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The most intriguing teams and players of the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round
The 2026 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET with the Las Vegas Raiders picking Fernando Mendoza to be their new franchise quarterback, but the intrigue doesn’t actually start until after that first pick is history.
That’s how this draft will play out. The first pick will go down as the draft’s signature moment, but the fireworks won’t be lit until later.
The maneuvering, complications, and curiosity, all of it, begin beyond the first selection.
The reason is this draft lacks the allure of multiple quarterbacks competing to go higher than the others. Only one QB beyond Mendoza has even a small chance of getting picked in the first round and that would likely require some of that maneuvering you just read about.
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This draft also lacks the draw of polarizing players such as Randy Moss back in 1998 or Shedeur Sanders a year ago, so finding heroes and villians will be difficult.
But this draft does offer touch points of high interest that will keep folks engaged. It offers drama about some teams and some individual prospects.
Let’s begin with the teams:
This draft actually begins when the New York Jets are on the clock at No. 2 and pick a player whose identity only three people in the organization – coach Aaron Glenn, general manager Darren Mougey and owner Woody Johnson — know with certainty.
That’s important, folks. Remember the Jets used to leak like century-old Bronx tenement pipes during the Robert Saleh regime. No more. The Jets are locked up tight, so even insiders aren’t sure if they’re going to pick Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
Or somebody else.
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The Arizona Cardinals are scheduled to pick at No. 3. And they might pick any number of players – running back Jeremiyah Love (if they’re smart), a right tackle, or a pass rusher.
But here’s the truth: The Cardinals want to trade down. Badly.
They want more picks and need more talent and the rumor league-wide is they’ve been leaking interest in Love so that a team that covets the dynamic running back offers them a trade.
Are you getting the drift here? This stuff is kind of interesting.
The fact is the Cardinals, Eagles, Chiefs, Saints, Browns, Bills, Titans Commanders and Seahawks have all been tied to trade-up or trade-down scenarios.
We can only hope for such mass chaos to punctuate this draft.
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And why are teams so willing to move around? Because there are players that come with great ability but also questionable reliability – a combination that makes teams want to trade down to hedge their bets.
Consider:
Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa is probably the draft’s top offensive tackle prospect. He’s big, strong, tough, everything an NFL team wants in a bookend tackle.
He also comes into this draft with a herniated disc in his back.
Mauigoa was reportedly asymptomatic throughout the 2025 season and remains so now, but teams are aware that if his back acts up, he could require surgery. So, yeah, a significant potential risk.
Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson is a human injury list. He had a multi-ligament (ACL, MCL, PCL) knee tear in 2022, a broken collarbone in 2024, and hamstring issues much of last season.
Tyson is also a human highlight reel.
And those two traits make teams love him. And hate him. And not sure where to draft him in the first round.
Injury concerns are not the only reason some players will be fascinating to monitor during Thursday’s first round.
You can bet that if ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky gets any air time during the draft he’ll be advocating for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to be selected because there’s a bromance going on there.
Simpson is the other quarterback who might go in the first round. But he might not.
The Cardinals, of all teams, could be interested in him later in the first round. Simpson’s not a value pick at No. 3 because he only started 15 college games and even Nick Saban, who recruited him to Alabama, doesn’t think he’s ready for the NFL.
“He needs to go someplace where he has a chance to develop and not play right away,” Saban said on the Pat McAfee Show this week.
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There are rumors the Pittsburgh Steelers initially saw Simpson as player to park on their bench and let him learn behind Aaron Rodgers. It’s unclear where that thinking is now within an organization that doesn’t enjoy 100 percent certainty Rodgers will be playing in 2026.
Call that another chance for intrigue in the first round of this draft.
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US embassy in London warns to ‘exercise increased caution’ near Jewish sites in UK, Europe after attacks
The U.S. embassy in London on Friday warned Americans to “exercise increased caution” while visiting Jewish and American areas in the U.K. and in Europe because of a recent rise in threats.
“The U.S. Embassy in London notes recent attacks and threats targeting Jewish and American institutions in the United Kingdom and Europe,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens, particularly those visiting institutions serving Jewish or American interests, should remain alert and exercise increased caution.”
The embassy further advised Americans to remain alert while visiting tourist and expat areas and houses of worship, review personal security plans and to check local media for updates.
Concerned citizens can also enroll in the State Department’s Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel and security updates.
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The advisory followed a series of recent antisemitic attacks in the U.K. and in Europe, including an arson attack on four ambulances linked to Jewish charity in London on March 23, an April 18 attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in London, and a March explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam that authorities called a “targeted attack against the Jewish community.”
No one was injured, but the school was damaged.
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U.K. authorities are investigating whether “thugs for hire” backed by Iran are instigating the attacks in London, GB News reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Jewish Chronicle: “In relation to malign state actors more generally, proscription, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures, and that is legislation that we’re bringing forward as soon as we can.”
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US military kills two suspected narco-terrorists in strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific
The U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Friday, killing two suspected narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
“On April 24, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action.”No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
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SOUTHCOM did not immediately provide additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.
The U.S. military has carried out numerous strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.
The strike comes less than a week after SOUTHCOM said it conducted a similar operation in the Caribbean, killing three suspected narco-terrorists.
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Earlier this month, the military struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four alleged narco-terrorists, SOUTHCOM said.
SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with cartels often using small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs toward the U.S. and Central America.
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
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Matthew Stafford’s wife sends message to husband’s possible heir apparent, Rams draft pick Ty Simpson
Even at 38, Matthew Stafford remains one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. In fact, he added another trophy to his collection in February, winning his first league MVP award.
Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after throwing a career-best 46 touchdowns. The 2026 season will be his 18th, and with nearly two decades in the league, the Rams appear to be looking toward the future following Thursday night’s first round.
The Rams selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick, potentially positioning him as Stafford’s successor. The decision sparked strong reactions and drew a response from Kelly Stafford, the veteran quarterback’s wife.
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Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him to the team with a message on social media.
“Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram and welcomed me and told me to hit her up if we need anything,” Simpson said during his introductory press conference. “But I can’t wait to talk to Matthew. I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain.”
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Simpson was the full-time starter at Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.
Rams coach Sean McVay shut down any speculation that Simpson was joining the team to compete with Stafford for the starting job.
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said Thursday. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
Simpson’s parents visited with Rams general manager Les Snead during Alabama’s trip to the Los Angeles area for the Rose Bowl in January, the NFL Network reported. Simpson’s father, Jason Simpson, is the head football coach at UT Martin.
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