Prospects spent years preparing for this opportunity. NFL scouts were analyzing them for months, even years. Predictions filled the internet. Yet, there were surprises and unexpected moves. The Las Vegas Raiders kicked off the draft by selecting a quarterback – Fernando Mendoza – from Indiana. The first overall pick was an open secret. But then, twists followed.
Here are the biggest surprises and disappointments of the 2026 NFL draft.
Surprises:
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Los Angeles Rams made waves with the 13th overall pick by selecting Ty Simpson, but it wasn’t the pick itself that stole the show – it was the reaction of Sean McVay, the head coach. After hearing who his team picked, he looked disappointed. Desperate. Despondent. Like he was hoping this was just a bad dream.
The Rams definitely shocked the football sphere by picking Simpson. LA wasn’t necessarily in need of a playmaker – with Matthew Stafford running the show, many expected the Super Bowl-caliber Rams to fortify their roster with a different position. Instead, their choice proved controversial. McVay looked like he didn’t want Simpson. In fact, he didn’t speak to him. Not at the combine, during the pre-draft process, or over the phone. That’s partially why McVay was enormously surprised by the leadership’s decision.
Fair to say, Simpson going this early stunned almost everybody. Simpson only started for one season at Alabama; he’s also undersized, and there have been questions regarding his ability to perform at the pro level. In his final collegiate game against Indiana, Simpson threw for just 67 yards. But if there is a place for him to develop, it’s in LA. McVay is known as a quarterback whisperer, and with Stafford’s intentions to not retire anytime soon, he could use the time to sharpen his skills and learn from the best.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate wasn’t the best wide receiver available. Yet, the Tennessee Titans saw something in him – something so special that they used their primary pick on him. The leadership heavily targeted wide receivers last year, so this position wasn’t their main need. But they still decided to go for Tate, and the idea of pairing him with Cam Ward actually sounds exciting.
The former Ohio State standout made 51 catches for 875 yards his senior year, recording nine touchdowns. He plays his position very well and has a high ceiling. His straight-line speed raised eyebrows at the combine, but that’s an area he can easily improve. In college, Tate showcased his ability to get open while competing against the best defenders in the country. Now, he has to make the jump to the best league in the world.
Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
One of the most fascinating selections came late in the draft. In the seventh round with the 251st overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Uar Bernard. If you tried to look up his collegiate profile, you would search in vain. Bernard didn’t compete in the NCAA. Surprisingly, he hasn’t played a down of organized football. After shining at the 2024 NFL Nigeria camp and perfecting his game in the meantime, the defensive tackle earned a spot in the 2026 NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
The Nigerian prodigy wasted no time impressing the scouts. He’s an absolute physical beast – Bernard is 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds but boasts six percent body fat. He recorded a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-10 broad jump. These are freak numbers for his size and position. “It’s like watching Victor Wembanyama,” said quarterback coach George Whitfield. “The numbers don’t even do him justice. NBA players don’t have 6 percent body fat on them.”
Now, Bernard will get a chance to finally play football for real. And earn a consistent role with the Eagles. “It's a dream come true for me because I've worked hard for this. I've not played football, but I've gone through some drills that made me believe that I'm going to get better every day. I thank God for everything. I thank God for life. I thank God for the opportunities given to me to be drafted by the Eagles,” said Bernard. After all, he will have a tremendous mentor and role model in Jordan Mailata - an offensive tackle from Australia, whom the Eagles drafted in 2018 from the same international program.
Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Banks possesses a fantastic size and power for his position and handles his duties well. Him going at No. 18 in the first round wouldn’t be a surprise if he were healthy in his final collegiate campaign, but that wasn’t the case, as Banks suffered a foot injury that limited him to only three games this year. The Michigan native tried to make up some ground at the NFL combine, but his effort ended in heartbreak as he got hit with another foot injury.
Many believed his draft stock had dropped tremendously. But the Minnesota Vikings saw enough before Banks got hurt and decided to take a chance on him. If healthy, he can have an immediate impact in Minneapolis.
https://x.com/Vikings/status/2047770847444717633
“When you see a guy with this type of, kind of rare size, rare athleticism, you take a real hard look at him,” said Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores. “I think he’s got very high upside and excited to have him join our team, our defense, our locker room. He’s smart. Football’s important to him; he wants to be a great teammate, so we felt very comfortable the whole way and really excited that we got him.”
Disappointments:
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Balloons in Vanderbilt’s school colors. A big, lit-up No. 2 sitting on the floor, referencing Diego Pavia’s jersey number. A table full of hats – 32 to be exact, representing every single team that could have picked the quarterback. On Saturday night, the sad reality settled in. The phone never rang. Nobody pointed at him.
The draft setup became useless as Pavia’s dreams of hearing his name were shattered by the brutal silence. He became the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014. Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 10-3 record – the first double-digit win season in school history – after throwing for 3539 yards, passing for 29 touchdowns, and rushing for an additional 10. He was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. But even his decorated resumé wasn’t enough. So, what went wrong?
Most likely, it was his off-the-field demeanour that cost him a draft spot. Pavia is one of the most controversial and divisive prospects – after losing the Heisman Trophy to Fernando Mendoza and coming in second, he posted a photo on his social media with a caption saying “F--- ALL THE VOTERS.” He later apologized. He possesses extreme confidence that sometimes comes across as cocky. According to reports, Pavia told the NFL teams that he wasn’t coming to the league to be a backup and wanted to become a starter right away. When you combine his behavior with his smaller size – standing at 5-foot-10 – and having limited athleticism, organizations chose to take a chance on different playmakers.
Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll
Tyren Montgomery’s journey to the draft was remarkable. Growing up, he excelled on the hardwood, dreaming about making it to the NBA. In 2020, when he was bored at home during the pandemic, he started throwing football in the backyard with his brother and realized that his heart beats for the gridiron.
Montgomery started learning terminology and the route tree, while also working on his speed. He recorded his workouts, then sent them to nearly every school in the country, hoping to receive a scholarship offer. Eventually, the wide receiver kicked off his career at Nicholls State, then he transferred to John Carroll, a Division III university boasting a rich group of NFL alumni.
His work ethic, dedication, and athleticism caught the eye of many scouts. Montgomery hoped to hear his name being called toward the end of the draft order, but had to endure a disappointing outcome as none of the teams drafted him. However, he did sign as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, making his NFL dream come true.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain might be the biggest slide of the draft. Expecting to go in the top 10, he had to wait for his name to be called until the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose the 15th overall pick. After being interviewed on stage, the disappointment in his voice was clearly heard.
There are two possible explanations for his drop. First, Bain chose not to work out with the teams immediately before the draft and strengthen his case by showing off his skills. But the second reason probably played the bigger role – it was his arm length that was a concern. At 30 7/8 inches, historically, Bain has some of the shortest arms for his position in the NFL. Since 2003, no pass rusher with arms shorter than 31 inches has been drafted.
But Bain proved to be productive, pressuring the passers well. He played a key role in Miami’s run to the national championship game in the latest season. Realistically, the delay in the draft order probably hurt him the most financially, as it could cost him up to $10 million in guaranteed salary.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
In 2024, McCoy was in his prime while suiting up for the Tennessee Volunteers. The cornerback allowed only 31 catches on 62 targets, forcing the opposing quarterbacks to make rush decisions that resulted in a 53.6 passer rating. With these kinds of numbers, he would have been a top 20 draft pick. Sadly, McCoy suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2025 season.
He recovered just in time to perform at Tennessee’s pro day, and he made the most out of his opportunity, impressing most analysts. But right before the start of the draft, multiple reports claimed he may need another surgery to fix a bone plug – the procedure would force him to miss his rookie campaign. The Las Vegas Raiders drafted McCoy with the first pick in the fourth round, 101st overall.
“All my doctors that did my surgery, they told me I’m good,” McCoy said in his post-draft press conference. “I feel like I’m good, but if there’s something that they’re wanting me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that. I’m going to listen to the team, because I feel like they have my best interest. So, honestly, whatever the team’s plan for me is, I’m going to do that.”
McCoy was the top 15 talent in this year’s draft, but his injury caused a significant drop. However, if he remains healthy, he can easily earn a major role in the Raiders’ defensive lineup.