The 2026 NFL Draft entered Day 2 Friday night with some interesting prospects still on the board. Headlining the list of those prospects frequently projected to go in the first round in many NFL Mock drafts leading up to the big event in Pittsburgh.
Among the notable names sliding into Day 2 were Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, Georgia’s CJ Allen and Missouri edge rusher Zion Young. With each of these players carrying instant-impact potential, the teams they slid to walked away from Round 2 exhilarated.
Here’s a look at the Round 2 steals nobody believed would still be on the board when they were selected.
Biggest steals from Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft
Kayden McDonald, No. 36 overall - Houston Texans
It didn’t take too long for the former Ohio State star to come off the board on Day 2, but the surprise was where he landed. The Texans, who traded up to select Keylan Rutledge in the first round could’ve selected either McDonald or Rutledge had they stayed pat at No. 28.
Whether or not they valued Rutledge as more of a desperate need than an interior lineman with their top pick or not, they made the move in the second round necessary to make sure they landed a run stopper in McDonald who just makes that defense more terrifying.
Watch out AFC South, with Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter coming off the edge and this 6-foot-3, 326-pound stud clogging the middle, the Texans are going to be even more of a nightmare on the defensive side of the ball than they were in 2025. The “best run defender in the draft” is making his way to Houston.
Denzel Boston, No. 39 – Cleveland Browns
The Browns are having themselves a great draft. After trading back in the top 10 to select Spencer Fano, the Browns took KC Concepcion with the No. 24 overall pick and then got their big target receiver in Denzel Boston who was still available at No. 39.
Boston, who was often mocked as a mid-to-late first-round pick slid a bit in this draft as there were some red flags that arose due to his separation ability. Well, the Browns got that in Concepcion and in Boston, they have a big target who should be an instant red zone nightmare for most defenses given his size and physicality as a receiver.
The question that now arises for Boston is whether he has already reached his peak after a breakout season at Washington, or will he turn heads at the NFL level and prove he’s a true second-round steal!
Avieon Terrell, No. 48 – Atlanta Falcons
Given where he was selected, former Clemson star Avieon Terrell may not care that he slid to the mid-second round given that he gets to play with his brother in Atlanta.
The Falcons needed more cornerback depth behind star cornerback A.J. Terrell, and they had to be thrilled to see his younger brother still available on the board when they made their first pick of the draft at No. 48. A physical defender, the younger Terrell will help upgrade the Falcons’ secondary instantly. Not only is he physical, but he has a knack for forcing turnovers. He should ease into the team’s nickel cornerback role with ease given his competitive nature and skillset.
On top of that, he’ll have the motivation and inspiration sharing the field with his older All-Pro bro.
CJ Allen, No. 53 – Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were another team without a first round pick whose eyes had to open wide open when a first-round talent in CJ Allen was still available at 53.
Whatever the reason for the slide was (health, lack of coverage versatility), the Butkus Award finalist is the middle linebacker of the future the Colts were seeking after trading Zaire Franklin. Described by Colts GM Chris Ballard as “fast and violent”, Allen is a player other teams may look back on and wish they didn’t pass up on him given his value as a middle linebacker who makes plays and possesses natural leadership.
As an elite run defender, Allen was praised as the heart of the Georgia Bulldogs defense and is a player who brings a high IQ and high motor to a Colts’ defense that is getting younger and faster with his selection.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, No. 58 – Cleveland Browns
The Browns ended up with two players with first-round projections in the second round. With Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren still available at No. 58, the Browns jumped on an opportunity to strengthen their secondary in a big way.
After a breakout season at Toledo, the 6-foot-3, 201-pound safety was a fast riser leading up to the draft. Noted for his combination of size, versatility and physicality, teams in need of a safety shocked the draft board by allowing him to get to a Browns defense with few weak spots. In Mike Rutenberg’s scheme, don’t be surprised if McNeil-Warren gains high praise as an immediate impact defensive playmaker in Year 1.
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