Bold Predictions for the First Round of the NFL Draft
The first round of the NFL draft is on Thursday night. It's the most exciting time for the league in a little while, as the season ended what feels like forever ago, and free agency has definitely dried up. The first round always features some shocking selections, and here are some bold predictions on what might go down.
Bold NFL Draft Predictions
Only one QB selected
Fernando Mendoza is going to be picked first overall. After that, it could be a while before another signal-caller hears their name called. Ty Simpson is regarded as a possible first-rounder, but there's not a lot of evidence that he's a safe prediction for the first round. The early second round is far more likely, making the 2026 first round a rarity at quarterback.
Only four OSU players get picked
There are five first-round prospects from Ohio State this year, and most of them will be really early picks. There's a chance that Ohio State has four top-10 picks with Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, and Carnell Tate. That leaves Kayden McDonald, who is considered one of the better defensive tackle prospects. However, the run on OSU stars will end there, and McDonald will slide into the second round.
There will be six first-round WRs
The wide receiver class in 2026 is pretty deep, and the first round will showcase that. There's no consensus first-round denotation for the prospects after Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon, but three others will absolutely get picked: KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr., and Denzel Boston. The middle picks will feature a run on some of them, forcing those in the back end to reach for pass-catchers.
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No Alabama first-round picks
The last time Alabama did not have a first-round pick in the NFL draft was 2008. If there's ever a year for that to happen, it's this one. Both Ty Simpson and Kadyn Proctor have a chance to go, but we've established that Simpson won't.
Proctor falling out would be a pretty big surprise, but he has some concerns, and the tackle class isn't that deep. Teams may wait and make a lot of prospects at the position wait.
Caleb Downs is picked in the top 10
This may not seem like a bold prediction, but positional value and injury concerns have some wondering if Caleb Downs will slide farther than people think. That, and the mock drafts projecting him as low as 18, is a smokescreen.
Downs could be the best overall player in the draft, but his positional value doesn't help. Still, there is no chance he gets out of the top 10 this year. He's way too good for that many teams to pass on him.
Jeremiyah Love is not drafted in the top five
There's a lot of chatter about Jeremiyah Love going really early in the NFL Draft. This has also spearheaded the return of the positional value debate about running backs. Are they worth that much when they're so dependent on the offensive line?
Not really. And if Ashton Jeanty, a true generational prospect, didn't go in the top five just last year, it is ridiculous to say Love should, and teams will probably agree when it comes down to it.
There will be four or more trades
Most of the time, the vast majority of teams hold onto their draft slots in the first round. It's where they've done the most scouting, so moving up or down puts them into uncharted territory. This year, though, there's a lot of talk about movement, and this could be a wild draft. There could be four or more blockbusters that totally shake things up.
