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Yes, it’s Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft and picks are flying off the board on what is the final day of the annual spectacle. That being said, there are still plenty of star college players selected on Day 3 who have a chance to make the jump to the next level.
Here’s something to know about the top Day 3 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft:
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (Las Vegas Raiders’ 101st pick): Had four interceptions in 2024
If healthy, McCoy would have been selected for Day 2, if not Day 1. Why? Well, that’s because he missed the entire 2025 college football season due to a torn ACL injury, and the former Volunteers and Oregon State Beavers defensive back (2023) might need more surgery for the matter.
In 2024, McCoy had four interceptions, recorded nine passes defensed, and racked up 44 combined tackles; the year before, he had two interceptions.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (110th pick by the New York Jets) – Was the number one QB drafted in the class of 2022
Klubnik was the consensus top quarterback prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, and became the Tigers’ full-time quarterback for the 2023 season. During his three seasons as Clemson’s starting quarterback (2023-25), Klubnik averaged 3,142.0 passing yards, 23.7 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 138.1 per year, while completing 64.2% of his passes.
Arguably Kubnik’s best season came in 2024, when he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 463 yards and seven scores, a season in which Clemson reached the College Football Playoff.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (Baltimore Ravens’ 115th pick): Played for head coach Curt Cignetti on two teams.
Sarratt was one of many players who followed Cignetti from the James Madison Dukes, with whom he played for one season after spending the 2022 season with the Saint Francis Red Flash, to the Hoosiers for the 2024 season.
Last season (2025), Sarratt totaled 65 receptions for 830 yards and a Big Ten-high 15 touchdowns en route to Indiana winning its first National Championship in program history.
Miami (Florida) CB Keionte Scott (Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 116th pick): Had two picks out of six in 2025
After two seasons at Snow College (2020-21) and three seasons with the Auburn Tigers (2022-24), Scott transferred to play for the Hurricanes in 2025, and Miami reached the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In his only season in Miami, Scott had two interceptions and ran both picks for touchdowns. He also tallied two forced fumbles and five passes defended.
Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (Green Bay Packers’ 120th pick): Had 23.5 sacks in college
Dennis-Sutton was among the Big Ten’s most productive pass rushers during his four years with the Nittany Lions (2022-25), most notably totaling 8.5 sacks in each of the last two years. He finished his college career with 23.5 sacks, while forcing seven fumbles from 2023-2025.
Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (135th pick by the Indianapolis Colts) – Was selected in the MLB Draft
That’s not a typo. Boettcher played football and baseball for the Ducks, with his performance in the latter sport resulting in Boettcher being selected by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
While he played baseball at Oregon from 2021-24, Boettcher played football for the Ducks from 2022-25. Last season (2025), he led the Big Ten with 80 assists, while also recording 136 combined tackles and two forced fumbles.
North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance (136th pick by the New Orleans Saints): He is the younger brother of QB Trey Lance.
The Bison receiver is the younger brother of the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, who also played at North Dakota State. As for the Saints’ new receiver, Lance, who spent six seasons at North Dakota State, averaged 63 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12.5 touchdowns per season between 2024 and 2025.
Texas DB Michael Taaffe (Miami Dolphins’ 158th pick): Three-year starter for the Longhorns
Taaffe was among the faces of the Longhorns’ defense, playing five seasons for the school starting in 2023-25, which included appearances in the College Football Playoff in 2023 and 2024. During the aforementioned span (2023-25), Taaffe averaged 2.3 interceptions and 65.3 combined tackles per season.
Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton (Tennessee Titans’ 165th pick): First in Penn State history in rushing touchdowns
During his four seasons playing for the Nittany Lions (2022-25), Singleton rushed for 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns combined, which is the first in program history; Singleton’s rushing yards rank fourth in Penn State history.
Ohio State S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (No. 172 pick by the New Orleans Saints): Brother of No. 7 pick Sonny Styles
After two seasons playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2021-22), Styles transferred to Ohio State, where he was teammates with his brother, Sonny Styles, from 2023-25; Styles was selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 7 pick.
Additionally, Lorenzo Styles was a wide receiver at Notre Dame before moving to full-time defensive back in 2023.
Cole Payton, North Dakota State quarterback (178th overall pick): Dual-threat quarterback with potential positional versatility
Payton was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, but showed enough on tape to be a fifth-round pick. Will he play quarterback at the next level? You can read more about Payton here.
Arkansas QB Taylen Green (No. 182 pick by the Cleveland Browns): Arguably the best athlete at QB in this year’s class.
The Browns added another quarterback to their quarterback room, selecting Green early in the sixth round. Green set records in vertical jump (43.5 inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) for a quarterback in combine history, while also running a 4.36 40. Green threw for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, in addition to 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns last season.
