NFL Draft 2026 winners and losers: Raiders, Browns, Cowboys impress; Rams, Vikings take too many risks
The Raiders, Ravens and Browns made good use of their time in Pittsburgh. The Rams and Jaguars? Not so much.
NFL Draft 2026 winners and losers: Raiders, Browns, Cowboys impress; Rams, Vikings take too many risks originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Las Vegas Raiders opened the 2026 NFL Draft with the easy pick.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza – who led Indiana to the College Football Playoff championship in 2025 – proved he was a winner last season. He was the first quarterback selected in the draft, and he offers the Raiders hope heading into the 2026 season. Las Vegas turned out to be one of the winners in the seven-round draft.
Mendoza was the best bet among the quarterbacks, and the other teams who spent high-round picks on the position faced criticism. Did the Los Angeles Rams make the right call with Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick?
Should the Arizona Cardinals have selected Carson Beck in the third round? A total of 10 quarterbacks were taken – and on paper this a loaded 2027 quarterback class on the way with Texas' Arch Manning and Oregon's Dante Moore. It wasn't just about quarterbacks.
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