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Raiders Draft Mendoza; Chiefs Trade Up, Big Ten Leads

4/24/2026

Summary

Raiders Draft

The Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Big Ten had ten first-round picks while the SEC fell to seven, its lowest since 2015.
Ohio State produced four top-10 selections: Carnell Tate (4), Arvell Reese (5), Sonny Styles (7) and Caleb Downs (11).
Chiefs traded up to No. 6, sending No. 9 and two later picks to the Browns for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

Summary

Giants Draft Mauigoa

The Giants drafted 6-foot-6, 330-lb tackle Francis Mauigoa in 2026 to reinforce the right side for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and to join veteran left tackle Andrew Thomas and swing-tackle Marcus Mbow.
The selection follows GM Joe Schoen’s addition of three first-round picks since 2022, accelerating talent growth under the new front office.
Coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson intend to use Arvell Reese as a linebacker-edge rusher.

History

Historical Context

The 2023 NFL Draft, held from April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri, marked a notable shift in college football talent, with the Big Ten producing ten first-round picks, including four from Ohio State. This mirrors the 2015 draft, when the SEC had its lowest first-round selections at seven, reflecting evolving conference dynamics that influence NFL team strategies and player recruitment.

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Raiders Draft

The Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Big Ten had ten first-round picks while the SEC fell to seven, its lowest since 2015.
Ohio State produced four top-10 selections: Carnell Tate (4), Arvell Reese (5), Sonny Styles (7) and Caleb Downs (11).
Chiefs traded up to No. 6, sending No. 9 and two later picks to the Browns for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

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