Live 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Round 3

2026 NFL Draft Grades for Round 3:

65. Arizona Cardinals: Carson Beck, QB, Miami – B Grade
    Carson Beck is a big name, so he’ll be talked about a lot here, but he should have been slotted in the third round. I’m not a big fan of Beck, but I understand the Cardinals taking a flier on one of these quarterbacks because they have nothing long term at the position.
    
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66. Denver Broncos: Tyler Onyedim, DL, Texas A&M – B Grade
    This is a fine pick. The Broncos lost a valuable defensive lineman, so it makes sense for them to find a replacement. Tyler Onyedim doesn’t really produce much of a pass rush, but he’s stout against the run.
    
    
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Keyron Crawford, DE, Auburn – B- Grade
    I guess Fernando Mendoza will have to do everything himself. Keyron Crawford is a solid pick, unlike the second-round choice. Crawford has high upside and was productive in school. Edge rusher was a need with Maxx Crosby on his way out of Las Vegas soon.
    
    
68. Philadelphia Eagles: Markell Bell, OT, Miami – B+ Grade
    The Eagles needed a tackle to succeed Lane Johnson. Markell Bell is a bit raw, but he’s made big strides every year at Miami, so he may continue to improve a lot and become a quality right tackle in the pros. This is a solid pick for the Eagles, who traded for Jonathan Greenard. I’ll have that grade posted once the third round concludes.
    
    
69. Chicago Bears: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford – C Grade
    The good news concerning this pick is that Sam Roush is a quality, productive player who provides good value because he easily could’ve gone in the seocnd round. The bad news is that this doesn’t fill a need at all. I know Ben Johnson likes his tight ends, but they should have focused more on their flawed defense.
    
    
70. San Francisco 49ers: Romello Height, DE/OLB, Texas Tech – B Grade
    I got a text from someone saying, “I don’t think John Lynch prepared for this draft.” This pick is at least a decent one. I had Romello Height going in this range, and he potentially fills a big need for a team that couldn’t get after the quarterback last year.
    
    
71. Washington Redskins: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson – A- Grade
    I’ve had Antonio Williams in the second round in a bunch of my mock draft updates, so I obviously like that the Redskins were able to obtain him at this spot. Williams has play-making ability and runs good routes, so he should be able to develop into a solid No. 2 wideout for Washington.
    
    
72. Cincinnati Bengals: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington – C Grade
    Tacario Davis is a huge cornerback, but he’s too big because he’s stiff. I had Davis going in the fifth round, so this is a reach. The Bengals are at least addressing a need, but why not just take a shot on Jermod McCoy?
    
    
73. New Orleans Saints: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia – B Grade
    The Saints needed another tight end, so this makes sense. Oscar Delp is a very athletic tight end, and I had him going around this range. It’s a fine choice, but not a very exciting one.
    
    
74. New York Giants: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame – B Grade
    The Giants traded a 2027 pick for this, which is not something I like. However, the Giants needed to give Jaxson Dart a play-maker, and Malachi Fields is a big receiver who can be a red zone weapon. I had Fields in the second round, so I definitely like the value (without factoring the trade).
    
    
75. Miami Dolphins: Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech – D Grade
    Yikes! The Dolphins are addressing a need with a tall receiver, but that’s where the positives end. Caleb Douglas has terrible hands and happens to be a very weak receiver who needs to bulk up. He’s a project, and I had him going in the sixth round.
    
    
76. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State – C Grade
    The Steelers needed a quarterback project. Well, Drew Allar is certainly a project. He has great tools, but has no feel for the game. His field vision is awful, and I don’t have much hope for him. There is some upside that can’t be ignored, however.
    
    
77. Green Bay Packers: Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri – B Grade
    The Packers moved up seven spots to address the defensive line, which was a must because Micah Parsons didn’t have much help. McClellan has impressive quickness for his size, and he makes sense in the middle of the third round.
    
    
78. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Haulcy, CB/S, LSU – B- Grade
    A.J. Haulcy makes sense in the third round, which is where I had him slotted. He’s very good in zone coverage, though he’s a bit stiff. His versatility is nice, so the Colts should be graded fairly. I would have preferred an edge rusher though.
    
    
79. Atlanta Falcons: Zacharian Branch, WR, Georgia – B- Grade
    I had Zachariah Branch one spot earlier in my mock draft, but I had him slotted in the second round a few weeks ago – before he was arrested. If the Falcons can keep him out of trouble, this should be a success. Branch is small, but he’s also a very explosive player who can go the distance whenever he touches the ball. The Falcons needed someone like that in their offense.
    
    
80. Baltimore Ravens: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC – C+ Grade
    I had Ja’Kobi Lane going in the middle of Day 3, so this is an unusual reach for the Ravens. They’re addressing a big need, however, as the Ravens have needed help at receiver outside of Zay Flowers for a while. Lane could be a big end zone threat in the NFL.
    
    
81. Jacksonville Jaguars: Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M – MILLEN Grade
    Ladies and gentlemen, the first player taken who wasn’t in my mock draft. Albert Regis is a quick and disruptive defensive tackle, but is undersized and doesn’t have many pass-rushing moves. This was a puzzling pick.
    
    
82. Minnesota Vikings: Dominique Orange, DT, Iowa State – C- Grade
    Dominique Orange is a big nose tackle with work ethic concerns. I would worry about him getting very fat and eating himself out of the NFL. If not, he’ll be able to help against the run, but won’t give anything in the pass rush.
    
    
83. Carolina Panthers: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee – A- Grade
    Chris Brazzell is an absolute play-maker. He would have gone much earlier than this if he didn’t have character concerns. There’s a low floor here, but the ceiling is huge. Bryce Young has to be thrilled by this pick.
    
    
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State – B Grade
    I had Ted Hurst going a bit later than this. He’s a tall and lengthy receiver who fills a need, as Tampa Bay needed to find depth at receiver in the wake of Mike Evans’ departure.
    
    
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia – B- Grade
    Daylan Everette has big upside, but is raw. He’s someone I had in Round 4, so this range is fine. It also makes sense for the Steelers to address this position at this spot.
    
    
86. Cleveland Browns: Austin Barber, OT, Florida – C Grade
    Another tackle makes sense for the offensive line-starved Browns. Austin Barber has plenty of upside, but was very inconsistent in his collegiate career. It’s nice that he bring versatility, though I’m not a fan that the Brown traded two resources to move up for him.
    
    
87. Miami Dolphins: Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State – MILLEN Grade
    I hate to issue another Millen grade because it seems excessive, but I didn’t have Will Kacmarek being drafted. He’s a blocking tight end who doesn’t offer much as a receiver. Tight ends like this are a dime a dozen. This is a waste of a third-round pick.
    
    
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon – A+ Grade
    What a steal! The Jaguars screwed up with some of their earlier picks, but they made up for it with Emmanuel Pregnon, who easily could have been chosen in the second round. Protecting Trevor Lawrence is obviously extremely important, so getting someone like Pregnon at this spot is a great move.
    
    
89. Chicago Bears: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU – C Grade
    Zavion Thomas is not much of a receiver because he can’t run routes. What he can do is generate exploive kick returns, so I have to think this is primarily a special teams pick. That’s fine, but not an amazing use of resources in the third round.
    
    
90. San Francisco 49ers: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana – B Grade
    Kyle Shanahan drafted a running back. Surprise, surprise! I had Kaelon Black going in this area, as he’s a player who’s a quick, powerful runner. I’m intrigued to see what Kyle Shanahan can do with Black, and it’s not out of the question that he could be a starter down the road.
    
    
91. Las Vegas Raiders: Trey Zuhn, C, Texas A&M – C Grade
    I can’t hate too much on the Raiders drafting a lineman. However, the Raiders already have a center, and I don’t like him too much at guard. Zuhn is a terrific pass blocker and a great presence in the locker room. He has short arms, however, and he needs to impove his run blocking. I had him going much later.
    
    
92. Dallas Cowboys: Jaishawn Barham, DE/OLB, Michigan – A Grade
    This is a great value pick for the Cowboys. I had Jaishawn Barham in the second round. He’s a linebacker who can generate a good pass rush. I wouldn’t be crazy about him dropping into coverage, however.
    
    
93. Los Angeles Rams: Keegan Trost, OT, Missouri – D- Grade
    The Rams ruined Matthew Stafford’s late career, and now they’re going to try to get him killed with a late-round tackle with short arms who can be beaten by speed rushers. He’s also old for a prospect. The Rams are not having a good draft.
    
    
94. Miami Dolphins: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville – A+ Grade
    What a steal! Chris Bell was one of my favorite prospects on Day 2, and I thought he was good enough to go in the 30s. He’s an explosive receiver who makes big plays. He fell because of injury and character concerns, but if he can stay clean, he could emerge as Miami’s No. 1 receiver.
    
    
95. New England Patriots: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame – C Grade
    It’s not a surprise that the Patriots drafted a tight end, with Hunter Henry aging. Eli Raridon is a good route runner with plus athleticism, but carries a very checkered injury history. I thought he would go later than this because of his injuries.
    
    
96. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gennings Dunker, OT/G, Iowa – A+ Grade
    I can’t wait to read Charlie Campbell’s Why the Slide on Gennings Dunker because I expected him to go in the middle portion of Round 2. He’s a nasty run blocker and provides great value, all while filling a need for Pittsburgh.
    
    
97. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern – A Grade
    I had Caleb Tiernan going at the beginning of the third round, so I like this value for the Vikings. Tiernan can play left and right tackle, which is perfect for the Vikings because Christian Darrisaw is always hurt, while Brian O’Neill is entering his contract year.
    
    
98. Minnesota Vikings: Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami – C Grade
    Here’s the safety everyone thought the Vikings were going to draft. Except, Jakobe Thomas is not quite Dillon Thieneman. Thomas is a lengthy safety with good ball skills, but struggles to tackle. I had him in the middle of Day 3, so this isn’t a very exciting pick.
    
    
99. Seattle Seahawks: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas – C+ Grade
    It’s nice that the Seahawks were able to trade down, finally. Julian Neal is a well-rounded cornerback with good size. It’s not a surprise that the Seahawks chose a player at the position, given that they lost Tariq Woolen. This is a bit early, but it’s fine.
    
    
100. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland – D Grade
     Jalen Huskey is a lengthy safety with ballhawking skills, but he’s slow and frail. He’s not someone I ever had in my mock draft. The Jaguars could have gotten him or someone similar in the midde of Day 3, so this was a poor pick.