2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Picks With Best Chance to Make an Early Impact

Even though they greatly outnumber the Day 1 and Day 2 picks, the 157 players taken in Rounds 4-7 of the 2026 NFL draft aren't generating nearly as much hype as their early-round brethren.

This is understandable given the long odds these Day 3 picks face of thriving at the professional level, but they will still get an opportunity to put their stamp on the league and could even emerge as superstars.

While the draft wasn't expanded to its current three-day format until 2010, some all-time greats have already come off the board on Day 3.

Richard Sherman and Jason Kelce are a pair of sure-fire Hall of Famers who were taken in the fourth round or later of their respective drafts, while active stars such as Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown and the San Francisco 49ers' dynamic duo of Brock Purdy (the final pick of 2022) and George Kittle were also Day 3 picks.

It won't be easy to follow in the footsteps of these legends, but certain prospects—including several found on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's top 100 list—already stand out for their chances of making an early impact.

These Day 3 prospects are facing uphill battles to secure starting roles and could have short leashes due to the relatively minor investment their respective teams made into them, but the following players are worth keeping tabs on as they head into their rookie campaigns.

CB Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo

B/R Scouting Department Rank: No. 11 overall (CB2)

Drafted: 4th round, No. 101 overall

One of the major storylines going into Day 3 of the draft involved Jermod McCoy and where his free-fall would finally end. The Tennessee cornerback had graded out as the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 2 player at his position on the final B/R Scouting Department big board, but somewhat surprisingly failed to hear his name called in Round 1 before shockingly going undrafted on Day 2.

McCoy wouldn't have to suffer long on Saturday as the Las Vegas Raiders made him the opening pick of the fourth round. The organization scored massive value with that draft decision, as McCoy provides Vegas with a legitimate starting corner with Pro Bowl upside—all at a major discount.

McCoy's plummet was unexpected after he earned an impressive 8.1 grade from B/R scout Daniel Harms. That is only 0.1 points below the score that Mansoor Delane—the corner who the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to land at No. 6 overall—received from the Scouting Department.

While McCoy's injury concerns and absence from the entire 2026 college football campaign scared NFL teams off, the 20-year-old put enough on film during his two collegiate seasons to be considered one of the best prospects in the class by draft experts. In his scouting breakdown, Harms highlighted McCoy's natural athleticism, instincts, footwork, ball-tracking skills and run defense as areas where the corner wins.

McCoy still needs to brush up on his press coverage skills and tackling ability, but he'll have ample opportunity as a likely Day 1 starter for the Raiders. He'll need to knock some rust off during training camp, but expect the corner to vastly outperform his modest draft slot if he can stay healthy.

WR Elijah Sarratt, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo

B/R Scouting Department Rank: No. 75 overall (WR17)

Drafted: 4th round, No. 115 overall

Elijah Sarratt put his name on the map during Indiana's march to the College Football Playoff national championship. The wideout finished the 2025 season with a team-leading 15 touchdown catches to go along with 65 catches and 830 receiving yards.

While Sarratt didn't end up getting selected as early as running mate Omar Cooper Jr.—who went No. 30 overall to the New York Jets—the Baltimore Ravens benefitted from his fourth-round availability to pull one of the 2026 draft's bigger heists.

The 6'2", 210-pounder has been a consistent contributor at every stop. After opening his collegiate career with 13 scores at FCS program Saint Francis and exploding for 1,191 receiving yards during his lone campaign with James Madison, he immediately emerged as a key contributor on a dominant Hoosiers team and remained as such for two consecutive years.

One of Sarratt's most impressive feats was moving the chains or scoring a touchdown on three-quarters of his college catches. He was consistently able to deliver in the biggest moments, including a 7/75/2 performance in the CFP semifinals.

The 22-year-old will now look to continue his run of success in the NFL. With 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman often injured and underwhelming when he has been on the field, the rookie will get his chance to earn a starting job during training camp.

While Sarratt does need to improve his release and ability to battle with more physical corners, he has the talent to overcome a lack of explosive athleticism and top-end speed. The Ravens stand to heavily benefit from a player nicknamed "Waffle House" for always being open as they transition to a new offensive system under head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

WR Skyler Bell, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

B/R Scouting Department Rank: No. 49 overall (WR10)

Drafted: 4th round, No. 125 overall

Skyler Bell was a top-50 prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's big board but didn't hear his name called until Day 3 when the Buffalo Bills ended his tumble.

The UConn product might be disappointed about his slide, but he doesn't have any reason to complain about his landing spot alongside one of the game's great quarterbacks in one of the league's most prolific offenses.

B/R ranked Bell as the 10th-best wideout in the 2026 class, with scout Dame Parson writing the wideout "offers alignment versatility, mismatch creation, and yards after the catch. Against Power-4 competition, he proved he belonged on the same playing field".

While he's not a big receiver at 6'0", 192 pounds—a slender frame that struggles against bigger corners and press coverage, with physicality in general being one of his weak points—Bell brings explosiveness and strong route running skills to the table. He can create separation with quick cuts and elusive start/stop moves.

The Bills will be able to effectively deploy Bell in the slot or as a movement Z receiver, motioning him around the field to create mismatches. While the team already utilizes a similar receiver in Khalil Shakir, there is always room for more talented wideouts in a Josh Allen-led passing attack.

Even if Bell doesn't truly explode as a rookie, he'll at least be able to develop a rapport with Allen and set the stage for a massive Year 2 breakout.

CB Chandler Rivers, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo

B/R Scouting Department Rank: No. 34 overall (CB6)

Drafted: 5th round, No. 162 overall

The Baltimore Ravens made several strong value pickups during the 2026 NFL draft, but none represented a bigger bargain than their selection of Chandler Rivers—the No. 34 overall prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's board—in the latter portion of the fifth round.

Rivers rated just outside the top five at his position after earning 7.7 grade from B/R scout Daniel Harms, a score generally indicative of a late-first, early-second round pick. The Duke product experienced a significant fall, however, after teams continually overlooked the talented but undersized defensive back.

In his breakdown of Rivers, Harms described him as a player who "jumps off the screen with his zone prowess and ability to read quarterbacks. The way he sees the field and uncovers route concepts make him a dangerous defender to target for any offense."

Having played all four of his collegiate seasons at Duke—a rarity in the modern era—Rivers amassed 223 tackles, 29 pass breakups and seven interceptions. He gained a wealth of experience during that span and displayed instincts and intelligence far beyond the average Day 3 corner.

Even though he stands a shade under 5'10" and weighs just 185 pounds, he's a crafty defender with a natural feel for the game, blazing speed and toughness that makes up for his smaller stature.

Rivers is a versatile piece, but Baltimore will likely deploy him as a nickel starter from the jump in its new Jesse Minter-led defense.

S Zakee Wheatley, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo

B/R Scouting Department Rank: No. 41 overall (S4)

Drafted: 5th round, No. 151 overall

Zakee Wheatley is one of the most talented safety prospects in the 2026 class. The Carolina Panthers identified his unique skill set as one worth bringing aboard and elected to trade up to secure him near the midpoint of the fifth round.

Wheatley is the type of versatile, do-it-all safety that teams covet in the modern NFL. He graded out as the No. 4 safety and No. 41 overall player in his class due to a solid mix of size, athleticism and talent.

Production hasn't been an issue for Wheatley. During the past two seasons alone, the safety recorded 170 tackles, five pass defenses, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

While he has a nose for the football and is in on every play, he remained highly disciplined to the point he wasn't flagged for a single defensive penalty during his collegiate career.

There is room for Wheatley to improve his tackling technique and physicality against larger wideouts and tight ends. Despite this limitation, he's still well-rounded enough to handle his own against much of the competition he'll come up against at the next level.

Although the Panthers will be getting a player most likely to start his NFL journey as a backup and special teamer, Wheatley has the tools to take on a larger role.

Whether due to injuries or ineffectiveness from the players ahead of him on the depth chart, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Wheatley making a much larger impact in the back half of the season than at the start.