The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and while there were plenty of fireworks—like the Los Angeles Rams grabbing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13—the action is far from over. For teams that missed out on their top targets Thursday night, Day 2 offers a treasure trove of talent. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has already updated his big board, and he's highlighting the top 10 prospects still up for grabs.
At the top of Kiper's list is Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston. The 6-foot-4 playmaker put together a monster 2025 season, hauling in 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kiper raves about Boston's refined route running and physical style. "Boston has developed into a nuanced route runner who uses his size and physicality to shield defenders from the football," Kiper said. "His length and catch radius make life miserable for opposing cornerbacks. And the way Boston quickly finds openings in coverage jumps out on tape, helping him to 14.2 yards per catch on the 2025 season. He has Velcro-esque hands, allowing him to go high or low to haul in difficult receptions."
Kiper's Top 10 Available Prospects for Day 2
- Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
- Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
- CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
- Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
- R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
- Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
- Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Kiper also took time to name his early winners from Round 1, including the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders. But one team stood out: the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas traded two fifth-round picks to move up one spot and snag Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, along with UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence. "It was worth it," Kiper declared. "The Cowboys got my No. 6 prospect and a culture-changer for a defense that needed one. They had a top-five offense last season. It didn’t matter. Dallas would get into the end zone, and opponents would immediately go the other way and score. But Downs won’t tolerate that on the back end of the secondary. He diagnoses and sniffs out plays, and he has the coverage and tackling ability to limit the big plays that buried the Cowboys in 2025 (54 plays allowed of 25 or more yards, most in the NFL)."
While the Browns made moves that hint at an all-in plan for Shedeur Sanders in 2026, and teams like the Rams rolled the dice on a potential heir to Matthew Stafford, the Day 2 board is loaded with difference-makers. Expect more surprises as the draft continues—Kiper's rankings are sure to shift again once the next wave of picks lands.
For more draft buzz, check out our breakdown of CBS Sports' Claudia Bellofatto turning heads—and going viral—at the 2026 NFL Draft, and see why the NFL's 8-minute draft clock sparked outrage after the chaotic first round.
