The eyes of Texas were upon the Steel City as Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans fans waited to see who each team would pick in during round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dallas came into round 1 with two picks — No. 12 and 20 — but made last-minute selection trades.
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The Cowboys traded up with the Miami Dolphins from No. 12 to No. 11 and traded No. 20 to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 23.
Houston also traded up with the Buffalo Bills for No. 28 to No. 26 in the draft.
It remains to be seen if both teams made the right decisions so far, but here is a look at who was chosen on day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
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1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
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New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
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Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
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Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
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New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
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Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
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Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
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New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
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Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
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Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
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Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
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Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
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Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
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Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
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Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
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Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
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Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
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Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
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Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
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Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
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Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
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Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
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Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
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Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
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Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
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New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
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Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
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Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
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Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
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Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Caleb Down of Ohio State is headed to Dallas
Caleb Downs of Ohio State celebrates after being selected eleventh overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Caleb Downs was the 11th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, chosen by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Buckeys’ safety started in 2023 at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024, where he stayed.
His career highlights include 256 total tackles over three years with 163 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 interceptions and 2 punt return touchdowns.
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Malachi Lawrence makes Cowboys roster
UCF Knights defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number 23 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
Malachi Lawrence of UCF was the 23rd pick on night 1 of the NFL Draft by the Cowboys.
The UFC edge rusher was stuck with the college all four years, racking up 72 total tackles with 20 sacks.
Lawrence’s selection fills the Cowboys’ need for an edge rusher as the team traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive guard Keylan Rutledge is selected by the Houston Texans as the number 26 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
No. 26 pick, Keylan Rutledge of Georgia Tech, is headed to H-Town for the 2026 NFL season.
The Yellow Jacket Guard started at Middle Tennessee State in 2022 and moved to Georgia Tech in 2024.
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In his four years in college, Rutledge recorded 3,019 offensive snaps. He was also the first Georgia Tech player since Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson to be named a First Team All-American in consecutive years.
He was also named to the First Team All-ACC in 2024 and 2025.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans round 1 2026 NFL Draft picks
