The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was a whirlwind. The first overall pick has been a sure thing for months, but up until the very last second, no one was fully sure what the New York Jets were going to do at No. 2.
Then came several trades, several intriguing selections and an overall fun first round that was very hard to predict. That will likely continue on Day 2 of the draft on Friday night, as teams will begin to narrow their boards and target the best values.
By taking a look at the consensus big board, we can identify the top players still available that are ranked the highest on a wide range of rankings. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy tops the list for defensive players, while Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston does the same on offense.
Top 25 best available players for Round 2 of 2026 NFL Draft, according to consensus big board
- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
- Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
- Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
- Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
- T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
- Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
- CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
- Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
- D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
- Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon
- Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
- Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
- Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
- Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
- Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
- R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
- Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
- Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
- Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
- Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
- Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
- Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
- Keionte Scott, S, Miami
The first five picks of the second round belong to the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants. Look for the Raiders to potentially target help for Fernando Mendoza with their 36th overall pick.
