3 biggest surprises of NFL draft day-two selections

The NFL has completed two of its three draft days, and Saturday will close out the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

With four rounds remaining, teams will look for hidden gems in the late stages. Every fan hopes their team finds the next Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, or Brock Purdy on the final day.

The first round delivered a few surprises, but Day 2 produced several stunners that shocked multiple fan bases, including selections of players many didn’t expect to be on certain teams’ radars.

MORE: 2026 NFL Draft results, full list of picks Rounds 1 through 3

Here are the three biggest surprises from the second day of the NFL Draft:

Pittsburgh Steelers pick QB Drew Allar 76th overall

The selection of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar likely stands as the biggest surprise of the night. Although the Steelers had shown interest, most analysts expected him to come off the board on Day 3.

Allar is a talented quarterback, but he remains a raw passer with notable flaws. Scouts and analysts have pointed out that his lower-body mechanics lag behind where they should be.

A midseason injury cut short his senior year in 2025, but he rebounded with a strong showing at the NFL Combine and clearly impressed Steelers decision-makers.

MORE: Steelers QB Drew Allar betrays childhood NFL fandom during 2026 NFL Draft

Could Allar become the steal of the draft?

Cleveland Browns trade up for OT Austin Barber

The Browns appear to have had a solid draft with their late Day 1 and early Day 2 selections, but their early first- and late second-round decisions have raised questions.

Some analysts projected Barber as an undrafted free agent, with most placing him as a Day 3 prospect.

Instead, Cleveland traded into the third round to select him, a move that left many fans and draft experts puzzled. Barber played in the SEC, where he faced high-level defensive competition.

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order for Day 3 – Rounds 3 through 7

Could the Browns be ahead of the curve with this pick?

Carson Beck picked by the Arizona Cardinals

Many expected the Cardinals to explore a trade into the late first round, with speculation linking them to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Those plans seemed to collapse when the Los Angeles Rams selected Simpson 13th overall, leading many to believe Arizona would pass on quarterbacks altogether.

Instead, the Cardinals used the first pick of the third round to select Miami (FL) quarterback Carson Beck, despite ongoing concerns about the long-term health of his elbow.

Head coach Mike LaFleur may have found his starter for at least the 2026 season.