2026 NFL Draft grades for Rounds 2 and 3: Carson Beck pick an A-minus; Jets, Lions get A’s

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Welcome to The Athletic’s pick-by-pick grades for Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. If you missed our reactions to all of Thursday night’s action, you can catch up on our Round 1 grades here.

Once again, because it’s impossible to fully judge a prospect before they’ve played an NFL snap, our immediate grades will try to take into account a number of factors: pick value, trade cost, how the draft board looked at the time of the selection and so on.

(Editor’s notes: Scott Dochterman provided grades for odd-numbered picks, Nick Baumgardner for even-numbered picks; an asterisk indicates a compensatory draft pick.)

Round 2

33. San Francisco 49ers (from NYJ): De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

Stribling (6 feet 2 inches tall, 207 pounds) has the potential to fill the 49ers’ speedster role vacated by Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. However, after posting an NFL-low 20 sacks last year (mostly because of injuries), the 49ers should have looked to select an edge here. That’s not a knock on Stribling, but the 49ers won’t compete for the Super Bowl without a better pass rush.

Grade: C

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

A big-framed, powerful presence inside and a terrific all-around athlete, Bisontis grew up idolizing Quenton Nelson and plays with similar hand power. He’ll push for time quickly in Arizona.

Grade: A-minus

35. Buffalo Bills (from TEN): T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

As they make the switch a 3-4 defense, the Bills needed a different type of pass rusher. Parker (6-3 1/2, 263) is a solid, productive addition who should help in that transition. He’s a safe pick, but a quality one.

Grade: A

36. Houston Texans (from LV): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald was DT1 on my board (also in Dane Brugler’s “The Beast”), and I thought Kansas City should have taken him instead of Peter Woods on Thursday night. He’s three-down presence with nose or three-tech potential, even if he’s a little inexperienced.

Grade: A

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

The Giants continue to make a case for the best draft of 2026. Hood was a first-round talent at a position of need, and the Giants plucked him in Round 2. He should be an immediate starter.

Grade: A

38. Las Vegas Raiders (from WAS via HOU): Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona

Here comes a run on cornerbacks. Stukes is a bit older (age 24) and can be a bit too aggressive, but he’s also one of the best athletes in the draft (4.33-second 40-yard dash with a 1.50 10-yard-split; 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump) and has elite make-up speed. Stukes is also known as an elite leader.

Grade: A-minus

39. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Browns continue to remake their wide receiver room, and they picked up a tall, big-bodied threat here. Boston (6-3 1/2, 212) is different in style and size than Cleveland first-rounder KC Concepcion. He has some qualities reminiscent of former NFL receiver Anquan Boldin.

Grade: B-plus

40. Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, edge, Oklahoma

This is a bit of a reach, especially with prospects such as Zion Young and Cashius Howell on the board. Thomas is a twitched-up pass rusher who plays hard and gets everything out of his 242-pound frame, but he isn’t going to give you much on first downs and has real length (and size) concerns.

Grade: B-minus

41. Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

It’s too early to say if Howell can adequately replace Hendrickson, but the Bengals grabbed a true game-wrecker. The SEC defensive player of the year and a unanimous first-team All-American last season, Howell (6-2 1/2, 253) finished with 11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and six passes defensed. The Bengals have reset their defensive line.

Grade: A

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

Another versatile interior presence with three-down potential, Miller (at nearly 330 pounds) combines powerful hands with great movement skills. He’s had shoulder problems in the past, but if his health clears, this is a great pick.

Grade: A-minus

43. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

There’s no better defensive leader in the game. Rodriguez was named a unanimous first-team All-American after posting 128 tackles (11 for loss), seven forced fumbles, six passes defensed and four interceptions last season. My only question: Was this too high for a linebacker, considering how many other needs Miami has to fill?

Grade: B-plus

44. Detroit Lions (from DAL via NYJ): Derrick Moore, edge, Michigan

Detroit moved up six spots and jumped Moore’s former college defensive coordinator, new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, to snag the explosive, long-armed edge rusher. This pick makes so much sense — Moore will add juice to a defensive front that needed someone to win one-on-ones opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

Grade: A

45. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, edge, Missouri

The Ravens addressed their porous pass rush (30 sacks last year) by signing Trey Hendrickson, and now they can pair him with one of college football’s top pass rushers. Not to get too hyperbolic, but there are some physical commonalities between Young and Ravens legend Terrell Suggs.

Grade: A

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

Trotter (6-2, 240) is a really good run defender. The son of former NFL standout Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah Trotter had some coverage holes in his game as a younger player at Missouri. I would’ve preferred Jake Golday here, but this is a solid pick.

Grade: B

47. Pittsburgh Steelers (from IND): Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Pittsburgh tried to land Makai Lemon in Round 1, only to have Philadelphia trade up and grab him. The Steelers found a quality next choice in Bernard, who totaled 114 catches for 1,656 yards and nine touchdowns the past two years, with only three drops. He’s tough, durable and offers a counter in style to the Steelers’ other receivers.

Grade: B-plus

48. Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The younger brother of current Falcons standout corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell was a top-30 player on my board. He’s a small corner, but a terrific mover with great agility and balance in press coverage. He’s a high-floor player — and could start immediately, alongside his brother.

Grade: A

49. Carolina Panthers: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

The Panthers needed to upgrade the defensive line alongside Derrick Brown, and they did so here by selecting one of the draft’s top zero-tech tackles. Hunter was a physical run-stuffer at Texas Tech who allowed David Bailey to get free off the edge. He’ll instantly upgrade the Carolina defensive line.

Grade: A

50. New York Jets (from DET): D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets landed the 2026 draft’s version of Aaron Glenn. Ponds is a small corner who (like his new head coach) plays like a man twice his size and has a boulder on his shoulder the size of New Jersey. This is a tremendous fit and very good value.

Grade: A

51. Minnesota Vikings (from CAR): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

This grade is not a reflection on Golday, who is one of the great stories of this draft. But the Vikings have major issues in their secondary. They bypassed that area in the first round for an oft-injured — albeit very talented defensive tackle — but the alarm should be sounding now.

Grade: C-minus

52. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Cisse might need some time in the soup before he can be fully counted on as a starter, but his athleticism (at 6-0, 190) flashes signs of having legit CB1 potential. This is a classic Packers pick, as it’ll take work to get Cisse to his ceiling — but this is sort of what the Packers do.

Grade: A-minus

53. Indianapolis Colts (from PIT): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Colts traded longtime stalwart Zaire Franklin to Green Bay in March, and they couldn’t have found a better replacement than Allen. The Georgia product should start on day one. Allen (6-1, 230) earned first-team All-American honors as one of the SEC’s top defenders. He was the Bulldogs’ unquestioned team leader — and didn’t commit a penalty in 41 games.

Grade: A

54. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

This is almost like drafting another X receiver. If the Eagles are truly trying to replace A.J. Brown, that is the true comp — Stowers is an electric 239-pound tight end who does terrific work in the air and after the catch. He is not a run blocker, however, which will impact his role.

Grade: B-plus

55. New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, edge, Illinois

The Patriots traded up to grab Jacas, who was the top pass rusher remaining. New England runs a 3-4, which might be an odd fit for Jacas, but he’ll adapt. He developed into one of the Big Ten’s top pass rushers (11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last year).

Grade: B-plus

56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M

One of the better run-blocking tight ends in this draft, Boerkircher projects as a very dependable TE2/H-back. He could factor heavily in two- or three- tight end sets, both of which we could see from the Jaguars this season.

Grade: B-plus

57. Chicago Bears: Logan Jones, C, Iowa

There are concerns about Jones’ size (6-3, 299) and short arms (30 3/4 inches), but his quickness and power make up for those detriments. Jones won the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center and was a unanimous first-team All-American for the top offensive line in the country. There aren’t many players more mature than Jones.

Grade: B-plus

58. Cleveland Browns (from SF): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

This is the best pick I’ve seen so far on Day 2 of the ’26 draft. And it’s now official: The Cleveland Browns are having a terrific draft. A versatile, physical safety with hybrid potential, McNeil-Warren could be a stud in short order.

Grade: A

59. Houston Texans: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan

The Texans might have reached here. Klein (6-6, 248) has the skill set to work into a primary role, but his on-field resume is light — he had just 38 career catches, one touchdown and four drops in college. Klein was a team captain and has upside, but the second round is a bit high based on his production.

Grade: C

60. Tennessee Titans (from BUF via CHI): Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

This is good value, as I thought Hill would’ve been off the board in the top 50. He’s another long, explosive athlete who could wear multiple hats. Between Hill and Keldric Faulk, Robert Saleh is building quite a crew of defensive mutants in Nashville.

Grade: A-minus

61. Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

For the second consecutive season, the Rams drafted a tight end in the second round (Terrance Ferguson in 2025). This is a solid pick, if the staff believes a tight end can help this offense immediately more than a receiver could. I beg to differ — and that’s absolutely no knock on Klare.

Grade: C-plus

62. Buffalo Bills (from DEN): Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State

An extremely physical corner with great length and a great overall frame, Igbinosun is very hard to beat, be it in press near the line of scrimmage or at the catch point. He does grab a lot, though, and will have to reel in his hands to avoid becoming a penalty magnet.

Grade: B-plus

63. Los Angeles Chargers (from NE): Jake Slaughter, G/C, Florida

The Chargers listed Slaughter as a guard, which displays his versatility — but Slaughter should be the team’s future starting center. If Jim Harbaugh and company believe he can make the slight transition for year one, though, it’s a smart move. Slaughter is a physical, powerful run blocker.

Grade: B-plus

64. Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU

Interesting choice here. I do like Clark, who’s an older, versatile safety with good coverage range and the ability to play multiple spots. He’s skinny, but he’s always around the ball. Though I would’ve preferred Miami safety Keionte Scott here, Clark is a solid addition for the defending champs.

Grade: B

Round 3

65. Arizona Cardinals: Carson Beck, QB, Miami

The Cardinals needed a quarterback, and Beck was the most experienced one left on the board. He’ll compete to be the starter at some point this season. Beck answered some questions after recovering from elbow surgery and guided the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff championship game.

Grade: A-minus

66. Denver Broncos (from TEN via BUF): Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

A long, powerful presence with quick hands and a lot of burst off the snap, Onyedim has the ability to line up across a defensive front, regardless of scheme. He needs more consistency at the point of attack, though.

Grade: B-plus

67. Las Vegas Raiders: Keyron Crawford, edge, Auburn

Crawford (6-4, 253) is raw, but athletic. With Maxx Crosby back, edge is the one position where the Raiders have depth, so they can develop Crawford at his pace. However, the Raiders still need help at offensive line — that should have been addressed by now.

Grade: C

68. Philadelphia Eagles (from NYJ): Markel Bell, OT, Miami

Bell (6-9, 346) is one of the biggest humans in this draft. He’s an extremely durable, tough football player with much better movement skills than a man his size should have. This is a tremendous fit for Philadelphia’s smash-mouth attack.

Grade: A-minus

69. Chicago Bears (from NYG via HOU, BUF and TEN): Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

The Bears have a significant need along the defensive line, but they’ve chosen to ignore it. They already have invested heavily at tight end in recent years, with Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, and still have the league’s 27th-ranked run defense. Roush (6-6, 267) is a massive target, a smooth pass catcher and a terrific blocker — this grade is not an indictment of his talent.

Grade: D-plus

70. San Francisco (from CLE): Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech

A high-motor pass rusher with great burst and quick feet, Height (6-3, 239) is a smaller player who wins with his effort and pass-rush approach. He’ll be an effective player on third downs. I do have questions about what he can do on first or second downs, though.

Grade: B-plus

71. Washington Commanders: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

The Commanders needed a wide receiver in the worst way, and Williams was great value at this stage — he should complement Terry McLaurin very nicely. Williams was a first-team All-ACC performer in 2024 before his production slipped in 2025, mirroring his team’s performance. But his talent is obvious.

Grade: B-plus

72. Cincinnati Bengals: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington

Davis is a jumbo-sized cornerback (6-3 7/8, 194, with nearly 34-inch arms) who offers above-average ball skills. He’s a great athlete but can also get lost in coverage, which leads to big plays and penalties.

Grade: B

73. New Orleans Saints: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

The Saints are building the offense around quarterback Tyler Shough, and — with veteran tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant on the roster — Delp can work in without getting pressed immediately into service. He had consistently limited production in college but possesses incredible talent.

Grade: C

74. New York Giants (from KC via CLE): Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

A huge wide receiver, Fields (6-4, 220) is a big weapon who can sink and move in and out of breaks like a smaller athlete. He’s very agile and plays under control, but he does lack physicality for his size.

Grade: B-plus

75. Miami Dolphins: Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech

This is a reach for Miami. Projected as a sixth-round pick, Douglas (6-3 1/2, 206) was productive (846 yards receiving) and ran a 4.39 40 time. But with seven drops last year and oodles of inconsistency, this is a boom-or-bust selection for a team that needs sure things.

Grade: C-minus

76. Pittsburgh Steelers (from DAL): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Allar is absolutely intriguing — he’s a 6-5, 230-pounder with terrific arm talent and above-average mobility. He has every tool in the shed. However, he was never consistent with his feet, nor did he always show up in big moments during his run at Penn State, so there’s a lot of risk. I do think Allar has a higher ceiling than current Steelers QB Will Howard, for whatever that’s worth.

Grade: B

77. Green Bay Packers (from TB): Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri

With the Packers still transitioning to a four-down line, adding some beef between the tackles was a necessity. I like this pick — McClellan should be a rotational performer with starter potential.

Grade: B

78. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

Another potential hybrid defender, Haulcy (6-0, 215) plays with great coverage instincts plus enough physicality to be a force in the box. He’s also a high football-character player and a great teammate everywhere he goes. He definitely could’ve been a second-rounder.

Grade: A-minus

79. Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

One of the most electrifying and versatile performers in the draft, Branch (5-8 1/2, 177) will fill multiple roles for the Falcons. His size is a negative, but he ran a 4.35 40 and benched 225 pounds 20 times at the combine.

Grade: A

80. Baltimore Ravens: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC

This is a reach. Lane (6-4, 200) is a big, long target, but he’s also skinny and doesn’t play up to that 6-4 size. Despite having some pretty effortless athleticism and impressive acrobatic catches, I’m not sure he’s ever gotten everything out of his body. There were much better WR options on the board.

Grade: C

81. Jacksonville Jaguars (from DET): Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M

The Jaguars needed to get younger and quicker in their interior, and Regis (6-1 1/2, 295) provides those traits instantly. His burst at the line of scrimmage is helpful for a four-down alignment. And flanked by Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, Regis should have one-gap opportunities to pass rush.

Grade: B

82. Minnesota Vikings: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State

I love the value here, though this does make me further question why Minnesota took Caleb Banks so early. Orange, known as “Big Citrus,” is an outstanding nose tackle who can kick out and play some three-tech. He’s a stout run defender who could surprise with his pass-rush upside.

Grade: A-minus

83. Carolina Panthers: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Brazzell can take the top off of a defense, which should free up rising star Tetairoa McMillan to become a potential Pro Bowler. Brazell (6-4, 198) boasts an 80-inch wingspan and ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds at the combine. His explosiveness will help the Panthers’ offense immediately.

Grade: A-minus

84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from GB): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Tampa Bay finds a big speedster to replace Mike Evans and provide another super-talented option for Baker Mayfield. Had Hurst played at Georgia instead of Georgia State, he’d have been a huge name in this cycle. He’s a good pick here, even if he’ll need some time to adjust to a new level of game speed.

Grade: A

85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Big, physical and quick, Everette (6-1 1/4, 196) should pair (in time) with Joey Porter Jr., to form a tenacious cornerback tandem. Everette made 41 career starts at Georgia and had 11 pass breakups last year. His 4.38 40 time means he’ll have special teams value right away.

Grade: A

86. Cleveland Browns (from LAC): Austin Barber, OT, Florida

The Browns have a lot of work to do up front, so double-dipping at tackle makes some sense. Barber also might be able to move inside to guard and be a really productive run blocker who isn’t so sloppy in pass production. The Browns, again, found quality talent here.

Grade: B-plus

87. Miami Dolphins (from PHI): Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State

Perhaps the best blocking tight end in the draft, Kacmarek (6-5 1/2, 261) was a limited receiving option at Ohio State, alongside Klare. But can he take on a bigger role with the Dolphins, who don’t have a lead tight end? It’s a questionable selection for a team that needs everything.

Grade: C-minus

88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

One of my favorite picks of Day 2. I thought Pregnon was a top-60 player and would come off the board in Round 2. He should be able to compete for — and win — a job as a rookie. Great value for the Jaguars.

Grade: A

89. Chicago Bears: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU

The Bears found a blazing fast receiver with kick return potential in Thomas, who ran a 4.28 40 and was a second-team All-SEC selection. However, he averaged 11.9 yards per reception and 9.0 yards per punt return and was projected as a seventh-rounder, so a C is a gift.

Grade: C

90. San Francisco 49ers (from HOU via MIA): Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana

Not a big fan of this. Black was a very effective one-cut back for Curt Cignetti’s Indiana offense, but he was a system player. He’s almost 25 years old, he’s small, and there were better running backs on the board.

Grade: C-plus

91. Las Vegas Raiders (from BUF via HOU): Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M

In Zuhn, the Raiders picked up the co-SEC offensive lineman of the year. Zuhn (6 6/12, 312) brings positional flexibility — he played center for the Aggies but will slide to guard for the Raiders, next to Tyler Linderbaum. He immediately upgrades the Raiders’ interior offensive line.

Grade: B

92. Dallas Cowboys (from SF): Jaishawn Barham, edge, Michigan

Barham is still a project off the edge, as he played most of his college career as an off-ball linebacker. He’s extremely physical and explosive, though, with good length and speed off the corner. This was a dice roll worth taking for Dallas, as it has time to bring Barham along at the right speed.

Grade: B-plus

93. Los Angeles Rams: Keagen Trost, G/OT, Missouri

Trost (6-4 1/2, 311) spent seven years in college, transferring from Morgan State to Indiana State to Wake Forest before spending last fall at Missouri, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He has a shot at the Rams’ open right tackle position, or he could kick inside to guard.

Grade: B

94. Miami Dolphins (from DEN): Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

This could be a big payoff, depending on medicals — Bell (6-2, 220) is a uniquely shaped X receiver with terrific burst and great ball skills in the air. He had first-round buzz this season before going down with a knee injury late in the fall.

Grade: B-plus

95. New England Patriots: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame

The Patriots were looking for a solid combination piece, and they found one in Raridon (6-6, 245). Last year, the former Notre Dame tight end caught 32 passes for 482 yards (15.1 yards per reception). He has very good speed and is an improving blocker.

Grade: B-plus

96. Pittsburgh Steelers (from SEA): Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa

What a fit. Dunker (6-5, 320) is a punishing run blocker, with length and power for days. He was a tackle at Iowa but will be a very good NFL guard. Few players in this class love football more than this guy, who’s a former hay bale toss champion. Pittsburgh will love the red mullet.

Grade: A

97. Minnesota Vikings*: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

After a few questionable picks early in the draft, Minnesota made some nice moves in the third round. Tiernan (6-7 1/2, 323) was one of the Big Ten’s most overlooked players and earned a second-team All-Big Ten selection last year. With below-average arm length (32 1/4), he may kick inside to guard or flip to the right side, but he’s definitely an NFL player.

Grade: A

98. Minnesota Vikings (from PHI)*: Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

This wasn’t even my favorite available safety off Miami’s roster, as I’d have preferred Keionte Scott here (or Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley, South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore, or possibly Arizona’s Genesis Smith). This feels like a reach on a rotational safety, although Thomas should be a special teams asset.

Grade: C

99. Seattle Seahawks (from PIT)*: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

Neal (6-1 1/2, 203) spent four seasons at Fresno State before transferring to Arkansas, where he posted a breakout season last year (12 pass breakups and two interceptions). He has good speed (4.49 40) and long arms to go along with a physical game. He’s exactly what the Seahawks want from the CB position.

Grade: B

100. Jacksonville Jaguars (from DET)*: Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland

Huskey is a high-floor rotational safety prospect who plays with great ball skills and finds the football. He also has short arms, isn’t very fast and doesn’t have great agility. There were better safeties on the board here, but Huskey (who had a sixth-round grade in “The Beast”) is a hard-working player and can carve out a role.

Grade: C