
The first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft have come and gone — 100 picks in the books, 100 prospects who have found new homes in the NFL. But the action isn’t over yet, as we still have 157 more picks to go. Day 3 of the draft is incredibly important as teams build out the back halves of their rosters. Getting quality backups, developmental players, and special teams contributors on rookie contracts makes a huge difference, and every year, a few overlooked future stars are drafted on Saturday.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy‘s fall is insane, I don’t care how degenerative his knee injury is. He’s an elite cover corner who can play across schemes and should be a lockdown CB1 from day one. I knew I was much higher on Tennessee ED Joshua Josephs and Texas CB Malik Muhammad than consensus, but having them both available on Day 3 is a major surprise for me. All three players will be big-time steals for whichever teams choose to draft them at this point. Arizona State CB Keith Abney II, Miami CB Keionte Scott, Connecticut WR Skyler Bell, Western Michigan ED Nadame Tucker, USC S Kamari Ramsey, Auburn C Connor Lew, Kansas State C Sam Hecht, and North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance are also great values left on the board.
With that, here are the best available players entering Day 3, per my Top 200 Big Board. They are listed by their original rank on my board.
A 6-1, 188-pound transfer from Oregon State, McCoy plays under control at all times. With smooth hips and fluid transition abilities, he’s sticky man coverage, keeping his man on lockdown with quick feet and natural reaction skills. In press coverage, he plays with exceptional timing, making initial contact to disrupt the receiver’s route without overextending himself. He has great acceleration and deceleration abilities, matching receivers throughout their routes and easily recovering if he loses a step.
A 6-3, 242-pound former four-star recruit, Josephs has a massive wingspan and incredible power for his size, anchoring against the run and playing with exceptional eye discipline. With freakish bend around the edge, he plays with incredible hips and fluid movement, wasting no time turning the corner. His first step off the line is absurdly quick and he converts that speed to power well, exploding on contact to dent the line and create rush opportunities.
A 6-0, 182-pound former four-star recruit, Muhammad is a supreme athlete, smooth as butter in his transitions and with exceptional closing speed from off-coverage. His athleticism translates to one-on-one assignments, with the deep speed to easily cover any receiver he faces and the short-area twitch to mirror shifty receivers through multiple breaks without losing stride. He’s comfortable playing in the slot or even moonlighting at safety, and he has natural ball skills and feel.
A 5-10, 187-pound youth champion speed skater, Abney is an exceptionally fluid athlete. He offers no purchase to a receiver on his break, cleanly decelerating to prevent separation windows and using his smooth hips to stay attached. With quick feet and great recovery speed, he can close passing lanes from off coverage as well, or on the occasions he loses a step throughout the route.
A 5-11, 193-pound JUCO transfer, Scott is a phenomenal run defender for the position, playing with aggression and consistently working through blocks to make plays. He has the smooth hips and quick-twitch athleticism to stay with people in man coverage, blanketing receivers in the short and intermediate ranges and forcing tough throwing angles.
A 6-0, 192-pound Wisconsin transfer, Bell is an explosive vertical separator. He generates impressive movement off the snap, stacking corners and getting himself open in an instant. Paired that explosiveness with smooth hips and great short-area burst, and you get his incredible separation scores, with sharp routes and quick feet to boot.
A 6-2, 247-pound transfer from Houston, Tucker has been one of “my guys” throughout this draft process. He only has one year of standout production to his name, but his first step off the line is otherworldly and he’s an advanced technician as a pass rusher.
A 6-0, 202-pound UCLA transfer, Ramsey an fire downhill and make plays near the line of scrimmage, unafraid of the physicality in traffic and arriving to the ball with purpose.He has the man coverage abilities of a cornerback, able to mirror tight ends and slot receivers with fluidity and quickness.
A 6-3 and a half, 310-pound Georgia native, Lew is a fantastic athlete for a center. Get him in space and watch him go to work, as he has quick feet and can reach his marks without getting off-balance, connecting on difficult blocks. A master of leverage, he knows how to make life difficult for taller defenders, consistently getting under their pads and controlling the point of attack.
A 6-4, 303-pound zero-star recruit, Hecht excels on the move in the run game. He’s so smooth in space and knows what he’s doing out there, finding defenders to attack rather than just passively waiting for them to run into his path. His hand usage is superb, staying active and aggressive, maintaining proper leverage and consistently winning hand fights.
A 6-3, 204-pound Minnesota native, Lance stacks cornerbacks vertically down the field, creating separation deep with his long strides and blazing acceleration. Watching him move at his size is a joy. He just eats up ground, galloping down the field with quick, explosive strides that dust defenders.
A 5-9 and a half, 185-pound slot cornerback, Rivers is an exceptionally fluid athlete. He’s a four-year college veteran who reads the quarterback well and is always in phase with the receiver.
A 6-3, 203-pound Maryland native, Wheatley has true sideline-to-sideline range as a single-high safety, covering both sidelines and flying around the back end of the defense. His speed lets him trigger downhill on underneath routes with precision and excellent timing, blowing up passing lanes and making contact at the catch point without drawing flags.
A 6-6, 256-pound former five-star recruit, Dennis-Sutton is a truly ascending player. A monster athlete with incredible power at his disposal, he is a plus in run defense and flashed untapped upside as a pass rusher down the stretch of the season.
A 6-1, 223-pound New Mexico State transfer, Washington has a ridiculous size/speed combination for a running back. He ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and jumped 39 inches in the vertical and 10-feet-eight-inches in the broad. His explosiveness is visible on tape, as he is a downhill runner who can really turn on the jets when he hits that hole.
A 6-4, 322-pound JUCO transfer, Davis is a mauler in the run game, eating up defenders and driving them off the ball. He’s a nightmare for linebackers and safeties to see in space, and he loves finishing plays angry. Against bull rushes, he anchors and holds his ground, stonewalling the pass rusher.
A 6-0, 220-pound backer from New Jersey, Louis checks every box you could want in a smaller linebacker — fast, fluid, and explosive. He can close on the ball carrier in an instant, shutting off cutback lanes and utilizing a reliable tackling form.
A 6-4, 246-pound Virginia Tech transfer, Wright takes on blocking assignments most tight ends would never be asked to do, routinely solo blocking defensive ends on the line of scrimmage. At his size, he’s blazingly fast, getting vertical on linebackers and safeties and threatening the seams on every snap.
A 6-2 and a half, 210-pound Saint Francis transfer, Sarratt dominates the middle of the field as a savvy possession receiver. He’s such a crafty route runner with impressive body control at the catch point and a knack for making tough catches in traffic.
A 6-5, 312-pound Florida transfer, Farmer is a violent, powerful blocker. He has long arms and a grip that never quits, locking onto his matchup and driving them out of the play. One of the best drive blockers in this class, Farmer is excellent in short-yardage and goal-line situations, gouging holes in the defensive scheme for his back to run through.
A 5-8, 220-pound Arizona transfer, Coleman punishes defenders in the hole, routinely driving through multiple tacklers before they manage to get him on the ground. Because he has a compact frame and lower center of gravity, he’s a naturally difficult target for defenders to get hands on.
A 6-2, 202-pound former three-star recruit, Smith is an incredibly versatile coverage piece on the back end. With a freakishly long wingspan and smooth transition abilities, he almost looks more like a corner out there, seamlessly matching receivers through their routes in man coverage.
A 6-1, 262-pound transfer from James Madison, Kamara is a bully on the line of scrimmage. He uses his natural leverage to his advantage, getting underneath blockers with a quick first step and creating havoc at the point of attack.
A 6-3, 274-pound Texas A&M transfer, Overton just moves in a way that shouldn’t be possible at his size. A staunch run defender with crazy pass rush reps on tape, it’s just a matter of staying healthy and putting it all together at the next level.
A 5-10, 180-pound Purdue transfer, Burks is an absurdly gifted athlete. His production wasn’t stellar in a lackluster Oklahoma offense, but he’s a rocked-up, twitchy athlete with plus ball skills and pound-for-pound strength.
A 6-1, 210-pound high school track star, Kilgore is a matchup weapon against tight ends and bigger slot receivers. He has a strong tackling form and the length to be a real problem for offenses, especially when lined up in the slot against smaller receivers.
A 6-5, 311-pound Notre Dame transfer, Coogan has a workmanlike mentality in both phases of the offense. He’s a fantastic pass protector, disrupting interior pass rushers with superb timing on his punches. When faced with crafty 3-techs, he matches them in hand fighting, using his strong hands and rapid movements to keep the defender off balance and unable to execute their moves.
A 6-4, 240-pound former basketball player, Trigg is so effortlessly smooth and fluid on the field, running crisp routes like a receiver despite his bigger size. With plus acceleration and deceleration skills and twitchy feet, he dusts linebackers and safeties in man coverage, making them look silly at times.
A 6-5, 309-pound college tackle who likely moves to the interior in the pros but can be a five-tool player, Parker is a technician on the offensive line, utilizing excellent footwork and advanced hand placement to outwork defensive linemen.
A 6-1, 233-pound Louisiana native, Perkins is exceptionally athletic, with true sideline-to-sideline range and the play speed of a man with his hair on fire. He has incredible range on the back end and can erase entire sides of the field. Combined with his ball skills and instincts, it makes throwing in his direction a risky proposition.
A 6-5, 245-pound California transfer, Endries is excellent over the middle of the field, shredding zone coverages with plus awareness and feel. As a route runner, he has solid athleticism to beat defenders one-on-one, coming out of his breaks with a suddenness that creates separation against man schemes.
A 6-6, 314-pound guard from Dallas, Reed-Adams is a mauler on the interior. He’s a power blocker with excellent strength at the point of attack and is a plus in short-yardage situations.
A 6-0, 219-pound former five-star recruit, Singleton’s speed is sensational, stressing defenses from the snap with his ability to hit the hole and get downfield in an instant. He’s one of the best one-cut runners in this class, putting his foot in the ground and dusting defenders one-on-one.
A 6-5, 314-pound tackle from Germantown, Maryland, Bowry is an explosive, smooth mover who covers ground quickly in pass protection. That agility translates to run blocking, as well, as he can get out on the move and form a wall in front of his back.
A 6-1 and a half, 189-pound junior college transfer, Lee has exceptional length for the position and makes throwing windows tough on offenses. He knows how to squeeze routes to the sideline and thrives in press coverage.
A 5-10, 188-pound back from Virginia, Claiborne is a true jitterbug, dancing around defenders with ridiculous lateral agility and quick feet. He’ll wait for blocks to materialize and find the right angles to attack, keeping his feet moving but rarely overcommitting to the wrong hole.
A 6-6, 310-pound tackle from Oregon, Casey is a smooth mover with a powerful base. He exerts incredible functional strength in his lower half, making him a plus drive blocker and mauler.
A 6-1, 230-pound former walk-on and MLB draft pick, Boettcher plays with great instincts, reading the field well and diagnosing plays as they develop. He can stick with tight ends and backs in man coverage, but he’s especially dangerous in zone.
A 6-3, 196-pound transfer from Arizona, Prysock is a plus run defender for the position. He has unusual fluidity at his size and is versatile across man and zone coverages.
A 6-2, 203-pound Louisiana native, Nussmeier is a smaller quarterback who’s most comfortable operating from the pocket. He’s got a great arm, effortlessly hitting throws to the opposite sideline, deep in-cuts, or go balls with excellent velocity and distance.
A 6-1, 327-pound nose tackle, Keenan owns the line of scrimmage against the run, imposing his will against the opposing offensive line. His hand usage is impressive and he keeps them active at all times, protecting his chest and preventing blockers from grappling him successfully.
A 6-3, 206-pound prospect from Georgia, Payne has a unique build and skillset for a safety. He’s almost more of a cornerback, with elite athleticism and fluidity in space combined with strong ball skills.
A 6-5, 247-pound Ohio State transfer, Royer is a good athlete and a monster over the middle of the field. He doesn’t drop anything and he’s a master of using his big frame to haul in unbelievable catches in traffic, but he doesn’t offer much as a blocker.
A 6-3, 198-pound corner from Florida, Moore uses his length and size to his advantage. He’s best when deployed in press-man situations, bothering receivers throughout their routes and high-pointing the football in the air.
A 6-2, 234-pound transfer from California, Elarms-Orr developed into a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker. He’s an explosive athlete with impressive closing speed and is never afraid to deliver the hit stick.
A 6-3, 313-pound guard from Arlington, Campbell uses his long arms to maintain strong leverage throughout each rep. He can anchor with the best of them and got better each year as a starter.
A 6-2, 202-pound LSU transfer, Daniels excels over the middle of the field. He’s got quick feet and smooth hips, breaking off his routes cleanly for easy separation on in-breaking routes, presenting an easy target for his quarterback.
A 6-0, 223-pound New Mexico State transfer, McGowan reads defenses well, processing the action in front of him and finding his rushing lanes. Patience is a virtue that he possesses, waiting for his blocks to develop and taking what’s in front of him.
A 5-10, 181-pound Tulane transfer, Canady is a versatile slot corner. He closes to the ball in an instant and is feisty in man or zone coverages, making life tough for offenses over the middle of the field.
A 5-11, 180-pound Louisiana Tech transfer, Allen is an excellent route runner from the slot. With legitimate vertical speed and a great release package, he projects as a potential future starter in the slot.
A 6-3, 245-pound transfer from Cal Poly via Washington, Cuevas is a versatile receiving weapon who runs a diverse route tree and can make plays after the catch. He has reliable hands and great feel against zone coverage.
A 6-6 and a half, 247-pound Ball State transfer, Koziol has great size and alignment versatility. You can line him up in the slot or in-line, and he is a reliable hands-catcher with an explosive lower half.
A 6-5 and a half, 315-pound Miami transfer, Jackson is a physical, hard-nosed presence on the defensive line. He eats double teams with impunity, stacking them up and holding his ground with proper leverage and great anchor strength.
A 6-1, 280-pound Northern Illinois transfer, Gill-Howard best fit might be as a 3-4 defensive end. He’s an advanced pass rusher with quick feet and a true bag of moves he uses to slip blocks and get after the quarterback.
A 5-10, 180-pound receiver who transferred three times in college, Coleman is a quick slot receiver who wins down the field. He can get separation off the line with good footwork and has nice ball skills at the catch point.
The Godfather himself, Corleone is a 6-0 and a half, 340-pound nose tackle. He dominates in the trenches with some impressive lateral quickness at his size, stonewalling blocking schemes and manning multiple gaps.
An undersized 5-11, 226-pound linebacker, York is one of the most skilled prospects in this group. His smaller frame and lack of athleticism cap his ceiling, but he’s such a cerebral player with great timing and instincts in coverage.
A 5-10, 176-pound Florida International transfer, Rivers is a speedster who can win from the slot or on the outside. He knows how to attack press and zone and can win downfield on some impressive reps.
A 6-1, 179-pound zone cornerback, Masses has great burst to the ball and plus length to get his hands on passes. His ball production speaks for itself and he moves well for a taller corner.
A 6-5, 313-pound sixth-year senior, Capehart is a freak athlete with serious power in his hands. He uses his plus length to initiate contact and dominate the point of attack, working off blocks to make tackles.
A 5-11, 216-pound back from Virginia, Allen is the premier short-yardage back in this class. His patience and vision are outstanding, waiting for blocks to set and defenses to overcommit before hitting the hole with purpose.
A 6-1, 190-pound Division III star, Montgomery showed out at the Senior Bowl. With great ball skills and the speed to stack corners vertically, he can be a mismatch weapon on the outside.
A 5-11, 200-pound zone corner, Marshall has good speed for the position. He blankets underneath routes from off coverage and has the speed to cover deep — plus he’s a good run defender.
A 6-3, 293-pound prospect from San Diego, Halton is an explosive defensive playmaker. His first step is impressive and he can shoot gaps in the run game as well as anyone, but his calling card is as a plus pass rusher on the interior.
A 5-9, 164-pound transfer from Texas, Thompson was the fastest player at this year’s Combine. He’s devastating on crossing routes and deep down the field, though he’ll need to prove his versatility on special teams to be active on game days as a rookie.
A 6-2, 291-pound FCS star, Proctor is a developed, athletic pass rusher. He projects as a negative against the run, but his first step is rare and he has an extraordinarily deep bag of pass-rush moves to his name.
A 6-3, 298-pound Detroit native, Benny is a two-gapping run stuffer. He’s a little undersized, but he has great length and deceptive pound-for-pound strength. He’s a difficult man to move.
A 6-4, 245-pound former walk-on wide receiver at Northern Illinois, Gumbs transformed his game throughout his collegiate career. Right now it’s mostly just athleticism, but his twitched-up frame and powerful hands — combined with plus length — give him a real ceiling in the NFL.
A 6-8, 318-pound Nevada transfer, World is an impressive mover at his size. There are technical aspects of his game he needs to clean up, but he blends power and length in a rare way.
A 6-5, 216-pound transfer from Lindenwood, Caldwell is one of the most ridiculous athletes in Combine history. With exceptional top speed, short-area twitch, and explosiveness, he can be a dynamic weapon if the rest of his skills ever catch up.
A 6-3, 226-pound former five-star recruit, Lawson struggles as an undersized backer sometimes. But he’s quick and smart, diagnosing the action and covering an impressive range to make plays.
A 6-5 and a half, 256-pound Texas A&M transfer, Lucas plays with great leverage and uses his length to control reps at the line of scrimmage. He’s scheme-versatile and can play in multiple alignments.
A 5-11, 201-pound junior college transfer, Fitzgerald punches above his weight class with exceptional timing and footwork in his play. Despite lacking real NFL athleticism, he managed to hang in the Big Ten by playing smarter and more proficiently than his opponents.
A 6-5, 313-pound high school basketball player, Shelton has experience at multiple positions along the offensive line. He thrives on the move, hitting his marks with speed and precision and showcasing impressive fluidity for a tackle.
A 6-5, 310-pound guard who missed a chunk of the season with a knee injury, Schrauth plays with good leverage and a veteran’s hand usage, keeping his chest clean and anchoring strong against bull rushes.
A 6-0, 190-pound former walk-on, Taaffe is a good coverage safety who can play man or zone. He stays in phase when asked to play man coverage, but he’s better in zone, reading quarterbacks and making clutch plays on the ball.
A 6-3, 232-pound Nebraska native, Payton is the most dynamic rushing threat at the quarterback position in this class. When he gets moving, he can fly through defenses, gashing them for huge chunk plays.
A 6-2, 273-pound edge rusher from Fort Lauderdale, Sapp is a run-stuffing end who projects as a two-down player in the NFL. His pass-rush skill never quite developed, but he knows how to hold the point of attack and take on double teams with confidence.
A 6-3 and a half, 241-pound Connecticut transfer, Joly is a limited athlete but a refined receiving threat. He’ll mostly operate from the slot, but he’s an advanced route runner who knows how to attack all sorts of coverages.
A 6-3, 233-pound Alabama native, Hutchins chose the Eagles for his education and that character and studious attitude show up on tape. He puts the work in, using his length and explosive movements to attack weaknesses in his opponents’ game.
A 6-3, 346-pound Purdue transfer, Brevard is a run-stuffing nose tackle with a fairly high floor. He’ll play a limited role in the NFL, but for 20 snaps a game, he’ll hold two gaps and force the offensive line to play with minus numbers.
A 6-7, 221-pound Arizona State transfer, Gentry has an unusual build and skillset. He’s a force off the edge, with impressive range as an off-ball backer, and he takes on blocks well for someone who struggles with natural leverage.
A 6-2, 250-pound former walk-on at Wisconsin, Nowakowski is reliable in all three phases of tight end play. He has soft hands and some wiggle after the catch, while also holding his own as a blocker despite his smaller frame.
A 6-2 and a half, 187-pound Miami Ohio transfer, Virgil is a crafty route runner with quick feet and smooth hips. He uses his plus catch radius well, routinely snagging passes away from his frame.
A 6-8, 330-pound mauler, Harris is a monster against the run. His ability to hold the point of attack and shed blockers to make tackles is impressive, but he has serious off-field concerns as a prospect.
A 6-7, 319-pound high school defensive lineman, Crownover is an impressive zone blocker. He knows how to use his length to his advantage, displacing defenders and clearing space on the move.
A 6-6, 258-pound edge rusher who grew up just outside of Iowa City, Llewellyn plays with fire and threatens the outside shoulder of the tackle consistently. With a developed bag of counters to work with, he knows how to set up blockers that will pay off with moves deployed later in the game.
A 6-4, 253-pound JUCO transfer, Bentley is an experienced receiving tight end. He eats up zone coverage, with a versatile route tree and extremely reliable hands — he hasn’t dropped a pass in two seasons.
A 6-1, 290-pound tackle from Florida, Durant is an explosive athlete with absurd speed and flexibility at his size. To this point, it hasn’t translated to consistent production, but if he puts it all together, he has a special pass-rushing profile.
A 6-6, 249-pound late arrival to the sport, Gyllenborg is an impressively athletic receiving threat at the tight end position. He doesn’t offer a ton as a blocker, but his combination of vertical separation and alignment flexibility gives him untapped upside.
A 6-3, 257-pound edge rusher from Indiana, Curry checked every box you could want in college football. His underathletic build might limit him at the next level, but he’s an exceptionally productive pass rusher with a quick first step and strong run support tendencies.
A 6-5, 331-pound guard with experience at defensive tackle, Wright is an extremely physical player who asserts his strength over defenders routinely. The power in his hands jolts rushers on contact and walks them back.
A 6-1, 193-pound high school track athlete, Demmings is a fluid mover with serious explosiveness in his lower half. The competition concerns are valid, but he’s a plus athlete even by NFL standards.
A 6-0, 207-pound Maryland transfer, Hemby is an athletic, versatile back. He gets up to top speed quickly and can outrun defenders down the sideline, with breakaway range in the open field.
A 6-0 and a half, 195-pound Washington transfer, Dixon is a physical corner always hunting the football. He makes receivers feel him throughout their route and fires to the ball in run support.
A 6-3 and a half, 194-pound Boise State transfer, McAlister is a vertical burner, getting down the field in a hurry and making himself available. He can attack zone coverages well, finding soft spots to settle down in.
A 6-1, 194-pound USC transfer, Jackson is long and fluid, matching great movement skills with the frame to hold up in the NFL. With good awareness from off-coverage, he can crack down to make plays on the ball.
A 6-1 and a half, 227-pound lacrosse recruit for Ohio State, Heinecke later transferred to the Sooners for football. Despite his smaller frame, he’s a good athlete, with great ball skills and natural feel in zone coverage. Heinecke’s status is up in the air, as he’s currently suing the NCAA for eligibility after they counted his three lacrosse games against him.
A 6-4 and a half, 251-pound former walk-on and Louisville transfer, Reiger flies around the field, stressing blocking schemes with his speed. He’s both experienced and refined, using his hands well to keep his chest clean.
A 6-5, 251-pound Alabama transfer, Kitselman is a blocking tight end through and through. He has a strong anchor in pass protection and can get out and block in space, offering versatility across multiple schemes.
A 6-1, 232-pound former walk-on at James Madison, Fisher is the epitome of consistency at the linebacker position. Though he’s not overly athletic, he plays with solid fundamentals in all areas of the game.
A 6-4, 312-pound former four-star recruit, Burton thrives when blocking on the move. He can get out in space and clear the way for his running back, getting to the second level and putting linebackers on the ground.
A 6-2, 232-pound All-American, Murdock could certainly outperform this ranking. His read-and-react abilities are among the best in the class, with a strong tackling form and solid zone coverage instincts.
A 6-6, 306-pound two-year starter at right tackle, Wagner has incredible length and knows how to win the leverage battle. He keeps his feet active, providing a firm base that can move with pass rushers to keep them from gaining the edge.
A 6-0, 199-pound transfer from Virginia Tech, Stroman is a downhill playmaker who thrives in zone coverage. He reads the quarterback’s eyes well and has good instincts, firing to the ball with impressive physicality for his size.
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