Round 2 NFL Draft 2026: Order, Picks, Times & Grades

Some fans spend hours debating Round 2 picks before a single name appears on TV. When the draft room lights dim and the real board work begins, the grades start flying—and some teams immediately separate themselves from the pack. This tracker breaks down the pick-by-pick order, analyst grades from CBS Sports and WalterFootball, and the moments that defined the second round in Pittsburgh.

Location: Pittsburgh · Round 1 Date: April 23 · Rounds 2-3 Date: April 24 · Pick 33: De’Zhaun Stribling, UCLA · Pick 34: Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

Round 2 NFL draft order

Full pick order

The San Francisco 49ers opened Round 2 by selecting De’Zhaun Stribling, a wide receiver from Ole Miss, with pick 33 (CBS Sports). CBS analyst Mike Renner graded the selection C+, calling Stribling a replacement for Jauan Jennings with strong blocking but weaker route-running. WalterFootball viewed it differently, assigning a MILLEN grade that suggested a trade-down would have returned better value. The Arizona Cardinals followed at pick 34, taking guard Chase Bisontis from Texas A&M, an A-grade pick from CBS that filled a gap after their Round 1 selection of Jeremiyah Love. Buffalo landed T.J. Parker, an edge rusher from Clemson, at 35 with a B- grade, bringing pass-rushing help despite a dip in his 2025 tape.

Houston made one of the round’s highest-rated picks at 36, selecting Kayden McDonald, a defensive tackle from Ohio State, whom CBS graded A+ as an elite run-defending nose tackle. The New York Giants drafted cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee at pick 37, receiving a B+ from CBS for his press-corner skills and youth—he had just turned 21. Cleveland added possession receiver Denzel Boston from Washington at 39, graded A by CBS and called a “steal” with an A+ by WalterFootball, which noted he was a value pick who could have gone at the end of Round 1. Kansas City selected edge rusher Mason Thomas from Oklahoma at 40, graded A by CBS as a speed rusher who diverged from the Chiefs’ typical preferences. Cincinnati closed the early run with Cashius Howell at 41, an A+ pass-rusher from Texas A&M whom Renner praised for what he did against SEC tackles.

Team selections by position

Cornerback was the deepest position in Round 2. Miami drafted Jacob Rodriguez, a linebacker from Texas Tech, at 43 with an A grade that CBS called him the best college linebacker with great instincts. The New York Jets picked D’Angelo Ponds from Indiana at 50, receiving an A+ from Renner who noted he was a “carbon copy” of head coach Aaron Glenn. Green Bay selected Brandon Cisse, a cornerback from South Carolina, at 52 with an A- grade; the young defender hasn’t turned 21 yet and showed explosive movement in college. Atlanta drafted Avieon Terrell from Clemson, reuniting him with his brother A.J. Terrell in the Falcons secondary. Buffalo doubled down on cornerback talent by taking Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State at 62, graded C+ as a press corner better suited for zone coverage.

Safety play stood out late in the round. Cleveland added Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo at 58 with an A+ grade—the CBS analysis called him the best box safety in the class with 11 career forced fumbles. Seattle drafted Bud Clark, a safety from TCU, at 64, graded A to eventually replace Coby Bryant’s role on the roster. Tight end selections drew mixed reviews: Philadelphia picked Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt at 54, graded B as a movable TE2 but a poor blocker at 239 pounds. Jacksonville selected Nate Boerkircher from Texas A&M at 56 with a C grade—solid but at 25 years old, he projects as a backup. Houston’s Marlin Klein pick at 59 from Michigan received a D- from CBS, called a head-scratching selection given the Texans’ roster depth at the position.

NFL draft round 2 time

Schedule for Rounds 2-3

Rounds 2-3 of the 2026 NFL Draft took place on April 24 in Pittsburgh (ESPN). The schedule placed Round 1 on April 23, with Day 2 beginning the following morning and running through the evening. Day 2 included 68 picks across Rounds 2 and 3, making it the longest single day of the draft by volume. Rounds 4-7 concluded the event on Saturday, completing the full three-day format. The 2026 draft saw 41 total trades across three days, with eight of those occurring on Day 1 alone, according to ESPN’s Kiper.

Start times and duration

The draft typically begins in the early afternoon for Day 2 rounds, with Round 2 starting around 7 p.m. ET and running approximately 3-4 hours depending on trade activity. The pace quickens in Round 3 as teams have less time per pick, though the 41 total trades across the draft suggest general managers were active in moving selections throughout the weekend. Round 2 featured roughly 32 picks, each with 7 minutes of clock time before the commissioner’s podium announcement. The television broadcast on ESPN and NFL Network provided pick-by-pick analysis, with the CBS Sports tracker updating grades in real time as selections were announced.

NFL draft grades

Team-by-team grades

Mike Renner of CBS Sports provided pick-by-pick grades throughout Round 2, with several teams drawing immediate attention. The Steelers received an A+ for their wide receiver selection, one of the round’s highest marks. The Bears drew a D+ for reaching on a pick, per CBS analysis, suggesting a player selected above his projected value. The Cardinals earned an A for Chase Bisontis, credited with opening running lanes after their Round 1 pick. Houston’s Kayden McDonald selection received the highest single-grade of the round at A+, praised as an elite run-defending nose tackle.

Top and bottom picks

WalterFootball’s independent grades highlighted several steals and reaches. The Cleveland Browns received an A+ for Denzel Boston, graded by CBS as an A, with WalterFootball calling him a “steal” who was selected well below his projected value. The Giants earned an A for Colton Hood, with the grader noting he could have gone at the end of Round 1. Cashius Howell’s A+ from CBS was matched by strong marks from independent analysts who praised his pass-rush ability against SEC competition. The lower end of the spectrum included Jacksonville’s Nate Boerkircher at C—solid but old for the class—and Houston’s Marlin Klein at D-, which CBS called a head-scratching pick given roster depth. The Los Angeles Chargers’ selection of center Jake Slaughter at 63 received a C+, notable because the team had recently signed Tyler Biadasz to a 3-year, $30 million contract in the offseason, raising questions about the position’s immediate need.

NFL draft order 2026

Overall draft structure

The 2026 NFL Draft followed the standard format: Round 1 on April 23, Rounds 2-3 on April 24, and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday. The NFL typically holds the draft in late April at a rotating host city; 2026 landed in Pittsburgh. The draft order resets after Round 1, with teams selecting in inverse standings order for Rounds 2-7, with compensatory picks inserted. The 49ers, holding the first pick of Round 2 as the Super Bowl LIX loser, began the round before the Cardinals, Bills, and Texans rounded out the top tier.

Round 2 specifics

Round 2 featured 32 picks, from pick 33 through pick 64, before Round 3 expanded the board to 32 more selections. Compensatory picks do not apply until Round 3, so the first 32 picks of Round 2 maintain a clean order based on regular-season records. Day 2 saw 68 total picks across Rounds 2-3, making it the heaviest volume day of the draft. The pace of selections was brisk, with fewer trades in Round 2 compared to Day 1’s eight reported moves. Teams used their Round 2 picks to address immediate roster needs, add depth, or accumulate future draft capital through trades.

NFL Draft Round 2 mock

Pre-draft mocks vs actual

Pre-draft mocks had varying success in predicting Round 2 outcomes. WalterFootball noted that Denzel Boston was selected at pick 24 in their 2026 mock draft, making his actual landing spot at 39 a significant value for Cleveland. Keon Coleman and Ladd McConkey were names frequently mentioned in mocks as potential Round 2 picks; their actual selections or lack thereof shaped the narrative of which teams reached and which found value. Jermod McCoy from Tennessee, a top talent projected in many mocks, went undrafted entirely—a reminder that board falls and medical concerns can move prospects well below consensus expectations.

Key surprises

The brother duo of Avieon and A.J. Terrell in Atlanta was a feel-good storyline that played out exactly as family connections suggested. The 49ers’ selection of De’Zhaun Stribling drew a MILLEN grade from WalterFootball, indicating disagreement with the pick’s value. Houston’s Marlin Klein selection at 59 puzzled analysts given the Texans’ tight end depth, drawing the round’s lowest grade. The Jets’ D’Angelo Ponds selection at 50 received praise for his similarity to head coach Aaron Glenn, suggesting the team drafted for scheme fit. Cashius Howell, praised as twitchy and polished against SEC competition, landing in Cincinnati with an A+ from CBS, was one of the round’s most celebrated picks.

Mike Renner, CBS Sports NFL Draft AnalystThe 49ers tab Stribling as their Jauan Jennings replacement. He’s one of the better blockers in the class.

WalterFootball AnalystWhat a steal I had the Browns selecting Denzel Boston at No. 24 in my 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

Related reading: Pittsburgh vs Georgia Tech · Atlanta Hawks vs Lakers player stats

Round 2 picks unfold according to the 2026 NFL Draft schedule on April 24 in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers earned an A+ grade for their selection.

Frequently asked questions

For teams still weighing their Round 2 performance, the verdict is already in from multiple graders: some nailed their picks, others reached, and the real judgment comes in September. For the Browns, Steelers, and Bengals, Round 2 delivered the draft’s best value. For the Bears and Texans, the grades suggest a longer evaluation ahead.