There were a few surprises in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, but the anticipated trade frenzy starting with the third pick never materialized. There wasn't a true surprise first-round pick, and no one was left out of the first round by surprise. It was still a very consequential draft for fantasy football players, and one that gave us a lot of insight into the future of six teams that had more than one first-round pick. Keeping in mind that we are never as good at predicting the future as we think we are on draft night, who were the biggest winners and losers?
Winners
Cam Ward and Carnell Tate
It's hard to know if the Titans would have taken Jeremiyah Love over Tate, but the important thing is that they made the right decision when Love went to Arizona and added a No. 1 for their young franchise quarterback. Tate will have a chance to grow with Ward, an aggressive passer with an arrow pointing up, coming off a strong finish to his rookie season despite his team falling apart around him. Tate can win at every level and could evolve into Ward's go-to guy by the end of the season. His early best ball ADP of 56 should only go up.
John Harbaugh
The new coach of the Giants had a dream scenario unfold, as the Giants got two of their top four players with the 5th and 10th picks. LB Arvell Reese wasn't expected to fall to five, and the team has already said that he'll line up at off-ball linebacker on the weak side. If they don't trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson could have Thibodeaux, Reese, Carter, and Brian Burns all on the field at the same time on passing downs. No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa comes with the concern of a herniated disc in his back, but he has been playing through it and was still good enough to be a top-10 pick. Reese and Mauigoa would also be top 10 picks if we were drafting for a street fight, so you have a good idea what kind of team Harbaugh is trying to put together.
Ty Simpson?
The Rams took Simpson at the No. 13 pick, which on its face would seem to be a good thing. He gets the first-round pick draft capital bump, but won't be rushed onto the field with a poor team around him, as he would have with the Jets or Cardinals. The structure the Rams will have around him could put him on a similar track to Jimmy Garoppolo's in the 49ers' years, which included a near-Super Bowl win. The odd twist is that, before the draft, Ian Rapoport reported that Rams GM Les Snead told Simpson's dad he would be a first-round pick when he was deciding whether to go pro. Sean McVay seemed less than thrilled at the press conference.
Tampa Bay and Chicago
Like the Giants, the Buccaneers and Bears probably didn't end up in many mock draft scenarios where the players they took on Thursday night were available. Rueben Bain Jr. fell to the 15th pick even though he was one of the most dominant edge rushers in college football. His thick build and power approach to the position is a bit unconventional, so he fell into the lap of the team that already has Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey giving guards and centers fits. The Bears got Dillon Thieneman, a safety that would have been the headline player at his position in most drafts, but happened to be in the same one as all-galaxy prospect Caleb Downs, who went to the Cowboys at pick 11. Thieneman is very impressive from both an athleticism and instinct standpoint, and he can do most anything you ask a safety to do very well. Along with free-agent signing Coby Bryant, the Bears have transformed their safety duo into potentially one of the best in the league.
Jadarian Price and Dynasty Teams Holding Top-5 Rookie Picks
The backup running back for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is now the likely starter for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. He's going to skyrocket from his early best-ball ADP of 104 and should be the favorite to lead the backfield while Zach Charbonnet is mending from a torn ACL suffered in the postseason. The team has only said that Charbonnet will return sometime next year. Price added a lot of punch to the top five by landing in a good offense with first-round draft capital.
David Montgomery
Texans first round pick guard Keylan Rutledge would be in consideration with Mauigoa and Reese for first overall in that streetfight draft. The Texans' offensive line overhaul is almost complete, and the theme is a bunch of bouncers who are throwing defenders out of the club, which fits David Montgomery's mentality as a runner to a tee. His early best ball ADP of 62 was way too low to begin with. Now you have a good reason to target Montgomery.
