Samwise NFL Newsletter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
2026 NFL Draft Complete: Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza First Overall
The 2026 NFL Draft concluded Saturday after three days in Pittsburgh, with the Las Vegas Raiders opening proceedings by selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a national championship, becomes the first Hoosier taken in the first round since 1994. The Raiders, who finished 3–14 in 2025 and last in the AFC West, needed a franchise-caliber passer to rebuild around. Mendoza led the FBS with 41 passing touchdowns and a 182.9 efficiency rating during his Heisman season, throwing for 3,535 yards with only six interceptions.
Sources: NFL.com
Ohio State’s Historic Draft Night: Four Buckeyes in the Top 11 Picks
Ohio State made NFL Draft history Thursday night in Pittsburgh, with four Buckeyes selected in the first 11 picks. Edge rusher Arvell Reese went No. 5 to the Giants, wide receiver Carnell Tate went No. 4 to the Titans, linebacker Sonny Styles was taken No. 7 by Washington, and safety Caleb Downs landed at No. 11 with Dallas. The run spotlighted Ryan Day’s dominant program, which reached last January’s College Football Playoff national championship. Ohio State finished with seven total picks across all seven rounds, the most of any school in the 2026 draft.
Sources: CBS Sports
Chiefs Jump to No. 6 to Land Top Cornerback Mansoor Delane in Draft-Day Trade
The Kansas City Chiefs made a bold draft-day move, trading third- and fifth-round picks to Cleveland to jump from No. 9 to No. 6 and select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. GM Brett Veach acquired a prospect widely considered the top coverage corner in the class, with Delane’s ability to shut down receivers making him a top-10 caliber talent. Cleveland agreed to the deal, surrendering their preferred defensive back in what multiple analysts called a decade-defining mistake for the Browns. Delane gives Kansas City an upgraded secondary as the defending AFC dynasty continues building for another championship run.
Sources: NGSCSports
Top CB Jermod McCoy Slides to Round 4 Due to Bone Plug Knee Concern
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy entered the 2026 draft as a consensus first-round prospect but fell to the 101st overall pick after troubling medical evaluations. While McCoy’s surgically repaired ACL was deemed sound, multiple teams grew alarmed by a bone plug used to repair a cartilage defect in the same knee. Several team doctors reportedly indicated he may need a second surgery with an extensive recovery. The Las Vegas Raiders traded up to select McCoy at No. 101, with the cornerback responding Saturday that his own doctors cleared him and he remains open to following the Raiders’ medical staff guidance.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Jets and Giants Emerge as 2026 Draft’s Biggest Winners in New York
The New York Jets and New York Giants emerged as the biggest winners of the 2026 NFL Draft, with both franchises converting high picks into players analysts say can change their struggling programs. The Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16, with head coach Aaron Glenn emphasizing both were College Football Playoff participants. The Giants used two top-10 picks to select Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese at No. 5 and Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, giving both teams significantly upgraded rosters heading into 2026.
Sources: FOX Sports
2026 Draft Final Grades: Titans, Raiders Lead; Rams and Vikings Earn Worst Marks
Final grades for all 32 teams from the 2026 NFL Draft are in, with the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders earning the highest overall marks while the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings collected the worst scores. The Titans, despite criticism for selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, rebounded with strong Day 2 and Day 3 picks that addressed key roster needs. The Rams drew harsh criticism for selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 — a pick analysts called one of the worst uses of first-round capital by a Super Bowl contender in recent memory.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Post-Draft Power Rankings: Seahawks Stay No. 1, Chiefs Surge After Delane Acquisition
The Seattle Seahawks held the top spot in the post-draft NFL power rankings, with the Kansas City Chiefs rising multiple positions after their aggressive trade to acquire top cornerback Mansoor Delane. The defending Super Bowl LX champions added running back Jadarian Price from Notre Dame as a replacement for Kenneth Walker III and fortified their secondary. The 49ers dropped in several rankings after analysts cited multiple reaches during the draft. The Chiefs also drew praise for selecting defensive tackle Peter Woods later in Round 1, solidifying what many see as the deepest defensive haul of any 2026 draft class.
Sources: NFL.com
UDFA Signing Frenzy Begins as Teams Race to Sign Top Undrafted Prospects
With the 2026 NFL Draft officially complete, general managers across the league launched into the undrafted free agent signing frenzy Saturday evening, racing to secure top prospects who went unclaimed across seven rounds of selections. The Carolina Panthers signed former Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, while the Miami Dolphins secured more than a dozen players including running backs from Oregon State and Texas A&M. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed five undrafted players led by USC tight end Lake McRee. The most sought-after UDFAs included offensive linemen and specialists who graded well at the combine but were bypassed in the later rounds.
Sources: NFL.com
Ravens to Face Cowboys in NFL’s Inaugural Rio de Janeiro Game on September 27
The NFL announced that the Baltimore Ravens will face the Dallas Cowboys in the league’s inaugural Rio de Janeiro game, set for Sunday, September 27, at Maracanã Stadium. The matchup, part of a record nine international contests in 2026, will air on CBS and Paramount+ at 4:25 p.m. ET. Brazil has more than 36 million NFL fans, making it one of the league’s fastest-growing markets. The Ravens play their third international game, their first outside London after appearances in 2017 and 2023. The NFL has committed to at least three regular-season games in Rio over the next five years.
Sources: ESPN
American Conference Divisions
AFC East — 2025 Final
1. New England Patriots — 14–3–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5–0
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10–0
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12–0
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4–0
2. Houston Texans — 12–5–0
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3–0
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6–0
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11–0
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14–0
National Conference Divisions
NFC East — 2025 Final
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12–0
4. New York Giants — 4–13–0
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–1
3. Minnesota Vikings — 9–8–0
4. Detroit Lions — 9–8–0
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11–0
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3–0 (SB LX Champions)
2. Los Angeles Rams — 12–5–0
3. San Francisco 49ers — 12–5–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–14–0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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