NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The 2026 NFL Draft, like any other, has brought mixed emotions among fans.
Broadcasts and social media sparked debate on several topics, while controversies overshadowed the event for some this year.
Here’s all the biggest drama coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
The latest New England Patriots scandal
Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are pictured in a split composite image showing Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel left his team on the third day of this year’s draft as he turned his attention to his family after several scandalous photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini were leaked in recent weeks.
Vrabel and the Patriots announced he would retire from the team early Thursday morning, and hours later, a photo showing Vrabel and Russini kissing was published by the New York Post.
Vrabel then held a press conference just before the start of the first round, amid speculation about his future with the team.
“My previous actions do not meet the standards I hold myself to,” he said at the news conference.
FULL NFL ROUND 1 RESULTS FROM A WILD NIGHT
Vrabel was asked to explain why he initially made a statement call pictures of him and Russini at an Arizona resort “laughable” after they were published by the New York Post earlier in April.
“It is a private and personal matter. I don’t think those comments…it was an attempt to protect your family,” Vrabel said.
That was the last question Vrabel answered before leaving the podium and storming out of the room.
The Patriots then selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round, sparking viral jokes after his draft profile video showed him doing a dance in which he slowly spun in a circle while raising his hands.
“This video will go triple platinum when Drake Maye is sacked for the 5th time in a half,” one user wrote in the caption of an X post of Lomu’s video.
Arvell Reese and the New York Giants
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the New York Giants selected him fifth overall in the first round of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
The Giants shocked many when they selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick.
Some fans and experts believed the Giants would not add another linebacker with such a high pick, with several high investments at the position already on the roster. Some fans were even more frustrated when they used the 10th pick on offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, leaving out hot safety prospect Caleb Downs. Downs then went 11th to the rival Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, Reese has emerged as a topic of debate for other reasons. Stories about how he had a 0.4 GPA in high school, then a 3.7 GPA at Ohio State, spread like wildfire on draft night.
“I think the secret is just time and effort,” Reese told CBS Sports. “In high school, it was a time where I didn’t even try to go to school or I didn’t really think school was important. So I had to hang in there and take things seriously.”
But then New York sports radio host Craig Carton of WFAN went viral for commenting on Reese’s academic roller coaster.
“How does a kid who had a 0.4 GPA in high school leave Ohio State with a 3.7 GPA?” » said Carton. “I wish I understood that.”
Reese also went viral during a series of interaction moments with New York sports media shortly after his selection.
During his introductory press conference, Reese earned praise and fear from fans and pundits alike for a comment about accepting “violence.”
“In defense, you have to be violent. You have to think about doing something violent,” he said.
During another press conference moment, Reese was asked an awkwardly worded question about how he would impact veterans and children with disabilities.
Reese asked the reporter to repeat the question, then stuttered before responding, saying “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“Who even asks a question like this to a newbie right off the bat?” user X wrote in response to a snippet of the interaction.
ESPN and the new eight-minute clock
The NFL rolled out an all-new shortened pick clock this year, reducing the time teams have to pick from 10 minutes to eight minutes.
However, the decision appeared to spark strong reactions on social media, particularly against the ESPN broadcast.
Several fans have complained that they can’t even scroll through X or open their phone without seeing the results 3-4 times down. One user wrote: “I personally liked the 8 minute clock, but it was very annoying the first 10 choices because I couldn’t even open my phone without being spoiled 4 choices in advance.”
Sean McVay and the Rams’ selection of QB Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson of Alabama celebrates after being selected as the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Émilee Chinn/Getty Images)
When the Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, head coach Sean McVay didn’t look happy, and he admitted as much on Friday.
McVay, while recapping the second day of The Rams draft, opened his press conference by acknowledging his behavior following Simpson’s selection.
“I understand my behavior last night, but we’re excited. There’s different things. I always want to be mindful of how things are going and things like that. I’m very excited about last night and very excited about today. I couldn’t be more excited about us continuing to lead together, but every decision we make is collective and collaborative,” McVay said.
“For any questions or misunderstandings based solely on my behavior or temperament last night, I wanted to get this straightened out. That’s my boyfriend right here.,” McVay said with a smile as he extended his hand to general manager Les Snead.
“It was brought to my attention because I received so many text messages. It was never my intention to be able to stand out, but sometimes I can be a little grumpy.”
A reporter followed and asked the 40-year-old coach why he was grumpy.
“Well, there were other things that had nothing to do with it, that’s normal life,” McVay said.
“The bottom line was I couldn’t be more excited to be able to add him, but also understanding how much I love Matthew Stafford, how respectful you always want to be and how things can be interpreted. The attitude would have been stoic in nature because you’re excited, but by no means – this is Matthew’s football team.”
Cardinals take running back with third pick
Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame celebrates after being selected as the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Émilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals made one of the boldest and most debated selections in this year’s draft, taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love with the third overall pick. While Love is undeniably talented, this move throws Draft Twitter into absolute chaos, with fans, analysts, and scouts calling him from “dessert-first strategy” to “bad business.”
“I love the player. I hate the pick where this happened. RB in the top 5 shouldn’t happen in this day and age,” one X user wrote.
Another user wrote: “I hope jersey sales are good because RB Jeremiah Love will be the worst pick in the first round. I think ownership has intervened.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
ESPN reporter Myron Medcalf wrote on
