Saturday’s concluding day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh opened with a surprising selection that caught many analysts off guard.
Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy, who numerous experts predicted would be chosen in the opening round, instead became the Las Vegas Raiders’ pick at 101st overall to start the fourth round.
The Raiders executed a minor trade with Buffalo, giving up a 2027 seventh-round selection to move from 102nd to 101st position and land McCoy.
Scouts Inc. had ranked McCoy as the 16th best available talent, but his dramatic slide resulted from medical red flags. The cornerback suffered an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2025 collegiate campaign, and while that injury has recovered, medical evaluations revealed degenerative cartilage damage in his right knee.
“All of my doctors that did my surgery told me (that) I’m good,” McCoy said, per ESPN. “But if there’s something that (the Raiders) want me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that because I feel like they have my best interest.”
During his 2024 season with Tennessee, McCoy recorded four interceptions and nine pass deflections following his transfer from Oregon State.
Las Vegas continued making bold moves after selecting Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza with the draft’s opening pick two days earlier. The organization shipped former top-10 selection Tyree Wilson to New Orleans to jump from 219th overall up to 150th in the fifth round.
Wilson, chosen seventh overall in 2023, recorded 12 quarterback sacks across three seasons rushing the passer for Las Vegas. The Raiders had previously attempted to deal star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore this offseason, but the Ravens withdrew from negotiations when Crosby failed his physical while rehabilitating from knee surgery.
With their 150th selection, Las Vegas chose Arizona safety Dalton Johnson.
The quarterback position remained sparse throughout the weekend, with only one passer taken in round four and another in round five.
New York’s Jets moved up through a deal with Cincinnati to grab Clemson’s Cade Klubnik at 110th overall. The trade sent Cincinnati the 128th pick while the Jets received the 199th selection in addition to moving up from 140th.
Klubnik, formerly considered elite college quarterback material, failed to meet expectations during his three-plus seasons leading Clemson’s offense. The 6-foot-2 prospect completed passes for 2,943 yards with 16 touchdowns against six interceptions in 2025 for the Tigers.
New York has once again restructured its quarterback position but waited until round four to gamble on an incoming rookie, having selected pass rusher David Bailey second overall. Klubnik will compete alongside Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for playing time.
“I woke up this morning hoping the Jets were going to pick me,” Klubnik told reporters after the pick.
Philadelphia utilized the 178th overall selection on North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, a former FCS championship winner who will join a depth chart featuring Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton.
Although only six quarterbacks were selected through five rounds, tight ends experienced tremendous popularity. Seventeen were chosen in rounds one through five, exceeding the 16 total drafted in 2025.
Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore, a London native, joined the Miami Dolphins at 180th overall as the fifth round’s second-to-last selection. Despite not being announced among the prospect “green room” attendees, Traore appeared on Pittsburgh’s stage and received recognition from commissioner Roger Goodell, creating an uncommon moment for the draft’s third day.
Cleveland opened round six by selecting Arkansas quarterback Talen Green with the opening pick. Green will enter a crowded Browns quarterback room including Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.
