Matt Johnson
The first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night always generates the most attention, especially when you get as many surprises as we saw this past night. However, every year it’s Day 2 that proves to be the most worthwhile as that’s where a lot of the gems are found.
Let’s dive into our winners and losers for Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Winner: Buffalo Bills
If the Buffalo Bills took Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker with their first round pick, it would’ve received a B-grade. While he’s not an exceptional athlete, the 6-foot-3 edge knows how to win with his power, and both his arm length and hand usage make him very effective at getting penetration into the backfield. Parker also offers a relentless motor, and that also shows up with him being a capable run defender. So, Buffalo got a potential first-round talent and edge rusher, and they snagged him in Round 2 after trading down three times and adding a plethora of picks on Days 2 and 3.
Related: Winners, Losers from Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft
Loser: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The last two nights should serve as a reminder of how one injury can wipe everything away for such a promising talent. Rewind to December 2024: Jermod McCoy is coming off an All-American season and projected to be a top-10 pick a year out. He then suffered a knee injury during an offseason workout, and everything has been derailed. He missed the entire 2025 season, and reports came out last night that NFL teams are very concerned about a “bone plug used to repair a cartilage defect” in that same knee knee. The fear is that he’ll need another surgery in the future. The surgery would be season-ending and some even fear it could end his career.
Related: Takeaways from Day 2 of 2026 NFL Draft
Winner: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns
Not only were the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft a vote of confidence from the Cleveland Browns organization in Shedeur Sanders, but they also are putting him in a much better position to succeed. Todd Monken’s offense now has an explosive receiver who gets open quickly (KC Concepcion) and a big-bodied wideout who can catch anything thrown in his general direction (Denzel Boston). Oh, Sanders also has a better offensive line protecting him next season on top of that. Maybe he isn’t the long-term starter in Cleveland, but the Browns draft picks in 2026 give Sanders a legitimate chance to prove himself this season.
Read More: Fantasy Football Analysis From Roudn 1 of 2026 NFL Draft
Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars
The good news for the Jacksonville Jaguars is that trading up to select tight end Nate Boerkircher created a run that compelled other teams to take a few to close out Round 2. Boerkircher is a solid blocker, and he seems to seek out opportunities to get physical with defenders. The ‘good’ here for Jacksonville is that they landed a legitimate TE2 to pair with Brenton Strange. But at what cost? This was a reach with the 56th overall pick. Notably, people inside the NFL also told Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson during the Day 2 live stream that Boerkircher doesn’t really even have the size.
Winner: Terrell Family and the Atlanta Falcons
Back in 2020, the Atlanta Falcons selected cornerback A.J. Terrell with the 16th overall pick. Six years later, he’s been one of the franchise’s best players and a stalwart in the secondary, and now he gets to play with his younger brother. Avieon Terrell would’ve been a first-round pick if not for the pre-draft process, when he put up a 4.64 40-yard dash at his pro day. Don’t let the 40 time fool you; he’s a very good football player. He’s also idolized his brother, wearing his jersey number on the path to the NFL. They now get to be teammates, a dream scenario for the entire family. Seeing Terrell picked and celebrating with his family was one of the best moments in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the pick itself is outstanding value at 48th overall.
Loser: 2026 NFL Draft QB and RB Class
Jeremiyah Love and Fernando Mendoza were consensus top-four prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they naturally went within the first three picks. After that, the Ty Simpson selection by the Los Angeles Rams was universally questioned, and the Seattle Seahawks were mocked for using the 32nd overall pick on Jadarian Price. Those prospects were multiple tiers above their peers at quarterback and running back. Carson Beck, who projects to be a career backup, was a reach by the Arizona Cardinals with the 65th overall pick. Outside of that, we didn’t see a running back or quarterback taken between picks 33 through 75. Drew Allar did come off the board with the 76th overall pick, but nothing he showed at Penn State suggests the Pittsburgh Steelers will ever get him to magically develop and actually take advantage of his physical tools.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
As always, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman makes magic happen on Day 2. The moves also came within minutes of one another. In need of a long-term replacement for Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia snagged Eli Stowers with the 54th overall pick. He brings nothing as a blocker, but the athleticism he brings to the table at 6-foot-3 is nearly unmatched in this class. Just find ways to get the football in his hands, and he can be dangerous with it. What a strong night for the Eagles front office, but that’s the norm for them in the NFL Draft.
Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers
We still don’t believe the Pittsburgh Steelers have their long-term starting quarterback on the roster. Drew Allar boasts the size and arm strength you’d want, and Mike McCarthy’s track record of getting more out of his young signal-callers does at least offer some hope for Allar’s development. With that said, this was a three-year starter at Penn State who really showed no signs of improvement, and his mechanics are still a mess. We just don’t see a reason to believe; given his lack of improvement diagnosing defenses and playing within rhythm, we feel that Allar will be a swing-and-a-miss for Pittsburgh. Plus, this selection now signals the team already doesn’t think Will Howard can be the long-term starter.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts
Operating without a first-round pick, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard faced added pressure on Friday night because he’s on the hot seat. It’s early, but the Colts are shaping up to be one of the winners of the 2026 NFL Draft. At No. 53, Indianapolis landed a starting off-ball linebacker in CJ Allen. You can immediately understand why Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo loved Allen, given that he’s extremely intelligent and served as the team captain for Georgia’s defense. He’ll be a liability in pass coverage, which fans of the Colts are used to, but he’s a very smart football player who will make an impact defending the run, and he’ll make a splash play every now and then as a blitzer.
Following that pickup, Indianapolis landed LSU Tigers safety A.J. Haulcy in Round 3 with the 78th overall pick. He offers good awareness with ball skills to match. What he brings to the table is ideal for zone coverage, and you can bet Anarumo will let him roam deep and allow that outstanding feel for where the football is at all times to be maximized. The Colts landed two quality defensive starters on Day 2.
