Friday night’s Day 2 at the 2026 NFL Draft delivered some genuinely puzzling quarterback selections, two standout value picks in Round 2, and enough dart throws to fill a sports bar dartboard. Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports’ NFL draft analyst, graded every pick from Rounds 2 and 3. Here’s a breakdown of who won the night — and who left analysts scratching their heads.
Round 2 grades : the standout picks and the questionable calls
Two selections immediately jumped out as genuine steals in Round 2. The Atlanta Falcons nabbing Avieon Terrell (pick 48, grade : A) was the night’s clearest value play — younger brother of Pro Bowl corner A.J. Terrell, he was projected to go late in Round 1. Matt Ryan, in his first draft leading Atlanta’s front office, made a statement. The Houston Texans landing Kayden McDonald (pick 36, grade : A) at nose tackle was nearly as impressive. A 330-pound playmaker from Ohio State who many projected as a first-rounder, McDonald gives C.J. Stroud’s defense a rare disruptive force up the middle.
Baltimore’s selection of Zion Young (pick 45, grade : A), edge rusher out of Missouri, fit the Ravens’ identity perfectly. Heavy-handed, physical, relentless — he’ll complement Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green immediately. The Eagles’ pick of Eli Stowers at tight end (pick 54, grade : A) addressed a genuine long-term need after Dallas Goedert. Stowers is an elite athlete still refining his blocking, but his receiving ability is already NFL-ready.
Not every Round 2 pick earned high marks. The Carolina Panthers selecting Lee Hunter (pick 49, grade : D) raised serious concerns. His athletic testing was below subpar, he plays in a division with elite offensive line play, and at his age, he needed to profile as a Day 3 pick. The Las Vegas Raiders’ Treydan Stukes (pick 38, grade : C-) made sense from a need standpoint — the Raiders desperately needed speed in the secondary — but Stukes is an older prospect with a ceiling that may already be visible.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | San Francisco 49ers | De’Zhaun Stribling | WR | — |
| 34 | Arizona Cardinals | Chase Bisontis | — | A- |
| 36 | Houston Texans | Kayden McDonald | DT | — |
| 45 | Baltimore Ravens | Zion Young | Edge | — |
| 48 | Atlanta Falcons | Avieon Terrell | CB | — |
| 49 | Carolina Panthers | Lee Hunter | DT | — |
| 54 | Philadelphia Eagles | Eli Stowers | TE | — |
| 58 | Cleveland Browns | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | — | B+ |
| 64 | Seattle Seahawks | Bud Clark | — | B+ |
The Cleveland Browns continued their methodical process, picking Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (pick 58, grade : B+) out of Toledo — a player who could have realistically gone 30 picks earlier. The Indianapolis Colts grabbed CJ Allen (pick 53, grade : A-), one of Georgia’s most important defensive players over recent seasons, with concerns about athleticism being the only reason he slid this far. Both picks reflect front offices doing their homework.
Round 3 grades : QB puzzles and hidden value
The strangest storyline of Round 3 was quarterback selection. The Arizona Cardinals took Carson Beck (pick 65, grade : D+) out of Miami — a move that made little strategic sense given Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew already occupy the QB room. Beck may develop into a serviceable backup, but the Cardinals don’t need a third option at quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers then selected Drew Allar (pick 76, grade : C-) from Penn State — prototypical size, a strong arm, but deeply inconsistent despite extensive college reps. Throwing darts at QB is understandable for Pittsburgh’s situation, but Allar’s track record isn’t encouraging.
Round 3’s hidden gems were easier to spot once you looked past the QB noise. Consider these value picks that flew under the radar :
- Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa (pick 96, Pittsburgh Steelers) — grade A-. Could have gone late Round 2. A powerful mover who can play guard and potentially right tackle.
- Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas (pick 60, Tennessee Titans) — grade A-. Massive upside under Robert Saleh, who has a proven record developing defensive talent.
- AJ Haulcy, S, LSU (pick 78, Indianapolis Colts) — grade B+. One of the SEC’s best defensive backs in 2025, arriving with high floor and plenty of starting experience.
- Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon (pick 88, Jacksonville Jaguars) — grade B+. Older prospect with enormous hands and ideal run-blocking profile. Fills a genuine need cleanly.
- Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia (pick 73, New Orleans Saints) — grade B+. Ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, has reliable hands, and was criminally underused with the Bulldogs.
The Miami Dolphins had a rough Round 3 on paper. Caleb Douglas (pick 75, grade : D) raised eyebrows — a player who may only function on 50/50 deep balls doesn’t inspire confidence as a second receiving addition. Miami recovered somewhat with Chris Bell (pick 94, grade : B) from Louisville, who’s still recovering from a torn ACL but brings genuine press-man ability and a full vertical route tree. Bell might well be the best pass-catcher the Dolphins drafted this entire weekend.
The Minnesota Vikings made three consecutive picks to close out Round 3 — Caleb Tiernan (OT, B+), Jakobe Thomas (S, B), and Domonique Orange (DT, B-) — showing unusual organizational discipline in targeting specific positional needs across multiple selections. Few teams used the third round as efficiently. For the New England Patriots, Eli Raridon (pick 95, grade : B+) out of Notre Dame offered real blocking upside at 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds, giving Drake Maye a genuine weapons upgrade — if he can stay healthy, which has been the persistent question throughout his college career.
