Best Team Fits for Most Underrated 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

The NFL draft doesn't end after the first round. Shocking, isn't it? While too many place entirely too much emphasis on a franchise's initial selection, general managers understand that a roster's real lifeblood can be found during the event's second and third days.

A quick glance back to the 2025 class shows the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, a major defensive difference-maker for the recent Super Bowl champions, a potential franchise quarterback in New Orleans, the rookie leader in interceptions (tied for second overall) and two Pro Bowl honorees weren't counted among the initial 32 selections.

An impact can be felt immediately from those who aren't Thursday selections, particularly if they're placed in the right situations.

The following eight individuals aren't counted among the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's top 75 prospects. However, each could go much higher in the process and thrive if they are selected by a specific squad.

RB Kaelon Black: Atlanta Falcons

Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Contributors at running back can be found through all seven rounds of the NFL draft. This year should be no different, with Indiana's Kaelon Black serving as a prime example of an overlooked prospect who will find a way to crack a pro squad's running back rotation.

The Hoosiers don't win their first national championship without Black in the backfield. The James Madison transfer didn't start a single game for IU in 2025 with Roman Hemby also on the roster. However, the two split time, with Black running for 1,040 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. Most importantly, Black was often the option on the field when the Hoosiers needed tough yards to grind out a victory.

The sixth-year senior isn't the biggest ball-carrier at a listed 210 pounds, yet no one in this year's class runs as hard as he does. He's a bowling ball, who runs behind his pads and always falls forward to gain extra yards. He's also a patient runner. Once a slight opening becomes available, he's decisive and gets downhill to gain every possible inch.

As good as Black was this past season, he was an NFL combine snub. That's OK. Kyle Monangai fell to the Chicago Bears in the seventh round, and Black runs very similarly to Monangai or even Isiah Pacheco.

Obviously, the Atlanta Falcons already have Bijan Robinson. But head coach Kevin Stefanki has a history of not overworking a premier back, at least he didn't with Nick Chubb during his prime years. With Tyler Allgeier leaving in free agency, Black can be an alternative to fill a similar role. Black isn't as big as Allgeier, but his running style can fill the void, while also presents some upside as a pass-catcher if presented with an opportunity to do so.

WR Josh Cameron: San Francisco 49ers

Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images

Kyle Shanahan has a type at wide receiver, and Baylor's Josh Cameron fits to a tee.

The San Francisco 49ers have built a passing attack built around wide receivers who are excellent after the catch. In some ways, they're more running backs than receivers.

It's not just the Cameron's collegiate number, 34, that makes the receiver look like a running back. He's nearly 6'2" and 220 pounds with a play-style that's reminiscent of some NFL ball-carriers.

"Cameron is a compactly built receiver, who runs routes with enough physicality to fight through contact," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote. "He also snaps off his routes with quality suddenness to create space. "He excels when running shorter, in-breaking routes, such as slants, whips, hitches and curls. These specific routes showcase his short-area quickness.

"The Baylor product can be a weapon by getting the ball into his hands quickly and letting him go to work. Cameron's play-strength to pinball off contact and wrestle through arm-tackles aids his overall playmaking ability."

With Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk both gone, Cameron can give the Niners the type of versatile wide receiver Shanahan loves to go along with Ricky Pearsall and the recently signed Mike Evans.

TE Sam Roush: Cleveland Browns

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Browns ran 12 personnel at a higher rate than any other team during the NFL 2025 campaign, according to Sumer Sports. The Baltimore Ravens finished second. Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now the offensive head coach/play-caller for the Browns. The addition of another tight end is a logical pathway during the draft.

Harold Fannin Jr. remains on the roster after an outstanding rookie campaign, where he finished second among first-year tight ends with 72 receptions and 731 yards. However, he's a move tight end, who isn't best-suited to play inline.

He often paired with David Njoku in 2025 to have two of Cleveland's best targets on the field at the same time. Njoku remains an available free agent with plans of signing elsewhere.

Stanford's Sam Roush is simultaneously the class' best blocking tight end and an elite athlete. He is the ideal complementary piece alongside Fannin. Roush can immediately contribute as a traditional Y-tight end and help set the table as a blocker for the run game and even kept in to help among protection schemes. But the potential is there to be far more.

At 6'6" and nearly 270 pounds, Roush posted an all-time top-10 relative athletic score at this year's NFL combine, according to Kent Lee Platte. The second-team All-ACC performer flashes inconsistent hands and can do a better job adjusting on some balls, but he still managed 40 or more receptions the last two seasons despite Stanford's poor quarterback play.

OT Max Iheanachor: Kansas City Chiefs

John E. Moore III/Getty Images

Max Iheanachor is a name that has consistently risen throughout the current draft cycle, because many see the potential in what he can become to go along with strong foundational traits that can't be overlooked.

"Iheanachor is a relative newcomer to football and his lack of experience shows up in unrefined footwork, inconsistent positional leverage and lapses in spatial awareness," B/R scout Brandon Thorn wrote. "However, he has the frame and quickness to develop into a starter during his rookie contract inside a veteran-led NFL offensive line room."

The Kansas City Chiefs fit the description, with the Iheanachor able to line up next to Trey Smith and center Creed Humphrey. All of the prospect's collegiate starts came at right tackle. The strong side is where he's comfortable and can continue to grow as part of Kansas City's front five.

The Chiefs released veteran right tackle Jawaan Taylor this offseason. The team can go into the 2026 hoping Jaylon Moore plays better at the position than he did a season ago or look to find a long-term solution.

Iheananchor's technique may be rough around the edges, but his movement skills and willingness to finish blocks are top-notch. The former can be coached up. The latter can't.

Edge Malachi Lawrence: Detroit Lions

Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images

Danielle Hunter is the template for a traits-based prospect-turned-premier NFL pass-rusher. Odafe Oweh became a first-round draft pick and just signed a $100 million free-agent contract after not registering a single sack during his final season on campus. Malachi Lawrence has outstanding physical tools, while being more productive in college, albeit not from a pipeline program.

The UCF product managed 12 sacks during the last two seasons. Comparatively, Hunter and Oweh had 11.5 sacks over their entire collegiate careers. Lawrence did make first-team All-Big 12 this past year after recording a career-high seven sacks. While his production certainly wasn't staggering, Lawrence's presence was known.

The comparison really derives from a physical standpoint, because Lawrence is nearly identical to those mentioned. All three entered the NFL near 6'5" and 255 pounds. They all have arms around 34 inches long. Each posted a 10-yard split of 1.59 seconds or better. Ultimately, Lawrence posted a 9.90 relative athletic score, which ranks 22nd among all defensive ends over the last 39 years, per Kent Lee Platte.

His profile alone could push him much higher than originally anticipated, and the Detroit Lions should have him under serious consideration.

The Lions have been searching for a second pass-rusher long before Aidan Hutchison became Detroit's franchise player, yet the organization has yet to add an adequate bookend to its defense. Lawrence can immediately enter the fray, boost the Lions overall talent level and be given time to develop, while benefiting from playing opposite Hutchinson.

DL Zane Durant: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Zane Durant is undersized and doesn't have the length NFL teams prefer for interior defenders. To offset those shortcomings, he's an elite athlete and an explosive upfield defender. If deployed properly, he can create havoc in opposing backfields on a consistent basis, like he did at the collegiate level.

Some teams won't seriously consider the 6'1", 290-pound prospect because he doesn't have the mass or arm length (sub-32 inches) they prefer at the position, even though he's very much in-line physically with Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins and Calijah Kancey.

Speaking of Kancey, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the first round of the 2023 class. Clearly, their scouting department isn't as steadfast when it comes to specific standards regarding defensive linemen.

What makes Durant so fascinating within this particular scheme is how aggressive Todd Bowles' defense tends to be. The Penn State product can play next to the mountainous Vita Vea, which will protect him to some degree. Durant can also benefit from constantly moving, slanting and attacking upfield.

The movement can take full advantage of Durant's athleticism and lateral quickness. He ran a 4.75-second 40-yard dash, with a 1.66-second 10-yard split. He can give offensive linemen fits if he's allowed to shoot gaps and roam thanks to creative defensive front calls, particularly as a complementary skill set after Tampa signed A'Shawn Robinson to occupy the middle alongside Vea.

LB Jacob Rodriguez: Indianapolis Colts

CFP/Getty Images

The Indianapolis Colts are desperate for an instant-impact linebacker. Why not draft the best linebacker from college football?

Currently, Austin Ajiake and Jaylon Carlies are Indianapolis' projected starting linebackers. Ajiake has yet to play in an NFL game, while Carlies started six games as a rookie but missed nearly all of his sophomore campaign with a shoulder injury. The team's depth beyond those two is nearly nonexistent.

Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez is a plug-and-play starter, with the aptitude to wear the great dot as an NFL team's defensive play-caller from Day 1.

At 6'1" and 231 pounds with sub-31-inch arms, Rodriguez doesn't necessarily fill the Colts' preferred physical requirements. Chris Ballard and Co. tend to like longer and lankier linebackers. However, the team's need coupled with Rodriguez's outstanding play should override any potential preferences.

Granted, Rodriguez's lack of length does factor into his overall ranking, because he can struggle when engaged in blocks. He was able to be such a prolific playmaker for Texas Tech because he played behind such a talented defensive front.

Indianapolis isn't shabby along its defensive interior with Grover Stewart, DeForest Bucker and the newly acquired Colby Wooden to protect the linebacker.

When Rodriguez can react and trigger, no one in the class is better at sniffing out a play and making something happen. The reigning Butkus Award winner amassed 255 total tackles, 21.5 total tackles for loss, six sacks, five interceptions, 10 passes defense and 10 forced fumbles over the last two seasons.

Besides, the Colts wants to get faster and more athletic along their second line of defense after fielding veterans Zaire Franklin, who has since been traded, and Germaine Pratt as last season's starters. Rodriguez looked great during his NFL combine positional workout and posted a 9.23 relative athletic score, per Kent Lee Platte.

S Bud Clark: Minnesota Vikings

Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

After 14 seasons, Harrison Smith's tenure with the Minnesota Vikings may be coming to an end. Even if he decides to return for one more year, the team still needs help at safety and someone who can be a long-term option.

TCU's Bud Clark is the incoming class' most naturally instinctive backline defender. Over the last four seasons, the two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection accumulated 21 passes defensed and 15 interceptions.

"Clark is always around the football and it shows in his ball production," B/R scout Daniel Harms wrote. "He's a true ballhawk safety, who operates best as a free-flowing defender or robber where he can read the quarterback and break on throws.

"The size he brings at 6'1", 188 pounds allows him to flex as a big nickel and man up against tight ends. He has the experience to handle many different roles for a defense."

By placing Clark in Brian Flores' exotic defensive scheme, he can be molded into a chess piece capable of making quarterbacks pay for their mistakes. With the amount of pressure the Vikings tend to apply, Clark can capitalize and give Minnesota's offense extra possessions. Whether as a starting safety or a flex defender deployed all over the field, Clark gives Minnesota the type of athlete it needs for Flores' scheme to evolve even further.