The Las Vegas Raiders did what was expected, then NFL teams started swapping draft picks like sports cards
The opening night of the NFL Draft last night played out as planned – Commissioner Roger Goodell took the stage, just after 8 p.m. EST, card in hand, announcing to a crowd of over 300,000 in Pittsburgh that the Las Vegas Raiders were taking quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Raiders now have their QB of the future, who will likely apprentice behind veteran Kirk Cousins, signed as a free agent, this upcoming season. Betway this morning has the Raiders Super Bowl odds at +15000, ahead of the Cleveland Browns (+200000), Miami Dolphins (+20000), New York Jets (+20000) and Arizona Cardinals (+25000).
After Mendoza, though, it got interesting. If anything, the New York Jets won the first round – adding a third first round pick (No. 30) after making a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, from the Miami Dolphins through the Denver Broncos, for a 2026 second-round pick (No. 33) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 179).
With No. 1 and No. 16 picks already in hand, the Jets went to work. By the end of the evening, as an ESPN commentator said, they landed three studs to boost a roster that went 3-14 last season, finishing last in the AFC East.
At No. 2, after Mendoza, the Jets took 6-foot-3, 251-pound explosive edge David Bailey, out of Texas Tech. At No. 16 they took 6-foot-3, 241-pound tight end Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon, an athletic freak, a wide receiver in a tight end frame, who ran a 4.40 in the 40 at the combine, making him a legitimate threat after the catch.
And at No. 30, they took what ESPN analyst Rich Cimini said was a steal – wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., 6-foot-0, 199 pounds, who played with Mendoza at Indiana. Cimini noted how Cooper complements a talented group of receivers in New York, led by Garrett Wilson. Cooper excelled from the slot last season, working some middle-of-the-field brilliance. Cimini projected Cooper going at No. 15 going into the draft. The issue with the Jets is Geno Smith is their QB.
The Arizona Cardinals surprised a lot of people by taking 6-foot-0, 212-pound Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, followed 6-foot-2, 192-pound wide receiver Carnell Tate to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4.
That left 6-foot-4, 241-pound linebacker Arvell Reese for the New York Giants at five, whom they gladly grabbed. Reese was betting favourite at Betway to go No. 2, at -165.
Other trades during draft night – the Kansas City Chiefs, acquiring the No. 6 pick from the Cleveland Browns (which they used to take CB Mansoor Delane), in exchange for the No. 9 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick (No. 74) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 148.
The Dallas Cowboy then moved up one spot to grab a safety, in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Dallas received the No. 11 pick, which they used on Caleb Downs, sending the No. 12 pick, a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 177) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 180) to the Fish.
The Cowboys then shifted their attention to their NFL East rival Philadelphia Eagles, trading their No. 20 first round pick (which the Eagles used to select wide receiver Makai Lemon) last night, as well as a 2027 seventh-round pick, in exchange for the No. 23 pick in the first round, a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a another 2026 fourth-rounder (No. 137).
The Dolphins moved up in a trade with the 49ers – receiving the No. 27 pick last night (using that to take CB Chris Johnson), as well as receiving a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 138), in exchange for the No. 30 pick last night, via the Broncos, and a 2026 third rounder (No. 90).
And for the Buffalo Bills, sitting at +900 at Betway this morning to win Super Bowl LXI, it was a night of chess board moves, where in the end they didn’t make a pick in the first round.
The Bills went into the evening with the No. 26 pick, which they traded to the Tennessee Titans, along with a 2026 third-round pick (No. 91), in exchange for the No. 28 pick last night, a 2026 third-round pick (No. 69), and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 167).
Then, they took that No. 28 and traded it to the New England Patriots, taking back the No. 31 first rounder, and a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 125).
And finally, the Bills took that No. 31 pick and traded themselves right out of the first round – swapping that to the Titans, along with a 2026 third-round pick (No. 66) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 101), in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (No. 35), a 2026 third-round pick (No. 69), and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 165).
After the dust settled, the Bills are left with eight picks through the next six rounds. It’s going to be a busy day, today.
Day 2 of the draft gets going at 7 p.m. EST tonight, with Rounds 2-3. Round 4-7 is tomorrow, starting at noon.
