Overview of The Athletic Football Show — Full recap of the 2026 NFL Draft
Robert Mays, Dane Brugler, Derek Klassen, and Dave Helman wrapped up Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft by focusing on the biggest slides, the best value picks, and the draft classes that stood out most — both for what they did well and for the ones that left the panel puzzled. The conversation centered on how teams balance upside, medical risk, positional value, and “fit,” with a recurring theme that the smartest late-round bets often come from unusual athletes, versatile defenders, and quarterbacks who can help a room even if they’re not elite tools prospects.
Biggest Day 3 storylines
Jermod McCoy’s slide ends with the Raiders
- One of the biggest stories of the weekend was Jermod McCoy falling all the way to pick 101.
- He had been viewed earlier in the process as a potential top-10 pick, but medical concerns caused a massive slide.
- The panel viewed the Raiders’ move as a sensible fourth-round gamble:
- At that point in the draft, the upside of a special corner outweighed the risk.
- Even if McCoy never becomes a long-term starter, a few productive seasons would still justify the pick.
- The discussion framed it as a classic draft fork:
- Best case: an All-Pro caliber corner.
- Worst case: a player who never makes it onto the field.
Garrett Nussmeier’s fall was more surprising than expected
- Garrett Nussmeier was expected by some to be a worthwhile Day 2 gamble, but he kept sliding deep into Day 3.
- The reasons discussed:
- Injury concerns
- Undersized frame
- Recent tape that didn’t help his stock
- Questions about interviews and accountability
- The panel emphasized that for late-round quarterbacks, teams want more than just arm talent — they want someone who can be a positive presence in the QB room.
- That’s part of why players like Cade Klubnik and Ethan Kalikmanis came off the board before Nussmeier.
Why Day 3 quarterbacks are so unpredictable
- The discussion kept coming back to one idea: late-round QB value is more about “eye of the beholder” than consensus.
- Teams want a backup who can:
- understand the offense,
- help in the meeting room,
- and be a steady presence if called upon.
- The panel contrasted that with the recent history of “toolsy” late quarterbacks, noting that the successful late-round QB bets are often the smarter, steadier types rather than raw athletes.
Several defensive backs slid farther than expected
- Jalen Kilgore fell below Dane’s top-100 range because teams may have questioned whether he is a true nickel in the NFL.
- Keontae Scott and Zakee Wheatley also slid more than the board suggested:
- Scott was seen as a role-specific player who needs the right fit.
- Wheatley was praised as rangy and fast but punished for limited ball production and tackling inconsistency.
- The larger takeaway: the league likes nickel defenders more than ever, but it still wants them to offer versatility.
A memorable international-pathway pick
- The Eagles drafted Ewer Bernard, an enormous, freakishly athletic Nigeria-born lineman through the International Pathway Program.
- The panel loved the classic Eagles logic:
- take unusual traits,
- stash the player,
- and let the coaching staff see if they can mold him.
- It was presented as the kind of pick that perfectly fits Philadelphia’s late-round philosophy.
Favorite Day 3 picks
Dane Brugler’s favorite value picks
- Chandler Rivers to the Ravens
- Undersized, but a feisty and instinctive defensive back.
- Dane loved the value and fit.
- Keith Abney to the Lions
- A competitive, high-energy corner with ball skills and good testing numbers.
- Viewed as a strong value despite being undersized and a little wild.
- Eli Heidenreich to the Steelers
- A local Pittsburgh kid and the most prolific pass-catcher in Navy history.
- More slot receiver/H-back than running back.
- Keyshawn Elliott to the Bears
- Smart, tough, and well-rounded linebacker with major value as a Day 3 pick.
- Riley Nowakowski to the Steelers
- Dane’s favorite pick of Day 3.
- A highly usable H-back/fullback/tight end type who should help in multiple phases.
Robert/Derek’s broader value takeaways
- There was a lot of appreciation for:
- Versatile defensive backs
- Physical tight ends
- Special teams-friendly linebackers
- Late-round players with defined, useful roles
- The panel repeatedly noted that teams can get real value when they identify a player’s most realistic role rather than chasing a fantasy ceiling.
Best draft classes
Cleveland Browns
- The Browns were widely praised for understanding their needs and finding value at those spots.
- Highlights included:
- Spencer Fano
- Casey Concepcion
- Denzel Boston
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- Austin Barber
- Parker Brailsford
- Justin Jefferson
- Joe Royer
- Talon Green
- The Browns’ class was described as:
- balanced,
- coherent,
- and full of players who fit both their roster and scheme.
New York Giants
- The Giants were one of the cleanest classes on the board because they had premium picks and mostly used them well.
- They added:
- Arvell Reese
- Francis Mauigoa
- Colton Hood
- Malachi Fields
- Jack Kelly
- The panel especially liked that the Giants gave their young QB Jackson Dart a big-bodied target in Fields.
New York Jets
- The Jets’ class drew praise for fit and upside.
- Dane liked:
- Kenyon Sadiq
- David Bailey
- Omar Cooper
- D’Angelo Pons
- Daryl Jackson
- The Jet picks were seen as a mix of:
- premium upside,
- strong athlete bets,
- and smart role-specific additions.
Las Vegas Raiders
- The Raiders were one of the weekend’s most interesting classes.
- The panel liked:
- Fernando Mendoza
- Aiden Fisher
- Trayton Souks
- Kieran Crawford
- Trey Zune
- Jermod McCoy
- Mike Washington
- Malik Benson
- The critique was that they didn’t add enough receiver help early, but overall the class had a clear direction and aggressive upside.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- The Bucs were praised for their defense-heavy approach and willingness to load up on tough, physical players.
- Key names included:
- Reuben Bain
- Josiah Trotter
- Ted Hurst
- Billy Shrouth
- Keontae Scott
- Demonte Capehart
- Tampa Bay was viewed as a team that clearly targeted:
- tackling,
- pass-rush energy,
- and players who can live close to the line of scrimmage.
Indianapolis Colts
- The Colts were another favorite because they maximized a draft without a first-round pick.
- Notable additions:
- C.J. Allen
- A.J. Halsey
- Jalen Farmer
- Bryce Boettcher
- George Gumbs
- Caden Curry
- Seth McGowan
- Deion Burks
- The panel liked how they addressed:
- linebacker depth,
- secondary help,
- offensive line depth,
- and speed at receiver.
Draft classes that raised questions
Jacksonville Jaguars
- The Jaguars’ class wasn’t slammed, but it didn’t excite the panel.
- Main concern:
- No top-50 pick
- Some picks were solid but not especially energizing
- Nate Borkecher and Emmanuel Pregnon fit the team’s desired physical identity, but the overall class didn’t feel like a major difference-maker.
Los Angeles Rams
- The Rams took the biggest swing of the weekend with Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall.
- The panel found that pick difficult to justify because:
- Simpson was considered a much later value by most evaluators.
- He is an older, undersized QB with limited starting experience.
- He may actually need to play early rather than sit, because some of his problems are only solvable with live reps.
- It was viewed as an aggressive bet on quarterback need more than consensus value.
Arizona Cardinals
- The Cardinals were criticized for taking Carson Beck when the board still had stronger non-QB options.
- The panel’s read:
- The team seemed to feel obligated to “do something” at quarterback.
- The pick felt more like a gesture toward QB development than a true conviction play.
- The rest of the class was more understandable, which made the Beck selection stand out even more.
Minnesota Vikings
- The Vikings’ draft was described as interesting, unusual, and hard to evaluate.
- Without a true GM driving the process, the class leaned into:
- high-upside swings,
- weird profile bets,
- and players with special traits.
- Highlights included:
- Caleb Banks
- Jake Golday
- Dominique Orange
- Jacoby Thomas
- a fullback selection
- The panel didn’t hate it — it just wanted to see how it ages.
Big-picture takeaways from the draft
The league kept betting on unusual traits
A major theme throughout the show was that NFL teams continue to prioritize:
- length,
- size,
- speed,
- explosiveness,
- and rare physical traits, especially in the middle and late rounds.
Role clarity matters more than ever
The panel repeatedly praised picks where teams clearly understood:
- what the player is,
- how they’ll be used,
- and where the fit makes sense.
Later-round QBs are judged on more than tools
For quarterbacks on Day 3, the room, the personality, and the ability to process football matter just as much as arm strength or athleticism.
Teams with premium picks usually have cleaner-looking classes
The Giants, Browns, and other clubs with multiple early picks naturally came out looking stronger — but the panel also praised teams like the Colts and Buccaneers for maximizing what they had.
Closing thoughts
The show ended with the staff reflecting on how much the draft reveals about team philosophy. Once the picks are made, the intentions are out in the open: what teams value, what they’re willing to gamble on, and which traits they believe will translate. The Athletic Football Show plans more draft follow-up, including a deeper look at what each class says about the organizations that made those picks.