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What did the Jets do with the D.J. Reed compensatory pick?
What did the Jets do with their compensatory pick for D.J. Reed?
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NFLFeature
The best NFL Draft picks of Day 3, starting with Jermod McCoy finally finding a home
TL;DR
Day 3 of the NFL Draft features 157 players selected, with a focus on finding hidden talent. Notable Day 3 success stories include Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown, who exceeded expectations.
Key points
- Day 3 of the NFL Draft features 157 players selected.
- Finding talent on Day 3 is crucial for NFL teams.
- Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown are notable Day 3 success stories.
- Players from Day 3 can significantly impact their teams.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will continue this trend of uncovering hidden talent.
Los Angeles Rams
Finding a star player in the first round of the NFL Draft is relatively easy. Digging for diamonds on Day 3, on the other hand, is where the league's best general managers truly get to flex.
The longest day of the draft is filled with flawed prospects waiting to thrive in the right environment or slide to practice squads and spring leagues in the wrong one. 157 players will be selected Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh. Hundreds more will join rosters as undrafted free agents. Statistically, these are the players who will make up the bulk of NFL locker rooms in the fall.
But that's just a numbers game. The players who go above and beyond their draft slots will be heroes on overachieving teams. Puka Nacua kept the Los Angeles Rams championship window open as a fifth round pick, teaming with fellow Day 3 standout Kyren Williams. Amon-Ra St. Brown was a fourth rounder. Brock Purdy was the final pick of the 2022 draft.
Who could have a similar impact from the 2026 NFL Draft? Let's take a look at the picks that paired talent, need and fit the best.
Round 4
Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) intercepts the pass thrown to Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Junior Sherrill (0) during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
101st overall: Las Vegas Raiders select CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
McCoy's slide finally, mercifully ends. He entered the draft with top 15 buzz, but slipped all the way to Day 3 thanks to lingering concerns about the torn ACL that robbed him of his 2025 season. He ran a 4.3-second 40 at Tennessee's pro day, but his lateral movement and burst remained enough of a question to scare teams away.
Q&A
Who are the standout players from Day 3 of the NFL Draft?
Standout players include Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown, both of whom significantly outperformed their draft positions.
How many players will be selected on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
A total of 157 players are expected to be selected on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What is the significance of Day 3 in the NFL Draft?
Day 3 is crucial for finding undervalued talent that can contribute significantly to NFL teams, often making up the majority of rosters.
Which teams have benefited from Day 3 draft picks in the past?
Teams like the Los Angeles Rams have benefited from Day 3 picks, with players like Puka Nacua helping to keep their championship window open.