2026 NFL Draft Day 2: Five biggest snubs entering second, third rounds

When I said the cornerback class on Day 2 was deep in the above section on McCoy, Terrell is a big reason why. Some of those same teams I mentioned could also be in on Terrell, but I would also add the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins to that list. The Dolphins could be a really fun one, their depth in the cornerback room is incredibly thin, and Terrell offers inside and outside versatility to pair with first-round pick Chris Johnson.

Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (no. 22 overall prospect)

Rumors emerged that McNeil-Warren could fall out of round 1, and it made sense. While I think McNeil-Warren is a very fun and chaotic player (in a good way), there were times he freelanced and took some bad angles while also probably being more of a true post safety than anything else. In the right defense, McNeil-Warren could be a really fun player, but I understand why he fell to the second round.

The rumors around the Browns and McNeil-Warren won't slow down anytime soon, and I have a feeling that he won't be on the board past 39 if Cleveland sticks and picks there. However, there is a world where the Giants pick him at 37, two picks before he even makes it to Cleveland. With all the smoke surrounding the Giants and Caleb Downs (who ended up going to the Cowboys), McNeil-Warren could be a very nice plan B for New York in the second round.

Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds (no. 26 overall prospect)

There were some late rumblings that Ponds could be a first-round pick if the board fell a certain way, but with Downs sliding to 11, that dream ended. I love Ponds as a prospect, and if he were 5-foot-11 instead of 5-foot-8, he probably would've been the first cornerback off the board. But he would be a historical outlier if drafted in the first round because of his size. I get why he fell out of the first round. Some team is going to get a fantastic prospect on Day 2, an instant starter at nickel who sets the tone for a defense.

If you couldn't tell already, the secondary group on Day 2 is absolutely loaded.

Ponds joins Terrell, McCoy and McNeil-Warren as the top players on the board left to start the second round, but I think McCoy's range might have the most variance. Miami at pick 43 makes sense, New York at 44 (Ponds and Jets coach Aaron Glenn share a lot of similarities as players) and I would also add the Minnesota Vikings at 49. All teams that need secondary help and Ponds could be a really fun addition.

Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter (no. 28 overall prospect)

Hunter (and the DT four spots behind him, Ohio State's Kayden McDonald) are very good nose tackles, but the reason they didn't go in the first round is very simple. In the NFL, pass rush sets your ceiling while the run defense sets your floor. While Hunter and McDonald are high-floor run defenders, as nose tackles, they don't offer much pass rush upside. Hunter might show the most flashes, but he also tested poorly at the NFL Combine. Even as the NFL begins to invest heavily in the defensive tackle spot, affecting the QB is king, and Hunter/McDonald don't do it enough to get into round 1.

Where that leaves them on Day 2 is fascinating. The first two teams that stand out for nose tackle help are the Buffalo Bills at 35 and the Houston Texans at 38. The Bills are changing their defensive structure under new DC Jim Leonhard, and with that, they need a nose tackle who can allow DTs Ed Oliver and Deone Walker to get upfield quickly instead of holding double teams. Houston has been linked to McDonald heavily, and with their selection of Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge in Round 1, they could go to the DT spot to keep their defense loaded. I'll also throw in the Atlanta Falcons in this spot as well, at pick 48.