8 biggest overreactions to 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza should sit for Raiders, Diego Pavia still relevant, more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There are always fair reactions to a just-completed NFL Draft — and there are always blatantly overhyped overreactions.
The 2026 NFL Draft is no different, as some negative takes got too much shade and some positive storylines got too much shine. Based on the biggest headlines from all seven rounds — starting with the top quarterback drafted and a QB not drafted at all — let's counter the hyperbole with reality.
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Mendoza joined Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020) in the three-member exclusive club of going from meteoric rise to national champion and Heisman-winning quarterback, and parlaying that to a top pick in the NFL Draft.
No one even considered Newton or Joe Burrow sitting. Andrew Luck, James Winston, Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence didn't hear much of that either after going at the top. When the Rams sat Jared Goff in 2016 and the Browns did the same with Baker Mayfield in 2018, they were coaching mistakes.
The "Mendoza sits" is overrating the value of Kirk Cousins as the backup. Mendoza is the better QB at this point. Cousins saw post-Achilles' injury diminishing returns with the Falcons last season, and his arm wasn't as dynamic passing downfield. Now he's about to turn 38 in August and was signed very late in free agency. Mendoza, meanwhile, has been touted as a talent who checks all the boxes.
The Raiders can't rule out winning big with him under Super Bowl-champion offensive-minded coach Klint Kubiak right away. The clock starts ticking to take a shot at loading up a potential playoff team when a QB is on a team-friendly rookie deal. A healthy Kolten Miller at left tackle, an elite center in Tyler Linderbaum, a top young back in Ashton Jeanty and a dominant tight end in Brock Bowers is plenty of support for a rookie QB.
Mendoza proved he is a quick study and will work hard to start right away. Kubiak took the Raiders job knowing he would be attached to Mendoza, not Cousins. Let the kid loose and get more competitive in the AFC West right away.
MORE: Big board of top 50 NFL Draft prospects for '27
Pavia is the Shedeur Sanders of the 2026 quarterback class, a notable college star (Heisman Trophy finalist, no less) who fell hard. Except unlike Sanders, Pavia wasn't even drafted. 10 quarterbacks, from Mendoza in the first round to LSU's Garrett Nussmeier as the last of three seventh-round QBs, were taken.
All of them, including non-household college name Athan Kaliakmanis had some kind of flash as a nice-sized passer and athlete, to be selected over Pavia. The only surprise is that Baylor's Sawyer Robertson, Illinois' Luke Altmeyer and Kansas' Jalon Daniels also were drafted instead of Pavia.
Pavia's spunky playmaking was valuable to Vanderbilt finishing 10-3 and finishing seventh in the SEC. But nothing in his skill set, intangibles and size (5-foot-10, 207 pounds) says he has any business even being considered as a pick or even as an undrafted free-agent signing. At least Tim Tebow was a likable leader with national championships and a Heisman under his belt, so much so he shot up all the way into the first round .
Pavia had the numbers to elevate Vanderbilt, but that's it. There's no way, no how he had NFL makeup for a team to waste a pick on him, even late. Chase Daniel (6-foot-0, 220 pounds) was a little bigger and lot smarter football-wise coming out of Missouri, to the point he was meant to be a key long-term backup. Pavia wasn't even an intriguing No. 3.
Pavia shouldn't have been drafted based on talent alone. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Pavia will participate in the Ravens rookie minicamp, so the quarterback has a shot to prove his worth in that environment.
But let's put him in the rearview please, and focus on QBs who actually got drafted or still starting in college.
MORE:What's next for Diego Pavia after not being drafted?
GM Les Snead no doubt flexed his personal connection to Ty Simpson's college football coaching father Jason (Tennessee-Martin) in taking his son at QB No. 13 overall, despite having reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at the positiion.
McVay has to roll with that decision, one that won't help win Super Bowl 61 after the 2026 season. Much analysis has been made about facial expression and body language in reacting to the Rams taking Simpson. Simpson may not be his type of QB, given the limited starting experience in college and arm strength. But the bigger issue was the Rams using such a pick to get Simpson as a stash for several seasons into the future while Stafford is playing his best and isn't hinting at retirement anytime soon.
No. 13 could have been used for many things such as trading down for more capital, getting a dynamic impact defensive player and following through for a third top wide receiver with upside who can take over for Davante Adams as a No. 2 in a couple seasons. Instead, it was a careless luxury pick. Had the Rams not had a franchise passer, McVay might have been OK with the team taking a shot on Simpson. But in their current state, with Stafford playing well and with only four other draft picks, that was a throwaway selection. Snead passed up on need, and that is worthy of making McVay perturbed.