As long-time NFL draft fans know, Super Bowls are not won or lost in February, but rather in April. The seeds of the runs are planted as players join teams. Many times, those teams get over the hump in the early rounds. However, the true separation happens later in the NFL draft.
The 49ers’ run of domination in the post-Jimmy Garoppolo era might not have been possible without landing Brock Purdy in the seventh round. Tom Brady was found in the sixth round. Antonio Brown was also drafted in the sixth round. Tyreek Hill was drafted in the fifth round.
Many of those types of players could be available in the NFL draft on Day 3. Here’s a look at some of the diamonds in the rough that might not get the acclaim they deserve this spring, but will make themselves known in the fall.
Highest-value Deep Cut Picks In The 2026 NFL Draft
Eric McAlister, WR, TCU
Eric McAlister is seen by many as a deep Day 3 pick. The question is why, because his production says much differently. McAlister led the Big 12 in receiving yards with 1,190 and also earned double-digit touchdowns in 13 games.
In 2023, in his final season with Boise State, he managed to earn 873 yards in just nine games as a Sophomore. There might be some untapped potential he could net in an 18-game season, and the idea of him potentially landing in the seventh round is a travesty.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami
Carson Beck is the most famous name on this list, as the quarterback is coming off a national championship appearance. Quarterbacks are singlehandedly the most important position in sports, and Beck’s team nearly won it all. Despite this, the quarterback is expected by many (Lance Zierlein of NFL media called him a “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter”) to fall out of Day 1 and potentially out of Day 2.
Beck’s 72.4% completion rate led the ACC in 2025 in his first season away from Georgia. The quarterback will clearly need to land in a quality situation to get the most out of him, but a deep playoff run could be in his near future, as he also led the SEC in passing yards in 2023, proving that his floor is quite high.
Noah Whittington, RB, Oregon
Noah Whittington’s biggest question is his lengthy college career of six seasons. However, he appeared to age gracefully in college, turning in his second-best yards per carry average of his career in his sixth year.
In two different programs, Whittington logged at least 6.0 yards per attempt in at least one season. This shows that he has a high chance of performing at a reliable clip in the NFL, no matter where he ends up, provided he isn’t tasked with putting the team on his back.
George Gumbs Jr., Edge, Florida
George Gumbs Jr. is widely seen as a Day 3 pick, but his production in college should make teams think twice before waiting that long. Gumbs was all over the backfield in 2024 and 2025 with eight tackles for loss and five sacks in 2024 alone.
The biggest question with Gumbs is his experience with the player working as a defensive end in just three of his five seasons in college. He was a tight end in his first two seasons. However, had he not been a tight end coming in and played for three years as a defensive end with no tight end mention, he would likely be a Day 2 pick.
Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
If you want a Brock Purdy-like candidate, look no further than Luke Altmyer. Altmyer leans a bit more conservatively in his style of play, but the quarterback threw for a 3:1 touchdown-interception ratio in 2024 and a 4:1 touchdown-interception ratio in 2025.
It doesn’t get much more reliable than that. Altmyer’s final season saw him finish with a 67.4% completion rate, which would look solid in the NFL. Despite throwing for 44 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his final two seasons, the quarterback is expected to slide well into Day 3. General managers should think twice before letting him linger that long.
Cameron Ball, DT, Arkansas
As a defensive tackle, Cameron Ball was asked to plug holes and eat up double-teams on the offensive line, and push the interior linemen back into the quarterback. Instead, he was able to blow up plays by himself with very little support.
Ball’s best season was in 2024 when he earned 47 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and 1.5 sacks in 13 games. For a defensive lineman tasked with doing a lot of dirty work, his ability to change plays beyond a support role is something many teams could use in the NFL. One of the teams will neglect their defensive tackle needs for too long and choose to “settle” on Ball, only to be pleasantly surprised.
Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
Jack Kelly’s knock is his inexperience, with just 25 games under his belt in the NCAA. However, his improvement from 2024 to 2025 was monumental. Kelly had 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in his first season in 2024. He earned 13.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 12 games in 2025. One might argue his biggest breakout season is on deck as he heads into the NFL.
The linebacker’s ability to wreak havoc is well demonstrated and is picking up speed. Teams will not regret using a Day 2 pick on the linebacker who has also forced four fumbles since the start of 2024.
Adam Randall, RB/WR, Clemson
Adam Randall has extensive experience as a wide receiver and a running back. However, after switching to running back in 2025, the back showed plenty of ability to rush as well as receive. Randall is the perfect candidate to work as a “Joker” for a forward-thinking, offensive-minded coach.
Randall earned 13 total touchdowns in 13 games, which proves he can get things done when called upon. Of course, with just one season under his belt as a full-time running back, it could take some time for him to ease into the NFL, but most candidates will take time even at the front of the line.
Mason Reiger, DL/LB, Wisconsin
Mason Reiger has shown he can do a little bit of everything as a player who has spent time as a defensive lineman and linebacker in college and produced in both roles. Reiger earned six tackles for loss and five sacks as a defensive lineman in 2023 and the exact same numbers as a linebacker in 2025.
As such, he could be a blitz-heavy defensive coordinator’s dream as someone who can line up anywhere and cause chaos. Missing 2024 is the reason for his expected slide, but with four years of college experience under his belt, he won’t be lost on the gridiron.
Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Malik Muhammad taught teams not to test him in 2024, which is the smoking gun of a solid cornerback. In 2024, teams attempted to test him with eight passes defended. However, in 2025, he was forced to make a pass defense four times with two interceptions.
He might need to teach teams to avoid him in 2026, but as a player who also developed the ability to rush the passer (2.5 tackles for loss and a sack), he will give teams reason to know where he is at all times.
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