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Mendoza Goes No. 1 as Chiefs Trade Up and Rams Surprise at 13 in NFL Draft Opener

Rising college pay and new revenue sharing are changing when prospects turn pro, a shift that is starting to shape draft boards.

Overview

  • The Raiders, who picked first Thursday in Pittsburgh, selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 and he watched the announcement with family in Miami.
  • Kansas City moved from No. 9 to No. 6 to draft cornerback Mansoor Delane, sending third- and fifth-round picks to Cleveland as GM Brett Veach said Delane had been their target for weeks.
  • The Rams used pick No. 13 on quarterback Ty Simpson in a move that surprised analysts, adding a successor option behind 38-year-old starter and MVP Matthew Stafford.
  • Arizona chose running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, an unusually high slot for the position and a nod to his speed and big-play profile.
  • The draft opened on Pittsburgh's North Shore with a new eight-minute clock for first-round picks, and rounds two through seven continue Friday and Saturday as German prospects such as tight end Marlin Klein look for late-round or undrafted deals.