NFL teams selected a series of defensive players and skill position talents during the second round of the 2026 Draft on Friday evening. The Minnesota Vikings traded linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the No. 98 pick this year and a third-rounder next year. Greenard agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with $50 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The second round began at 7 p.m. ET with the San Francisco 49ers picking wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling from Mississippi at No. 33. The Arizona Cardinals followed with guard Chase Bisontis from Texas A&M, while the Buffalo Bills took edge rusher T.J. Parker from Clemson at No. 35. Other early selections included the Houston Texans drafting defensive tackle Kayden McDonald from Ohio State and the New York Giants selecting cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee at No. 37. The Las Vegas Raiders added safety Treydan Stukes from Arizona at No. 38, and the Cleveland Browns chose wide receiver Denzel Boston from Washington at No. 39. The Kansas City Chiefs picked edge rusher R Mason Thomas from Oklahoma at No. 40, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals taking edge rusher Cashius Howell from Texas A&M. The New Orleans Saints selected defensive tackle Christen Miller from Georgia, and the Miami Dolphins picked linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech at No. 43. Later picks saw the Detroit Lions take edge rusher Derrick Moore from Michigan, the Baltimore Ravens select edge rusher Zion Young from Missouri at No. 45, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafting linebacker Josiah Trotter from Missouri. The Pittsburgh Steelers added wide receiver Germie Bernard from Alabama at No. 47, and the Atlanta Falcons chose cornerback Avieon Terrell from Clemson, brother of A.J. Terrell, at No. 48. The Carolina Panthers picked defensive tackle Lee Hunter from Texas Tech, the New York Jets selected cornerback D’Angelo Ponds from Indiana at No. 50, and the Minnesota Vikings took linebacker Jake Golday from Cincinnati at No. 51. Golday recorded 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2025. The Green Bay Packers chose cornerback Brandon Cisse from South Carolina at No. 52, the Indianapolis Colts picked linebacker CJ Allen from Georgia, the Philadelphia Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt at No. 54, and the New England Patriots ended the round with edge rusher Gabe Jacas from Illinois.
