It’s Draft Day, people. The 91st NFL Draft is upon us, live from Pittsburgh, and your NFL in London boys Wade and Ryan are here to walk you through the entire first round — pick by pick, argument by argument, and the occasional butchered surname.
Before we dive in, a quick temperature check from Ryan: “This is the least excited I’ve ever been for a draft. Everything’s mid — as the kids would say.” Wade, ever the optimist, noted the field is “underwhelming.” And yet, here we are at 1am UK time, cancelling all our plans for the weekend. Beautiful, isn’t it?
With no blockbuster quarterback class to get the blood pumping (save for one), and analysts struggling to muster enthusiasm even for top-five guys, this draft is shaping up to be the Year of the Edge Rusher. You’ll see what we mean. Buckle up.
🏈 THE TOP 10
Pick #1 — Las Vegas Raiders
Wade’s Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB
Ryan’s Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB
Some rare agreement right out of the gate. Fernando Mendoza — the pride of the Bay Area and the Latino community — goes first overall to the Raiders, and honestly, who else is it going to be? The Raiders have trotted out a parade of quarterbacks in recent years (Gino Smith, Pete Carroll’s experiment, Minshew, Aiden O’Connell…) and it has been, in Ryan’s words, “a disaster for a while.”
Ryan floated the idea of the Raiders trading back into the late first to grab Mendoza’s college teammate Omar Cooper Jr. — pointing to the Joe Burrow/Ja’Marr Chase blueprint. Wade was impressed by the kid’s work ethic: “Everyone says he learned every player’s name everywhere he went. He’s just one of those guys that studies, studies, studies. In the age of the influencer, it’s nice.”
Will Mendoza be great? Ryan’s honest answer: “I don’t know.” But hope springs eternal in Las Vegas.
Pick #2 — New York Jets
Wade’s Pick: Arvel Reese, Edge Rusher, Ohio State
Ryan’s Pick: Arvel Reese, Edge Rusher, Ohio State
Two for two. The Jets, who once boasted one of the most feared defences in football before promptly gutting it, go with the best edge rusher in the draft. Ryan’s advice to the Jets: “You’ve been messing up drafts for a decade — just play it safe. Get the best player that can help your team.”
Wade reminded everyone that even fourth-round picks become stars (see: Maxx Crosby), so getting Reese at #2 is the kind of move even Jets fans can feel good about. For about five minutes, before the other shoe drops.
Pick #3 — Arizona Cardinals
Wade’s Pick: Francis Mauioa, OT, Florida
Ryan’s Pick: Monroe Freeling, from Georgia, OT
Both boys agree: offensive line is the move. Marvin Harrison Jr. is already there. Trey McBride is balling out. The Cardinals’ problem? The offensive line that made life miserable for their quarterbacks. Ryan made the point that drafting a running back third overall (Jeremiah Love was whispered about) would be a mistake — pointing to the Raiders’ Bijan Robinson cautionary tale. “If you don’t have the offensive line, it isn’t gonna work.”
Wade had a delightful time trying to pronounce “Mauioa” on air. Multiple attempts were made. The name won.
Pick #4 — Tennessee Titans
Wade’s Pick: Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Ryan’s Pick: David Bailey, Edge Rusher, Texas Tech
First disagreement! Ryan’s logic: you hired Robert Salah — a defensive mastermind — so give him a defensive player. Simple. “What did you hire a defensive coordinator for if you’re just going to hand him a running back?”
Wade’s counter: Jeremiah Love is too good to leave on the board. Cam Ward needs a weapon. And when a prime cut of meat is sitting there, you don’t leave it for someone else to grab. Both valid. Both argued with gusto.
Pick #5 — New York Giants
Wade’s Pick: David Bailey, Edge Rusher, Texas Tech
Ryan’s Pick: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Harbaugh comes to New York, and Ryan wants to give Jackson Dart a weapon. After losing Robinson to injury and seeing the offence struggle, Ryan’s vision is Scaborough and Carnell Tate as a dynamic duo — “just let it rip and give the Giants some fun hope.”
Wade disagreed, going defence to replace Dexter Lawrence (who shipped off to Cincinnati). The Giants’ defensive line used to be a thing of beauty. It needs rebuilding. David Bailey is the move. Two very different philosophies, one very confused fanbase.
Pick #6 — Cleveland Browns
Wade’s Pick: Caden Proctor, OT, Alabama
Ryan’s Pick: Francis Mauioa, OT, Florida
Finally — both go offensive line! The Browns’ offensive line was, not to put too fine a point on it, horrendous last year. DeShaun Watson was getting sacked in his sleep. Ryan: “If you’re even going to give him the chance to be the starter, give him the best shot he’s got.” Wade agreed wholeheartedly, adding that even a mediocre QB deserves at least three extra seconds in the pocket.
Pick #7 — Washington Commanders
Wade’s Pick: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Ryan’s Pick: Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Washington had a nightmare 2025 season — injuries everywhere, Jayden Daniels taking hits he didn’t need to take, the season over before it started. Ryan: “I’m worried about how much Daniels has to run for every first down, getting smacked out of bounds.” A good running back eases that burden.
Wade went offensive tackle to protect Daniels directly. Same problem, different solutions. Both men sound very stressed about Jayden Daniels’ health. Fair.
Pick #8 — New Orleans Saints
Wade’s Pick: Sonny Stiles, LB, Ohio State
Ryan’s Pick: MacKay Lemmon, WR
Ryan wants to give the offensive head coach another weapon — Alvin Kamara’s future is murky, Rashid Shahid was traded, and the receiving corps needs a Robin to Olafsson’s Batman. Wade went defence: New Orleans had a good defence in years past, then it fell apart. Time to rebuild it. Sonny Stiles, linebacker.
Both agree Shook showed promise last year. Both agree the Saints need pieces. They just disagree on which pieces. Classic Wade and Ryan.
Pick #9 — Kansas City Chiefs
Wade’s Pick: Ruben Bain, Edge Rusher, Florida
Ryan’s Pick: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Chiefs — with a hobbled Mahomes, a depleted secondary, and half their defensive weapons gone — are picking ninth. Ryan goes safety: “They lost safeties, they lost corners. They need to replenish.” Caleb Downs, he argues, is one of the best prospects in the entire draft.
Wade laughed and went edge rusher. His logic: Spagnuolo is going to want pressure. He’s always going to want pressure. And Ruben Bain from Florida is big, fast, and powerful. Wade noted, perhaps a touch too gleefully, that Spags would “probably spag all over his pants” taking a pick like that. We’ll let that image sit with you.
Pick #10 — New York Giants (via Cincinnati)
Wade’s Pick: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Ryan’s Pick: Sonny Stiles, LB, Ohio State
The Giants have two picks in the top 10 thanks to the Dexter Lawrence trade with Cincinnati. Harbaugh is, in Ryan’s words, wetting his pants. Ryan grabs the best linebacker in the draft to pair with his Carnell Tate pick at five — a receiver and a linebacker in the top 10. “A 10 out of 10 draft for the Giants if this happens.”
Wade doubled down on defence with Mansoor Delane, cornerback from LSU — a top-tier shutdown corner who complements the Bailey edge rusher pick at five. Two defensive rookies to replace what was traded away. Wade’s Giants are built different. Literally.
🏈 PICKS 11–32: THE REST OF THE ROUND
Here’s how Wade and Ryan saw the rest of the first round playing out:
Pick #11 — Miami Dolphins: Both boys agree here — Miami gutted their receiving corps (traded Waddle, cut Tyreek, handed the keys to Malik Willis) and now must give the man something. Ryan goes Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State. Wade agrees. One of the few moments of harmony. They both feel deeply sorry for Malik Willis.
Pick #12 — Dallas Cowboys: Ryan takes Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — the Cowboys lost Trevon Diggs and their secondary is swiss cheese. Wade goes Akeem Mesadour, Edge Rusher, Florida — the Cowboys need a new young Micah Parsons, and they need one badly. Jerry Jones presumably approves of either pick while texting from a yacht.
Pick #13 — LA Rams: Ryan protects Stafford (offensive line, Vega). Wade goes Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State — the Rams need youth and speed at receiver before the Stafford era ends. Both picks make sense. Stafford probably just wants to eat a sandwich in peace.
Pick #14 — Baltimore Ravens: Ryan goes Kedrick Falk, Edge, purely because it is the most Baltimore move in history. “They just always seem to do this no matter what.” Wade goes safety Caleb Downs — the Ravens were getting torched deep and the new defensive coach can’t keep giving away big plays. Lamar deserves better.
Pick #15 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan goes Ruben Bain, Edge, from Miami — the year of the edge rusher continues. Wade goes Spencer Fano, OT, Utah — Baker Mayfield needs a bigger pocket and better protection. When Baker goes down, Tampa goes down with him.
Pick #16 — New York Jets (2nd pick): Ryan keeps building the trenches — Spencer Fano, OT. Wade gets clever and goes Kenyon Siddique, TE, Oregon — the Jets have no real tight end, and a big, blocking, pass-catching tight end could unlock the offence. The Jets will probably ignore both suggestions and do something spectacular.
Pick #17 — Detroit Lions: Ryan goes Akeem Mesadour, Edge — Dan Campbell needs two dogs across from Aidan Hutchinson. Wade saw what happened when Hutchinson went down: the Lions fell apart. Ryan agrees. Wade goes Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee instead — the secondary was the other hole. Dan Campbell is grinding his teeth watching this conversation.
Pick #18 — Minnesota Vikings: Agreement! Both Wade and Ryan take Dylan Thiminos (Wade butchered the pronunciation beautifully), Safety, Oregon. The defence needs reinforcing, Flores needs weapons, and Kevin O’Connell has enough pieces offensively. Wade: “The defence needs to step up. There were just too many close losses last year.”
Pick #19 — Carolina Panthers: Ryan goes Kenny Sadiq, TE — Bryce Young needs a reliable dump-off valve, someone he can trust when the reads close down. Wade goes Oleave Gheoni (also butchered heroically), Interior OL, Penn State — more protection for Young’s legs, because his legs are the whole offence. Both picks share the same prayer: please work, Bryce.
Pick #20 — Dallas Cowboys (2nd pick): Ryan goes TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson — Micah Parsons is now in Green Bay, and Dallas needs someone to replace the heartbeat of their defence. Wade goes Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State — the defence was woeful all over, time to fix the secondary too. Jerry Jones has many feelings. As always.
Pick #21 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan goes Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama — draft your heir apparent while you can. Aaron Rodgers isn’t walking through that door forever. “Pittsburgh needs to be smart.” Wade goes Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana — give Rodgers more weapons first. “All hands on deck.” The spirit of Kenny Pickett weeps quietly in the corner.
Pick #22 — Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan goes Manuel Pregnon, IOL — protect Herbert at all costs. Herbert was getting MVP votes while playing with nobodies. Give the man a wall. Wade goes TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson — the defence needs an injection of youth and pass rush. Mike McDaniels nods approvingly at both.
Pick #23 — Philadelphia Eagles: Ryan goes CJ Allen, LB — keep loading up Fangio’s defence, the unit that won the Super Bowl. Wade goes Max Lanacore (Wade: “I’m gonna muck up his name here”), OT, Arizona — the offensive line lost bodies when they lost Kelce’s blocking partnership. Both are building around a Super Bowl roster.
Pick #24 — Cleveland Browns (2nd pick): Ryan goes Omar Cooper Jr., WR — DeShaun Watson was dumping it to the tight end every play because no one could get open. Get the man a weapon. Wade, brilliantly and chaotically, goes Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama. Wade’s reasoning: “Too many dicks on the dance floor. You’ve gotta have at least five quarterbacks.” Ryan: “Oh my god, another quarterback! That would be HILARIOUS.” DeShaun Watson, presumably, is not laughing.
Pick #25 — Chicago Bears: Ryan goes Peter Woods, DL — load up the defensive trenches and stop the run. The Bears’ offence looks fine; it’s the defence that’s leaky. Wade goes Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF — because there are, in Wade’s words, “so many edge rushers, we’re spoiled for edge rushers.” This is the most honest summary of this draft class.
Pick #26 — Buffalo Bills: Ryan goes Casey Concepcion, WR — a speedy, local boy from the Rochester/Buffalo area who can take the top off defences and open up everything for Josh Allen. “The only thing the Bills haven’t had in the last decade is a speed guy on the outside.” Ryan kept Concepcion on his board just for the emotional satisfaction. Wade goes Blake Miller, OT, Clemson — keep the pressure off Allen and give the running game room to breathe. Josh Allen, reportedly, has just had a baby. He needs help.
Pick #27 — San Francisco 49ers: Ryan goes Caden Proctor, OL — Trent Williams is getting older, Brock Purdy must be protected, and Christian McCaffrey needs holes to run through. Wade goes Casey Concepcion, WR — Mike Evans is fine, but he needs speed alongside him. The Niners have all the pieces; don’t let the offensive line be the thing that breaks them.
Pick #28 — Houston Texans: Ryan goes Caleb Banks, DT — double down on identity. The defence is the brand. Wade goes Caden McDonald, DL, Ohio State — make it scarier up front, take the pressure off Stroud, profit. The Texans are quietly building something terrifying.
Pick #29 — Kansas City Chiefs (2nd pick): Ryan goes Jermard McCoy, CB — they traded their top corner and Mahomes is out for a bit. They cannot give up 30 points every week. Wade goes Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — same logic, different name. The Chiefs’ secondary is a genuine concern and both boys know it.
Pick #30 — Miami Dolphins (2nd pick): Ryan goes Emmanuel McNeil Warren, S — the Dolphins are going to get thrown on by Josh Allen and Drake May. You need someone to take away the deep ball. Wade goes Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah — Berst needs protection and the Dolphins have more holes than a golf course. Both are right. The Dolphins are a mess.
Pick #31 — New England Patriots: Ryan goes Cassius Howell, Edge — the Pats’ biggest problem last year was getting to the quarterback. They couldn’t pressure anyone. With Josh Allen in the division, that cannot continue. Wade goes R. Mason Thomas, DL, Oklahoma — the Super Bowl run exposed the defensive inconsistencies. More bodies up front. Vrabel would approve.
Pick #32 — Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl Champions): Ryan goes Abeson Terrell, CB — trust Darnold, trust JSN, trust Charbonneau. The offence will be fine. Keep giving Mike McDonald defensive weapons. That’s the bread and butter. Wade goes Keldrick Falk, Edge, Auburn — put the pressure on, go defence, and don’t touch what isn’t broken on offence. The Seahawks end the round as they ended the season: on top.
🎙️ FINAL THOUGHTS
So there you have it — the complete 2026 NFL Draft first round as seen through the eyes of NFL in London’s Wade and Ryan. A few takeaways:
- Edge rushers are EVERYWHERE. This draft class is absolutely stacked with pass rushers. Every other pick is an edge. Wade and Ryan were “spoiled for edge rushers” and they weren’t wrong.
- The offensive line is quietly the other dominant theme. Multiple teams are finally doing the sensible thing and building from the trenches out.
- Fernando Mendoza is the only QB anyone is truly excited about. The rest of the quarterback class is an afterthought — which is probably why the whole draft feels a bit mid.
- The Dolphins are a mess. Both boys said so, multiple times, in multiple ways, with increasing sadness in their voices.
- Wade’s pick of Ty Simpson for Cleveland at #24 — when they already have DeShaun Watson — may be the single funniest pick in draft history. The man is chaos in human form.
The draft starts at 1am UK time, so set your alarms, brew something strong, and enjoy the chaos. Cancel your Saturday plans. You won’t regret it.
Make sure you listen to the whole podcast here.
— Wade & Ryan, NFL in London
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