Eight teams ultimately made their first picks after sitting out Day 1, while other franchises continued to fill out their classes. With a number of big names leaving the board, some organizations seized opportunities to address key deficiencies and build for the future. Others, however, raised questions about the path they are taking in the roster construction process.
Advertisement
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft:
NFL Draft Day 2 Winners
The immediate and impressive results of last year’s draft class were perhaps the only silver lining for the Browns last fall, aside from Myles Garrett. With Todd Monken taking over as coach and uncertainty lingering at quarterback, Cleveland needed to continue revamping its roster with another injection of the young talent it had long been missing.
And Andrew Berry seems to have delivered once again.
After landing Spencer Fano and KC Concepción in the first round, Cleveland had a big hit on Day 2 with wide receiver Denzel Boston and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, either of whom would have been completely reasonable options at the No. 24 overall pick the night before. Boston can open up behind-the-shoulder throws and deeper moves for the offense, while McNeil-Warren can help take on tight ends and block down the middle. Third-round offensive tackle Austin Barber offers some upside as a developmental option up front.
Advertisement
The Terrell family
Atlanta Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell would surely be elated no matter where his little brother Avieon landed. But when the Falcons made their secondary a brotherly affair by acquiring the fellow Clemson product and cornerback, one of the coolest moments of the entire event ensued.
This isn’t just a feel-good story for a family that can now watch the brothers compete alongside each other. Avieon is a very capable cover man who can man the outside spot opposite AJ or work out of the slot, although his skill set seems better suited for the latter. Not a bad way for Matt Ryan to start his reign.
Advertisement
Kayden McDonald
The Ohio State defensive tackle was understandably emotional after his lengthy wait in the green room finally came to an end. He was once thought to be the leading candidate to be the first player at his position, but he heard two other interior linemen call his name on Day 1 while he was in limbo.
But in the end McDonald found himself in a very favorable situation.
After all, what better spot is there for a defensive tackle between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter? The Houston Texans beat out the New York Giants to secure McDonald, and he hopes to play a vital role in DeMeco Ryans’ frontcourt. With a quick acclimation period, you can put the wait for the draft behind you in no time.
Advertisement
tight ends
As teams lean toward higher run rates, having multiple tight ends on the field has become fashionable. It looks like that dynamic will continue in 2026, as eight players at the position were selected on Day 2.
Perhaps even stranger than the sum of tight ends selected was how many teams that already seemed to be there jumped into the fray. The Los Angeles Rams added Max Klare to a group that already includes 2025 second-rounders Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson, among others, and the Chicago Bears added third-rounder Sam Roush behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. It says a lot that two of the league’s biggest tastemakers, Sean McVay and Ben Johnson, are building their rosters their own way.
Further: NFL draft trend: What the tight end trend has to do with offensive innovation and Sean McVay
Advertisement
Veteran runners
It was clear for a long time that this draft class was lacking potential starting ball carriers. Day 2, however, made it clear that few established riders were in danger of seeing their roles reduced. After former Notre Dame teammates Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price became NFC West rivals in Round 1, Kaelon Black (No. 90 overall, San Francisco 49ers) was the only player at the position selected in Round 2 or 3.
Black will do nothing but spell Christian McCaffrey in inside races. And his selection might speak more to Kyle Shanahan’s pattern of investing in mid-round running backs than his league-wide value. Meanwhile, Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr., Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson and Washington’s Jonah Coleman continue to wait despite having the makeup of potential starters.
NFL Draft Day 2 Losers
Jermod McCoy
When the 2024 All-American came out of Round 1, many assumed he was headed on a similar trajectory to Will Johnson, the former Michigan cornerback who lasted until the second round in 2025 amid injury concerns. McCoy’s fall, however, is much more precipitous and a solution has not yet been reached.
Advertisement
The Tennessee cornerback enters Day 3 as the best player available. However, talent is not the X factor here. NFL Network reported on April 20 that a bone plug used to repair cartilage in his knee has clouded McCoy’s stock following his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last January.
At some point, a team should be attracted to the potential reward. But this is a pretty harsh reality for McCoy after spending much of the pre-draft process being viewed in a category comparable to Mansoor Delane, who went No. 6 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Omar Khan made it clear in the lead-up to the draft that he wanted what many people imagine from an AFC North quarterback: a statuesque figure with a strong arm. He found one in Allar, the former Penn State quarterback whom the general manager nabbed in the third round.
Advertisement
However, therein lies the problem with Allar. He seems like an ideal quarterback, but he doesn’t come close to embodying it.
The former five-star recruit has long tantalized with his 6-5, 228-pound frame and ability to threaten defenses vertically in the passing game. But a final season in which many expected Allar to take the long-awaited leap in his development revealed all his shortcomings. Before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, he was repeatedly undone by sloppy footwork, erratic ball placement and a hesitant approach that constantly left him out of rhythm.
With their focus on physical traits, the Steelers might be adopting an “I can fix it” mentality here. However, Allar cannot be relied upon to replace Aaron Rodgers anytime soon, regardless of whether the four-time NFL MVP re-signs with the team. And while it’s understandable that the Steelers would want to bring in a quarterback behind Rodgers, it’s entirely possible they’re looking to do so with another quarterback in the near future.
After becoming the subject of widespread ridicule with their selection of running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall, the Cardinals seemed in need of a breather on Day 2. It looked as if they were headed for one with their second-round selection of offensive guard Chase Bisontis, who upgrades a rickety front.
Advertisement
Then, the Cardinals again engineered one of the strangest moves this year by sacking quarterback Carson Beck.
Hitting a mid-round signal-caller would surely accelerate what figures to be an extensive preparation for general manager Monti Ossenfort and first-year coach Mike LaFleur. But this is not really a good investment strategy but rather an attempt to profit from a lottery ticket.
And Beck is not a prospect who appears to have a particularly high reward even if everything goes his way. At best, you can be a competent dealer from your pocket. But he can crumble under pressure and doesn’t have the tools to buy second chances. That’s not so much the profile of a legitimate potential starter, but rather that of a reliable backup capable of filling the position.
Beck could be a worthwhile project for some franchises. Arizona, however, can’t waste early third-round picks.
Advertisement
Tyler Dragon: New QB1 in AZ? Why the Cardinals should give Carson Beck a chance to start | Opinion
The LSU gunslinger once appeared to be on relatively equal footing with Beck and Allar in the second tier of quarterbacks in this class, with many even placing him above his two teammates. But the 6-2, 203-pound passer took a backseat to more prototypical players at his position.
It’s not just about size. Nussmeier’s carefree approach might have been a deterrent to some teams, who also might have had a sour taste in their mouths from a disappointing last season marked by injuries. However, now as a Day 3 prospect, he won’t be much more than a dart throw for any team that faces him. That doesn’t make him irrelevant, as Shedeur Sanders’ rise from fifth-round pick to rookie starter was reinforced. But your climb will be steep.
Advertisement
James Gladstone
In his inaugural draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars general manager made a bold statement by acquiring Travis Hunter Jr. at No. 2 overall. With reduced capital this time, Gladstone got this year’s promotion off to a rather disconcerting start.
The second-round pick of tight end Nate Boerkircher set the tone for the night. The Texas A&M product was taken ahead of several more high-potential alternatives at tight end. While Jacksonville might not have been looking for a receiving threat at the position with Brenton Strange in the fold, there was better value available at this spot than a player who could excel as a good blocker. He then doubled his range by closing the night with Jalen Huskey, a defensive back with some substantial limitations in coverage. The Jaguars have a promising core, but this felt like a missed opportunity to complement that group.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: Steelers Sniff Out Drew Allar Pick