Day 3 Winners
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Buccaneers did some impressive work in the 2026 NFL Draft, and day three was a nice capper for Tampa Bay. Fourth-round cornerback Keionte Scott is an instinctive and versatile defender who could be a nice backup as soon as next season. Fifth-round pick DeMonte Capehart was a steal. He is a bear at the point of attack with serious size and power as a run stuffer. He could be a good run defender who helps to cut down on the wear-and-tear for Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Notre Dame guard Billy Schrauth and LSU tight end Bauer Sharp are solid football players who could be quality backups for the Bucs.
Dallas Cowboys:
Dallas did well on the final day of the draft with three underrated draft picks. Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton is raw and needs development, but he has a really good skill set with size, strength, quickness, and athleticism. He could be a valuable backup with the talent to become a starter. Florida cornerback Devin Moore could be a quality backup and special teams contributor, while Alabama defensive lineman L.T. Overton was a steal in the fourth round. Overton can play inside or outside and is a skilled pass rusher. He is a tweener, but he could be a good rotational depth contributor in the sub package. Those three fourth-round picks look like talented backups with the upside to be steals.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts got some excellent values on day three of the draft with a group of players that have real upside. Kentucky guard Jalen Farmer could be a quality backup with the upside to grow into a bigger role. Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. and Ohio State edge Caden Curry could compete for designated pass rusher snaps right away. Kentucky running back Seth McGowan is a power back with some speed, and he could have been a mid-round pick. Same with Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks, who was a fast and shifty playmaker at times in college and could make the roster as a backup with upside. Indianapolis did very well with their six day-three picks.
Miami Dolphins:
The Dolphins finished off an outstanding debut draft for their new regime with a number of excellent value picks on the final day. Texas linebacker Trey Moore showed some high speed and explosion as an edge rusher, and he could grow with more opportunities in that role. Their next selection in the fourth round saw a steal in Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis. Louis was all over the field for the Panthers the past two seasons and is an excellent pass coverage linebacker. He could be a weapon in the sub package as a Will linebacker. Texas safety Michael Taafee, Missouri receiver Kevin Coleman Jr, Texas guard D.J. Campbell, and Iowa edge rusher Max Llewellyn all could make the team and become solid backups with upside. Miami had an excellent draft and really improved its team with its 13 draft picks.
First Day Losers
Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jaguars had six picks on the third day of the draft, and in that group, I think there are only two that have a decent shot of being quality backups. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol and Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron could stick as backups, but the rest of the picks look like players who are likely to top out as practice squad contributors. Jacksonville was without a first-round pick, so it would have made sense to take a shot on some former early-round players that slid. They could have had players like LSU’s Harold Perkins, Pitt’s Kyle Louis, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, among others. With what they drafted on days two and three, I think Jacksonville may have very little to show from this draft class in a couple of years from now.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Most years, I think the Eagles draft well, and general manager Howie Roseman does a good job. This was the first year that I felt that Philadelphia had a bad draft under Roseman. Their picks on days one and two were just okay, but their haul on day three was underwhelming, as I think only one of their five picks has a real shot at sticking as a pro. The fifth-round pick of North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton may work if they have Payton switch from quarterback to being a Taysom Hill-type player. Sixth-round guard Micah Morris showed some ability at Georgia, but work ethic and weight issues are a problem. I think their other-day three picks won’t stick in the NFL and were wasted selections. It would not surprise me if this ends up being one of Roseman’s worst drafts in his storied career.
