2026 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: Jets, Giants Get to Work Changing Their Cultures

Those in the football world will wait at least two seasons before determining whether a drafted player is truly NFL-caliber. So grading draft classes in the days following the league’s annual player acquisition event often misses the mark. We have not yet seen the players put on the pads for their respective teams or gained insight into how the teams plan to utilize their new players. But one big reason the draft is so popular is because it gives fans hope, and first impressions matter on that front. With that in mind, here are the teams I think helped themselves the most and the teams that helped themselves the least. WINNERS New York Jets After a disappointing debut season, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is intent on changing the culture by bringing a collection of "winners" into the locker room. With their first four picks, the Jets took College Football Playoff participants from last season: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey (Round 1), Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (Round 1), Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Round 1) and Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (Round 2). These players will raise the standards and expectations around the building as well as fill pressing needs for playmakers at marquee positions. Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr. and Clemson QB Cade Klubnik are Day 3 gambles with significant ROI potential. If either prospect outplays his draft status, the Jets could rise up the charts as a competitive squad. With an impressive rookie class teaming with a new and improved veteran corps, the Jets are on their way toward climbing out of the AFC’s cellar. New York Giants There is no disputing new head coach John Harbaugh’s impact on the Giants’ draft philosophy, with the team prioritizing "ballers" in their early-round selections. The drafting of linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the team’s first two picks reflects the Giants’ commitment to dominating the trenches with physicality and toughness. While Reese’s role is a bit ambiguous due to the Giants’ deep and talented edge rusher rotation, the Ohio State standout could wreak havoc on opponents in a hybrid role that showcases his talents as an off-ball linebacker with pass-rushing skills. Mauigoa is slated to start his career as a guard before eventually taking over as an edge blocker on a physically imposing frontline. Tennessee CB Carlton Hood and Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields are potential starters with big-play potential in their respective roles. If the Giants also get key contributions from any of their Day 3 selections — Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Illinois OT J.C. Davis and BYU LB Jack Kelly — the Harbaugh era will be off to an impressive start. Tampa Bay Buccaneers It is apparent that the Buccaneers look to reclaim their crown as NFC South champs, with the acquisitions aimed at upgrading their toughness and physicality on defense. Miami Edge Rueben Bain, Missouri LB Josiah Trotter and Miami DB Keionte Scott bring energy and edginess whenever they step inside the lines. They not only fill immediate needs at their respective positions, but they will also rekindle the hard-nosed approach that helped the Buccaneers claim four straight division titles before last season. While the team’s offensive selections (Georgia State WR Ted Hurst, Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth and LSU TE Bauer Sharp) are projected as backups, Hurst could slide into departed veteran Mike Evans’ role as a vertical threat with the potential to hold down the "X" position as an eventual starter. Overall, the Buccaneers opted for an identity draft to help them get back to their rugged, winning ways. LOSERS Los Angeles Rams Time will tell if Les Snead was the smartest guy in the room when he handpicked Ty Simpson to be the Rams’ franchise quarterback of the future in a surprise selection at No. 13 overall. While the Super Bowl-winning general manager deserves credit for his conviction, the Rams’ 2026 class hinges on the success of an undersized, inexperienced quarterback with durability concerns. Despite his polished mechanics and spectacular flashes, Simpson must defy the odds to emerge as an elite quarterback in a league that chews up and spits out novices at the position. With the Rams bypassing a game-changing pass-catcher, pass protector, or pass rusher to select a QB3 for this season, the skeptics will not change their opinions despite the impact of the rest of the class. Although Ohio State TE Max Klare, Missouri OT Keagen Trost and Miami WR CJ Daniels are poised to make their mark as unheralded contributors, Simpson’s performance and production are all that matter in this evaluation. San Francisco 49ers The outrage of the 49ers’ faithful reached a fever pitch when the draft concluded on Saturday night. The puzzling Day 2 selections of Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height and Indiana RB Kaelon Black have drawn the ire of couch scouts who wanted brand names at those selections. Although Kyle Shanahan’s track record for coaxing production out of hidden gems should afford more grace from critics, the outrage continues the ongoing debate over the team’s ability to draft and develop effectively over the past decade. Given the heat on the 49ers following their daring decisions in the first two days of the draft, the team needs some of their developmental prospects — Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton, Washington OT Carver Willis, Washington CB Ephesians Prysock, Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger and Kansas OT Enrique Cruz Jr. — to pan out to extinguish the fires raging among 49ers fans. Tennessee Titans The 2026 draft pivoted when the Titans shocked the world with the Carnell Tate pick at No. 4 overall. Although most observers viewed the Ohio State star as the No. 1 wideout in the class, the decision to take a collegiate WR2 over a freakishly athletic pass rusher (Arvell Reese) and off-ball linebacker (Sonny Styles) has put Robert Saleh’s debut class under the microscope. Perhaps Tate will silence the critics by playing at a superstar level, but he will need to adapt to a new role and more responsibility as the WR1 for a team that lacks an elite supporting cast around him. The Titans traded back into the first round to acquire a big-bodied edge rusher, Keldric Faulk, with modest sack production. While there was plenty of love in the scouting community for the Auburn star as a run defender, the Titans are counting on the 21-year-old to transform into an Arik Armstead-type defender with inside-outside versatility. Considering how collegiate sack production typically translates into NFL performance, the Titans will need their second first-rounder to remake his game to match his draft expectations. With second-round pick Anthony Hill slated to be a Day 1 starter at middle linebacker, the Titans are counting on three developmental playmakers to fill voids on a squad looking to climb out of the AFC South cellar. *Jacksonville Jaguars Some of you may question why the Jaguars are not included among the bottom three on this list, even though they selected the most controversial player on the board, Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher, with their first selection (No. 56 overall). It is hard to attach significant expectations to a bottom of the second round pick when the value is that of a key contributor. While the Texas A&M standout was not on many media boards, the Jaguars’ selection pre-empted a Day 2 run on tight ends that might have left the team on the outside looking in when it came to their desired blocking tight ends. With the Jaguars following that selection with a highly-touted guard, Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon, who earned borderline first-round grades, it is hard for me to trash a draft class that would have been celebrated if the order of selections had been reversed.

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Cowherd: No Team Had a Better 1st-Round Pick Than Cowboys' Selection of Caleb Downs

Not only was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Dallas Cowboys clearly agreed. After unexpectedly sliding to No. 11 overall, Downs has quickly become one of the biggest storylines of the draft. Downs has had a wide range of comparisons, but on Friday morning, The Herd’s Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back, viewing the Cowboys as clear winners of the NFL Draft. It’s not just about Downs being a great player, but he believes he’s the steal of the draft. Cowherd didn’t hold back on his show, even drawing a comparison between Downs and former Baltimore Ravens safety and Hall of Famer Ed Reed. "You can not do better than what the Dallas Cowboys did with their first pick," Cowherd said. "I think he’s going to be the best Buckeye in the draft. … I thought last year, he was good enough to be a top-three pick in the draft. I think he’s an incredible Ed Reed-level player." Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, 45 of them solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showcasing his versatility all over the field. He didn’t test as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on instincts, anticipation, and elite football IQ. Despite playing a position that is often undervalued, he became one of the most versatile defenders in the sport. That production and versatility have only reinforced the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level. "He got overshadowed because they [Ohio State] have a couple of freaks in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and they’re just physical specimens," Cowherd said. "Best football player is Caleb Downs. He is a great, great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run." For Cowherd, Downs’ blend of production, instincts and versatility seems to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from Day 1. In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent game-changing presence, Downs could step in as that difference-maker. If he lives up to the billing, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft. The selection of Downs wasn't the only way the Cowboys addressed their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick after trading down a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. Lawrence had been viewed as a potential second-round pick by most draft analysts. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang actually had Lawrence ranked 50th on his big board. But Cowherd understood why Dallas reached to get him. "Their next pick was a reach, but I'm going to defend the pick," Cowherd said. "[Lawrence] is not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the entire reason they did it was so that they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and they now have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets banged up but he's good. This kid is not going to play a ton next season. That's OK. I can live with that." The Cowboys continued to add to their defense through much of the draft as well. They selected Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round before adding Florida cornerback Devin Moore and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton with the two fourth-round picks they acquired from the Eagles.

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2026 NFL Draft Undrafted Free Agents: Where the Top Names are Going

The 2026 NFL Draft is over, and 257 players — from first overall pick Fernando Mendoza to "Mr. Irrelevant" Red Murdock — had their names called this weekend. Many other notable prospects did not, though, and will have to find their first professional home through free agency. Shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft ended on Saturday, undrafted prospects began to find NFL homes. While undrafted free agents are typically less heralded, many have been able to have a successful career. There have also been undrafted free agents who've made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, like Kurt Warner and Antonio Gates. So, here's a look at where some of the notable undrafted free agents from the 2026 draft are going. Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs Jacksonville Jaguars Miami Dolphins Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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2026 NFL Draft: 1 Thing to Know About Notable Day 3 Picks

Yes, it's Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft and the picks fly off the board on what's the final day of the yearly spectacle. With that said, there are still plenty of star collegiate players taken on Day 3 that have a chance to start from the jump at the next level. Here's one thing to know about the top selections from Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (pick No. 101 of the Las Vegas Raiders): Had four interceptions in 2024 If healthy, McCoy would've been a Day 2, if not a Day 1 pick. Why? Well, that's because he missed the entire 2025 college football season due to a torn ACL injury, with the former Volunteers and Oregon State Beavers (2023) defensive back potentially needing more surgery for the matter. In 2024, McCoy reeled in four interceptions, logged nine passes defended and racked up 44 combined tackles; the year prior, he had two interceptions. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (pick No. 110 of the New York Jets): Was No. 1 QB recruit in Class of 2022 Klubnik was the consensus top quarterback prospect in the Recruiting Class of 2022, with him becoming the Tigers' full-time quarterback for the 2023 season. Over his three seasons as Clemson's starting quarterback (2023-25), Klubnik averaged 3,142.0 passing yards, 23.7 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 138.1 passer rating per year, while completing 64.2% of his passes. Kubnik's best season arguably came in 2024, as he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for 463 yards and seven scores, a season that saw Clemson reach the College Football Playoff. Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (pick No. 115 of the Baltimore Ravens): Played for head coach Curt Cignetti on two teams Sarratt was among the many players who followed Cignetti from the James Madison Dukes — with whom he played for one season after spending the 2022 season with the Saint Francis Red Flash — to the Hoosiers for the 2024 season. Last season (2025), Sarratt totaled 65 receptions for 830 yards and a Big Ten-high 15 touchdowns en route to Indiana winning its first National Championship in program history. Miami (Fla.) CB Keionte Scott (pick No. 116 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Had two pick-sixes in 2025 After two seasons at Snow College (2020-21) and three seasons with the Auburn Tigers (2022-24), Scott transferred to play for the Hurricanes in 2025, with Miami going on to reach the College Football Playoff National Championship. In his lone season at Miami, Scott reeled in two interceptions, running back both of those picks for touchdowns. He also tallied two forced fumbles and five passes defended. Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (pick No. 120 of the Green Bay Packers): Had 23.5 sacks in college Dennis-Sutton was among the more productive pass rushers in the Big Ten over his four years with the Nittany Lions (2022-25), most notably totaling 8.5 sacks in each of the last two years. He finished his collegiate career with 23.5 sacks, while forcing seven fumbles from 2023-25. Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (pick No. 135 of the Indianapolis Colts): Was selected in the MLB Draft That's not a typo. Boettcher played both football and baseball for the Ducks, with his performance in the latter sport resulting in Boettcher being selected by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. While he played baseball at Oregon from 2021-24, Boettcher played football for the Ducks from 2022-25. Last season (2025), he led the Big Ten with 80 assists, while also logging 136 combined tackles and two forced fumbles. North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance (pick No. 136 of the New Orleans Saints): Is the younger brother of QB Trey Lance The Bison receiver is the younger brother of the former No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, who also played at North Dakota State. As for the new Saints wideout, Lance, who spent six seasons at North Dakota State, averaged 63 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12.5 touchdowns per season from 2024-25. Texas DB Michael Taaffe (pick No. 158 of the Miami Dolphins): Three-year starter for Longhorns Taaffe was among the faces of the Longhorns' defense, playing five seasons for the school and starting from 2023-25, which included appearances in the College Football Playoff in 2023 and 2024. Over the aforementioned span (2023-25), Taaffe averaged 2.3 interceptions and 65.3 combined tackles per season. Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton (pick No. 165 of the Tennessee Titans): 1st in Penn State history in rushing touchdowns Over his four seasons playing for the Nittany Lions (2022-25), Singleton rushed for a combined 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns, which is first in program history; Singleton's rushing yards rank fourth in Penn State history. Ohio State S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (pick No. 172 of the New Orleans Saints): Brother of No. 7 pick Sonny Styles After two seasons playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2021-22), Styles transferred to Ohio State, where he was teammates with his brother, Sonny Styles, from 2023-25; Styles was selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 7 pick. Furthermore, Lorenzo Styles was a wide receiver at Notre Dame before switching to a full-time defensive back in 2023. North Dakota State QB Cole Payton (pick No. 178 overall): Dual-threat QB with potential positional versatility Payton was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, but he showed enough on tape to be a fifth-round pick. Will he play quarterback at the next level, though? You can read more about Payton here. Arkansas QB Taylen Green (pick No. 182 of the Cleveland Browns): Arguably the best athlete at QB in this year's class The Browns have added another quarterback to their quarterbacks room, taking Green at the start of the sixth round. Green set records in the vertical jump (43.5 inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) for a quarterback at the history of the combine, while also running a 4.36 40. Green threw for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go with 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this past season.

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4 Takeaways From Night 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft

Night 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft put some prominent trends on display on both sides of the ball. Defensively, we saw an early run on defensive tackles, indicating a priority for coordinators around the NFL. On the other side of the ball, the tight ends who were drafted show how offenses around the league are emphasizing the position to create mismatches. Here are my takeaways from the second and third rounds of the draft: 1. Carson Beck and Drew Allar prove that traits still matter in scouting rooms Despite the skeptics dismissing the importance of size and tools in the evaluation process, the selections of Beck and Allar show that coaches and scouts are still chasing prototypes at the quarterback position. Measuring 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, Beck is a throwback with a classic drop-back playing style that would have worked well in the 1990s. The Miami standout flashes the ability to make every throw from the pocket with touch, timing, and anticipation. While he has some untimely turnovers that cloud his evaluation, scouts were enamored with his experience (43 career starts) and management skills as the leader of two championship-caliber programs. Allar measures in at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds with elite arm talent, but accuracy and ball placement issues. Despite his issues, the former five-star recruit logged 35 career starts, during which he flashed enough skills as a pro-style passer to warrant some consideration as a developmental prospect with starting potential. While his inconsistencies made it hard for some evaluators to view the Penn State product as a legitimate QB1 consideration, Mike McCarthy’s experience as a quarterback developer (SEE: Aaron Brooks, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott) gives Allar a shot to defy the odds as a potential starter. With teams looking for a quarterback with starting potential, the size and traits continue to weigh heavily in the evaluation. As a pair of highly touted quarterbacks viewed as QB1s of their respective classes at various stages of their collegiate careers, I am not surprised  Beck and Allar came off the board in the third round as developmental prospects with intriguing traits. 2. Run-stoppers rule Night 2 The top of the second round featured a run on run-stopping defensive tackles, which was a direct reaction to the NFL’s renewed emphasis on the ground game. Kayden McDonald, Christian Miller, and Lee Hunter were selected in the first 17 picks of Day 2. Defensive coordinators have leaned on general managers and scouts in this draft to add more big bodies to the lineup to help them snuff out runs directed between the tackles. With more teams favoring two-high or split-safety looks to eliminate big plays, defensive play callers needed more big bodies on the frontline with "two-gap" potential to win with fewer defenders in the box. McDonald, Miller, and Hunter excel at handling double teams, while also flashing enough quickness to win with finesse maneuvers (swim move). As the league returns to some of its rugged roots, with the running game back in prominence, the early run on defensive tackles is not a surprise. 3. New York Jets focus on changing the culture After a disappointing debut season, in which the locker room seemingly fell apart amid a mix of believers and non-believers feuding over the squad's direction, Aaron Glenn and Co. have made a concerted effort to populate the roster with "winners" from championship-caliber programs. With their first four picks, the Jets took College Football Playoff participants from this past college football season: EDGE David Bailey (Round 1 from Texas Tech), TE Kenyon Sadiq (Round 1 from Oregon), WR Omar Cooper (Round 1 from Indiana) and D’Angelo Ponds (Round 2, also from Indiana). While the winning pedigree is rarely discussed in pre-draft coverage, teams covet players from winning programs because they understand the standards and expectations of a championship program. The Jets are not close to title contention, but the team is laying the foundation for a playoff run by adding a handful of rookies with championship swagger to a revised roster that added quarterback Geno Smith, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Demario Davis in the offseason. 4. Offensive coordinators are stockpiling tight ends to create more mismatches The Los Angeles Rams opened up a can of worms with their clever utilization of "13" personnel (one running back, three tight ends, and one wide receiver) to create mismatches all over the field. Teams have started to manipulate the numbers at the line of scrimmage with multiple tight ends lined up close to each other to create extra gaps for off-tackle runs. The illusion of a run play with more tight ends can also produce big plays through play-action. Teams are also featuring more "YOZ" (tight ends lining up wider than wide receivers) formations, with the tight end's wide alignment forcing linebackers and safeties out of their comfort zone. Regardless of how they're looking to find an edge, offensive play callers have found a cheat code utilizing ultra-athletic tight ends on the perimeter. The 2026 draft saw XXX tight ends come off the board during the first three rounds, with a mix of "Y" (traditional tight end) and "FLEX" (H-back) playmakers selected on Day 2. The teams looking for throwback tight ends opted to take Nate Boerkircher (Jacksonville Jaguars), Marlin Klein (Houston Texans) and Sam Roush (Chicago Bears). Meanwhile, play-callers intent on finding mismatch creators snagged Eli Stowers (Philadelphia Eagles), Max Klare (Los Angeles Rams) and Oscar Delp (New Orleans Saints). With the game evolving to feature more multi-tight end sets, the run on tight end reflects the league’s changing landscape.

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Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt: 'We're Making Progress' on Domed Stadium Renderings

The Kansas City Chiefs expect to unveil renderings for their new, $3 billion domed stadium later this summer, and team owner Clark Hunt said Friday that the plan is to begin bidding for the Super Bowl, Final Four and College Football Playoff games. The Chiefs announced in late December that they were moving from their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium across the Kansas-Missouri state line. The move came after Kansas lawmakers voted to allow the state to issue a little more than $2.4 million in bonds to cover about 60% of the cost of the stadium, a new training facility and retail and entertainment space. The stadium itself will be built in Kansas City, Kansas, near Kansas Speedway and a retail district known as The Legends. The area is also home to Sporting Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City, and a minor-league baseball stadium. "We're making progress," Hunt said. "We have a design competition that's ongoing between MANICA and Populous, and I would hope in the next several months that we'd be able to make a decision on the lead architect." Both of the firms are based in Kansas City, MANICA on the Kansas side and Populous on the Missouri side. MANICA has been working on the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville that will be home to the Tennessee Titans, and worked on Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Populous has been wrapping up the new Highmark Stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Hunt did underscore that "our thought process at this time is that it would be an enclosed dome." One of the long-held dreams of Hunt's father, the late Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, was to host a Super Bowl — the name he coined for the NFL title game. That would have been unlikely in an outdoor stadium in Kansas City, given the frigid Midwest winters. "We plan on bidding for Final Fours, College Football Playoff Games, bowl games and, of course, the Super Bowl," Clark Hunt said. "It will coincide with the construction of several other NFL buildings, so we will have competition, but I will make sure that Kansas City and the Chiefs put their best foot forward in that process." Hunt spoke Friday while introducing former linebacker Derrick Johnson as the newest member of the team's Hall of Fame. The Chiefs hosted the NFL draft to widespread acclaim in 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, close to where the Kansas City Royals announced this week that they would be building a $1.9 billion stadium to replace Kauffman Stadium. The Chiefs also are hosting six FIFA Men's World Cup games this summer at Arrowhead Stadium. It had to undergo minor renovations so that the 53-year-old stadium could fit the size of the field used for one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The World Cup in Kansas City is another crowning achievement for the Hunt family. Lamar Hunt was one of the original founding investors of Major League Soccer, and he originally owned two teams, the Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wizards — now known as Sporting Kansas City. Hunt later purchased a third team, the Dallas Burn, which has been rebranded as FC Dallas is still owned by the Hunt family. "We're really excited. It's hard to believe the World Cup is a little over 45 days away," Clark Hunt said. "It feels like we've been working on it for a decade, and in some regards that's probably true. It's going to be a tremendous opportunity for Kansas City to be seen and appreciated on a global stage. There will literally be billions of TV viewers watching games from Kansas City." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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NFL Draft: The Best Player Taken at All 32 2nd-Round Picks Since 2000

The first round of the NFL Draft is when the best of the best come off the board, but Round 2 offers plenty of talent as well. In fact, there have been enough talented players who've been drafted in Round 2 that we can debate which players were the best selected at each draft spot. As the 2026 NFL Draft moves into Day 2, we worked to identify the best players selected at pick Nos. 33-64 since 2000. Just like with the exercise we did with the best players taken at each first-round pick since 2000, there were pick numbers that have had a strong recent history (37), while others might be weaker than you expect (33). In doing this exercise, you'll also find that at least a few teams know how to draft well in Round 2. While Devin Hester is the only player on this list to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there are a few others who will almost assuredly end up getting a gold jacket in Canton in the coming years. So, which players have been the best selected at each pick number in the second round since 2000? Let's dive in. 33. Rodger Saffold, OL, Indiana (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2010) As the first pick of the second round, that spot the entire league has overnight to realize who was passed over in the first round, 33 really should be a more loaded number. It isn't really, so Saffold, who's gotten his first career Pro Bowl honors in the last two years, gets the nod with 173 starts and steady play over 16 seasons. Could receiver Tee Higgins catch him someday? Perhaps. We contemplated two linebackers here in DeMeco Ryans (2006) and Karlos Dansby (2004). 34. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State (selected by Dallas Cowboys in 2014) Lawrence turns 34 later in April but is still playing at such a high level, with three forced fumbles and two sacks in the playoffs to help Seattle to a Super Bowl championship. He just got his fifth Pro Bowl, he has 67.5 sacks, and the idea that he's still going pushes him ahead of guard Chris Snee (2004) and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (2006). 35. Charles Tillman, CB, Louisiana, 2003 (selected by Chicago Bears in 2003) It's tough to leave off guard Joel Bitonio and his seven Pro Bowls here, but Tillman was the gold standard for defensive takeaways — 44 forced fumbles! The Peanut Punch is named after him, and don't overlook 38 interceptions as well. That he only has two career Pro Bowl nods is blasphemy — eight pick-sixes in his career as well, making this an easy call for us. 36. Budda Baker, S, Washington (selected by Arizona Cardinals in 2017) This spot is loaded like a first-round position might be. You have receiver Chad Johnson and corner Darius Slay with six Pro Bowls each. You have quarterback Derek Carr passing for 40,000-plus yards and 257 touchdowns, and none of them can beat out Baker, who has made the Pro Bowl eight times in nine NFL seasons. He does a little of everything — eight career picks, seven forced fumbles, 10 sacks — and is consistently regarded as one of the league's best all-around safeties. Let this guy win a playoff game soon, OK? 37. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (selected by Kansas City Chiefs in 2016) This is a tough break for safety Eric Weddle, who would be the pick at like 10 spots around 37, but his six Pro Bowls and 29 career picks aren't enough to beat out Jones, who's won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs and has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last seven seasons. To have 87.5 career sacks as an interior pass rusher is incredible, and he's been a core piece on defense for all the Chiefs' postseason success. 38. Xavier Howard, CB, Baylor (selected by Miami Dolphins in 2016) Injuries have derailed Howard in the last two years, but his NFL start was incredible — he led the NFL twice in his first three seasons, with seven picks as a rookie and 10 in 2018. Four Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro nod in his first five seasons — that alone is enough to push him past defensive end Preston Smith (2015) for our pick at 38. Too early to know, but the last two 38s could be special, in defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (2024) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (2025). 39. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2012) You fight the urge to put a lot of quarterbacks on here, so Geno Smith (39th in 2013) is tempting, but we'll go with Jenkins, who made only one Pro Bowl but was a steady ballhawk throughout his career — 27 interceptions and eight returned for touchdowns. He bounced around to five NFL teams, but that touchdown total and 138 career starts make for a commendable NFL career. 40. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU (selected by Detroit Lions in 2014) Another active player honored here, and it's hard to find one who did less for the team that drafted him — Van Noy has 57 career sacks, but just one in 2.5 seasons in Detroit, which traded him to the Patriots in 2016 for the right to move up 22 spots at the end of the 2017 draft. He won two Super Bowls with New England and made his first Pro Bowl at age 33 with the Ravens in 2024 after getting a career-best 12.5 sacks. 41. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (selected by Indianapolis Colts in 2020) So many of these choices were drafted 15-plus years ago and had full careers to appreciate, so it's cool to have someone as young as Taylor, still 27, but the clear choice at 41 after six dominant seasons. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,811) and touchdowns (18) in 2021 for the first of three Pro Bowls — when healthy, he is one of the most reliable backs in the league. He's one of 17 backs to rush for 7,500 yards in his first six years, and of those, only Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders averaged more yards per carry. 42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona (selected by New England Patriots in 2010) This was an easy call. Gronk is a four-time Super Bowl champ and was Tom Brady's go-to target in the second half of his career. His 2011 season (90 catches, 1,327 yards, 17 TDs) is tough to beat for any tight end, and we can point to his 92 career regular-season touchdowns, but his postseason numbers are ridiculous: 15 touchdowns in 22 playoff games. 43. Roman Harper, S, Alabama (selected by New Orleans Saints in 2006) Still a few spots without a wow selection in 25 years, but Harper had a solid run. When the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009, he made the Pro Bowl with 100+ tackles. Not many DBs can boast 7.5 sacks in a season as Harper had in 2011. We choose him over tight end Kyle Rudolph, who had 50 touchdown catches and two Pro Bowls in a 12-year career, mostly with Minnesota. 44. Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland (selected by Carolina Panthers in 2001) At 6-foot-4, 360 pounds, Jenkins might be the largest player on this list, and he came into the league and dominated, with two first-team All-Pro nods in his first three seasons. He finished with four Pro Bowl selections, and half of his 24 career sacks came in those two All-Pro seasons. We could have gone with running back Matt Forte here at 44, with five 1,000-yard seasons and 500-plus career catches, but we'll stick with Jenkins. 45. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (selected by Tennessee Titans in 2016) Henry, a massive runner at 6-2 and 252 pounds, is already in the NFL career top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns. His 13,018 rushing yards rank 10th, and he could easily move up to sixth with another solid season. His 122 rushing touchdowns rank fourth all-time and he's two away from third. He has five Pro Bowls in 10 seasons and remains the model for a bellcow high-volume running back. His 2020 season — leading the NFL with 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns — is one of the best RB seasons ever. 46. Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina (selected by New York Giants in 2010) We'll be honest: Not a lot of great options at 46. Joseph gets the nod here for a 15-year career with 170 starts and two Pro Bowl nods. He won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011, so that helps give him the call here over ... Aaron Schobel, who never made the playoffs with the Bills but had 78 sacks and was the only other multi-Pro Bowl player chosen at 46. 47. Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State (selected by Seattle Seahawks in 2012) Another legend, still going at 35, Wagner has racked up 10 Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro nods in piling up exactly 2,000 career tackles. A surefire Hall of Famer when he's done, Wagner has 39.5 sacks and 15 interceptions, winning a Super Bowl with Seattle in 2013 as a young force on the "Legion of Boom" defense. You can take the 25-year window away and Wagner is still easily the best No. 47 pick in the Super Bowl era — over 60 years, he has as many Pro Bowls as the other 59 players picked at 47 combined. 48. Matt Light, OT, Purdue (selected by New England Patriots in 2001) You could go with running back Le'Veon Bell here at 48, but we'll try to give the offensive line love where we can. Light started 153 games for the Patriots and won Super Bowls in three of his first four seasons. A key protector in the first half of Tom Brady's career, he also earned three Pro Bowl nods and was a first-team All-Pro selection in the Patriots' 16-0 season in 2007. 49. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (selected by Philadelphia Eagles in 2008) Is Jackson the best deep-ball receiver in NFL history? He had 24 touchdowns of 60 yards or longer, edging Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history. He led the league in yards per catch four times, including 22.5 in 2010, the best in any 1,000-yard season in at least 30 years. He also had four touchdowns on punt returns in his first three seasons. If you need one play to appreciate Jackson, look up his 2010 punt return to beat the Giants on the final play and cap a comeback from 21 points down in the final eight minutes. 50. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Arizona Cardinals in 2008) Campbell is ageless, turning 40 before the 2026 season begins and still seeking a team for his 19th NFL season. A model of longevity and durability, he has 117 sacks, with more in his second nine years than in his first nine. If he can start 14 games this season, he'll pass the Vikings' Jim Marshall for most ever by a defensive player — he's at 259 now. He went to the Super Bowl as a rookie and lost and hasn't made it back since, so it's easy to pull for him to land the only thing missing from a Hall of Fame resume. 51. Clinton Portis, RB, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Denver Broncos in 2002) Vastly underappreciated back who rushed for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie and topped 1,000 yards in six of his first seven NFL seasons. Coveted enough to be traded for cornerback Champ Bailey, Portis had four seasons with at least 325 carries -- only six backs in NFL history have more and none of them came into the league since Portis did. In time, receiver A.J. Brown may get the call at 51, as he too has topped 1,000 yards in six of his seven NFL seasons. 52. Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan (selected by Green Bay Packers in 2006) In a few years, receiver George Pickens may have done enough to get the nod at 52, but for now, we go with Jennings, who had two 12-touchdown seasons and two more with nine in his first six years in Green Bay. Jennings' 64 career touchdown catches and two Pro Bowls put him in here against another receiver, 2001's Chris Chambers, who had 58 and one in his 10-year NFL career. 53. Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State (selected by Green Bay Packers in 2014) Tough call here at 53, as both Adams and LeSean "Shady" McCoy have six Pro Bowls in their career. Adams is still going, so we'll give him the nod. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches last year, giving him 117 for his career, and another 14 would put him fourth all-time. He had six straight Pro Bowls from 2017-22 — he has five different seasons with at least 12 touchdown catches, and the only players with more are Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss. 54. Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State (selected by Arizona State in 2003) You don't expect him to be 10th all-time in career receptions, but he is. He had over 100 catches as a rookie and finished with 1,076 career receptions, along with 82 career touchdowns. He made all three of his Pro Bowls with the Cardinals, but you have to praise him for his 2012 postseason with the Ravens — 22 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns on the way to a Super Bowl championship. 55. Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2006) Whitworth had a legendary run, with 235 career starts between 11 years with the Bengals and his final five with the Rams. He made four Pro Bowls in a six-year span from 2012-17, with two first-team All-Pro nods in there as well, and was able to go out a champ as a key piece on the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl team. 56. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Troy (selected by New York Giants in 2003) Umenyiora was an underappreciated part of two Super Bowl championship teams for the Giants — he had 3.5 sacks in the 2011 playoffs, and finished his NFL career with 85 total. Want an amazing number? He had 10 forced fumbles in 2010, matching the NFL single-season record. He also had four fumble-return touchdowns in his career. 57. Devin Hester, WR/PR/KR, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Chicago Bears in 2006) Simply the best return man in NFL history, he scored a league-record 14 touchdowns on punt returns and another five on kickoff returns. He had 11 of those touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, helping Chicago to the Super Bowl as a rookie and returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in that game. He's a four-time Pro Bowl selection and the only Hall of Famer in this group of players drafted 57th, with a single Pro Bowl from all the rest of them. 58. Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska (selected by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012) David is a runaway winner here. He retired after the 2025 season with 215 career starts, more than 1,700 tackles and the ability to do a little bit of everything, with 42.5 sacks, 33 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions. Only one career Pro Bowl; he was stuck in the same conference as Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner for much of his career. His 177 career tackles for loss are an incredible number for an off-ball linebacker. 59. Ryan Kalil, C, USC (selected by Carolina Panthers in 2007) Kalil had five Pro Bowls in a 13-year NFL career, all but one season in Carolina — the rest of the No. 59 picks over 26 seasons have combined for just one. Kalil was also twice named first-team All-Pro, the latter in 2015 when Carolina went 15-1 and Cam Newton was the league MVP. His career was consistently limited by injuries, with five seasons in which he played eight games or fewer. 60. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, UCLA (selected by Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006) Jones-Drew rushed for 49 touchdowns in his first tour seasons, good enough to rank in the top 10 all-time for that, and a run of three straight Pro Bowls ended when he led the NFL with 1,606 rushing yards in 2011, still a Jaguars team record. Only 5-foot-7 but a sturdy 210 pounds, he also caught 201 passes in his first four seasons. His longtime Jaguars teammate, center Brad Meester, was also drafted 60th overall and finished with 209 career starts in Jacksonville. 61. Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado (selected by San Diego Chargers in 2005) Jackson had great runs with two franchises, with three 1,000-yard seasons each with the Chargers and Bucs. Always a deep threat, Jackson averaged 16.8 yards per catch for his career — of 184 players with at least 500 career catches, his average yards per catch ranks 11th-best all-time. If we didn't choose Jackson, we could go with defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who matched Jackson's three Pro Bowls in 13 years with the Lions. 62. Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt (selected by Minnesota Vikings in 2018) O'Neill has 120 starts in eight seasons in Minnesota, playing at least 14 games every year as a reliable presence on the offensive line. He has two Pro Bowls (2021, 2024) and is entering the final season of a five-year, $92 million contract. He was Pro Football Focus' No. 12 tackle in 2025, the second-highest ranking of his career. Not a ton of great players taken at 62, but you could also look at corners like James Bradberry (2016) and Casey Hayward (2012). 63. Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati (selected by Kansas City Chiefs in 2013) It should be noted that Kelce was actually a third-round pick, but he was pick No. 63 in the 2013 draft. So, he get's the nod here. With 11 straight Pro Bowls and counting, Kelce is the easy choice at No. 63. He ranks eighth in NFL history with 1,080 career receptions and can move up to fifth this fall with just 23 more catches. A three-time Super Bowl champ with the Chiefs, he has 20 career postseason touchdowns — two more and he'll match Jerry Rice for the most all-time. He's a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and has earned $111 million over his NFL career, even if he's not the real breadwinner in his relationship. 64. DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss (selected by Seattle Seahawks in 2019) Metcalf, always a physical presence at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, has had at least five touchdowns in all seven of his NFL seasons — 54 total — with three 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowl nods. Can he find the same success in Pittsburgh as he did in Seattle his first six years? That remains to be seen. As final picks of the second round go, he gets the nod here over defensive lineman Darnell Dockett (2004) and safety Kevin Byard (2016).

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