Looking at every No. 26 pick since 2020

Jordan Love is among the No. 26 picks taken in the NFL draft since 2020

For just the second time since the 2016 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams will have a first-round pick. L.A. is slated to pick No. 26 overall in this year’s draft.

Some notable players have been selected at that spot throughout NFL history. The Ravens took Ray Lewis at No. 26 in 1996, and it could not have worked out any better for the franchise. Lewis’s 17-year career in Baltimore earned him two Super Bowl rings and a coveted gold jacket.

Hall of Famer Alan Faneca, Duane Brown and Clay Matthews were also memorable 26th overall picks. However, recent history has largely been a mixed bag. Of the five players selected in that spot since 2020, they have combined for one Pro Bowl nod.

Here is a closer look at those five players:

2020 – QB Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)

Aaron Rodgers’ successor was a controversial choice at the time, and forced the HOF QB to drown his frustrations in tequila. During his first season as the full-time starter with Rodgers hitting Broadway, Love threw 32 touchdown passes, good for second in the NFL behind Dak Prescott’s 36.

Love is also a football god during Toyotathon for whatever reason.

I’m not fully convinced that Love is the guy for Green Bay. Last season’s ending somewhat soured his case, yet the injuries he struggled with throughout the year give him a slight pass. However, his guiding the league’s youngest team to back-to-back postseason appearances indicates the best is yet to come for the Pack.

2021 – CB Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns)

Newsome was the fourth cornerback taken in the 2021 draft. That year marked the first time Northwestern had two first-round picks after Rashawn Slater went to the L.A. Chargers at 13th overall.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Newsome as a starter to begin his rookie season alongside veteran Denzel Ward. The pair were expected to lock opposing offenses down in Cleveland, but that hasn’t been the case. Newsome has mostly been serviceable, just nothing spectacular. He is currently involved in trade rumors.

2022 – DE Jermaine Johnson II (New York Jets)

Bet you didn’t guess that Johnson was the lone player from this grouping to earn a Pro Bowl nod that I mentioned earlier. I figured Love would’ve been voted in at least once.

Anyway, Johnson has proven to be a key piece of the Jets’ stingy defense. He had a breakout sophomore campaign where he had 7.5 sacks, 55 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, a 37-yard pick-six and most importantly, started all 17 games.

Unfortunately, Johnson tore his Achilles in Week 2 of last season against the Tennessee Titans. If the Florida State product can fully recover from the injury, he figures to be a menace in Aaron Glenn’s defense.

2023 – DT Mazi Smith (Dallas Cowboys)

Smith has been nothing special in Dallas, yet has appeared in every game since being drafted, including 17 starts last season. The former Michigan standout has posted only 2.0 sacks in his career and had 41 combined tackles in the 2024 campaign.

With the Cowboys set to have their third defensive coordinator in Smith’s three seasons, he will have his hands full learning a new system.

2024 – C Graham Barton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Barton is set to be a mainstay on the Bucs’ offensive line for years to come. The second-year lineman competed to be the starting center in Year 1, and head coach Todd Bowles named him the starter after beating out Robert Hainsey. Bowles and company were certainly elated that Barton fell into their laps on draft day.

The 33rd Team noted that Barton had the fourth-lowest pressure rate allowed among rookies at 3.8%. No wonder the Bucs were so excited.