Winners, Losers, and the Teams Playing Chess for 2027
The dust has settled, the picks are in, and Wade and Ryan from NFL in London have some thoughts.
The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books. Three hundred thousand fans packed into Pittsburgh to watch teams make decisions that analysts will grade with total confidence and absolutely zero accountability. Wade and Ryan from the NFL in London podcast broke it all down — the good, the bad, and the “wait, they drafted what?” — and here’s everything you need to know.
Pittsburgh Stole the Show (Just Not With Their Picks)
First, let’s talk about the spectacle itself. Pittsburgh hosting the draft drew an enormous crowd, and the city was understandably buzzing — though as Ryan put it, standing in a crowd of 300,000 people is a logistical nightmare that no amount of NFL excitement can fully justify. “What do you do if you need to take a piss?” was, apparently, a genuine concern. Depends, perhaps.
But rotating the draft city is genuinely smart. Teams like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Chicago — cities that will never host a Super Bowl — deserve their moment in the sun, and the draft gives them exactly that.
As for the draft itself? Ryan summed it up bluntly: “It was just one of those uneventful drafts.” No jaw-dropping moments, no real shock-and-awe picks. The biggest buzz came from Fernando Mendoza dropping a swear word on live TV. That’s where we are.
And while we’re at it — draft grades handed out by media pundits? Hilarious. As Ryan noted, there are never any repercussions for being catastrophically wrong. Maybe AI will one day keep track of every bad take. Until then, enjoy the chaos.
Team-by-Team Breakdown
Arizona Cardinals: Building for Arch Manning?
Arizona grabbed running back Jeremiah Love with the third overall pick, and while taking a running back that high is always a talking point, there’s a logic to it. The Cardinals are staring down the barrel of a rough NFC West — defending champs, the Rams going all-in, the 49ers, the Seahawks — and everyone knows Arizona is fourth in that division right now. So why not build weapons for the future?
The theory: Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., and McBride form a dream scenario for whatever quarterback walks in next — possibly someone whose last name rhymes with “Ranning.” It’s a 2027 play, plain and simple. Smart, if painfully transparent. Meanwhile, Jacobi Brissett continues his journey as the NFL’s most well-traveled bridge quarterback. The man deserves a frequent flyer card.
Baltimore Ravens: Protecting Lamar, But Where Are the Weapons?
Baltimore went heavy on the offensive line — including a 320-pound guard from Penn State — and loaded up on receivers. The problem? Ryan wants Lamar Jackson to have real weapons, not just solid pieces. Zay Flowers is good, but he’s a number two masquerading as a number one. The Ravens’ season lives and dies with Lamar’s health, and when he got banged up last year, everything fell apart fast.
As Ryan put it, when a team drafts a guard in round one, “nobody’s buying that jersey.” Smart? Yes. Exciting? Decidedly no.
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyreek is Coming Back
The Chiefs had a rough 6-11 year and came in picking cornerback Mansour Deline out of LSU and defensive tackle Peter Woods out of Clemson. Nothing at receiver. Which, according to Ryan, basically confirms one thing: Tyreek Hill is returning to Kansas City. To all the Chiefs fans who dramatically burned their Tyreek jerseys when he left — start checking charity shops. You’re going to need one.
Peter Woods could be Chris Jones’s long-term successor, which is savvy planning. And with Andy Reid at the helm, Kansas City will always have a plan. Whether it works is a different question.
Las Vegas Raiders: Mendoza and Maybe AJ Brown?
The Raiders held the number one pick and, no surprise, took quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Tom Brady’s influence is visible all over this franchise’s rebuild, and the Raiders are quietly becoming one of the more interesting teams to watch. Could they go after AJ Brown if the Eagles drama implodes? Ryan thinks so, and honestly, that would make them legitimately compelling.
They needed receivers. They didn’t address it. But there’s enough optimism around Mendoza and the coaching setup that Las Vegas fans have reason to feel cautiously hopeful for the first time in a long while.
Los Angeles Rams: The Packers Gambit
The Rams took Ty Simpson, a quarterback, at pick 13, with Matthew Stafford still on the roster. Ryan called it “very Packers-ish” — a team close to winning it all, drafting their future instead of going all-in now. It worked for Green Bay with Jordan Love. Whether Sean McVay’s on board (and staying long-term) will determine whether this decision is genius or a missed opportunity. Either way, Stafford’s injury history makes having a real backup less crazy than it sounds.
Houston Texans: The CJ Stroud Problem
Houston went 12-5 last year and followed it up by drafting offensive linemen and a tight end. Smart, given how badly their o-line let them down. But Ryan raised the elephant in the room: CJ Stroud doesn’t have a contract. Every other quarterback in his tier has gotten paid. That silence is telling. This might genuinely be a prove-it year, and the Texans’ incredible defense — Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson and company — deserves better than another quarterback carousel.
Honourable mention: Houston’s fourth-round pick Wade Woodass out of Clemson. A name for the ages. Wade and Ryan approved.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor’s Tools Are There
Jacksonville drafted two tight ends, which Ryan found baffling, but they did give Trevor Lawrence enough weapons to work with — and with Travis Hunter on the roster playing both sides of the ball, the offense has toys to play with. The question remains whether Lawrence can perform when it counts. He had a great comeback season, but ETN’s departure hurts the running game. Still, if this team is healthy, they could surprise people in the AFC South.
New England Patriots: AJ Brown or Bust
New England went big on the offensive line, clearly addressing the Super Bowl performance issues from their linemen. But with Drake Maye needing weapons and the receiver room looking thin after losing Diggs, the Patriots’ offseason isn’t done. Ryan’s read: AJ Brown is essentially already a Patriot. They didn’t draft a receiver at all, which is basically a flashing neon sign. Mike Vrabel reportedly created off-field chaos to take pressure off his young players. The man is already coaching.
New York Giants: Finally, An Adult in the Room
The Giants finished 4-13 last year but didn’t really feel like a 4-13 team, and their draft reflected that. They grabbed linebacker Arvel Ruiz out of Ohio State at number five, grabbed offensive line help, and traded up for Malaki Fieldsout of Notre Dame at receiver. With Jim Harbaugh running the show, the Giants finally have a legitimate culture architect. Jackson Dart’s concussion history is a concern, but if he stays healthy and Saquon — wait, wrong team. You know what we mean. The Giants are this year’s sneaky dark horse.
New York Jets: Setting the Table for 2027
The Jets went 3-14 last year and took three first-round picks — edge rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Siddiq, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. — plus a quarterback in Kade Clubnick out of Clemson. Ryan loved the draft but acknowledged the Jets caveat: “I have no faith the Jets could get the quarterback right or get the coach right.” They also have three first-round picks next year, positioning them perfectly to move up for a franchise signal caller. It’s a great plan. It’s the Jets. Proceed accordingly.
Philadelphia Eagles: Drama City, Population Jalen Hurts
The Eagles grabbed receiver Maki Lemon out of USC and a defensive tackle from Nigeria who has never played football before (bold). But all anyone can talk about is what’s happening inside that locker room. AJ Brown reading books on the sideline. Jalen Hurts reportedly struggling to connect with teammates. No head coach who’s a stabilising force. It’s a cocktail for chaos, and Ryan is “fascinated” to watch it unfold. Good luck, City of Brotherly Love.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Aaron Rodgers Hostage Situation
Pittsburgh has committed fully to Aaron Rodgers, picking up offensive tackle Max Henicore, wide receiver Jeremy Bernard, and quarterback Drew Allard from Penn State as a backup plan. They’ve got Mike McCarthy, DK Metcalf, and now new weapons. If it doesn’t work, it’s on Rodgers. And as Ryan noted — “he’s never going to blame himself, because he’s Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be the Illuminati’s fault.”
Rodgers is 43, in a darkness retreat, and seemingly miserable. This will either be the greatest redemption arc in NFL history or a slow-motion train derailment. Either way, great TV.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker’s Complicated Future
Tampa grabbed edge rusher Ruben Bain Jr. out of Miami and a few other pieces, but losing Mike Evans looms large. Baker Mayfield is fun, competitive, and easy to root for, but Ryan doesn’t think head coach Todd Bowles is the coach to take Baker to the next level. Tampa might be in a holding pattern — watching and waiting to see whether Baker can stay healthy and whether this roster is good enough to compete. Probably not Super Bowl level, but not without hope either.
Tennessee Titans: Giving Cam Ward What He Needs
The Titans grabbed wide receiver Carnel Tate — considered the best receiver in the draft — and running back Nicholas Singleton. After Cam Ward looked inconsistent last season, the Titans’ message was clear: we believe in you, but let’s give you actual weapons. Robert Salah, coming over from the Jets disaster, needs this to work. As Ryan put it, “you will definitely fail if you don’t get them a weapon at least.” Smart, necessary, and exactly what Ward needed to hear.
The Big Picture
This was a quiet draft in a year where many teams are clearly playing long game. Arizona, Miami, the Jets — there’s a cluster of franchises quietly positioning for 2027 and the Arch Manning draft class. It’s the open secret of the entire league.
In the meantime, the NFL officially heads into its off-season purgatory. The UFL carries the football torch. The FIFA World Cup rolls into North America (possibly with water break commercial timeouts courtesy of American crypto sponsors). And somewhere, Aaron Rodgers is doing breathwork in a dark room.
We’ll be back when there’s more to talk about. Here’s the link to the podcast— thanks for listening to NFL in London.
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