The NFL draft's second night saw a flurry of defensive selections and a major veteran trade, as the Philadelphia Eagles acquired edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings and signed him to a four-year, $100 million extension. The deal, announced Friday, includes $50 million guaranteed, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
The Vikings received the 98th overall pick in this year's draft and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Greenard and a seventh-rounder (No. 244). The 28-year-old Pro Bowler had been seeking a new contract, carrying a cap hit of over $22 million for 2026. The trade gives Minnesota additional flexibility as they reshape their roster following a 9-8 season and the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Greenard, who had 12 sacks in 2024 but was limited to 12 games last season due to a shoulder injury, finished with three sacks in 2025. The Eagles addressed a need on the edge after losing Jaelen Phillips in free agency.
Beck Goes to Cardinals in Third Round
The Arizona Cardinals selected Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the 65th overall pick in the third round, making him the first player taken on Friday night. Beck joins a quarterback room that includes veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew under rookie coach Mike LaFleur.
“I’m super excited, super grateful, super blessed,” Beck said. “I took a visit out there and loved the staff, loved Coach LaFleur.”
Beck was only the third quarterback selected in a draft widely viewed as thin at the position. Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 overall to Las Vegas, and Ty Simpson was taken 13th by the Los Angeles Rams. No quarterbacks were picked in the second round.
Drew Allar became the fourth quarterback off the board when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the Penn State product at No. 76, keeping him in-state after an injury-riddled college career. Allar is returning from a broken ankle that ended his final season, and his selection drew a mixed reaction from fans at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh, which set an NFL draft attendance record with 320,000 fans on Thursday, later drew a roar of approval by selecting Iowa guard Gennings Dunker, a combine standout known for his mullet and mustache.
Defense Dominates Second Round
Defense dominated the second round, with 22 of 32 picks on that side of the ball. Eight teams made their first selections of the draft after sitting out the opening round. San Francisco kicked off day two by taking Mississippi wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling at No. 33 after trading down twice. The Buffalo Bills traded back three times before selecting Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 35. The Houston Texans and New York Giants took Kayden McDonald and Colton Hood with back-to-back picks at 36 and 37. Cincinnati added Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell at No. 41, while Atlanta took Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell at No. 48. Green Bay followed with South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse at No. 52, and Indianapolis selected Georgia linebacker CJ Allen at No. 53. Denver, which had traded away earlier picks, waited until the third round to select Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim at No. 66.
Just 16 of the 32 first-round picks were made by the teams that originally held them, underscoring a draft defined as much by movement as by selections.
