Best Available Players Entering Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft came and went, and there were plenty of surprises.

The Arizona Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall was the first shock of the night, and the Tennessee Titans followed suit by taking Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.

Both picks came as a surprise given Ohio State edge-rusher Arvell Reese was still on the board.

The Kansas City Chiefs jumping from 9 to 6 to get LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane was also a head-turning move, as was the Los Angeles Rams grabbing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick.

Best Players Remaining at the Start of Round 2

GettyTennessee CB Jermod McCoy is one of the best players still on the board in Round 2 of the NFL draft

A handful of players still available had first-round grades entering the draft. Some dropped due to the wildness of Round 1 and all the trades that happened, others simply were expected to still be here.

The San Francisco 49ers have the first pick of the second round, which starts Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.

Below are the top 20 players who are still available heading into Day 2 of the draft.

1. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
2. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
3. Zion Young, DE, Missouri
4. Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
5. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
6. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
7. T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
8. Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois
9. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
10. Emanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
11. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
12. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
13. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
14. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
15. Jacob Rodriguez LB, Texas Tech
16. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
17. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
18. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
19. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
20. A.J. Haulcy, LSU

Best Available by Position

With Rounds 2 and 3 set to take place on Friday night, there’s still plenty of talent left on the board.

Day 2 is where teams typically find starters and the bulk of their depth. Below is a breakdown of the five best payers left at each position.

GettyLSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is projected to go on Day 2 of the NFL draft

Quarterback
1. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
2. Drew Allar, Penn State
3. Carson Beck, Miami
4. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
5. Cole Payton, North Dakota State

Running Back
1. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
2. Nichols Singleton, Penn State
3. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
5. LeVeon Moss, Texas A&M

GettyGeorge WR Zachariah Branch could go on Day 2 of the NFL draft

Wide Receiver
1. Denzel Boston, Washington
2. Zachariah Branch, Georgia
3. Germie Bernard, Alabama
4. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
5. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

Tight End
1. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
2. Max Klare, Ohio State
3. Sam Roush, Stanford
4. Oscar Delp, Texas
5. Justin Joly NC State

GettyPenn State OT Drew Shelton is still available heading into Round 2 of the NFL draft

Offensive Tackle
1. Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
2. Drew Shelton, Penn State
3. Gennings Dunker, Iowa
4. Austin Barber, Florida
5. Demetrious Crownover, Texas A&M

Offensive Guard
1. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
2. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
3. Anez Cooper, Miami
4. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
5. Brian Parker II, Duke

Center
1. Jake Slaughter, Florida
2. Parker Brailsford, Alabama
3. Sam Hecht, Kansas State
4. Logan Jones, Iowa
5. Connor Lew, Auburn

GettySome were surprised Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald didn’t go in Round 1 of the NFL draft

Defensive Tackle
1. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
2. Christen Miller, Georgia
3. Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss
4. Domonique Orange, Iowa State
5. Lee Hunter, Texas A&M

Linebacker
1. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
2. CJ Allen, Georgia
3. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
4. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
5. Harold Perkins, LSU

GettyMissouri DE Zion Young should hear his name called early in Round 2 of the NFL draft

Edge-Rusher
1. Zion Young, Missouri
2. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
3. T.J. Parker, Clemson
4. Gabe Jacas, Illinois
5. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

Cornerback
1. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
2. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
3. Colton Hood, Tennessee
4. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
5. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

Safety
1. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toldeo
2. A.J. Haulcy, LSU
3. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
4. Treydan Stukes, Arizona
5. Bud Clark, TCU

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