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Part of the allure of Day 3 is the chance that you'll witness the start of an excellent story.
Every year, the third day of the draft produces a handful of stars, with a greater number of useful starters and rotational pieces waiting to be weaponized. Impact players are waiting to hear their names called, and with six hours of selections, some Sunday starters will surely emerge.
As the names fly off the board, let's take a look at the early Day 3 picks most likely to shine as rookies.
Top Day 3 rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft
Las Vegas Raiders CB Jermod McCoy (Round 4, Pick 101)
The biggest story from this weekend is the surprising fall of Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy. Once projected to be a top-10 pick, McCoy's stock looked to be locked in with an excellent 40-yard dash to mitigate the concerns of his lost season.
McCoy's ACL surgery turned out to be a smaller problem than anticipated. Rather, a potential bone plug surgery has become a topic of discussion, and it's a procedure most feel can only happen once. McCoy's next surgery could be his last as a professional, and teams were quite hesitant to invest in his immense talent.
Leading off Day 3, Las Vegas finally pulled the trigger.
It isn't clear whether McCoy needs surgery immediately or if it's merely a situation worth monitoring. But if he's playing in Year 1, he'll do so as a starter along the boundary. With high-end athleticism, excellent technique, and a knack for making plays on the ball, health is the only thing stopping McCoy from making plays this fall.
Buffalo Bills WR Skyler Bell (Round 4, Pick 125)
Bills general manager Brandon Beane has earned criticism for his recent handling of Day 3 picks, but some -- like wide receiver Khalil Shakir -- have turned into quality players. Becoming more efficient with these picks is key, and with Bell's selection, Buffalo gets a starter-level player at a discount.
Bell boasts just average size (6'0", 192 pounds) but has legitimate 4.40 speed and the explosiveness to match. He's a threat to every level of the field, makes plays after the catch, and flashes the kind of route running that could one day make him Buffalo's best man-beater.
MORE: Ranking the 5 best and worst picks of Round 1
Of course, he'll have to earn his snap share at the next level, a task that starts with overtaking Keon Coleman's reps on the boundary. Coleman's 2025 season and Bell's quarterback-friendly skill set make that achievable.
It's awfully easy to see Bell catching Josh Allen's attention and turning in one of the class's most productive rookie seasons, even without elite draft capital.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Keionte Scott (Round 4, Pick 116)
Scott saw his draft stock (or at least the perception of it) skyrocket late in the year when he showed out in the College Football Playoff. Running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash only added more fuel to the fire.
Unfortunately for Scott, his limitations defined his profile, locking him into a specific role and ultimately hurting his stock. The good news is that he landed in the perfect spot to make a splash.
Todd Bowles' aggressiveness paints an easy picture for Scott's usage. Point him in the direction of the quarterback and fire. Scott loves to tackle and is best used as a blitzer from the slot, chasing down quarterbacks and ending plays before they get started.
He's a project in coverage, but Scott's run defense was worthy of a Day 2 selection, and his athleticism lends itself to playmaking. Expect the sacks and tackles for loss to accumulate quickly at the next level.
Cincinnati Bengals OC Connor Lew (Round 4, Pick 128)
Lew entered the year as a potential first-round pick given his polished technique and quality play against high-level competition.
His season was cut short by an ACL tear, but assuming he's ready to go for Week 1, there's a chance he pushes veteran center Ted Karras for the starting role. Cincinnati will likely prefer to slow-play his rookie-year responsibilities, but Karras is a declining veteran on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
That breeds urgency, and Lew has a nice blend of strength, footwork, and athleticism to start in the NFL. Of the aforementioned names, Lew might have the worst chance of starting in September. Yet, the Bengals would be served incredibly well by a difference-making interior lineman, and Lew fell at least a round too far.
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