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Yes, it’s day three of the 2026 NFL Draft and the picks are flying out on what is the final day of the annual spectacle. That said, there are still plenty of star college players drafted on Day 3 who have a chance to start at the next level again.
Here’s one thing to know about the top Day 3 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (No. 101 pick by Las Vegas Raiders): Had four interceptions in 2024
If healthy, McCoy would have been a Day 2 pick, if not a Day 1 pick. Why? Well, that’s because he missed the entire 2025 college football season due to a torn ACL injury, with the former Volunteers and Oregon State Beavers defensive backs (2023) potentially needing additional surgery for that matter.
In 2024, McCoy has thrown four interceptions, recorded nine passes defended and accumulated 44 combined tackles; the year before, he had two interceptions.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (No. 110 pick by New York Jets): Was the No. 1 rookie QB in the 2022 class
Klubnik was the consensus top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, becoming the Tigers’ full-time quarterback for the 2023 season. In 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.
Kubnik’s best season arguably came in 2024, as he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for 463 yards and seven scores, a season that saw Clemson reach the College Football Playoff.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (No. 115 pick by Baltimore Ravens): Played for head coach Curt Cignetti on two teams
Sarratt was among several 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 pick No. 116): Had two pick-sixes 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, with Miami going on to reach the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In his lone season in Miami, Scott threw two interceptions, returning both of those picks for touchdowns. He also totaled two forced fumbles and five passes defended.
Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (No. 120 pick by Green Bay Packers): Had 23.5 sacks in college
Dennis-Sutton was among the Big Ten’s most productive passers during his four years with the Nittany Lions (2022-25), notably totaling 8.5 sacks in each of the last two years. He finished his collegiate career with 23.5 sacks, while forcing seven fumbles from 2023-25.
Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (Indianapolis Colts selection #135): was selected in the MLB Draft
This is not a typo. Boettcher played both football and baseball for the Ducks, with his performance in the latter sport leading to Boettcher being selected by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
While playing baseball at Oregon from 2021 to 2024, Boettcher played football for the Ducks from 2022 to 2025. Last season (2025), he led the Big Ten with 80 completions, while recording 136 combined tackles and two forced fumbles.
North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance (No. 136 pick by New Orleans Saints): 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 addition, Lance, who spent six seasons at North Dakota State, averaged 63 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12.5 touchdowns per season from 2024-25.
Texas DB Michael Taaffe (Miami Dolphins pick No. 158): three-year starter for Longhorns
Taaffe was among the faces of the Longhorns’ defense, playing five seasons for the school and 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 pick #165): 1st in Penn State history in rushing touchdowns
In his four seasons playing for the Nittany Lions (2022-25), Singleton has totaled 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns, 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 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 to 2025; Styles was selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 7 pick.
Additionally, Lorenzo Styles was a wide receiver at Notre Dame before becoming a full-time defensive back in 2023.
North Dakota State QB Cole Payton (No. 178 overall pick): Dual-threat QB with potential positional versatility
Payton was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, but he showed enough on tape to be a fifth-round pick. But will he play quarterback at the next level? You can learn more about Payton here.
Arkansas QB Taylen Green (Cleveland Browns’ No. 182 pick): Arguably the best athlete at QB in this year’s class
The Browns added another quarterback to their quarterback room, taking Green early in the sixth round. Green set records in the 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 to go with 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns last season.
