NFL Draft 2026: Grades on every Round 2 and Round 3 pick

We are on to the second night of the 2026 NFL Draft.

32 selections have already been made, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders and building to Jadarian Price at No. 32 to the Seattle Seahawks. But while we have grades on each of those selections already, the teams are still working towards a final report card.

With a lot of picks left to be made, and some roster spots to fill out.

Round 2 begins with the San Francisco 49ers on the clock, and if you are interested we have a mock draft for the second round that you can peruse here. But if you are just curious to see how we feel about each pick on Day 2, you can check back after the picks start rolling in shortly after 7:oo p.m. Eastern.

Unlike the first round, where process plays a bigger role, here we are looking more at the players themselves, scheme fits, and more.

33. San Francisco 49ers — De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

I don’t really know what to say here, because this selection is absolutely mystifying with the board that was in in place. Stribling didn’t make our Top 100 list, was 85th on the consensus big board. Even if the 49ers really loved Stribling there is no way they needed to take him at No. 33. There’s been some talk he was a late riser, but goodness this is a choice with Denzel Boston on the board. — JD

Grade: C-

34. Arizona Cardinals — Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M

Absolutely love this pick for the Cardinals, and somehow like it even more after the Jeremiyah Love pick a day ago. Predominantly a pass-blocking left guard, he’s likely not going to be a road grader at right — but he has a lot of athleticism with the ability to get into the second level and block downfield. This team needs some more hogs on the line, but for value and need, this was a great pick. Small knock just because his run blocking is a little suspect. — JD

Grade: B+

35. Buffalo Bills — T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

The Bills traded down to get into this spot, and they get a really intriguing player. The speed is there, the athleticism is there, the strength is there — but this was a horrible season for Parker, along with all the Clemson players in 2025. It was simply a case of Parker not performing up to his ability, and showing lapses in effort on film. In very early mocks last year he was getting Top 10 buzz, and unquestionably has that potential. It’s simply about unlocking it all, and I think there’s a chance Parker could become a force in a disciplined, tutorial setting. — JD

Grade: B+

36. Houston Texans (via trade from Raiders) — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The best pure run-stopping defensive tackle in this class, I think McDonald has unfairly gotten lost in the shuffle and overanalyzed. In many ways he’s a bit of a throwback tackle, eating space and containing the line without a lot of upfield penetration — but that is totally fine in Houston with the pass rushers they have to dominate in the backfield. Really like this fit, and think the Texans got value on this pick with a guy who could have gone 10 picks earlier. — JD

Grade: A

37. New York Giants — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Known in the process as the “other” Vols corner, injury concerns for Jermod McCoy switched their order. Hood is a little on the smaller side at 5’11 — but he had really good ball skills, solid discipline, and he was No. 29 on our Top 100 big board. The transformation to the Giants defense is here, and Hood is a guy who can do work in a John Harbaugh system. — JD

Grade: B+

38. Las Vegas Raiders — Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona

A serious late-riser in the draft, Stukes being taken in the second isn’t shocking, but it’s a little surprising considering this board. Denzel Boston would have been a much-needed upgrade, we had Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as a higher-rated safety. Stukes has talent, but he’s one of the older prospects in this class. High football IQ, but lower-end athleticism which is why he’s moving from corner to safety in the NFL. Not sure I love this one the way the board was set up. — JD

Grade: C-

39. Cleveland Browns — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Absolute home run. This pick would have been good in isolation, but this is so incredible when imagining what the Browns can do by pairing Boston with KC Concepcion, who they took in the first round. Boston is the tallest of the top receivers, and a guy who can high-point the ball and make secure, chain-moving catches. Having him work digs and outs, while Concepcion is the burner is going to be so much fun. The No. 20 player on our big board, 25th on the consensus. — JD

Grade: A+

40. Kansas City Chiefs — Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma

Amazing first step and quick athleticism off the snap, but operates best in quick bursts before fading through blocks. Thomas has a lot of sudden speed that could make him a high-end third-down pass rusher, but he’s just not good enough once engaged to see him thrive as a three-down pass rusher. — JD

Grade: B

41. Cincinnati Bengals — Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

There’s some work to be done when it comes to Howell. Like Thomas, who went one pick before, he’s a first-step athleticism guy who is very mediocre against the run. Will struggle against long-armed tackles and those who can redirect his rush, but there is a ton of upside here. Again he could be a guy who settles more into a third-down pass rushing role, but I like the pick here. — JD

Grade: B+

42. New Orleans Saints — Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Miller is a productive interior defensive tackle with a few nagging questions. He doesn’t finish tackles the way you’d like to see from an interior lineman, and his body type is a little top-heavy without as much mass in his base, which showed up some times on film when he lost his base on contact. Still, this was a need pick for the Saints and got a solid player. — JD

Grade: B

43. Miami Dolphins — Jacob Rodriquez, LB, Texas Tech

Really love this pick. An incredibly smart, high IQ football player with a fantastic feel for the game. Technically sound, solid tackler, and a guy with the character who can be a leader of the Dolphins’ defense. Not to project a comparison too far, but think of Rodriguez as a poor man’s Luke Kuechly. Similar skillet, and he can be a real difference maker. — JD

Grade: A

44. Detroit Lions (via trade from Jets) — Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan

The Lions finally find their pass rusher to play across from Aiden Hutchinson, and they’re double-dipping on the Michigan guys. Biggest knock here is that I’m not sure what the Lions saw on the board that made them felt the need to trade up. Moore was much lower on the consensus board than a lot of guys still out there, and I don’t know that they needed to jump up to get him. I think there were better players out there, but I cant deny the vision. — JD

Grade: B–

45. Baltimore Ravens — Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

You KNOW the Ravens were sweating when the Lions traded up ahead of them, but in the end they got the much better pass rusher. When it comes to athleticism, he’s a little below the archetype, but I think in a better strength and conditioning program he can improve, and certainly has the frame to allow for it. This pick was a steal, and I like him so much on the Ravens. — JD

Grade: A-

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

Back-to-back Mizzou players off the board as the Bucs get Trotter and … yeah. We had three linebackers on the board who were better, as did the consensus board. This was very definitely a choice based on smarts and lineage, being the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. The younger Trotter is so quick, but he’s very small trying to play a position that demands some more size. I don’t know if he has the frame to add much more weight, so this is a choice. — JD

Grade: C-

47. Pittsburgh Steelers (via trade from Colts) — Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

They missed out on Makai Lemon yesterday, so landing that receiver today was very important. I like the pairing of Bernard with D.K. Metcalf who can take the top off the defense, with the rookie working the underneath routes. Think this is a really good scheme fit and solid value where they got him. Would like to see a little more top-end speed, but he was a 2nd round pick for a reason — JD

Grade: B+

48. Atlanta Falcons — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell was a late faller in this class who had legitimate first-round buzz for a long time. This splits the middle of taking a need, getting some value, without trying to hit a boom/bust risk with Jermod McCoy. Really like this scheme fit and it’s just so neat to see him be teammates in Atlanta with A.J. Terrell. This is so cool. — JD

Grade: A

NFL Draft 2026: Grades on every Round 2 and Round 3 pick

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