2026 NFL Draft Day 2's most head-scratching picks, from Carson Beck to Nate Boerkircher

Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and there were plenty of surprises. Most notably, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy – who was widely viewed as a top-10 talent – was not selected amid injury concerns about his knee. A couple of other players took tumbles into the second and third round before ultimately being scooped up by teams later on in the evening.

These excellent value picks were created by a handful of head-scratching decisions from NFL teams. That included a strange selection atop the second round and a surprising run that saw eight tight ends selected across the 68 picks in the draft's second and third rounds. What were the most dubious picks of the 2026 NFL Draft's second day?

Below are six of the most confounding selections, both on a basis of value and strategy. 2026 NFL Draft Day 2: Most head-scratching picks San Francisco 49ers: WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss (No. 33) The 49ers had the top overall selection in the second round.

Many thought they might target Denzel Boston – who was widely considered a first-round talent in mock drafts – with the 33rd selection. Instead, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan opted for Stribling. The Ole Miss product was a late riser in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, but few expected him to be among the first receivers selected on Day 2.