Carson Beck was also drafted earlier than expected as the Arizona Cardinals made him the third quarterback to be drafted with the 65th pick.
Kayden McDonald and Avieon Terrell were childhood friends in Atlanta and they were drafted 12 picks apart in the second round.
McDonald was the last player remaining in the green room and made an emotional walk to the stage after the Houston Texans traded up to take the tackle with the 36th pick and add him to the NFL’s best defence.
“I knew I was supposed to be here,” said the 21-year-old. “I came from nothing so this is crazy to me.”
Shortly after, cornerback Terrell was not only drafted by his hometown team but the same team as his older brother. After getting off the phone to the Falcons, Avieon immediately hugged brother AJ, a first-round pick by Atlanta in 2020.
With the next pick, the Carolina Panthers selected Lee Hunter, a defensive tackle nicknamed ‘The Fridge’, while Houston also chose Marlin Klein, a German tight end who helped Michigan become national champions in 2023.
The draft concludes on Saturday (Sunday BST) with rounds four to seven.