2026 NFL DRAFT DAY 3 RECAP

That is a wrap on a wild 2026 NFL Draft! Here is your official Day 3 Draft Recap and the fallout for the fantasy landscape.

Round 4: The Value Steals

• Jermod McCoy (CB, Raiders: No. 101): A massive medical "what-if." He was a First-Round talent on tape before the knee issues. If the Raiders' medical staff can manage his recovery, they just landed a Top-10 corner at the start of Day 3.
• Cade Klubnik (QB, Jets: No. 110): The "Sleeper" QB. The Jets secured a high-pedigree "lottery ticket" by landing him in the fourth round, providing them with a battle-tested ACC starter who possesses the mobility and compact release to thrive in a structured NFL system.
• Elijah "Waffle House" Sarratt (WR, Ravens: No. 115): Lamar Jackson's "New Era" continues. Like you said, he’s always open. He joins Ja'Kobi Lane to give Baltimore a massive, physical presence that should finally allow Zay Flowers to feast in space.
• Mike Washington Jr. (WR, Raiders: No. 122): The Raiders are building a "track team" out west. Pairing him with Jeanty is a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Washington provides the deep-threat gravity that keeps the box light for the run game.

Round 5: Fantasy "Value" Gems

• Justin Joly (TE, Broncos: No. 152): This is jarring. Joly was a fantasy favorite, but falling to 152 suggests teams had concerns about his in-line blocking. In Denver, he’s a vertical TE who will thrive in 12 personnel. He’s a major sleeper in rookie drafts.
• Emmett Johnson (RB, Chiefs: No. 161): The Chiefs traded up to get him! He’s the perfect lightning to Walker III’s thunder. In that Andy Reid system, 161 is a bargain for a guy who can catch 40+ balls out of the backfield.
• Nicholas Singleton (RB, Titans: No. 165): The "patience" pick. He won’t be the guy in 2026, but if he recovers from that injury, he is a potential 2027 league-winner.
• Joe Royer (TE, Browns: No. 170): Not the ideal landing spot with Fannin Jr. already there, but he gives Sanders a massive safety valve. It’s a "heavy" personnel play for Cleveland.
• Lorenzo Styles Jr. (CB, Saints: No. 172): Pure upside. He’s raw, but you can’t coach his speed. New Orleans is the perfect place for a developmental corner to sit and learn.

Round 6: The "Steals" of the Draft

• Kaytron Allen (RB, Commanders: No. 187): Watch out for this one. Allen is a pro-ready "grinder." While everyone loves the flash of Croskey-Merritt, Allen is the guy who will keep the chains moving and could easily end up with the most carries by mid-season.
• Harold Perkins Jr. (LB, Falcons: No. 215): The steal of the draft. How a playmaker of his caliber fell to 215 is a mystery. He’s a Day 1 starter and an immediate upgrade for a Falcons defense that needed a "heat-seeking missile" at linebacker.
• Trey Smack (K, Packers: No. 216): Green Bay finally fixed the kicker spot. 65-yarders with ease? In the cold at Lambeau? This is a massive special teams win.

Round 7: Projects & "Mr. Irrelevant"

• Jack Endries (TE, Bengals: No. 221): Burrow loves his tight ends. Endries gives them a vertical threat up the seam that they’ve missed since the CJ Uzomah days.
• Garrett Nussmeier (QB, Chiefs: No. 249): The "Tom Brady" narrative starts here. Falling from a projected First-Rounder to No. 249 is a legendary slide. Learning under Reid and Mahomes? This is the best possible spot for a "long-term project" to eventually become trade bait or a high-end backup.
• Jam Miller (RB, Patriots: No. 245): The writing is on the wall for Rhamondre. Miller is a physical, rotating back who fits the "committee" approach New England is reverting to.
• Red Murdock (LB, Broncos: No. 257): Mr. Irrelevant! The Buffalo product brings a blue-collar mentality to Denver. He’ll have to earn his keep on special teams, but he has the grit to stick on the roster.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Draft proved that "Traits over Tape" is a dangerous game for fantasy owners. While Joly and Johnson fell into the late rounds, their landing spots (Denver and KC) actually increase their long-term value. We are seeing a league-wide shift toward massive size at receiver and versatile, committee-based backfields. If you’re drafting for fantasy, look at the volume opportunities in Washington and Baltimore, that's where the real money will be made.