NFL Draft 2026 winners & losers: Raiders, Browns, Cowboys impress; Rams, Vikings take too many risks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Las Vegas Raiders opened the 2026 NFL Draft with the easy pick.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza – who led Indiana to the College Football Playoff championship in 2025 – proved he was a winner last season. He was the first quarterback selected in the draft, and he offers the Raiders hope heading into the 2026 season.
Las Vegas turned out to be one of the winners in the seven-round draft. Mendoza was the best bet among the quarterbacks, and the other teams who spent high-round picks on the position faced criticism. Did the Los Angeles Rams make the right call with Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick? Should the Arizona Cardinals have selected Carson Beck in the third round? A total of 10 quarterbacks were taken – and on paper this a loaded 2027 quarterback class on the way with Texas' Arch Manning and Oregon's Dante Moore.
It wasn't just about quarterbacks. The Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys were among the teams who worked the draft board well. The Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars left question marks.
Who were the winners and losers from the 2026 NFL Draft? Here is a closer look: MORE: Full list of picks made in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Raiders are 21-47 since 2022, but general manager John Spytek and first-year coach Klint Kubiak started the turnaround with Mendoza, who can be a culture-shifter with a supporting cast that includes running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. Las Vegas made several good picks. The Raiders landed Arizona safety Treydan Stukes (No. 38) in the second round, a safety who was considered a borderline first-round pick.
Auburn edge rusher Keyron Crawford (No. 67) and Texas A&M guard Trey Zuhn III (No. 91) were value picks in the third round. Las Vegas made two solid picks in Round 4 with Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy (No. 101) and Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. (No. 122). McCoy also had first-round value before a pronounced draft slide. Washington Jr. ran a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest time among running backs.
That was a vintage Al Davis pick. Las Vegas then traded Tyree Wilson, a 2023 first-round pick, to the Saints for a fifth-round pick. The Raiders used that to draft Arizona safety Dalton Johnson (No. 150), who had four interceptions and seven pass breakups. Even sixth-round pick Malik Benson (No. 195), an Oregon receiver, could contribute to a franchise that had a solid draft from start to finish..
MORE:How Fernando Mendoza, Omar Cooper Jr. made history in draft
First-year coach Jesse Minter added more talent to the Ravens, and two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson should be pleased with the results.
Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14), a first-round pick, has the capability to be a Day 1 starter.
Baltimore selected three pass-catchers, including USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane (No. 80) in the third round and Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt (No. 115) in the fourth round. Tight end Matthew Hibner (No. 133), a fourth-round pick from SMU, added yet another option. Those three picks combined for 23 TD catches in 2025. Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas (No. 173) was a fifth-round pick.
The Ravens also added Missouri edge rusher Zion Young (No. 45) in the second round. Minter led a draft resembling his mentors, John and Jim Harbaugh.
The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 last season and allowed a NFL-worst 30.1 points per game after trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Dallas, led by new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, addressed that defense with five picks in the first four rounds. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs (No. 11) was arguably the best steal of the first round. Dallas also took a chance on UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence (No. 25) in Round 1. Lawrence had seven sacks for the Knights last season.
Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (No. 92) is a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher who was available in the third round. Florida cornerback Devin Moore (No. 114) and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton (No. 137) also were solid additions. There should be significant improvement on that side of the ball.
The Browns made smart picks with first-year coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry, and that started by trading down to the No. 9 pick and landing Spencer Fano. Cleveland drafted a pair of receivers in KC Concepcion (No. 24) in the first round and Washington's Denzel Boston (No. 39) in the second round. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 58) was projected as a first-round pick.
The Browns added Alabama center Parker Brailsford (No. 146) in Round 5 and Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (No. 182) in the sixth round. Green put on a record-setting show at the NFL Scouting Combine and joined a crowded quarterback room with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel. Given the Browns' quarterback history, however, it would not be a shock if Green gets a shot at some point – the risk is minimal with a Day 3 pick.
Call this a hunch, but despite a slide to No. 14 in the first round, we believe the Miami defensive end will have a productive career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bain has arms that measured 30 7/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine, and that was a major reason he slid out of the top 10. Will the college production — where he had 10 sacks and 68 pressures last season — translate to the NFL level? We think he will be better than expected, and the debate about measurements will matter less. Why is Bain a winner? He had one of the best reactions of the weekend.
A MAN ON A MISSION:#Buccaneers first-rounder Rueben Bain Jr. stormed past the mirror, grabbed his hat, quickly hugged the commissioner & walked away.Bain is really not happy that he fell to the 15th pick. He believes he is the best player in the draft. pic.twitter.com/Snz7Jk76NX