UK News
NFL draft 2026: Mendoza goes No 1 as Rams surprise with move for QB Ty Simpson at No 13 | NFL
The story of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft surrounded a quarterback but it wasn’t No 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
As expected, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza with the first pick on Thursday after he led Indiana to the national title last season. But the shock of the night came when the Los Angeles Rams picked another quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, at No 13. The Rams current starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, was named NFL MVP last season and Simpson was projected to be a second-round pick by many analysts. However, Stafford turned 38 in February and the Rams are starting to plan for life without him, although head coach Sean McVay insisted the veteran will remain the starter for the time being. “This is Matthew’s team,” said McVay.
He added that Stafford had been “great” when told the Rams were drafting Simpson. “He’s a stud,” McVay said. “I mean, he’s always first class in every sense of the word.”
Simpson started just 15 games in college but he exuded confidence after the Rams selected him.
“Absolutely, I am confident,” Simpson said. “That’s why I decided to come [to the draft in person]. You know with the offensive infrastructure we had in Alabama with other coaches and the offensive system, the weight room, everything was set up to better you for the NFL. And that’s why I stayed at ’Bama.”
Quick Guide
NFL draft 2026 complete order
Show
First round
1 Las Vegas, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2 New York Jets, David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
3 Arizona, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4 Tennessee, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5 New York Giants, Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
6 Kansas City (from Cleveland), Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7 Washington, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
8 New Orleans, Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9 Cleveland (from Kansas City), Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
10 New York Giants (from Cincinnati), Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11 Dallas (from Miami), Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12 Miami (from Dallas), Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
13 LA Rams (from Atlanta), Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
14 Baltimore, Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
15 Tampa Bay, Rueben Bain Jr, LB, Miami
16 New York Jets (from Indianapolis), Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
17 Detroit, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18 Minnesota, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
19 Carolina, Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
20 Philadelphia (from Green Bay through Dallas), Makai Lemon, WR, USC
21 Pittsburgh, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
22 LA Chargers, Akheem Mesidor, LB, Miami
23 Dallas (from Philadelphia), Malachi Lawrence, LB, UCF
24 Cleveland (from Jacksonville), KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
25 Chicago, Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
26 Houston (from Buffalo), Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
27 Miami (from San Francisco), Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
28 New England (from Houston through Buffalo), Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
29 Kansas City (from LA Rams), Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
30 New York Jets (from Denver through Miami and San Francisco), Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
31 Tennessee (from New England through Buffalo), Keldric Faulk, DE, Clemson
32 Seattle, Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Second round
33 San Francisco (from New York Jets)
34 Arizona
35 Buffalo (from Tennessee)
36 Las Vegas
37 New York Giants
38 Houston (from Washington)
39 Cleveland
40 Kansas City
41 Cincinnati
42 New Orleans
43 Miami
44 New York Jets (from Dallas)
45 Baltimore
46 Tampa Bay
47 Indianapolis
48 Atlanta
49 Minnesota
50 Detroit
51 Carolina
52 Green Bay
53 Pittsburgh
54 Philadelphia
55 LA Chargers
56 Jacksonville
57 Chicago
58 San Francisco
59 Houston
60 Chicago (from Buffalo)
61 LA Rams
62 Denver
63 New England
64 Seattle
Third round
65 Arizona
66 Tennessee
67 Las Vegas
68 Philadelphia (from New York Jets)
69 Tennessee (from New York Giants via Houston and Buffalo)
70 Cleveland
71 Washington
72 Cincinnati
73 New Orleans
74 Cleveland (from Kansas City)
75 Miami
76 Pittsburgh (from Dallas)
77 Tampa Bay
78 Indianapolis
79 Atlanta
80 Baltimore
81 Jacksonville (from Detroit)
82 Minnesota
83 Carolina
84 Green Bay
85 Pittsburgh
86 LA Chargers
87 Miami (from Philadelphia)
88 Jacksonville
89 Chicago
90 San Francisco (from Houston via Miami)
91 Houston (from Buffalo)
92 Dallas (from San Francisco)
93 LA Rams
94 Miami (from Denver)
95 New England
96 Seattle
97 Minnesota
98 Philadelphia
99 Pittsburgh
100 Jacksonville
Fourth round
101 Buffalo (from Tennessee)
102 Las Vegas
103 New York Jets
104 Arizona
105 New York Giants
106 Houston (from Washington)
107 Cleveland
108 Denver (from New Orleans)
109 Kansas City
110 Cincinnati
111 Denver (from Miami)
112 Dallas
113 Indianapolis
114 Dallas (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)
115 Baltimore
116 Tampa Bay
117 Las Vegas (from Minnesota via Jacksonville)
118 Detroit
119 Carolina
120 Green Bay
121 Pittsburgh
122 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)
123 LA Chargers
124 Jacksonville
125 Buffalo (from Chicago via Kansas City and New England)
126 Buffalo
127 San Francisco
128 Detroit (from Houston)
129 Chicago (from LA Rams)
130 Miami (from Denver)
131 New England
132 New Orleans (from Seattle)
133 San Francisco
134 Las Vegas
135 Pittsburgh
136 New Orleans
137 Dallas (from Philadelphia)
138 Miami (from San Francisco)
139 San Francisco
140 New York Jets
Fifth round
141 Houston (from Las Vegas and Cleveland)
142 Tennessee (from New York Jets via Baltimore)
143 Arizona
144 Tennessee (from LA Rams)
145 New York Giants
146 Cleveland
147 Washington
148 Cleveland (from Kansas City)
149 Cleveland (from Cincinnati)
150 New Orleans
151 Miami
152 Dallas
153 Green Bay (from Atlanta via Philadelphia)
154 Baltimore
155 Tampa Bay
156 Indianapolis
157 Detroit
158 Carolina (from Minnesota)
159 Carolina
160 Green Bay
161 Pittsburgh
162 Baltimore (from LA Chargers)
163 Minnesota (from Philadelphia)
164 Jacksonville
165 Tennessee (from Chicago via Buffalo)
166 Jacksonville (from San Francisco via Philadelphia)
167 Buffalo (from Houston via Philadelphia)
168 Buffalo
169 Kansas City (from LA Rams)
170 Denver
171 New England
172 New Orleans (from Seattle)
173 Baltimore
174 Baltimore
175 Las Vegas
176 Kansas City
177 Miami (from Dallas)
178 Philadelphia
179 San Francisco (from New York Jets)
180 Miami (from Dallas)
181 Detroit
Sixth round
182 Buffalo (from New York Jets via Cleveland, Jacksonville and Las Vegas)
183 Arizona
184 Tennessee
185 Las Vegas
186 New York Giants
187 Washington
188 Seattle (from Cleveland)
189 Cincinnati
190 New Orleans
191 New England (from Kansas City)
192 New York Giants (from Miami)
193 New York Giants (from Dallas)
194 Tennessee (from Baltimore via New York Jets)
195 Tampa Bay
196 Minnesota (from Indianapolis)
197 Philadelphia (from Atlanta)
198 New England (from Minnesota via Houston and San Francisco)
199 Cincinnati (from Detroit via Cleveland)
200 Carolina
201 Green Bay
202 New England (from Pittsburgh)
203 Jacksonville (from Philadelphia via Houston)
204 LA Chargers
205 Detroit (from Jacksonville)
206 Cleveland (from Chicago)
207 LA Rams (from Houston via Tennessee)
208 Las Vegas (from Buffalo via New York Jets)
209 Washington (from San Francisco)
210 Kansas City (from LA Rams)
211 Baltimore (from Denver via New York Jets, Minnesota and Philadelphia)
212 New England
213 Detroit (from Seattle via Jacksonville)
214 Indianapolis (from Pittsburgh)
215 Atlanta (from Philadelphia)
216 Pittsburgh
Seventh round
217 Arizona
218 Dallas (from Tennessee)
219 Las Vegas
220 Buffalo (from New York Jets)
221 Cincinnati (from New York Giants via Dallas)
222 Detroit (from Cleveland)
223 Washington
224 Pittsburgh (from New Orleans via New England)
225 Tennessee (from Kansas City via Dallas)
226 Cincinnati
227 Miami
228 New York Jets (from Dallas via Buffalo and Las Vegas)
229 Tampa Bay
230 Pittsburgh (from Indianapolis)
231 Atlanta
232 LA Rams (from Baltimore)
233 Jacksonville (from Detroit)
234 Minnesota
235 Minnesota (from Carolina)
236 Green Bay
237 Pittsburgh
238 Miami (from LA Chargers via Tennessee and New York Jets)
239 Chicago (from Philadelphia via Jacksonville and Cleveland)
240 Jacksonville
241 Chicago
242 New York Jets (from Buffalo via Cleveland)
243 Houston (from San Francisco)
244 Minnesota (from Houston)
245 Jacksonville (from LA Rams via Houston)
246 Denver
247 New England
248 Cleveland (from Seattle)
249 Indianapolis
250 Baltimore
251 LA Rams
252 LA Rams
253 Baltimore
254 Indianapolis
255 Green Bay
256 Denver
257 Denver
With McVay on his side and Stafford to learn from for at least the next season or two, his new team are giving him a long leash to develop, a good plan for a player whom many doubted could start early.
Meanwhile, Mendoza wasn’t in Pittsburgh for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami. He’ll be heading to Las Vegas on Friday to begin an NFL career that may have seemed improbable when few colleges were interested in him coming out of high school.
“The last five months have been such a blessing by God, and I can’t thank Him enough,” Mendoza said. “I’m just looking forward to getting to work, prove it at the next level. College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career, but now I step into a great game, the NFL. Look forward to proving and earning it every single day.”
Mendoza wasn’t even a prominent prospect at this time last year. But he had a sensational season with the Hoosiers, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Still, there are plenty of doubts about him in a quarterback-thin draft class. He’s determined to prove any critics wrong again.
Mendoza’s selection was expected for months. The intrigue began at No 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese. The Jets had two further picks in the first round, using them on offensive weapons. The Jets selected the top tight end in the draft at No 16, taking Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. They later traded with the 49ers to take Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr at No 30, drawing loud cheers from their fans in the crowd.
The Giants took Reese at No 5, adding a potential elite rusher less than a week after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati. “It’s surreal to me,” Bailey said. “It’s an awesome opportunity. I just want to get in there and be a sponge and soak up everything.”
Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. Love is the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No 2 to the New York Giants in 2018.
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was picked fourth by Tennessee in a surprise move that gives QB Cam Ward – last year’s No 1 overall pick – a top target.
The Chiefs traded up to No 6 to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City sent Cleveland the ninth pick along with Nos 74 and 148 to move up. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles went seventh to Washington, improving a defense that allowed the most yards in the league last season.
New Orleans selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No 8, giving QB Tyler Shough a 1-2 punch with Chris Olave. Utah’s Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman chosen, going to Cleveland with the ninth pick. The Giants followed up with another offensive tackle, taking Miami’s Francis Mauigoa at No 10.
The Cowboys moved up one spot to select versatile Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No 11. Dallas sent Miami a pair of fifth-rounders and the 12th pick. The Dolphins took Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Baltimore chose Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane at No 14 with a pick they had traded to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby but regained when they voided the trade.
Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr was selected by Tampa Bay with the 15th pick, giving the Buccaneers’ dismal pass rush a possible game-changer who was considered a top-10 talent.
“I know I’m the best in the country,” Bain said. “I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.”
Detroit moved up one spot to take Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick. The Lions swapped picks with division rival Minnesota, who chose Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, once expected to be a top-10 pick, was chosen by Carolina at No 19.
The Eagles moved up to 20th in another pick swap involving division rivals and took USC wideout Makai Lemon. Dallas got Philadelphia’s 23rd pick plus two fourth-rounders for No 20 and a seventh. Lemon thought he was heading to the Steelers.
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time. I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly,” Lemon said.
Mendoza is the fourth straight quarterback selected No. 1 overall following Cam Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. It’s the 10th time in 12 years a QB was the first pick. None of those 10 have won a Super Bowl, though Jared Goff and Joe Burrow each started one.
The family of Shaun Burton, say they are “devastated” by the loss.
Source link
Key events
In the opening half an hour against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch.
Kyle Green gets in touch: “Your highlighting of Lalas and his absurdity is something that has prevented me from wanting to watch the coverage on Fox. While every channel has its pros and cons I just can’t.
“I’m 45 and probably the youngest of anyone who remembers him as a player instead of an opinionated insert insult here. As for the match this could be more competitive than it looks on paper Spain need a win the pressure is on them. Saudi Arabia could hold out for a draw and see what happens in their last match. “
News from the England camp, and it seems to be good news on Declan Rice.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”
Alex Reid has penned today’s weekend special Football Daily.
Portugal v Uzbekistan on Tuesday enticingly pits the incredibly nice, incredibly 41-year-old-superstar-tolerant Roberto Martínez against Fabio Cannavaro, who’s won a Ballon d’Or as a player and the Chinese Super League as a coach. While the fixture following that game really does see the dream of Thomas Tuchel – in his first international job with England – taking on Queiroz, who is in charge of his ninth national side with Ghana.
The expected formations are 4-2-3-1 for Spain, and 5-3-2 for the Saudi Arabians.
The Saudi team features two Donis changes: Ali Lajami, a defender, and Nasser Al Dawsari, a midfielder, are preferred to Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Mohamed Kanno. You may recall Salem Al Dawsari, the Saudi captain, as the man who scored the winner against Argentina.
An entertaining read, even for those of us who have just seen the clips.
In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
For the record, I once interviewed Alexi Lalas on the challenge of playing against Romario in the 1994 World Cup. He had this to say:
“He could kill you in so many different ways. If you remember from that World Cup, he scored so many types of goals. That ranged from solo adventures to an outside-of-the-right-foot half-volley off a corner kick. Romario was both the most difficult to play against and the best that I have faced.
“Roberto Baggio was doing his thing, but in terms of consistency and living up to the hype, he [Romario] was the best. As with all stars, there was a moment when the fans sit up in their seats, and that was a feeling I got with Romario. When it got close to him and the potential for his involvement in a play was there, everybody sat up in their seat. They knew that something spectacular would be happening.”
Saturday’s match reports here.
The Saudi Arabia coach, and Blackburn legend, Georgios Donis, spoke about the challenges facing his team: “Spain is not the same team when Yamal or Williams are on the bench.
“While they still have plenty of possession, they lack the individual one-on-one penetration when these two are missing. I’m not saying it’s a problem for Spain, but when those players are missing, they play in a different way. We saw this very clearly against Cape Verde.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, and it’s very important that when you play against these kinds of teams, you should enjoy the experience and respect the opponent, but not too much.
“It is very hard for any team playing against Spain to have any time in possession. So what we must do is to be more in control of our movement and compact, and when the ball goes through the lines, be able to defend dynamically.
“It’s nice to see miracles in football, and we’ve seen favourites losing against underdogs. Of course, it’s great for Saudi football to have a great memory of the result against Argentina, but we aren’t drawing anything from that.
“I think we’ll feel more pressure in that [Cape Verde] game than we will against Spain.”
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente had this to say in his Saturday press conference: “This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday. There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Four changes for Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also come into the side with Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi dropping out.
The teams – Lamine Yamal starts
Spain: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Gonzalez, Rodri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.
Saudi Arabia: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri, Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr, Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Al Aqidi, Al Kassar, Majrashi, Yahya, Al Shehri, Al Boushal, Kadesh, Al Johani, Al Ghannam, Al Hajji, Al Hamdan, Mandash, Kanno, Thakri, Abu Al Shamat.
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection?
Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper.
Madrid screening of Spain v Saudi Arabia cancelled due to heat
The public screening of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
The match, due to kick off at 6pm local time on Sunday, had been scheduled to be shown on a giant screen installed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) at a fan zone in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid.
Madrid city council and the federation decided to cancel the screening after national weather agency AEMET issued an orange heat warning – the second-highest level – for the Madrid region, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,” Madrid city hall said in a statement, apologising for any inconvenience.
Officials urged supporters to watch the match indoors in air-conditioned spaces and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
Large parts of Spain are experiencing unusually high temperatures for June as a mass of hot air from North Africa moves across the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 13 of Spain’s 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France is on red alert, the highest level.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to take precautions during the heatwave, including drinking water regularly, staying in cool environments, limiting outdoor physical activity during the hottest hours of the day and taking extra care of vulnerable people. AFP
Can Saudi Arabia repeat the magic of 2022?
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run. When Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes, a comfortable afternoon seemed in the offing. Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari had other ideas, Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 minutes and the greatest comeback in Saudi Arabia football history was made. Argentina went on to lift the trophy, while defeats to Poland and Mexico meant the Saudis did not reach the knock-out stage.
Unai Simon over David Raya is a controversial choice for De la Fuentes. The Arsenal keeper could lay claim to being Europe’s best this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya says. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
A high pressure game for the European champions, as Sid Lowe reports.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
We wait to see what role Lamine Yamal will play today. His coach would surely like to be able to use him.
The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.
Preamble
Spain’s campaign did not get off to a flying start, and Luis de la Fuentes may wake up in the night to visions of Cape Verde’s Vozinha. He will have Georgia on his mind ever since Monday. Saudi Arabia are no pushovers and gave Uruguay a scare in their opening match. Memories of downing Argentina four years ago still abound, and so Spain might beware. They can ill afford to go into the final game with Uruguay at a disadvantage. All eyes on Lamine Yamal, whose fitness situation remains opaque, though Spain need their other forwards to come to the party.
Kick-off 5pm UK, 1pm ET, 2am AEST. Join me.
A topless man can be seen driving erratically in Edinburgh before abandoning his car and attacking a black man and a delivery rider.
Source link
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoMouser warns against viral hacks to cool overheating phones
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoKane tops England influencer rankings after Mexico win
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoSNP & Palantir launch AI tools for SAP transformations
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoDWP now checking bank accounts for Universal Credit and Pension Credit
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoHenley Festival 2026 highlights: Five nights of unforgettable performances and festival moments
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoOde launches free AI voice service for poem recommendations