Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft lobbed some interesting questions that the football-loving public will be debating through the Day 3 marathon.
With 100 picks officially in the books, the 2026 NFL Draft has, technically speaking, gone the length of the field its prospects are set to traverse come this fall.
The gridiron-loving masses returned to Pittsburgh on Friday for the middle portion of the three-day journey, taking in the second and third rounds after the debut 32 took the stage. Sixty-eight more men had their NFL dreams realized, bringing about endless potential … and even more quizzical queries.
With the Day 3 finale looming, we’ve got three questions to start, ones that will linger through the rest of the weekend and beyond …
How long until Carson Beck is the Cardinals’ starting quarterback?
The Arizona Cardinals once again leaped into the draft headlines when they drafted Miami thrower Carson Beck with the 65th pick. Beck fulfilled his presumed destiny as the first quarterback taken on Day 2 and, unlike the Jeremiyah Love situation, Arizona feels like a place that’s tailor-made for his early pro needs.
Choosing Beck, who joins Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew in the desert’s quarterback room, is another sign that the Cardinals are going to enjoy a bit of a gap year before making any sort of statement in the power-packed NFC West.
Everyone. Literally everyone.
— AZChief (@petealden) April 25, 2026
A relatively consequence-free waiver on Beck allows the Cardinals to mix old and new at quarterback, which endured a significant drop-off after the obvious top selection of Fernando Mendoza.
It’s perhaps perplexing to see the Cardinals not address a pass rush that ranked 29th in pressure rate. But the fact they spent their early second-rounder on protecting their backfield battery (second overall Friday pick Chase Bisontis should pair well with veteran add Isaac Seumalo) has offered rare Cardinal optimism and should at least offer solace of a plan amidst the belt-tightening.
Just how injured is Jermod McCoy?
The medical uncertainty surrounding Jermod McCoy, considered by some analysts to be the top cornerback in the incoming class, has attracted the most bittersweet spotlight: the unexpected draft tumbler does get his fair share of supporters and motivation but the fall is painful nonetheless. In McCoy’s case, that hits home in more ways than one.
The ACL that wiped out his 2025 season is said to be doing but further, long-term concerns in his lower body potentially scared some teams off.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy — a top-10 talent — should finally hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/pCEKYi4C2j
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2026
Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported this week that he could be destined for another surgery, which would likely give pause to any team not willing to use an early pick on a potential project that isn’t a quarterback.
All that being said, McCoy should gone before most fans settle in to take in the marathon finale. It’s still a bit upsetting to see an unfortunate circumstance derail what could have been an exciting time on the Tennessee timeline: the Vols earned some secondary representation on day two despite McCoy’s injury, as Colton Hood went to the New York Giants with the 37th choice.
Who will win the Jonathan Greenard trade?
Howie Roseman might have more moves on draft night than his running back Saquon Barkley. His latest swipe is that of linebacker Greenard, a veteran who stole the victorious show on draft night with a newly-signed nine-figure contract.
Greenard had 24.5 sacks over the prior two seasons before injuries ate away at his 2025 affairs. His arrival should help a Philadelphia pass rush that produced middling results in both conventional and advanced statistics last year as well as ease some of the pressure off 2024 Day 2 selection Jalyx Hunt, who is expected to take on a larger role in the department come his third tour.
John Clark tracked down Jonathan Greenard in record time 😂
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 25, 2026
The new Eagles edge rusher was at the Sixers game when trade news broke. pic.twitter.com/1DXKspoDhE
It feels like the Eagles are poised to win this trade over meandering Minnesota but the Vikings recovered fairly well in the court of public perception after raising eyebrows with the selection of oft-injured Caleb Banks on Day 1. Minnesota used the primary pick obtained in the Greenard deal to select College Football Playoff hero and physical attacker Jakobe Thomas, which continued a productive day that also sent Jake Golday and Domonique Orange into Brian Flores’ realm. Sending Greenard over to a talented Eagle group seeking redemption feels like a lateral rich-get-richer gambit, but the Vikings have set themselves up well in an effort to press the transactional issue.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
