NFL draft 2026: Mendoza goes No 1 as Rams surprise with move for QB Ty Simpson at No 13

The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, after Mendoza led Indiana to the national championship last season. The biggest surprise of the first round came when the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13, despite reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford remaining the team's starter at age 38. Simpson had been projected as a second-round pick by most analysts, but head coach Sean McVay indicated the move is part of long-term succession planning while affirming Stafford's current role.