Story By: Preston Bennett

MONTEVALLO, Ala. — The 2026 NFL Draft is officially over, and with that, we now know where some of the top prospects will be starting there NFL careers.

The first pick went the way most expected, as Fernando Mendoza went to the Raiders as the No. 1 pick. Mendoza becomes the first quarterback since 2020 to win the Heisman Trophy, National Championship, and be drafted No. 1 in the same year.

Fernando Mendoza speaks with the media after being drafted No. 1 by the Las Vegas Raiders. (Photo courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

David Bailey went at No. 2 to the New York Jets, while the Arizona Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Titans took Carnell Tate, as he becomes the 14th Ohio State wide receiver to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Arvell Reese got picked by the Giants at No. 5, and in a surprising move, The Kansas City Chiefs traded up with the Browns and drafted Mansoor Delane of LSU at No. 6.

For Alabama football fans, the Rams made a surprising move as well and drafted Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. Simpson was the 2nd quarterback off the board, with some questioning why the Rams made this move.

The biggest story for those in Shelby County is Alabaster native and Thompson High School alum Peter Woods, a defensive tackle from Clemson, getting drafted at No. 29 by the Chiefs. This made Woods the first player from Shelby County to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. In the lead up to the Draft, Woods said that Draft night would be magical.

“I’m forever grateful for just the opportunity to even be drafted and be apart of something as special as the NFL,” Woods said. To see more information on how the rest Draft went, you can visit ESPN.com.