2026 NFL Draft: Instant analysis for notable picks on Day 2

Catch up on our analysis of all notable developments from Rounds 2-3 at the NFL draft as they happened.

👉 More: Every pick made so far

49ers select Kaelon Black

RB, Indiana - 90th overall

Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch sure do love their mid-round running backs. The extremely predictable draft strategy hasn't been very successful over the years, with Trey Sermon, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Issac Guerendo among the notable misses. This would appear to be another reach, as Black was the No. 200 prospect on PFSN's industry consensus big board. Still, his abilities in pass protection give him an early path to a rotational role alongside Christian McCaffrey, and his physicality between the tackles could make him a nice change-of-pace option. Black was a key contributor on Indiana's run to the national title game, racking up 1,040 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry with 10 touchdowns.

Buccaneers select Ted Hurst

WR, Georgia State - 84th overall

The Bucs are crushing this draft. Receiver may not have seemed like the most obvious need, but this offense was lacking a boundary receiver who could take the top off the defense. Well, not anymore. Hurst is a fascinating prospect with an outstanding blend of size and speed to stretch the field. He also gets out of his route breaks well, has flashed in contested scenarios, and brings explosiveness after the catch. Perhaps the big jump in competition will require an adjustment period, but I don't think it'll be long before he emerges as a dangerous vertical threat. And with some time to develop his game, he could have a lot more upside.

🚨 Steelers select Drew Allar

QB, Penn State - 76th overall

Well, the Steelers have a quarterback. Allar cracked my list of potential hidden gems in this class, but it's important to note that the idea there was that he'd be a worthy home-run swing at some point on Day 3. I can't say I'm overly excited about the idea of spending a third-round pick on a complete project - especially with the far more polished Garrett Nussmeier still on the board. But with Mike McCarthy in the building to help guide his development, and Aaron Rodgers presumably back to start for another year, I can at least see what the Steelers are thinking. There's a ton of upside here if Allar can clean up the finer points of his game to maximize his prototypical size, arm talent, and athleticism. The potential payoff, however unlikely it may be, is immense.

Saints select Oscar Delp

TE, Georgia - 73rd overall

I truly believe that Delp could end up being the biggest steal of this draft. The production wasn't there at Georgia, and that explains why he was still on the board deep into Day 2. As we learned with George Kittle back in 2017, though, college numbers can be such a small part of the equation when it comes to projecting NFL impact for tight ends. Delp's ability as an in-line blocker should get him on the field early. And the freak athleticism, put on display with a reported 4.48 40 at his pro day, offers incredible upside as a receiver. It wasn't difficult to identify those rare athletic skills in his limited opportunities in the passing game; his ability to erase angles and leave defenders in the dust makes him a unique weapon with the ball in his hands. I love what the Saints are building on offense.

Commanders trade up for Antonio Williams

WR, Clemson - 71st overall

As much as I love the fit of Sonny Styles in Dan Quinn's defense, I was admittedly a little disappointed that the Commanders didn't add a weapon for Jayden Daniels in the first round. Getting Williams in this spot makes me feel quite a bit better about the process. That might sound like a little too much optimism for a third-round pick, but I'm just that high on Williams. The Clemson standout is one of my favorite receiver prospects in this class. He earns consistent separation with route nuance and quickness out of his breaks, he's got strong hands, and he's a playmaker after the catch. Adding that kind of skill set in the slot should be a great complement to Terry McLaurin on the outside.

🚨 Cardinals select Carson Beck

QB, Miami - 65th overall

It was only a matter of time before the Cardinals took a swing on a quarterback. They were probably hoping to land Ty Simpson at the top of Day 2, but the Rams threw a wrench in those plans when they took him at No. 13. As a result, I think Arizona made a pretty glaring reach for Beck. The Miami product is an experienced pocket passer with good size and a proven ability to work through progressions, but his decision-making falls apart under pressure. His arm strength also seemed to drop off after an elbow injury at the end of the 2024 season, and he doesn't offer much athletic upside. While the draft capital isn't ultimately significant - making this a defensible gamble to address the most important position - it's hard not to think the Cardinals couldn't aim higher. If they wanted to spend a Day 2 pick on any quarterback in this class, I think Garrett Nussmeier would have provided far more upside.

🚨 TRADE: Eagles acquire Jonathan Greenard

Trade details: Vikings send veteran pass-rusher to Eagles for No. 98, 2027 3rd-round pick

Splash. It took a while for the pivot move to come to fruition, but Howie Roseman was never going to sit back after losing Jaelen Phillips to the Panthers in free agency. Greenard became an obvious trade target, with the Vikings seemingly struggling to address his contract situation. As is so often the case, the Eagles general manager swooped in and made a big move with impressive value. Greenard racked up 24.5 sacks across two seasons before an injury-shortened 2025 campaign and should be a force working alongside Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith up front.

Eagles select Eli Stowers

TE, Vanderbilt - 54th overall

Stowers is an exciting prospect. I'm a little curious about the fit here, as he isn't ideally suited for a role that requires him to handle regular blocking duties. While I've always seen Stowers as a big slot at the next level, first-round receiver Makai Lemon will probably see most of his work from that spot. Might the Eagles see Stowers as the kind of player who could line up outside? That could be an interesting way to replace A.J. Brown's size on the boundary. Either way, Stowers is an explosive athlete with a great catch radius and a knack for making plays with the ball in his hands. He could be an impact playmaker if this new-look offense is creative enough to put him in positions to do what he does best.

Jets select D'Angelo Ponds

CB, Indiana - 50th overall

I love this pick for the Jets. Ponds is one of my favorite players in this entire class. Sure, he's on the smaller side. But his 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame never kept him from shutting down one side of the field in college. The Indiana star is an elite athlete who plays with great instincts. He's surprisingly competitive in contested situations, and he'll do his part as a run defender, too. Thinking Aaron Glenn might see a bit of himself in Ponds, I actually had this player-team match in my Day 2 mock draft. There's a lot to love about the way the rebuilding Jets have upgraded the roster with their first four picks.

Falcons select Avieon Terrell

CB, Clemson - 48th overall

OK, this is cool. After sliding out of the first round, Terrell ends up going to play alongside his older brother, A.J., in the Falcons' secondary. Once seen as a potential first-round pick, the Clemson product's draft stock took a hit after he ran a disappointing 40-yard dash at his pro day. A hamstring injury probably had something to do with that disappointing time, though. He's a fluid cover man who plays with outstanding instincts and is far more physical in the run game than you might expect. Adding this kind of play in the slot should go a long way toward helping Atlanta's defense take another meaningful step forward.

Steelers trade up for Germie Bernard

WR, Alabama - 47th overall

There's the receiver the Steelers needed. Getting beat to the punch for Makai Lemon on Day 1 was admittedly a rough look, but I think Pittsburgh still came out of it in great shape. Taking Max Iheanachor was a strong move to upgrade the offensive line in the first round, and Bernard should be seen as an exciting addition in the second. The Alabama product is an excellent route-runner who consistently gets open against both man and zone. He's got good hands, creates plays after the catch, and will do the dirty work as a run-blocker. Bernard should be a strong fit as the primary slot receiver between DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The only question now: who plays QB?

Bengals select Cashius Howell

EDGE, Texas A&M - 41st overall

The Bengals have done an excellent job of remodeling the defensive front. The transformation started with the additions of Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen in free agency, followed by a blockbuster deal to acquire Dexter Lawrence just five days before the draft. And now they've added one of this draft's most explosive edge rushers. Howell may never be an impact player in the run game, but his ability to get after the quarterback with speed off the edge will make him a valuable piece of this new-look rotation. These impact additions have me increasingly optimistic about Cincinnati's chances of re-emerging as a contender this year.

Browns select Denzel Boston

WR, Washington - 39th overall

I love the Browns doubling up on receivers here. Getting KC Concepcion at No. 24 was one of my favorite picks of Day 1, but this group was always going to need more than one receiver to help lay the foundation for Todd Monken's offense. Boston, a big-bodied target who can dominate the contested-catch game, is an incredible fit alongside Concepcion's ability to separate and make plays after the catch. With the Spencer Fano pick rounding out a new-look offensive line and this fascinating tandem of playmakers joining a pair of standout sophomores in Harold Fannin and Quinshon Judkins, the Browns are suddenly trending toward having an extremely favorable situation for a quarterback drafted next year.

Texans trade up for Kayden McDonald

DL, Ohio State - 36th overall

Just when you thought the Texans' defensive line couldn't get any better. McDonald may not be much of a complement for the pass-rush abilities of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. on the edge, but his unique ability to shut down a run game should only lead to more opportunities for the star edge-rush duo to pin their ears back and tee off on late downs. McDonald is the kind of nose tackle who can either eat up double teams or shed blocks and make plays on the ball-carrier for himself.

Bills select T.J. Parker

EDGE, Clemson - 35th overall

Parker has the potential to be a huge addition for the Bills defense. Buffalo had to bolster the defensive front at some point early on in this draft, and I think this is excellent value after trading out of the first round. Parker, my No. 6 edge rusher in this class, wins with power both as a a run defender and when it's time to get after the quarterback. His production fell off in 2025, but the 11-sack season he put together the year prior is a clear indication of his upside in that phase of the game.

49ers select De'Zhaun Stribling

WR, Ole Miss - 33rd overall

Day 2 starts with a bit of a shocker. I'm a big fan of Stribling's game, personally. The Ole Miss product offers good size, great speed, and can be a dangerous playmaker after the catch. He also has the body control and strong hands to excel in contested-catch situations, and he's a physical blocker in the run game. It feels a little early, particularly with Denzel Boston still on the board, but I'm willing to overlook the perceived value in appreciation of Stribling's fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense. He could shine alongside Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.