Mel Kiper Jr. Apr 23, 2026, 11:55 PM ET Close Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast , and he writes regularly for ESPN+. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft was difficult to predict right up until the clock started ticking. And the more difficult it is to predict, the more likely we get some chaos and big-time surprises. It didn't take long for the shockers to start rolling. Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 to the Raiders as we all knew would happen, and David Bailey went No. 2 to the Jets as most expected would happen. But then the Cardinals put a jolt into Round 1 with Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Chiefs followed by trading up to No. 6 for Mansoor Delane , and the Cowboys hopped up one spot to take Caleb Downs at No. 11. But the real stunner came halfway through the first round, with the Rams taking Ty Simpson at No. 13.…