Full Breakdown
2026 NFL Draft First-Round Reach Selections Spark Debate
4/25/2026, 6:00:43 AM
Reach Picks in the First Round
The Thursday night first round of the 2026 NFL Draft featured five selections widely labeled as reaches: Arizona Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love (No. 3), Los Angeles Rams QB Ty Simpson (No. 13), Minnesota Vikings DT Caleb Banks (No. 18), Pittsburgh Steelers OT Max Iheanachor (No. 21), and Kansas City Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane (No. 6). Early-round picks such as the Dolphins’ OT Kadyn Proctor (No. 12) and the Texans’ OG Keylan Rutledge (No. 26) also drew criticism.
Why Reaches Matter
Modern draft strategy treats running backs and quarterbacks as lower-value first-round assets, favoring pass-rushers and elite tackles. Selecting a player earlier than consensus projections therefore invites scrutiny, especially when the prospect has limited college starts or injury history.
Reach Selections by Team
Cardinals selected Love to address an 11-year playoff drought; Rams drafted Simpson as a “draft-and-learn” heir to Matthew Stafford; Chiefs moved up for Delane to fill a cornerback shortage; Vikings took Banks despite recent foot injuries; Steelers chose Iheanachor as a developmental tackle.
Official Statements & Responses
Mel Kiper Jr. called the Chiefs’ trade-up a slight reach and noted the team’s cornerback need. Rams GM Les Snead said the Simpson pick was a joint decision with coach Sean McVay, a “draft-and-learn” plan behind Matthew Stafford’s projected Hall-Fame career. Dan Orlovsky argued Simpson’s skill set fits a Raiders-type offense better than other prospects.
Criticism & Opposition
Fansided and EssentialySports warned that drafting a quarterback with only 13 college starts at No. 13 jeopardizes the Rams’ short-term Super Bowl odds. Kiper highlighted the Chiefs’ loss of mid-round capital. The Vikings’ pick of Banks drew criticism for recurring foot injuries and the availability of safer alternatives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have to recognize that the Chiefs gave third- and fifth-round picks to Cleveland to move up to No. 6 to even make this pick. I had Delane as the No. 14 prospect on my board, so it feels like a slight reach. It's an aggressive move for a team that hasn't entered a draft with a top-10 pick since 2013,” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN analyst
- “has a massive cornerback problem,” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN analyst
- “Ty Simpson, schematically, is a better fit or marriage for what the Las Vegas Raiders would do under Klint Kubiak than Fernando Mendoza.” — Dan Orlovsky, ESPN analyst
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
CBS Sports lists Love among five reaches, while other analysts view him as a justified investment in a top-rated back. No direct comment from the Cardinals appears, leaving their internal rationale undocumented.
What’s Next
Arizona will blend Love with veteran James Conner in a multi-back rotation. Los Angeles will develop Simpson behind Stafford for two to three seasons. Kansas City must weigh Delane’s upside against the forfeited mid-round picks, while Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Houston and Miami aim to turn their high-risk selections into 2026 contributors.
