Nfl draft 2026: rams stun with ty simpson pick as mendoza goes no 1

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft was dominated by quarterback talk, but it wasn't the expected No 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza who stole the headlines.

Raiders select mendoza as expected

As predicted for months, the Las Vegas Raiders took Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday night, after his sensational season with Indiana led to a national title.

Mendoza, who completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions last year, was not in Pittsburgh to celebrate, opting to spend time with family in Miami instead.

Rams' shocking pick of ty simpson

The real story of the night, however, was the Los Angeles Rams' bold move in selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No 13 overall.

Simpson, who started just 15 games in college, exuded confidence after being drafted, citing the Crimson Tide's strong offensive infrastructure as key to his development.