Cowboys Acquire No. 11 From Dolphins, Select S Caleb Downs
The Cowboys have moved up one spot, acquiring No. 11 from the Dolphins. Miami will slide back a pick, and this will allow the Cowboys to block other teams from trading up to outflank them.
The Dolphins will add Nos. 12, 177 and 180 in this swap, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. This will boost Miami’s pick count to 13. Considering where the Dolphins are on their latest rebuild timeline, it makes sense for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan to add two Day 3 picks to drop one spot. The Cowboys drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the pick.
It is no surprise the Cowboys spent their top choice on a defensive player after the unit struggled to stop anyone last season. Despite boasting one of the NFL’s premier offenses, the Cowboys finished 7-9-1 in 2025. A defense that ranked dead last in scoring and 30th in passing ‘D’, yards and turnovers was the main culprit.
Dallas has since added a pair of veteran safeties, Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, to join the returning Malik Hooker, but Downs is now the most talented member of the group. The Cowboys are hoping he quickly emerges as a standout under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. As the Eagles’ defensive backs coach from 2024-25, Parker helped develop Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into stars.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Downs began a decorated college career in 2023 at Alabama, where he notched 107 tackles, four passes defensed, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. After earning second-team All-America honors, Downs transferred to Ohio State. He was a unanimous All-American during a 2024 showing in which he totaled 81 tackles, six passes defensed and two picks. Downs helped the Buckeyes to a national title in his first year with the team. They were unable to repeat in 2025, but Downs closed his Buckeyes tenure with another tremendous season. He put up 68 tackles, including five TFL, and a pair of INTs. Downs was a unanimous All-American again. He also earned the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in the nation.
Downs may not end up as the only high-profile defensive prospect to join the Cowboys on Thursday. They are also scheduled to pick 20th, where they could address another need on that side of the ball.
Giants Draft T Francis Mauigoa At No. 10
The Giants added on defense with their top selection. They have brought in offensive line help at No. 10 by selecting Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa. New head coach John Harbaugh had referred to the team’s offensive line a work in progress, so Mauigoa’s addition should, in theory, bring them closer to a finished product.
In 2025, the Giants only had one offensive lineman start every game of the season, and that lineman, right guard Greg Van Roten, is the only starter not expected to return after the expiration of his contract with the team. Elsewhere on the line, Andrew Thomas returned to form after a pair of injury-riddled seasons, showing elite play in 13 games this year, while Jermaine Eluemunor continued his steady play opposite Thomas. Eluemunor also missed a few games in 2025 and rookie fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow filled in adequately as the team’s swing tackle.
The left guard role was manned almost entirely by Jon Runyan whlie a carousel at center saw starts from Austin Schlottmann and John Michael Schmitz Jr. Outside of Van Roten, though, the play on the interior line was uninspired. The Giants signed a pair of former starters in Lucas Patrick and Daniel Faalele in an attempt to bring in competition for the guards spots, but the quality of play for both in recent years fails to inspire much confidence.
With both tackle spots manned, it’s believed Mauigoa will be coming in to take the starting right guard position opposite Runyan. The pending rookie only played right tackle in Coral Gables starting every game there from his freshman year to Miami’s national championship game loss in the College Football Playoff, but many projected guard as his best future position in the pre-draft process. Although he didn’t show much versatility for the Hurricanes, when reporters asked if he’d be willing to switch to guard at the next level, he told reporters that the line has five positions, and all he wanted was to land a starting job at one of them.
The pre-draft process for Mauigoa also contained a bit of concern over a potential back issue that some expect will require surgery in the future. The 20-year-old underwent additional imaging for his back to satisfy any concerns, and the results must’ve done enough to alleviate any hesitation New York had before drafting Mauigoa. In the end, he comes off the board just five picks later than we projected in our PFR Mock Draft, but ultimately, Mauigoa lands right where we thought he belonged.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Browns Select T Spencer Fano At No. 9
The Browns accomplished a well-known goal of moving down the board on Day 1. They have also managed to add to their offensive line. Utah tackle Spencer Fano has come off the board at No. 9.
The Browns entered the offseason with the daunting task of potentially having to rebuild their entire offensive line as the entire unit faced expiring contracts. Cleveland found the final piece of its new-look starting offensive line in Fano, who should slot in opposite trade acquisition Tytus Howard. It will interesting to see which player will be given the honor of starting on the blindside, though, considering both have seen their best play at right tackle.
Fano started at left tackle for the Utes as a true freshman before ceding the job to Caleb Lomu for the past two years and flipping over to right tackle. Howard has been forced to remain versatile over his seven years in Houston, covering a litany of positions. Of his 97 NFL starts, 58 have come at right tackle, 32 at left guard, 4 at left tackle, and 3 at right guard. Howard’s versatility may make him the better candidate to work in a position unfamiliar to him, but Cleveland may decide Fano has a higher ceiling on that side despite the work it will take to transition him back over.
Between the consensus top two offensive tackles available in this year’s draft, the Browns opted for the one with higher pass protection metrics than run grading. Both Fano and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa excel with either type of play, but each also has their specialty, and Fano’s quick first move and excellent balance and bend give Cleveland its best chance at keeping Deshaun Watson healthy or Shedeur Sanders upright. Both players also held positional versatility with evaluators thinking guard could be the best NFL position for Fano or Mauigoa, but Fano should have a clear path here to a starting bookend role.
Well, thanks to a trade back with Kansas City, Cleveland’s pick came three slots later than expected, but that didn’t stop Fano from landing right where we predicted he would in PFR’s Mock Draft. Knowing the Browns had need at tackle and wide receiver, we predicted Fano would join before Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion joined later on in the night. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the night plays out for Cleveland.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Saints Draft WR Jordyn Tyson At No. 8
Jordyn Tyson was not the first wideout taken on Thursday, but he has still turned out to be a top-10 selection. The Arizona State product has been taken eighth overall by the Saints.
The Saints were reportedly candidates to move up in the draft for an edge defender, but general manager Mickey Loomis stayed put and addressed another obvious weakness. New Orleans struck gold on receiver Chris Olave, the No. 11 pick in 2022, but had no other real threats at the position before drafting Tyson. Devaughn Vele performed well at the end of last year, but he finished with just 25 catches and 393 yards in 13 games. Other than Olave and Vele, no returning Saints wideout even hit the 20-catch mark last season.
Despite last season’s struggles, the Saints did not pick up any noteworthy receivers in the first couple of months of the offseason. That left the draft as their best bet to upgrade and bring in another weapon for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. Carnell Tate became the first receiver off the board when the Titans chose him fourth overall, but Tyson may have the most upside of any wideout in this class. Durability is the main concern regarding Tyson, who had immense difficulty staying healthy during his four years in college.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Tyson began his college career in 2022 at Colorado. He averaged a superb 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions and scored four touchdowns in nine games, but his freshman year ended with a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. Tyson transferred to Arizona State the next year, though he played just three games and went without a catch. His production exploded over 12 games in 2024, when he piled up 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores. However, another injury – a broken collarbone – ended his season.
Tyson concluded his time at ASU with a second straight first-team All-Big 12 effort in 2025, during which he caught 61 balls for 711 yards and eight TDs. His drop rate fell from 8.5% to a microscopic 1.6% in a one-year span. While Tyson’s production was outstanding, hamstring issues limited him to nine games.
Tyson’s hamstring remained problematic during the pre-draft process. The 21-year-old did not work out at the Combine or participate in ASU’s pro day, but he recovered in time to hold a workout for interested teams on April 17. It went well for Tyson, who impressed in front of 20-plus clubs, including the Saints.
Commanders Add LB Sonny Styles At No. 7
Another Ohio State prospect has come off the board early. Linebacker Sonny Styles has been selected seventh overall by the Commanders. Just two picks after seeing his teammate Arvell Reese get drafted to New York, Styles comes off the board as the first true off-ball linebacker drafted. Styles becomes the highest drafted off-ball linebacker since Devin White went fifth overall in 2019.
Styles had to wait a bit longer than his fellow member of the Buckeye’s linebacking corps and new division-rival Reese. Styles played very sparingly as a true freshman and found himself in a rotational role in Year 2. Unlike Reese, Styles played a major role as a starter alongside Cody Simon en route to Ohio State’s run to a national championship. That year, he recorded collegiate career highs in total tackles (100), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (6.0), and passes defensed (5), benefiting by getting to make plays of Simon’s steady coverage in the middle.
Styles heads to Washington, where he should immediately take on a starting role, receiving the torch from future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. While it would’ve been beneficial for Styles to get to learn under Wagner, the Commanders get the benefit of drafting an immediate plug-and-play replacement for the stellar veteran. Washington had signed Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal to fill in next to Frankie Luvu in the linebacking corps, but both players have filled similar versatile roles to what Reese did next to Styles in Columbus.
With draft pick salaries slotted automatically, Styles is locked into a four-year, $37.21MM rookie deal. The contract is fully guaranteed, giving him the third-most guaranteed money at his position in the league, behind only Roquan Smith and Fred Warner.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Chiefs Acquire No. 6 From Browns, Select CB Mansoor Delane
It has not taken long for the first trade of this year’s draft to take place. The Chiefs have moved up the board to acquire the sixth overall pick from the Browns.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the swap includes Kansas City acquiring No. 6 for picks 9, 74 and 148. With the newly-acquired selection, the Chiefs have drafted LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
This is a bit earlier than Delane was projected to go off the board. For a bit, it looked as though the Chiefs — linked to edge rushers for weeks — could somehow see Arvell Reese fall to No. 6, but the Giants did not let their EDGE surplus impede such a pick at No. 5. The Chiefs, then, nabbed the first CB prospect in this draft. Delane will take over a corner corps that lost Trent McDuffie (via trade) and Jaylen Watson (via free agency). Both are now Rams.
It might be wise for Delane to rent in Kansas City considering the extensive trend that has formed at this position. McDuffie and Watson are the latest one-contract Chiefs corners. They follow L’Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson and Marcus Peters as CB starters the Chiefs did not pay. Even spot starter Joshua Williams defected (to the Titans) this offseason. New blood will arrive in the form of Delane, who will be expected to anchor this high-turnover position group.
As the Browns moved down and drafted Utah tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9, the Chiefs will land a hopeful impact corner. The team has now gone to the first-round CB well thrice during Andy Reid’s tenure, drafting Peters (2015), McDuffie (2022) and now Delane.
The three-year Virginia Tech product flashed considerable potential during his time in the ACC. A transfer to LSU produced the desired results and elevated his draft stock even further, though. Delane notched a pair of interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2025. That production helped him earn first-team All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top prospects for this year’s draft. He will join a Chiefs CB cadre housing Chamarri Conner, Nohl Williams and (for now, at least) Kristian Fulton.
Giants Draft LB Arvell Reese At No. 5
Arvell Reese remained on the board through the first four picks, but he has now come off the board. The hybrid linebacker/edge rusher has been selected fifth overall by the Giants. New head coach John Harbaugh came over from a team known for drafting the best player available, and with his expanded role in New York, Harbaugh has done just that with this selection of Reese.
Reese will become a Giant after one phenomenal year on the Buckeye’s defense. Not appearing on defense as a true freshman, Reese was used sparingly as a rotation off-ball linebacker in Year 2 en route to a College Football Playoff Championship Game victory. Once Cody Simon moved on to the NFL as a fourth-round pick, Reese took over next to teammate and fellow top 10 pick Sonny Styles. While Styles spent a majority of his snaps in the box, Reese split his time as an off-ball linebacker and an edge rusher.
In part-time pass rushing duty, Reese produced 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Most evaluators see him producing more as a pass rusher at the NFL level, but some believe he could maintain some sort of versatility as a hybrid sort of player similar to the early years of Micah Parsons. New York drafted a similarly transitioned defender at No. 3 overall last year in Abdul Carter. In fact, Reese joins an extremely crowded room of highly drafted pass rushers that includes Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
There have been plenty of rumors that Thibodeaux could be on the trading block even before this pick. Despite the Giants bringing on yet another first-round edge rusher, ESPN’s Adam Schefter claims New York has no intentions of shipping out Thibodeaux. The four-year veteran out of Oregon may end up walking in free agency after this next season, but the litany of talented pass rushers ahead of Reese on the depth chart should allow him to be used with more versatility while still learning how to fit into his likely new position.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Titans Select WR Carnell Tate At No. 4
The first receiver has come off the board early. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate has been selected fourth overall by the Titans, a team long seen as a candidate to make a defensive investment at this spot.
Some teams reportedly considered Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson the top receiver in the draft, but Tate has won out and will become a key weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans spent the first overall pick in last year’s draft on Ward, but a poor supporting cast contributed to a difficult rookie season for the Miami product.
Hoping to make life easier for Ward, Tennessee has added Tate and free agent pickup Wan’Dale Robinson to its receiving corps this offseason. They will also bring back veteran Calvin Ridley and second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans’ Tate-led receiving corps will work with an established offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, one of new head coach Robert Saleh‘s most important hires. As the Giants’ head coach in 2024, Daboll helped then-rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a 109-catch, 1,204-yard year after they chose him sixth in the draft. The Titans will hope for a similar impact from Tate.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Stuck behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as a freshman, Tate only managed 18 receptions and a score. His production took off after those two left for the NFL. Although Tate played second fiddle to future pro Jeremiah Smith from 2024-25, he averaged 52 catches, 804 yards and seven touchdowns per year. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
Tate is now the latest Buckeyes wideout to exit the board in the first round in recent years, joining Egbuka, Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. All of those players have enjoyed successful careers in the pros.
The Titans were expected to use their top pick on either a receiver or an edge defender. Having landed a pass catcher, they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball with their next selection (No. 35).
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Jets Draft DE David Bailey At No. 2
The Jets have landed on their pass rushing selection at No. 2. Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey has come off the board, and he is headed to New York.
It was known for months the Raiders would use the No. 1 overall pick on Fernando Mendoza, making the Jets’ top choice the first real source of intrigue in this draft. Reports over the past few weeks went back and forth on Bailey and Ohio State linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese as the frontrunners to join the Jets. Reese was reportedly the favorite as of Wednesday, but the Jets have taken the more polished prospect instead.
The Jets canceled a “30” visit with Bailey last week, but it turns out they did not need to use it. Led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets knew “weeks” ago they would draft Bailey, according to insider Jordan Schultz. Bailey will now serve as a centerpiece of Glenn’s defense and give the team another pass rusher to join a group that includes former first-rounder Will McDonald, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai.
He follows Enagbare, Ossai, Demario Davis, T’Vondre Sweat, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Nahshon Wright as the latest offseason pickup for the Jets’ remade defense. Bailey is undoubtedly the biggest addition to a unit that finished 31st in both scoring and sacks last year.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Bailey began his college career at Stanford, where he racked up 14.5 sacks in 32 games from 2022-24. He transferred to Texas Tech last year and experienced a massive uptick in sack production. Bailey amassed a nation-high 14.5 (along with 19.5 tackles for loss) in 14 games to earn unanimous All-America honors and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award. He also recorded 81 pressures, the second-highest mark in the nation, per Pro Football Focus. The Jets are banking on Bailey continuing to serve as a disruptive force in the pros.
New York has settled the Bailey-Reese debate, but its first-round work is far from done. The Jets are scheduled to pick again at 16th overall. Unless the Jets trade down, the rebuilding club will address another key need midway through the opening round.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza At No. 1
Since they clinched the No. 1 selection in the 2026 draft, the Raiders have been expected to select their quarterback of the future. The top choice in tonight’s opening round has not produced a surprise.
Fernando Mendoza has become the first prospect to hear his name called on Thursday. He is now officially in place with Vegas, a team looking to find stability under center for years to come. Veteran Kirk Cousins was signed earlier this month in a move which allowed him to reunite with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak will lead a coaching staff which underwent several changes this winter. 2026 marks the second offseason with general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady in the fold for the Raiders, but their one-year Pete Carroll-Geno Smith setup did not go according to plan. Carroll was expectedly fired after the season ended, while Smith was dealt to the Jets. That created the need for a new veteran (Cousins) while further paving the way for Mendoza to take on QB1 duties early in his NFL career. Even if a training camp competition ensues, Mendoza will be counted on to take over the starting gig early in his rookie year.
The Raiders released Derek Carr in 2023 and have struggled to find a permanent successor since then. Last year’s 3-14 showing set the team up to reset under center, however. Mendoza has long been the presumed pick for Vegas, with his pre-draft visit not resulting in any hesitation on the team’s part. Work including an acclimation to the offense which will be used by the Raiders this year has further pointed to today’s outcome. Mendoza will now be able to begin preparing for his Vegas career in an official capacity.
After two seasons at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Hoosiers had enjoyed a run to the College Football Playoff the previous year with Kurtis Rourke at the helm, and Mendoza was expected to serve as a productive replacement. To say he did so would certainly be an understatement. The 22-year-old posted 41 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions while adding seven touchdowns on the ground as Indiana went undefeated en route to winning the national championship.
His success in that historic run resulted in a number of accolades for Mendoza. Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors were received, along with the 2025 Heisman trophy. Passers have gone No. 1 after only a single season of high-end college production (as Cam Ward did last year), and Mendoza will face substantial expectations upon arrival in Vegas. Developing into a full-time starter would address an all-important roster matter for the foreseeable future.
Mendoza will join other core roster pieces like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty on offense. The play of those first-rounders will be key in determining the success of Kubiak’s first year at the helm and the Raiders’ overall outlook well beyond 2026.