Two days of the 2026 NFL draft down, one to go. I broke down what I preferred (and did not like) in Spherical 1 on Thursday evening, and now I am doing the identical for Rounds 2-3.
Solely 4 gamers within the high 32 of my Large Board rankings have been nonetheless accessible Friday, which meant groups needed to be savvy find sturdy suits and worth. The 49ers — who had traded again with the Jets to land at No. 33 — began issues off with De’Zhaun Stribling. It took seven picks earlier than receiver Denzel Boston got here off the board, becoming a member of the Browns’ offense — he was my greatest accessible prospect popping out of Spherical 1. We additionally noticed two quarterbacks get picked; Arizona took Carson Beck, then Pittsburgh chosen Drew Allar. And one of many tales of the evening was the tight finish run. The picks got here quick on the place, however they may have come too quick.
There have been some actually sturdy alternatives, the place entrance workplaces attacked roster wants. However there have been additionally some complicated strikes, the place groups missed alternatives to make higher additions. Let’s put the 68 picks into context.
Which groups have been the large winners of the evening? To interrupt down the very best and worst from Friday, I leaned alone Large Board rankings and prospect grades to get a way of which groups received steals and which groups reached. Every roster’s largest wants, what every entrance workplace did in Spherical 1 and any trades concerned within the picks — each up and down the board — have been additionally essential concerns.
We’ll be again for Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (midday ET on ESPN and the ESPN App). I nonetheless have 21 gamers in my high 100 on the board, so anticipate extra impression alternatives on Day 3. (I listed my greatest accessible prospects on the backside right here with early lookahead ideas.) I will even have full postdraft grades for all 32 franchises late Saturday evening, sizing up every class. However first, let’s recap the highs and lows of Rounds 2 and three.
NFL draft protection:
Kiper’s Day 1 winners
Draftcast | Sizing up each choose
Kiper’s Large Board | Extra
Leap to:
Largest winners | Head-scratchers
Finest prospects nonetheless accessible
Largest winners and greatest picks from Rounds 2-3
The choose: Denzel Boston (No. 39), Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 58), Austin Barber (No. 86)
Cleveland reached for KC Concepcion a bit Thursday, however they turned it round and received worth on Boston on Day 2. He was my greatest remaining participant on the board coming into Friday evening, and he can instantly make an impression on this Browns offense. Boston runs sturdy routes, and he makes use of his 6-foot-4, 212-pound body to take defenders out of the play. With lengthy arms and positive fingers, he catches all the pieces (which is the knock on Concepcion), adjusting his physique to haul within the ball.
For those who have been questioning the Browns going with two receivers inside the highest 40 picks, nicely, take a look at the stat sheet from 2025. Cleveland did not have a single wideout crack 650 yards, and the WR room mixed for a league-low 1,467 receiving yards. Maintain the WR picks coming.
Elsewhere, McNeil-Warren was thirty third on my board, and the Browns discovered him nonetheless accessible at No. 58. I used to be stunned he slid this far. McNeil-Warren was a mix standout, operating a 4.52 at 6-4, 201 kilos. And he can create turnovers for the protection, with 5 picks and 10 compelled fumbles over his profession. The Browns hit worth all evening.
Nevertheless, there have been a couple of higher choices at sort out on the board when Cleveland traded fourth- and sixth-rounders to maneuver from No. 105 all the way in which as much as No. 86. Barber began for granted sort out earlier than transferring to the left facet, and he has 39 profession begins. He is nice within the operating recreation, getting motion on drive blocks and exhibiting lateral agility. However Barber loses to energy too typically. Between the commerce and passing up different OTs, this one was iffy, however throwing property on the offensive line is a good suggestion general for Cleveland.
The choose: Zion Younger (No. 45), Ja’Kobi Lane (No. 80)
The Ravens needed to pair Trey Hendrickson with one other impression edge rusher, they usually discovered a first-round expertise right here in Spherical 2. Younger was No. 22 on my board, the final remaining prospect from my ultimate high 25 nonetheless accessible at this No. 45 choose. Younger performs to the whistle with power, and he makes use of his sturdy fingers and fast toes to get to the QB, with 46 pressures and 6.5 sacks final season.
However this is why I actually just like the match. Baltimore was initially going so as to add Maxx Crosby by way of commerce, and one among his greatest traits is his run-stopping means. The transfer permits Crosby to remain on the sphere all three downs. Younger is a unbelievable run blocker, too. He seals the sting and crashes down the road, ending 2025 with 16 run stops.
Lane was WR15 for me, and he is a silky-smooth mover with the size, explosion and powerful fingers to high-point the soccer. At 6-4 and 200 kilos, he’s a problem for smaller cornerbacks to deal with on the surface, and 11 of his 16 landing catches over the previous two seasons have come within the pink zone. Lamar Jackson will love that talent set.
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What Zion Younger brings to the Ravens
What Zion Younger brings to the Ravens
The choose: Avieon Terrell (No. 48), Zachariah Department (No. 79)
The Falcons took the primary evening of the draft off as results of the James Pearce Jr. commerce final yr, however they caught my consideration halfway via the second spherical. Not solely did they get one among my favourite gamers within the class, they united him along with his brother. Avieon Terrell is the brother of A.J. Terrell Jr., and now these two will share a cornerback room in Atlanta. Avieon Terrell flips his hips and runs with receivers nicely, and though he did not have any interceptions in 2025, he had 5 compelled fumbles and 9 move breakups. At 5-11 and 186 kilos, he might be a slot man on the subsequent stage.
Department can be one among my favorites, and I may need been increased on him than most, grading him as an early Spherical 2 choose. Getting him late on Day 2 is great. He is 5-9 and 177 kilos, however he is additionally lightning fast with 4.35 pace and explosive traits. Department can take a quick-game move for a giant play along with his elusiveness in area. I comped him to Zay Flowers, and he’ll be within the combine behind Drake London for both Tua Tagovailoa or a wholesome Michael Penix Jr. whereas additionally chipping in as a kick returner.
The choose: CJ Allen (No. 53), A.J. Haulcy (No. 78)
The Colts waited till No. 53 to make a choose, they usually nonetheless received the Twenty eighth-best participant on my board. Getting worth that sturdy with the workforce’s first choose of the draft lightens the damage of lacking out on the primary spherical. Linebacker was an issue in Indianapolis; the Colts signed Akeem Davis-Gaither, however the depth chart is missing. Allen enters as a three-down ‘backer who makes performs in all phases of the sport as a result of he reads and reacts so nicely.
Twenty-five picks later, the Colts added Haulcy to their secondary. He is all ball abilities. This child had eight interceptions and 12 move breakups over the previous two seasons, and he will help fill Nick Cross’ vacated spot on the again finish alongside Cam Bynum.
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What CJ Allen brings to the Colts
What CJ Allen brings to the Colts
The choose: Jake Slaughter (No. 63)
The Chargers did not discover their inside lineman in Spherical 1, however they received a strong middle on Day 2. Slaughter was on my “favourite gamers within the class” listing on the place. He has began 33 video games within the robust SEC, and he allowed simply six pressures over that point. He’s a giant, sturdy pivot at 6-5, 303 kilos, and he drives defenders out of the way in which. However it’s not all energy — he is gentle on his toes and reads out the play quick, exhibiting consciousness on stunts.
Justin Herbert took 54 sacks final season, third most within the NFL. A few of that falls on tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt being out with vital accidents, however the inside was tough. Slaughter is precisely what Herbert wants, even with the Tyler Biadasz signing.
The choose: Chase Bisontis (No. 34), Carson Beck (No. 65)
Bisontis was a pleasant choose early on Day 2 to shore up the inside blocking for the Cardinals’ new star operating again, Jeremiyah Love. Arizona signed Isaac Seumalo in free company and now has a very good tandem inside. However the true purpose Arizona is listed right here is the choose it made on the high of Spherical 3.
The Cardinals had been matched to Ty Simpson on the finish of Spherical 1, however they by no means had the choice as a result of the Rams took him early (taking the No. 3 select of the equation). Nonetheless, the Playing cards presently have Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II as their choices below middle, so taking a swing on one of many candidates for QB3 of the category on Day 2 makes plenty of sense. Taking Beck at No. 65 on no account retains them from concentrating on one of many promising 2027 quarterback prospects subsequent April. However it’s a worthwhile flier to see what Beck might be within the NFL.
He reveals good ball placement to all ranges of the sphere, and I like his deep contact specifically. Beck makes good selections with the soccer (30 landing passes, 12 interceptions in 2025), and he is cellular sufficient to make performs. Plus, he has a fantastic work ethic and is a team-first man. Beck was No. 111 on my board, however he is nonetheless my QB3 in a category with out too many strong choices, so I haven’t got a problem with taking him within the third spherical.
The choose: Germie Bernard (No. 47), Drew Allar (No. 76), Daylen Everette (No. 85), Gennings Dunker (No. 96)
The Allar choose in Spherical 3 was the proper quarterback addition for Pittsburgh. He is massive at 6-5 and 228 kilos, which inserts the mildew of what the Steelers like on the place. He is a troublesome child with an honest arm, and he had a strong 2024 season with 24 landing throws and eight interceptions. An ankle damage ended his 2025 season after six video games, however he is wholesome now and might be an insurance coverage coverage alongside Will Howard if issues do not come along with Aaron Rodgers. In fact, if Rodgers does signal with the Steelers, Allar can be taught behind the legend and probably get a shot down the highway.
Pittsburgh additionally drafted Bernard, and he is an All-Palms Group candidate. He catches all the pieces, has underrated pace out of the slot and tacks on additional yardage after the catch. However Alabama moved him in all places, together with out of the backfield, and new coordinator Brian Angelichio can get inventive with him because the third or fourth possibility behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Bernard might be the beneath man on this offense, which is in fact essential if it is Rodgers’ fast recreation.
Everette and Dunker have been the workforce’s late picks. Everette will present some depth for the secondary after 10 move breakups in 2025, and Dunker will seemingly kick inside to protect and assist the run blocking.
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What Drew Allar brings to the Steelers
What Drew Allar brings to the Steelers
Extra picks I preferred in Rounds 2-3
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Jacksonville did not have probably the most constant evening, however somebody goes to have to elucidate why guard Emmanuel Pregnon was there for the Jaguars at No. 88. I assumed he would possibly even go within the first spherical based mostly on what I used to be listening to and what I noticed on tape. He is a people-mover within the run recreation who pops defenders after which sustains his blocks. And he can get to the second stage. What a choose.
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Individuals have been speaking about Treydan Stukes possibly clipping the tip of the primary spherical earlier this week, so Las Vegas getting him early in Spherical 2 (No. 38) is definitely respectable worth though I had him ranked forty fifth. Stukes was a walk-on at Arizona and shortly turned a workforce captain. He tore an ACL in 2024 and missed 10 mixed video games throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, so he fell off the radar a bit. However I like the way in which he performs the sport. His pace (4.33-second 40) and ball abilities (4 interceptions in 2025) might be welcomed into the Raiders’ secondary.
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The Giants wanted one other exterior cornerback past Paulson Adebo and new addition Greg Newsome II, and Colton Hood was a first-round expertise nonetheless on the board at No. 37. He has lengthy arms and performs a bodily press fashion. I had Tennessee teammate Jermod McCoy ranked increased, however it’s comprehensible that New York went with the cleaner prospect when it comes to the medical state of affairs.
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Kayden McDonald (No. 36 choose) was my No. 2 defensive sort out behind first-rounder Peter Woods, and although there aren’t many legit wants on the Texans’ elite protection, they may use a havoc wreaker in the midst of the road. McDonald broke out in his lone season as a starter with 17 run stops and three sacks, and he’d have the ability to make Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter that a lot better by taking some consideration on the inside. Go watch his tape from the Miami recreation. He was excellent. McDonald performs with leverage and nonetheless has a bit untapped pass-rush potential.
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D’Angelo Ponds is one other one among my favorites on this class, becoming a member of Terrell and Duke’s Chandler Rivers as a trio of undersized corners who make performs on the ball and play greater than their frames. Ponds had seven INTs and 27 move breakups over three school seasons. May I remind you that the Jets went INT-less in 2025? This was a very good get at No. 50.
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Chicago traded for Garrett Bradbury in March to exchange Drew Dalman, who retired, at middle. However the offense wanted a longer-term possibility, and Logan Jones made plenty of sense at No. 57. He was my top-rated middle, coming with 51 profession begins, plenty of athleticism and loads of energy. The Bears have their franchise QB in Caleb Williams, so getting a promising prospect on the pivot was essential.
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The Commanders took receiver Antonio Williams at No. 71; he is an impressive soccer participant. Jayden Daniels wants extra assist past Terry McLaurin, and Williams will contribute out of the slot and as a kick returner. He caught 130 passes over the previous two years, scoring 15 receiving touchdowns. There is a little bit of worth to this choose, too. I ranked him forty eighth general.
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Carolina now has Tetairoa McMillan and Chris Brazzell II on the surface. Brazzell, who went No. 83, has 6-4 dimension, nice fingers and 4.37 pace. That is a wild mixture. Bryce Younger can put the ball as much as him nearly anyplace, and he can come down with it because of his huge catch radius.
Questionable picks and reaches from Rounds 2-3
The choose: De’Zhaun Stribling (No. 33), Romello Top (No. 70), Kaelon Black (No. 90)
I had combined emotions on the 49ers kicking off Day 2 with Stribling. He has 4.36 pace and reveals burst out of his breaks, and the choose hit on a necessity. However he was No. 73 on my board and the No. 12 wideout. Denzel Boston? Germie Bernard? Antonio Williams? I had a half-dozen receivers who made extra sense in that spot. For the following 20-30 picks groups have been taking guys ranked forward of him. And though there wasn’t an offensive sort out in vary at No. 33, there have been edge rushers, which I clocked as an even bigger want than receiver.
San Francisco did get an edge rusher in Spherical 3, however it went down the board once more to take action. My No. 107 prospect went No. 70. Top performs with pace off edge and simple bend, changing that into 10 sacks final season. However I’m wondering about how his talent set goes to translate to the professionals.
Black assaults the road of scrimmage and runs exhausting via contact. However simply two operating backs have been off the board at choose No. 90, and the Niners took my RB12. Are you able to think about Mike Washington Jr.’s pace in Kyle Shanahan’s offense? Or Emmett Johnson’s means within the move recreation? Black does not contribute as a move catcher. He capped off a very odd evening for San Francisco.
A number of groups reaching on tight ends
The picks: Nate Boerkircher (Jaguars, No. 56), Marlin Klein (Texans, No. 59), Max Klare (Rams, No. 61), Sam Roush (Bears, No. 69)
I will group these all collectively, as a result of there have been a string of complicated tight finish reaches. I get groups seeking to replenish on the place, however there have been higher gamers on the market. I am not together with Eli Stowers to the Eagles at No. 54; that was a powerful transfer for Philadelphia in touchdown the Dallas Goedert inheritor obvious. Identical goes with Oscar Delp to the Saints at No. 73. He’ll assist Tyler Shough each beneath and probably downfield if New Orleans can unlock that a part of his recreation.
However you must go method down my board to search out Boerkircher. He was No. 127 general. He was the No. 6 tight finish, behind a bunch of different tight ends and halfbacks who hadn’t been drafted. What’s extra, Jacksonville has Brenton Unusual, who had 540 receiving yards final season regardless of enjoying solely 12 video games. The Jags wanted one other tight finish behind Unusual, however I wasn’t anticipating to listen to Boerkircher’s identify in Spherical 2. He is an old-school in-line sort who will assist with blocking, however he has 38 profession catches over 5 seasons.
After which quickly after, Klein went. Frankly, the worth was even worse than the Boerkircher choose. He wasn’t in my high 150 (the primary such choose of the draft), and he barely cracked the highest 10 of my tight finish listing. Klein hasn’t actually put all of it collectively, and he must work on his energy in contested conditions and blocking.
The Rams’ Klare choose was solely a slight attain for Los Angeles, at the least in relative phrases, because the 93rd participant for me. However given the tackles and receivers — greater roster holes — who have been on the board at No. 61 (Zachariah Department, Antonio Williams, Caleb Tiernan, et al.), this one did not make sense both. There was one tight finish drafted within the first 53 picks — after which 4 within the subsequent eight picks. Three of these 4 have been questionable.
In Spherical 3, it continued. Chicago took Roush at No. 69. Once more, guys corresponding to Delp, Justin Joly and Eli Raridon have been nonetheless there. However the Bears — who spent a top-10 choose on the place on Colston Loveland and now have Cole Kmet — opted for my TE7 and 141st-best prospect. I might have preferred to see an edge rusher there.
Extra picks I questioned in Rounds 2-3
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I did not have points with most of Miami’s picks on the evening. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez goes to be nice for that protection, and Chris Bell has first-round traits if wholesome. However the Dolphins’ different receiver choose was a giant, massive attain. Caleb Douglas went No. 75. He was my WR24. 13 receivers ranked above him have been nonetheless on the market. For a workforce with Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert topping the depth chart proper now, the Dolphins needed to do higher there. Bell can grow to be an impression receiver, however he is coming off a torn ACL.
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An equally massive attain was the Bears taking Zavion Thomas at No. 89. He was the WR29 on my listing. As with Douglas, there have been 13 receivers with increased grades nonetheless accessible. Chicago is in search of extra depth on the place after buying and selling DJ Moore, however Thomas won’t be the reply. He had solely 488 yards final season.
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The Payments taking Davison Igbinosun wasn’t nice worth. I had six accessible cornerbacks ranked increased, and Buffalo received my No. 103 prospect at No. 62.
Kiper’s greatest accessible prospects for Spherical 4
Listed below are the very best gamers on my board nonetheless accessible for Day 3. I’ve their predraft top-150 rating in parentheses.
1. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (29)
2. Kyle Louis, S/LB, Pittsburgh (53)
3. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State (65)
4. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas (67)
5. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas (71)
6. Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State (74)
7. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State (77)
8. Connor Lew, C, Auburn (78)
9. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (80)
10. Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky (81)
McCoy continues to be on the board going into Day 3, however groups are clearly involved about that knee damage. Bear in mind, he missed all the 2025 season and did not work out on the mix. Ten corners have been picked, so it simply depends upon when somebody feels snug sufficient to take him. If wholesome, he has first-round traits.
I actually like Louis, however groups should work out the place to play him. He is a hybrid, however in the best system, a defensive coordinator may line Louis up as a field security, an off-ball linebacker, at exterior linebacker, within the slot and excessive. He closes on the ball with tempo.
Some speedsters are on the market, too. Washington cruised to a 4.33 on the mix, whereas Thompson had a 4.26. I used to be questioning if a workforce would snag Thompson on Day 2 not just for his slot means but additionally for his returner talent set. Keep watch over each of them Saturday.
