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Winners, losers from Day 3 of NFL Draft: Diego Pavia goes undrafted
Diego Pavia. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Winners, losers from Day 3 of NFL Draft: Steelers make feel-good pick, Diego Pavia goes undrafted

The 2026 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday with Rounds 4-7, and while they may not get as many headlines as the picks over the first two days, there are still good players and good stories to be had. So let's take a look at some of the winners and losers from the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Winner: The Las Vegas Raiders getting Jermod McCoy 

The Raiders draft has been a healthy mix of quantity and quality, picking at the top of each round and having 10 picks overall. That brings a lot of talent into the organization, and while top pick Fernando Mendoza is the potential franchise-changer, they also found some potential players later. That includes the first pick on day three when they took cornerback Jermod McCoy from Tennessee. 

McCoy was projected to be a top-10 pick in this class until a knee injury cost him his 2025 season. 

The Raiders are banking on the knee being healthy, and if it is, they may have found one of the steals of the class on day three. 

Loser: Garrett Nussmeier

The good news for Nussmeier is that he heard his name called and is going to a really good team in the Kansas City Chiefs. The bad news is that the team has absolutely no long-term quarterback need, and as a late seventh-round pick is going to be facing a major uphill battle to even make the roster this season, let alone stick in the NFL. A year ago at this time, he looked like a potential first-round pick. It is another lesson in how difficult it is to project quarterback performance and development. 

Winner: The Styles family 

Overall, it was a huge draft for Ohio State defense, and that includes brothers Sonny Styles and Lorenzo Styles. After Sonny went with the No. 7 overall pick to the Washington Commanders on Thursday, Lorenzo, a safety, went to the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round on Saturday. 

Pretty good weekend for the family to have both them get picked. 

Winner: Eli Heidenreich has incredible draft moment

After a tremendous career at Navy, Eli Heidenreich is going to get a chance to play in the NFL after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Making it even better for him is the fact that he is from Pittsburgh, grew up a Steelers fan, and was in attendance for the draft with a chance to be introduced on stage with commissioner Roger Goodell.

Heidenreich is also a really intriguing prospect who might have a chance to be an all-around offensive weapon in the NFL. Good story. Solid late-round pick. 

Loser: Cincinnati Bengals Colbie Young pick

The Bengals still have massive needs on defense and went with what would seem to be a luxury pick in the fourth round with Young. Not only is it a luxury pick at a position they do not have a huge need at, but Young also comes with some significant red flags off the field

Winner: Uar Bernard gets a chance

Perhaps the most fascinating pick on Saturday was the Philadelphia Eagles' seventh-round selection of Uar Bernard. Bernard, who is from Nigeria, is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program and wowed scouts with his athleticism in pre-draft workouts and with the fact that he is 306 pounds and only 6% body fat. He is one of the best athletes in the class, but is a major product given how new he is to the game. And by new, he has never actually played football and is still literally learning the game. 

A lottery ticket? Sure. Intriguing? Definitely. 

Loser: Diego Pavia goes undrafted

Pavia helped put Vanderbilt football back on the map over the past two years, and even found himself as a Heisman Trophy finalist for the 2025 season. None of that was enough for him to get picked this weekend, making him the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to go undrafted. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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