Kamari Ramsey was still on the board after Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving the USC defensive back to wait for Day 3 after he had seemed to have a strong chance to come off the board earlier. Ramsey headed into the final day hoping to hear his name called sooner rather than later.
The delay is notable because Ramsey, who played two seasons at USC, put together a profile that fit what NFL teams often look for in a versatile defensive back. He finished with 87 tackles, two sacks, seven pass breakups, one interception and two forced fumbles, production that helped make him one of the more flexible players on the Trojans' roster.
Ramsey was listed at 6-0 and 205 pounds and could line up at nickel corner or safety, with evaluators viewing him as reliable in coverage and useful against the run. That combination gave him a path to be one of the first safeties selected on Day 3, even after he went unselected through the second day.
USC had already seen two players come off the board by the end of Day 2. Wide receiver Makai Lemon was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 20 overall in the first round, and wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane went to the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 80 overall pick in the third round.
For Ramsey, the remaining question is not whether his name belongs in this draft class, but how quickly a team decides it wants his versatility. The longer he stays available, the more his stock becomes tied to what clubs value most in a defensive back: size, range or the kind of all-around reliability he showed at USC.
