Five most head-scratching picks in first round of 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in full swing after Thursday night's opening round in Pittsburgh.

While the top of the draft order mostly stayed true to form and did not deliver many surprises, there were some first-round picks that stood out more than others and raised some eyebrows.

Here are the five most head-scratching picks from the first round:

Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (No. 3 overall)

Love had been one of the most fascinating players as the draft approached. That was evident by the Cardinals deciding to select him third overall and passing up an opportunity to address needs on the offensive line and at edge-rusher.

At that point, linebacker Arvell Reese was still on the board, in addition to several options for an OL upgrade. Instead, the Cardinals focused on a position they did not need to so soon in the draft, especially if you consider the recent history of RBs going in the top three.

Love's talent is clear, but if Arizona does not put the pieces around him, this does not look like an immediate fix.

Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 12 overall)

This not as much to do with Proctor and more about the Dolphins passing up opportunities to draft safety Caleb Downs or local fan-favorite Reuben Bain Jr.

The upside is there with Proctor, especially if he is given time to develop. However, the Dolphins let multiple key players go elsewhere and decided to take the chance on Proctor after swapping picks with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall)

Entering the draft, many projections had Simpson either going in the second round or late in the first round, potentially with a team moving up to get him. Neither of those scenarios happened on Thursday when the Rams took him with the 13th overall pick.

There is no denying Simpson's athleticism and arm talent, but there were plenty other positions of need that the Rams could have addressed first. For instance, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon was a popular pick to address some depth issues at the WR position.

Instead of focusing on other positions and taking a higher projected player, the Rams elected to go with Simpson as a long-term option at QB behind veteran Matthew Stafford. It may work out in the end, but it was a shocking choice by a team with other needs.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Caleb Banks (No. 18 overall)

The Vikings had many areas of need entering Thursday, including at DT. That alone makes their decision to draft the Florida DT at No. 18 one that makes sense in that regard.

With that said, he was widely projected to be mid-to-late second-round pick. Banks boasted the longest recorded wingspan at the combine since 1999 and adds a lot of power to the defensive line at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds. A left foot fracture prior to the combine, though, raises some doubts and makes this a risky pick at the moment.

Dallas Cowboys edge Malachi Lawrence (No. 23 overall)

What makes this selection at No. 23 interesting is the fact that Dallas inherited the pick after its NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles swapped picks and drafted Lemon at No. 20 to bolster its WR room.

Additionally, the Cowboys selected a player who was projected to go in the second round and has trouble turning the corner consistently against tackles. There is certainly some upside there for a rebuilding defense, but also a low floor for a first-round pick.