Raiders Draft Mendoza, Jets Grab Bailey

0:00On April 24th, Las Vegas Raiders kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana with the first. Overall pick, earning straight A's from the experts. This 6-foot-5 signal caller led the Hoosiers to their first national championship, snagged the Heisman Trophy, and balled out with over 3,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 6 picks last season. That's followed at number 2, grabbing edge-rusher David Bailey from Texas Tech for an A-grade. The guys appear pass-rush beast with explosive moves and length that should wreck quarterbacks right away, even if some boards had other edges, higher. Cardinals win running back Jeremiah Love from Notre Dame at 3, pulling a B. The dudes atop athlete with speed, burst, and 35 rushing touchdowns over 2 years, but the folks wonder if Arizona's line can protect him, or if they should have built the trenches instead. Titans scooped wide receiver carnautate from Ohio State at 4, for a B-plus, pairing

1:04him perfectly with their young QB for reliable targets. Giants closed round 1 at 5, with edge-r Vell Reese from Ohio State, a versatile defender with big upside. These early grades weigh pick value, the board at the time, and immediate fit, but the real test comes after a few NFL seasons, Raiders look primed to, rebuild around their new franchise space. From around the league, powered by AI, this is NFL News Today.