The 2026 Draft is complete, and 257 prospects were ultimately chosen to enter camp with the possibility of making an NFL roster. Through three days and seven rounds, many selections were made. Below, I highlight a standout selection from each round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Kansas City Chiefs
Peter Woods, Defensive Line, Clemson
Once regarded as a top-10 talent, Peter Woods fell to the 29th pick in the first round due to an underwhelming 2025 season. The Chiefs would stop his slide to infuse their defensive line with some youth and pair him with former All-Pro Chris Jones.
Despite the majority of the draft community lowering Woods on their boards, I stood pat and ranked him as the 6th best prospect. At Clemson, Woods was used in a variety of ways, lining up all along the defensive line and even taking snaps at tailback. His athleticism was attractive to the Chiefs, who run complex defenses designed to confuse and get hits on the QB.
At 6’2 1/2″ and 298 pounds, he will serve as an aggressive, upfield rusher who uses a mixture of his quickness and explosiveness to collapse pockets and clog running lanes. His 31 1/4″ arms worry some, but his ability to use leverage and knife through defenders leaves me less concerned.
I expect Woods to become one of the top playmakers on the Chiefs’ defense. He thrives in the chaos of a backfield and could develop into a game wrecker for Kansas City as they push to regain their Super Bowl-contending form.
Round 2, Houston Texans
Kayden McDonald, Defensive Line, Ohio State
As the top true nose tackle in the draft. Kayden McDonald had real round 1 chatter, but ultimately was not selected until the 2nd, with the 36th overall pick. The Houston Texans elected to fortify their already strong defensive line by drafting the class’s top run stuffer.
McDonald is 6’2″, 326 pounds, naturally earning him double teams consistently in the run game. He uses his raw power to stifle movement at the line of scrimmage and has rare finishing ability for a man of his size. In 2025, he finished with 65 tackles, 9 TFLs with 3 sacks, giving him rare production for a nose tackle.
The Texans already had an all-world defensive line, with Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. manning the edges, but now they add more meat in the middle, which gives them 3 men on the defensive line who require double teams.
At Ohio State, McDonald played 30 snaps only 3 times in his career, which should continue as a pro. Although he has pocket-pushing ability, the first-round pick will likely sit out on passing downs and serve as a 2-down run stuffer for the Texans top defensive unit.
Round 3, Miami Dolphins
Chris Bell, Wide Receiver, Louisville
The Miami Dolphins are in a full-scale rebuild, essentially gutting their roster to prepare it for a new era. QB was addressed in free agency, but after releasing Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver became a major need.
Chris Bell was one of the hottest names of day 2 and would have been in the first round conversation if it were not for a late-season torn ACL. Bell’s ACL will heal, and the Dolphins are playing the long game, knowing they won’t compete for a championship in 2026. Drafting Bell was a calculated move that could turn into their eventual WR1.
The 6’2″, 222 Louisville product is an imposing receiving threat. He uses his size to his advantage to work the middle of the field well, adjusting quickly after the catch to run through arm tackles with sneaky good game speed.
The value the Dolphins got with Bell as the 94th overall selection is undeniable. Once healthy, he should fit right in as WR1 of the Dolphins as they begin their ascent back to AFC East relevance.
Round 4, Las Vegas Raiders
Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee
Jermod McCoy, my 16th overall player, fell further in the draft than anyone expected. He was finally selected 101st overall by the Raiders. A descent was not a complete surprise, as McCoy did not play a single snap of football in 2025 due to a torn ACL. If he were to slide, it was not expected to be very far, certainly not into day 3. Word surfaced that McCoy may need another procedure, which is the cause of the extended slide, but it didn’t deter the Raiders any further than the first pick of day 3.
On the field, there’s a strong case to be made for McCoy as CB1 in the entire draft class. He is extremely sticky in man coverage, with the ability to press at the line and recover to stay with receivers in all fields. He has good ball skills, recording 4 INTs and 9 PBU’s in his final season of play. He’s not as instinctive as you would like in zone, but he is adequate enough.
With Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders’ expectations will be high, but they are ultimately building for the future. To land a potential CB1 in the 4th round is a major steal. If McCoy returns to form and develops into the NFL-level corner that many (including myself) see, it could end up being the steal of the entire draft.
Round 5, Seattle Seahawks
Beau Stephens, Guard, Iowa
The 5th round is where the talent level dropped off with this year’s draft class, but the Seahawks got lucky with Beau Stephens still being available. Although they drafted Grey Zabel in the first round last year, Seattle still had a need at guard. Stephens is a high-floor type prospect who may not be far off from starting in the pros.
Stephens’ college football career was spent at Iowa, where he started his last 25 games and earned All-American honors in 2025. He excels in zone blocking, which they teach well at Iowa, so he enters the Seahawks OL room as an immediate scheme fit. At 6’5″ and 315 pounds, Stephens has good size for the position. He’s very technically sound, playing with good balance and working angles well to create running lanes. In pass protection, he understands good mechanics, making his 31″ arms a non-issue.
I expect Stephens to compete immediately for playing time with the Seahawks, where he can help create lanes for the Seahawks’ first-round pick, Jadarian Price.
Round 6, Atlanta Falcons
Harold Perkins Jr., Linebacker, LSU
Last year, the Falcons traded their 2026 first-round pick to move back into the first round and select James Pearce Jr., who had a successful season as a pass rusher. Unfortunately, his off-the-field issues leave his playing status in question, and the Falcons were still left without their 1st round pick this year.
Making the best out of their draft, the selection of Harold Perkins Jr. in the 6th round was tremendous value, and could fill the hole left by Pearce. Perkins has positional flexibility, serving as an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher at LSU.
He’s a very high-energy defender, playing with his “hair on fire” as he covers all levels of the field with his immense athleticism. At 6′ 0 7/8″ and just 223 pounds, he’s undersized for the position, but could add weight if asked to play close to the line of scrimmage regularly.
Rushing on the edge, he has an unrefined move set, but wins with speed, effort, and as a lightning-quick closer. Off the ball, he has the ability to cover, displaying good fundamentals, smooth hips, and an underrated ability to mirror the QB’s eyes.
Perkins is not a day one starter in the NFL, but with a door being left open by Pearce, there may be some available snaps early in his career. His college production proves his versatility, posting 35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, and eight forced fumbles in his four seasons. Perkins will be fun to watch in Atlanta, on special teams if not immediately on defense.
Round 7, Pittsburgh Steelers
Eli Heidenreich, Runningback, Navy
Proven by his 7th round availability, there were doubts about Eli Heidenreich’s ability to translate his game to the NFL. As an offensive weapon in Navy’s triple option offense, the Pittsburgh native played many roles and produced at all of them.
He will also bring special teams value to the Steelers, which is likely where he will land if a roster spot is earned, although Mike McCarthy mentioned that he may have to “open up the playbook a little bit” to get him on the field on offense.
It can be difficult to pinpoint a noteworthy 7th-round pick before the players ever take the field, but this selections inclusion on this list is less about what happens on the field and more about this:
Heidenreich, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was drafted by his hometown Steelers in his hometown. A rare 7th round selection worth immediate attention.
