8 biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza should sit for Raiders, Diego Pavia still relevant, more
Here's blowing up the most overrated headlines and initial reactions to the 2026 NFL Draft, including hot 'mis-takes' on the first QB drafted and one QB not drafted.
8 biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza should sit for Raiders, Diego Pavia still relevant, more originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . There are always fair reactions to a just-completed NFL Draft — and there are always blatantly overhyped overreactions.
The 2026 NFL Draft is no different, as some negative takes got too much shade and some positive storylines got too much shine. Based on the biggest headlines from all seven rounds — starting with the top quarterback drafted and a QB not drafted at all — let's counter the hyperbole with reality. 2026 NFL DRAFT HQ: Full results | Grades for all 32 teams | Winners and losers Biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft "Fernando Mendoza was a great No.
1 pick and can't-miss but Raiders should sit him for Kirk Cousins" Mendoza joined Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020) in the three-member exclusive club of going from meteoric rise to national champion and Heisman-winning quarterback, and parlaying that to a top pick in the NFL Draft. No one even considered Newton or Joe Burrow sitting. Andrew Luck, James Winston, Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence didn't hear much of that either after going at the top.
When the Rams sat Jared Goff in 2016 and the Browns did the same with Baker Mayfield in 2018, they were coaching mistakes. The "Mendoza sits" is overrating the value of Kirk Cousins as the backup. Mendoza is the better QB at this point.
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