Everybody loves a deal, and NFL teams are no exception.
The true gold strikes at the bottom of the draft (see Brady, Tom) are extremely rare, but the league’s best front offices annually find value on Day 3, in some form or fashion — a surprise starter, a special teams ace, a versatile backup or a “glue” guy.
Talent always slides, for one reason or another. With the help of “The Beast”, here’s a look at the 2026 NFL Draft’s best value picks by position:
“The Beast” rank: No. 82 (third-round grade)
There were pretty obvious health concerns with Nussmeier, and most teams preferred to take chances on other QBs in front of him. But of all the potential future NFL backups in this draft class, I thought Nussmeier was the only one with a real shot to one day earn a starting job. There is plenty of Tony Romo in Nussmeier’s game.
RB: Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (No. 122)
“The Beast” rank: No. 85 (third-round grade)
An outstanding athlete at 6 feet 1 inch and 233 pounds, Washington runs with tons of power, vision and speed. He’s a full-package athlete who has shown an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and could blossom into a three-down weapon. He was also one of the fastest big athletes in the draft (4.33-second 40-yard dash).
“The Beast” rank: No. 93 (third-/fourth-round grade)
Joly is a bit of a project — you might never get true first-down, run-blocking power out of him. But he’s a bit of a mutant athletically (6-3, 241), with great vertical speed and enough wiggle to separate at the top of routes. He could be a potential matchup problem in the NFL.
“The Beast” rank: No. 69 (third-round grade)
Classic Baltimore pick here. Sarratt (6-2, 210) is not an overly impressive athlete, nor does he have breakaway speed or eye-popping explosion. He is, however, one of the most disciplined receivers in this class. Nicknamed “Waffle House” because he’s always open, Sarratt was a contested-catch machine at Indiana.
“The Beast” rank: No. 90 (third-/fourth-round grade)
Trey Lance’s younger brother, Bryce Lance was arguably the 2026 NFL Draft’s best pure deep threat at receiver. An elite athlete, Lance (6-3, 205) ran a 4.34 40, with a 41 1/2-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump at the combine. His ball tracking and confidence in the air could make him a big-play threat quickly.
WR: Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts (No. 254)
“The Beast” rank: No. 99 (third-/fourth-round grade)
Burks (5-9, 180) was never going to be for every team, but he was one of the most electric athletes in this class — he ran a 4.30 40, with a 42 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-11 broad jump at the combine. Burks plays with great hands and incredible burst in the open field, and he also could contribute as a kick returner.
“The Beast” rank: No. 79 (third-round grade)
A classic Jim Harbaugh offensive tackle prospect, Burke (nearly 6-foot-9, 325, with 35 1/8-inch arms) brings a downright nasty attitude in the run game. One of the most assertive run blockers in the 2026 class, Burke should be an immediate swing tackle and could develop into a future starter.
“The Beast” rank: No. 155 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)
Another gigantic tackle, Crownover (6-7, 321, with nearly 36-inch arms) keeps his massive frame under control off the edge and brings real potential as a run blocker. He’s another player who could perform immediately as a swing tackle before blossoming into something more.
“The Beast” rank: No. 109 (third-/fourthround grade)
A powerful, quick-footed guard, Schrauth (6-5, 310, with 33-inch arms) has enough power in the run game to potentially compete for a job during his rookie season. A former Notre Dame captain, Schrauth has had injury problems, but he’ll be an instant fit in Tampa Bay’s locker room.
G: Logan Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 202)
“The Beast” rank: No. 120 (fourth-round grade)
A tackle-sized guard, Taylor (6-6, 314, with 34-inch arms) is a limited athlete, but he’s a very powerful player at the point of attack and difficult to bully. Known for his maturity and work ethic, Taylor will turn heads in training camp with his attitude and consistency.
“The Beast” rank: No. 92 (third-/fourth-round grade)
A very smart player who moves well laterally and has more power than you’d think, Hecht (6-4, 303) has starter potential — possibly as a rookie. He did not commit a penalty last season, and despite size concerns, was one of the more durable linemen in college football (25 straight starts to close his career).
“The Beast” rank: No. 60 (second-/third-round grade)
Dennis-Sutton is still more a collection of tools than a polished product, but those tools are pretty outstanding. The 6-foot-6, 256-pounder (with 33-inch arms) ran a 4.63 40 and posted a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-11 broad jump. Athletically, he shows some Aidan Hutchinson-like flashes. We’ll see about the rest, though.
“The Beast” rank: No. 130 (fourth-round grade)
A high-energy edge rusher with a deep bag of tricks and a motor without an off switch, Llewellyn is a little stiff and only an average athlete, but his upper-body strength and rush approach will give him a chance. He’ll annoy tackles in training camp pretty quickly.
DT: Rayshaun Benny, Baltimore Ravens (No. 250)
“The Beast” rank: No. 130 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)
Powerful, explosive and long, Benny (6-3, 298, with nearly 34-inch arms) is a bit inconsistent. When things come together, though, he can be a dynamic interior pocket pusher. He’s an ascending talent who bloomed later in college and could truly find his groove in a familiar NFL system under Jesse Minter, his former defensive coordinator at Michigan.
“The Beast” rank: No. 62 (second-/third-round grade)
Most of the defensive tackles came off the board in the ranges we expected, but Orange definitely felt like great value toward the bottom of the third round. Interestingly enough, the Vikings also snagged Caleb Banks in the first round — it that works out, Banks and Orange could be quite a force together.
LB: Kyle Louis, Miami Dolphins (No. 138)
“The Beast” rank: No. 75 (third-round grade)
Another savvy pick by the Dolphins — and another defender who could be perfect for new head coach Jeff Hafley. Louis, an undersized linebacker who runs like a safety, is a hybrid defender who should be able to hold up in any situation the Dolphins throw at him.
“The Beast” rank: No. 83 (third-round grade)
Elliott might not turn into a three-down, off-ball starter in the NFL, but it’s hard to see a world in which he won’t be at least an early-down rotational piece with starting upside. A powerful presence in the box who is very hard to fool, Elliott will add value on special teams — and anywhere else he gets an opportunity in Chicago.
LB: Red Murdock, Denver Broncos (No. 257)
“The Beast” rank: No. 138 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)
If Murdock saw a human being carrying a football on Buffalo’s campus between 2024-25, he tackled them. An old-school run fitter, he made more than 300 combined stops over his final two seasons and forced an FBS-record 17 fumbles. He’s an average athlete, at 6-2, 232, but you’ll hear his name again.
CB: Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 101)
“The Beast” rank: No. 14 (first-round grade)
If McCoy’s knee wasn’t a question, he might’ve been a top-10 pick. And though the uncertainty surrounding his health is warranted, the potential payoff could make this the steal of the draft.
CB: Keith Abney II, Detroit Lions (No. 157)
“The Beast” rank: No. 61 (second-/third-round grade)
In a deep corner class filled with guys straight out of central casting, the undersized Abney (5-10, 188) got a bit lost in the shuffle. He wound up being a great value pick by Detroit. A quick and physical defender with confidence in man coverage, Abney could compete for time in the slot immediately.
S: Keionte Scott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 116)
“The Beast” rank: No. 53 (second-/third-round grade)
There are plenty of reasons to doubt a prospect like Scott — he’s small; he’s old; his injury history isn’t flattering. But then you turn the tape on, and you see him stand out as one of the most energetic defensive forces in college football last season. A perfect pick for Todd Bowles.
S: Zakee Wheatley, Carolina Panthers (No. 151)
“The Beast” rank: No. 78 (third-round grade)
A jumbo safety who is quicker than fast, Wheatley (6-3, 203) has the size to be a potential box hybrid and the body fluidity to play either safety spot in the NFL — despite having less-than-desirable speed. If he can become a more consistent tackler, Wheatley could be a real difference-maker.