Raiders take Mendoza with first pick of NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 22-year-old was the overwhelming favourite for the honour, having been named the best player in college football last season, when he led Indiana to their first national championship.

He becomes just the third player to be the Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion and the first overall draft pick in the same year, after Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020).

Mendoza did not attend the start of the three-day event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as he opted to share the moment with his family at home in Miami.

The strongest area in this year's draft class was thought to be the defensive front and the New York Jets took pass rusher David Bailey with the second pick.

Yet the next two picks were both offensive players, with the Arizona Cardinals selecting running back Jeremiyah Love before the Tennessee Titans sprang a surprise by taking wide receiver Carnell Tate.

The New York Giants were one of six teams with multiple picks in the first round - fifth and 10th - and bolstered on each side of the ball, picking pass rusher Arvell Reese and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

Mauigoa grew up in American Samoa and the 20-year-old paid homage to his homeland with a collage on the back of his suit jacket.

"I never thought I'd be here," he said. "If I can do it, you can do it."

The Kansas City Chiefs are keen to rebuild after missing out on the play-offs for the first time since the 2014 season and traded up from the ninth pick to sixth to take cornerback Mansoor Delane.

"They weren't really on me too much in this process," said Delane. "But they said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneaky move, and they made the best move of the draft so I'm excited."

The Dallas Cowboys moved up one spot to claim safety Caleb Downs at 11 while the Los Angeles Rams pulled off a shock by taking Ty Simpson.

The former Alabama quarterback was seen as a potential first-round selection but not as early as the 13th pick.

However, the Rams are hoping to develop him under last season's Most Valuable Player Matt Stafford, who turned 38 in February and has committed to one more year with the Rams.

The Washington Commanders gave their defence a much-needed boost, tacking pass rusher Sonny Styles with the seventh pick. The 21-year-old is the son of Super Bowl-winning linebacker Lorenzo Styles and Sonny's older brother Lorenzo Jr also hopes to be drafted this weekend.

"He's my best friend, my inspiration," said Sonny. "We've dreamed about this since we were five years old so to see it all happen, we're living out the dream, but it's just the beginning."

The Philadelphia Eagles edged up to select wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall and with the following pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, who moved to the US from Nigeria at the age of 13.

The draft continues with rounds two and three on Friday, before rounds four to seven are held on Saturday.