pass rusher on the board .

Pick 5: New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Giants landed the draft's top safety. Downs is a ball-hawking playmaker who started for two national championship teams at Alabama and Ohio State. New York's secondary just got much better.

Pick 6: New England Patriots

Selection:Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Patriots grabbed the draft's best cover corner. McCoy was ESPN's No. 10 overall prospect . An ACL injury in January 2025 and concerns about a degenerative knee condition pushed him down. New England took the risk.

Pick 7: Jacksonville Jaguars

Selection:Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald was a first-round consideration for several teams. He is a space-eating nose tackle who made 65 tackles last season.

Pick 8: Chicago Bears

Selection:Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Bears gave Caleb Williams a 6-foot-4 red-zone weapon. Boston had 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his final college season.

Pick 9: Carolina Panthers

Selection:Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M

Carolina continues to protect Bryce Young. Bisontis is the draft's best interior lineman.

Pick 10: Atlanta Falcons

Selection:Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona

Stukes is a versatile safety with 4.33 speed. He was a three-time team captain at Arizona. The Falcons get a leader for their secondary.

Picks 11-32: The Rest of Round 1

Here is how the rest of the first round unfolded according to official NFL results:

Ty Simpson Slid Out of Round 1

NFL analyst Ben Solak called this before the draft. Simpson, the Alabama quarterback, was the only passer taken besides Mendoza in the first round.

Simpson will go early on Day 2. The Arizona Cardinals at pick 34, the New York Giants at 37, and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 53 are all potential landing spots.

NFL Draft 2026 Time and Where to Watch Day 2

If you missed Round 1, you have plenty of opportunities to catch Day 2.

When is Round 2 and 3?

Friday, April 24, 2026

• Start time: 7:00 PM ET

• Rounds: 2 and 3

• Picks: No. 33 through No. 100

Where to watch

TheNFL draft 2026 time where to watchinformation is simple. Tune in toNFL Network, ESPN, or ESPN2. The broadcasts run simultaneously with different commentary teams.

Streaming options include NFL+ and ESPN apps. Both platforms carry the full feed starting at 7 PM ET.

Day 3 schedule for your calendar:

• Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7, starts at Noon ET

Round 2 Mock Predictions: The First 10 Picks

TheNFL draft pickson Day 2 will focus on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive depth. Here is how the second round is expected to unfold based on team needs and remaining talent.

Pick 33: San Francisco 49ers

Prediction:Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Michigan State (if still available)

The 49ers traded out of Round 1. They get a pass rusher early Friday. Jacas had 10.5 sacks in 2025 and fits their wide-9 scheme perfectly.

Pick 34: Arizona Cardinals

Prediction:Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Cardinals passed on quarterbacks in Round 1. They get their guy at the top of Round 2. Simpson has the arm talent and mobility that head coach Jonathan Gannon wants to develop.

Pick 35: Buffalo Bills (from Tennessee)

Prediction:Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Buffalo moved back and still lands a first-round talent. Bell is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound receiver who runs a 4.4 forty. Josh Allen finally gets his big-bodied target.

Pick 36: Las Vegas Raiders

Prediction:Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

Mendoza's favorite target at Indiana. Reuniting them in Las Vegas makes too much sense. Sarratt is a 6-foot-3 boundary receiver with reliable hands. The Raiders need weapons.

Pick 37: New York Giants

Prediction:Zion Young, EDGE, Michigan State

Young had 11 sacks in 2025. He has the length and bend that NFL teams love. The Giants need pass rush help opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Pick 38: Houston Texans (from Washington)

Prediction:Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Rodriguez won the Butkus Award. He forced seven fumbles last season. At 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, he is slightly undersized, but his instincts are elite.

Pick 39: Cleveland Browns

Prediction:Jonah Monheim, OT, USC

The Browns need to protect Deshaun Watson. Monheim is a versatile tackle who can play left or right side. Safe pick. Smart pick.

Pick 40: Kansas City Chiefs

Prediction:Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Travis Kelce turns 37 this year. The Chiefs need his replacement. Sadiq is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound pass catcher with 4.65 speed.

Pick 41: Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction:Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Bengals need size on the outside. Hood is the draft's most aggressive corner. He gives Cincinnati a physical presence opposite their young corners.

Pick 42: New Orleans Saints

Prediction:Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Saints need to replace Cameron Jordan. Howell had 11.5 sacks in 2025 and has the quickness off the snap to be a problem in space.

Day 2 Sleepers: 5 Prospects to Watch

TheNFL draft Mendoza pickdominated headlines. But Day 2 has real talent that will start for years.

1. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

The Jets had a private workout with Allar. He has great size at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, and a massive arm. He is a developmental prospect who could go as early as the fourth round.

Projection:Round 4

2. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Rodriguez won the Butkus Award. He forced seven fumbles last season. At 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, he is slightly undersized, but his instincts are elite.

Projection:Late Round 2

3. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell. He is an excellent press corner who can play the slot. Teams love his short-area quickness.

Projection:Round 2

4. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

Mendoza's favorite target at Indiana. Reuniting them in Las Vegas makes too much sense. Sarratt is a 6-foot-3 boundary receiver with reliable hands.

Projection:Round 3

5. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

Haulcy has 10 interceptions in college. He has the range to play single-high and the size (6-foot, 215 pounds) to cover tight ends. A complete safety prospect.

Projection:Round 2

Best Available Prospects Entering Day 2

TheNFL draft order 2026 predictionsfor who goes first on Day 2 include some surprising names.

Simpson is the biggest name still available. Multiple teams need quarterbacks. Arizona at 34, Pittsburgh at 53, and the New York Giants at 37 are all potential landing spots.

Team-by-Team Day 2 Needs

Las Vegas Raiders

Current picks:36, 67, 102, 117, 134, 175, 185, 208, 219

Needs:Wide receiver, safety, defensive tackle

The best strategy is to support Mendoza. Elijah Sarratt at 36 makes sense. On defense, safety depth is a real problem .

New York Jets

Current picks:33, 44, 103, 140, 179, 228, 242

Needs:Cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback (developmental)

Aaron Glenn's defense needs corner help after trading Sauce Gardner. Colton Hood or Jermod McCoy at 33 would be ideal .

Detroit Lions

Current picks:50, 82, 96, 106, 127, 138, 151, 176, 190, 199, 220, 240, 258

Needs:Linebacker, edge rusher, offensive tackle

The Lions have nine total selections on Day 3. Jacob Rodriguez or Zion Young at 50 would fill major holes. Brad Holmes values positional versatility .

Round 3 Preview: What to Expect

Round 3 starts immediately after Round 2 ends on Friday. Expect a run on running backs, safeties, and interior offensive linemen.Teams to watch in Round 3:

• Kansas City Chiefs:They need a running back. Jonah Coleman from Washington fits their offense perfectly.

• Philadelphia Eagles:Pass-rush depth is a priority. Gabe Jacas has been linked to them.

• San Francisco 49ers:They always find value in Round 3. Look for a wide receiver or safety.

My Take After Watching Round 1

TheNFL draft order 2026 predictionsgot the top pick right. Everything else was chaos.

Three quarterbacks went in Round 1? Actually four went. Mendoza, Simpson at 11, Beck at 13, and Allar at 23. That is more than most mock drafts predicted.

Seven offensive linemen went in Round 1. The defensive talent in the top 10 was unusually strong.

Friday is where championships are built. Round 1 is for stars. Day 2 is for starters. And this year, the mid-round talent is deeper than anyone expected.

Watch the quarterbacks. Simpson, Beck, and Allar hold the key to how the second round unfolds. If one goes early, the others follow quickly.

Fernando Mendoza is the face of this draft. But the story of Day 2 belongs to the teams who find gems in the second and third rounds.

Tune in at 7 PM ET on NFL Network or ESPN. The best value picks are still on the board.