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Ranking The 10 Biggest Potential Steals of the 2026 NFL Draft
Puka Nacua, Quinn Meinerz, Joe Thuney, Kyle Juszczyk.
Just four examples of first-team All-Pros from the 2025 NFL season who were not top-75 draft picks. The former two have become stars in recent years, while the latter two are already considered legends in a lot of books.
It's just a reminder that every draft has steals.
With that in mind, let's look at 10 particular players currently ranked outside of the B/R Scouting Department's top 75 prospects who have the best chances of becoming special in spite of a lack of draft clout in 2026.
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 101
The Potential: He's your archetypal big 6'5" pocket passer who can make every pass and is one of the strongest throwers in this draft class.
Why He's Being Overlooked: The 22-year-old missed a significant chunk of his senior season due to an ankle injury. He also has a lot of improvements to make to his overall mechanics.
Outlook: Allar is not ready to start in the NFL, but with the right system and time to develop, he could absolutely become a franchise quarterback by the end of this decade. Keep an eye on the Steelers and Rams.
QB Taylen Green, Arkansas
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 169
The Potential: Green is 6'6" with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash with the ultimate combination of arm talent and legs coming out of college right now.
Why He's Being Overlooked: A lack of discipline, far too many bad decisions and 29 interceptions the last three years at Boise State (2023) and Arkansas (2024 and 2025).
Outlook: Green is exactly the type of quarterback the league has grown to love in this era. He'll need time, but a rebuilding team like the Dolphins could use him to eventually push Malik Willis. Watch the Eagles considering the scheme fit as well.
RB Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 79
The Potential: The first-team All-American and Big Ten Running Back of the Year has the patience and vision to become something awesome at the next level. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and put up 1,821 scrimmage yards at Nebraska in 2025.
Why He's Being Overlooked: He is a running back lacking top-end speed. That's not ideal these days.
Outlook: The measurables might cost him in the draft, but with the right complementary backfield mate, Johnson could become a key contributor as a rookie.
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WR Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 218
The Potential: The D3 breakout star put on a show at the Senior Bowl. He can stretch the field, and he's got the athleticism to win battles at any level. He scored 32 touchdowns in the last two seasons.
Why He's Being Overlooked: That Division III stigma while being snubbed from the combine. He's also had quite the journey already, turning 25 this summer.
Outlook: There's a real chance he's simply a late bloomer, considering he only started playing football a few years ago. Montgomery has the ability to become a complementary offensive weapon in Year 1, which is extremely rare considering where he's coming from.
TE Sam Roush, Stanford
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 107
The Potential: The 6'5", 260-pound 22-year-old is a versatile, well-developed pass-catcher and blocker. He improved markedly over four years at Stanford, which is a tight end machine.
Why He's Being Overlooked: He's somewhat of a throwback tight end, causing some to believe that he lacks that gadget athleticism a lot of teams want these days. He also caught just four touchdown passes during his tenure with the Cardinal offense. Drops were an issue at times.
Outlook: Roush might never become a superstar, but it might not take long for him to become a reliable, consistent contributor to an offense that runs heavy 12 personnel. He just needs to clean up his drops.
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 77
The Potential: The 6'6", 321-pound Nigerian has seen his stock rise throughout the predraft process thanks to standout performances and showings at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine. He's got superbly heavy hands and an undeniable combination of size and athleticism.
Why He's Being Overlooked: Per BR's Brandon Thorn, "the relative newcomer to football's lack of experience shows up in unrefined footwork, inconsistent positional leverage and lapses in spatial awareness." In other words, he's unpolished, which comes with risk.
Outlook: Iheanachor could be the best developmental tackle in the class. You don't want him starting in 2026, but he's a Day 2 selection who could become a longtime steady contributor to a team that can afford to wait. Watch the Dolphins and Browns.
Edge Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 191
The Potential: Tucker led all of Division I with 14.5 sacks to go along with 21 tackles for loss during an explosive 2025 campaign. He's quick, fluid and instinctive.
Why He's Being Overlooked: That remarkably productive senior campaign at Western Michigan was his only season as an FBS starter, and he needs to add more to his arsenal as both a pass-rusher and a run defender.
Outlook: Here's another project that will take some time, which will scare off some teams, considering that he's already 25. But the killer instinct and finishing ability are there. He should become a superb NFL edge defender, even if it's only for a short window.
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 83
The Potential: He's a thick, strong, highly intelligent player with the range to shut down the run sideline to sideline. He's also done it over several years, as he was Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023 and first-team All-SEC in 2024 and 2025.
Why He's Being Overlooked: Mediocre coverage skills, mainly. He also has to watch his missed tackles.
Outlook: Hill might never be the centerpiece of a defense in this era, but he has the makings of an extremely reliable presence with a specified role as a three-down player who can also rush the passer. He just needs to be well-complemented by teammates who can drop into coverage.
CB Jadon Canady, Oregon
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 129
The Potential: The well-traveled, soon-to-be 23-year-old was the 12th-ranked qualified corner in the nation at Pro Football Focus when it came to his coverage grade. He has the versatility to play outside, inside or at safety.
Why He's Being Overlooked: At 5'11" and 185 pounds, he'll likely shift to the nickel spot in the NFL. He also bounced around between three different programs in college. And while his energy is often unmatched, his aggressiveness sometimes gets him burned.
Outlook: Canady is absolutely a pro-ready slot defender. A lower ceiling than others will limit his draft slot, but that'll become a coup for somebody in the middle rounds.
S Louis Moore, Indiana
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Latest B/R Scouting Rank: 93
The Potential: The 2025 first-team All-American intercepted six passes with the national champs as a redshirt senior. He's a smart and disciplined ballhawk, which is somewhat rare.
Why He's Being Overlooked: He's 25 and might not have much more room to develop physically or athletically. Yet for all his experience, he's still somewhat raw in man coverage as a converted receiver.
Outlook: As a result of the above, the window for Moore's prime might be limited. But that doesn't change the fact that he has Pro Bowl potential in the near future in the right spot as a middle- or late-round selection.
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