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DB’s 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Big Board: Top Players Remaining
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- DB’s 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Big Board: Top Players Remaining
NFL Draft Theater for 2026 NFL Draft on April 21, 2026. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The 2026 NFL Draft is here, and you can watch along with our big board from Steelers Now analyst Derrick Bell.
After two days of draft picks, there are still 21 players remaining from our initial top-100 big board.
Jermod McCoy runs during Tennessee Football Pro Day 2026, at University of Tennessee on March 31. — Angelina Alcantar / Imagn Images Credit: Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
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An uber-talented corner with lockdown potential that was previously on a blistering upward trajectory before the pre-season ACL injury wiped out his entire season. McCoy is an exceptional athlete with the proven ability to stay in phase versus NFL-caliber competition in man coverage but also has the spatial awareness and ball skills to be a real playmaker in zone looks. One lucky team is going to get a discount on a feisty young pup with a near-limitless future.
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CB Keionte Scott, Miami
Scott is a magnificent team-construct defender that plays with absolutely zero regard for his own body, hammering ball carriers into the abyss or bench pressing blockers to maintain gap integrity. He can rip it from a standstill, is more adept in zone coverage as opposed to man, and will require a streamlined role. His aptitude for violence and all-out mentality will change the complexion of his defense.
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CB Keith Abney, Arizona State
Sticky corner that crosses the threshold in terms of change of direction, fluidity, and tackling technique. Abney would be a pristine fit in a zone-centric system because of his anticipation, understanding of how to midpoint route combinations, and propensity to compete/play through the receivers’ hands at the catch point. The main point of emphasis moving forward is trusting his technique more and decreasing his grabbiness that led to too many penalties.
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LB Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
A thumping off-ball backer that keys and diagnoses blocking mechanics up front with swiftness; he’s rarely caught out of position and displays good contact balance in the box. His range is average at best, but his eyes are always scanning for work in coverage, and he’ll run 100 miles per hour right through tailbacks in pass pro. Elliott has worn the green dot for the Sun Devils each of the past two seasons, with character and work ethic reviews that are flawless.
Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Kyle Louis (9) in a game against Kent State on August 31, 2024. — David Hague / Pittsburgh Sports Now
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DB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
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Hybrid defender with off-the-charts splash play production—Louis is a weapon in the pressure game because of his “oh, snap!” speed that puts protection units in a tizzy, and he maintains his balance through contact on stunts with elite closing speed. His expertise in coverage is thoroughly intriguing; he’s capable of staying stride for stride on wheel routes, is decisive, and covers so much ground in zone. He’s a guy you want on your team: whether he’s positionless or versatile is in the eye of the beholder.
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WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Sarratt is a big-bodied possession wideout that was wildly productive in high-leverage situations, notching a whopping 44 career touchdowns throughout his collegiate career. He’s got superb ball skills—dominated on back-shoulder fades where his body control and sideline awareness popped, and he hides his intentions well through the rep. There are times where he’ll get hemmed up in the press, but he’s got the football IQ and toughness to take on some power slot usage in the league if that becomes a detriment.
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IOL Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Sturdy center is quick off the snap, thrives in the zone blocking game with the short area burst to make difficult reach blocks and the body control to intersect targets when climbing to the second level. In pass pro, he has a firm initial punch, plays with good leverage throughout the rep, and has active eyes to sort out rush games. There aren’t a ton of impact blocks on tape because he lacks overwhelming power, but he plays assignment-sound, reliable football across the board at the pivot.
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EDGE Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Josephs is a blur off the line of scrimmage with unbelievable juice off the ball with sort of a wrecking ball plan of attack as a rusher, frequently launching himself into the fray before working off a secondary move to slip free. Although mostly a gap-shooter, his length does give him a fighting chance to defeat blocks, and it’s increasingly useful when trying to poke the football out in the pocket. He’s a toolsy, underdeveloped rusher who has provided more energy than production to this point.
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IDL Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
The general rule of thumb for small school prospects is that they must dominate lower-level competition and be an insane athlete—Proctor checks both of those boxes with flying colors: 39 pressures/nine sacks in 2025 and a 9.15 relative athletic score. He can get on the edge of blockers in a flash with rare quickness, has outstanding range/closing speed, and is notably flexible in his ankles. He could be a legit diamond in the rough if the LSU tape is foreshadowing what’s on the horizon.
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RB Jonah Coleman , Washington
Assuredly, there are flashier backs in this class, but few of them are as well-rounded as Coleman—he’s a punishing runner with a stocky frame and nimble feet and a a reliable receiver with soft hands. Dependability is the name of the game: this is a guy that takes care of the football (2 career fumbles on over 600 touches) and protects the quarterback like his life depends on it. In a perfect world, he’s paired with someone more dynamic, but a long career awaits him.
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CB Jadon Canady, Oregon
In the nicest way possible, Canady is maniac between the white lines and always up for the fight regardless of the situation. He anticipates route breaks well with the twitch to match up with the jitterbug slot receivers on underneath routes and comes equipped with next-level feel in zone coverage. The long speed is where things get dicey, but positives outweigh the negatives and give off Mike Hilton-esque vibes.
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IDL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Halton is an undersized, gap-penetrating three-technique best suited for a defense that stims the front on early downs in addition to incorporating plenty of funky fronts and stunts/twists in obvious passing situations. His first step, wiggle and lower body flexibility are all immediately available perks for a team to work with. He’ll get bounced around a bit, but his sizzle off the snap alone is worth the gamble in mid-rounds.
Memphis Tigers offensive lineman Travis Burke (78) gestures toward the South Florida Bulls defense on the line of scrimmage during the second half at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Oct 25, 2025. — Wesley Hale / Imagn Images Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
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OT Travis Burke, Memphis
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Burke has a long wingspan and vice grips for hands that he uses to latch on and ragdoll defenders to the turf, regardless of whether it’s a run or pass play. He gets out of his stance better than you’d think and has a firm initial punch. With his wealth of experience playing both left and right tackle, Burke could carve out a role early in his career as a swing tackle, although his issues playing with leverage could mean he caps out as a baseline starter.
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QB Garrett Nussmeier , LSU
Polished quarterback prospect thanks to being a coach’s kid; Nussmeier has a good feel for the position, navigates through the pocket without dropping his eyes, and can layer the football over defenders with anticipation to the middle of the field. From a mechanical perspective, there’s a lot to like—from throwing from a good base to his compact throwing motion that leads to quality accuracy to the first two levels. With that being said, his gunslinger mentality often writes checks that he can’t cash with his lack of physical tools.
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OC Connor Lew, Auburn
One of the youngest players in the entire class at just 20 years old, Lew has quick hands and is an advanced processor that handles all of the protection calls in Auburn’s system. He comes off the ball low with good initial pad level into blocks, shows a good radar for identifying and connecting with linebackers at the second level, and still has some room to further grow into his frame. His redirect skills in pass pro are below average, but it’s fairly easy to talk yourself into the idea of his best football still being ahead of him post-injury.
Safety Zakee Wheatley at the 2026 Penn State Pro Day on March 18, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
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S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
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Destructive downhill safety that runs the alley with a vengeance, effectively squaring up as a tackler before dropping his pads, and he has shown he’ll blast through perimeter blocking attempts, too. Wheatley’s capable of playing around or directly through blocks, making him a natural fit for box work, but his 2025 film showed notable progress as a zone coverage defender, which should allow him to get on the field earlier at the next level. He’s certainly not fast, and ideally, he begins his career as a third safety in subpackage situations with the end goal of being an average starter down the line.
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RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Home run hitter with a rare blend of size (225 pounds) and explosiveness, Washington doesn’t take long to get rolling, has above-average contact balance, and can deliver punishment to defensive backs at the end of runs. He’s unfazed by early penetration into the backfield, and his best stuff comes when the hole is clearly defined for him. He’s a high-cut fella that needs to ramp up the tenacity in pass protection before he can be trusted to play on third downs.
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CB Ephesians Prysock , Washington
Tall boundary corner with a wealth of experience (42 career starts)—Prysock is a big, strong corner that uses those gifts to his advantage while being a smooth mover for his build. He’s able to flip his hips to turn and burn from a press alignment but is also a smart off-coverage zone defender that is always in the right spot. Sadly, merely getting his head around to the ball is a chore for him and something that has been a death knell for similar past players of this ilk.
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WR Skyler Bell, UCONN
Bell significantly cut down on the drops this season as a focal point of the Huskies’ offense, aligning all over the formation as they found ways to get him to the ball to maximize his angle-erasing speed and plus vision. He excels on crossing routes and quick slants to stay on the move, makes some spectacular one-handed/late-hand grabs with body control and tracking ability that could be maximized with better quarterback play. There’s a helpful player here if he can become a more detailed route runner.
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S Genesis Smith, Arizona
Fluid free safety with oily hips and effortless overall movement skills, combined with a consistent approach to playing the football in the air via highpoint or playing through the hands of the receiver. Smith can click and close from off coverage with clean footwork and eye-popping short-area burst, while playing penalty-free football. This is one of the most straightforward evaluations in the entire draft, with organizations trying to decipher how much they value range and playmaking over flexibility and physicality at this position.
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WR Deion Burks , Oklahoma
Turbocharged slot receiver capable of modulating his tempo, snapping off routes with suddenness and crisp breaks while tip-toeing the sideline like a ballerina. He runs through the ball, transitions quickly to the runner phase, and will break tackles to accrue hidden yardage. This style player isn’t really en vogue anymore, but better quarterback play could finally unlock him.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : DB’s 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Big Board: Top Players Remaining
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