5 Underrated NFL Players Who Will Surprise With New Teams in 2026

Every NFL team acquired at least one veteran from outside the organization this offseason, but only a small number of these free-agent acquisitions have generated much hype. While the 2026 free-agent class wasn't a star-studded one, plenty of impactful players did change hands through the open market.

With training camp around the corner, we'll soon have a far better idea about the types of roles these under-the-radar free-agent additions will play for their new employer. Some veteran additions will inevitably underwhelm, but others will make waves and outperform the modest expectations surrounding their signing.

With that in mind, let's highlight five underrated NFL players set to surprise with their new teams in 2026.

FB Patrick Ricard, New York Giants

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The New York Giants made a huge move to reinforce their backfield under new head coach John Harbaugh, although the team's Patrick Ricard pickup didn't create as much buzz as it should have.

It's not surprising that a fullback signing (even a record-breaking two-year, $7.7 million one) didn't generate many headlines. Although it's not a glamorous position, Ricard's presence will give Big Blue the massive boost it needs to return to prominence at the start of the Harbaugh era.

Ricard is one of the last true fullbacks remaining in the NFL and arguably the best at what he does. Although he's earned Pro Bowl nods in six of the last seven seasons, the 31-year-old has only achieved modest career marks of 345 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 60 total touches. His real impact comes as a lead blocker, opening the door for the G-Men to emerge as a true force on the ground.

Harbaugh relied heavily on the ground game during his time in Baltimore—ranking top-five in rushing in 10 of his 18 seasons and outside the top-11 in that same category just four times—and is clearly positioning his new team to utilize a similar strategy. The combination of Ricard's devastating blocks alongside a hard-charging lead back in Cam Skattebo will instantly give the Giants one of the NFL's most tenacious rushing attacks.

New York already rated as a top-five rushing team in 2025 and should only improve on its 129.1 yards per game average this coming season. With Ricard paving a path for the backfield tandem of Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy, the Giants have a real chance to lead the NFL in rushing.

Given Ricard will provide game-changing blocking and chip in with some pass-catching work, all while making less than $5 million per season, he could go down as the best bang for the buck pickup of the 2026 offseason

WR Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders

Jalen Nailor is poised to break out in a big way this coming season. The wideout finally has a chance to shine now that he's escaped the large shadow cast by the Minnesota Vikings' dynamic duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

During his first four seasons in the NFL, Nailor only caught 69 balls for 1,066 yards. While he reeled in a solid 11 touchdowns over that span, Nailor projects to see far more volume and play a much larger role now that he's with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vegas scooped Nailor off the open market with a three-year, $35 million contract that could soon be remembered as one of the best value signings of the year. While Nailor's previous production may not warrant an eight-figure annual salary, the 2022 sixth-rounder's upside and potential as a focal point in a Fernando Mendoza-led passing attack are worth the investment.

While the 5'11", 199-pound pass-catcher isn't going to dominate with physicality, Nailor is a speedster with great hands who can turn any reception into a big gain. He's averaging 15.4 yards per reception for his career and had just one drop on 53 targets last season.

Given Nailor's athleticism and his ability to line up both outside and in the slot, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak won't have much trouble scheming up ways to get Nailor the ball in space. Expect him to quickly emerge as one of Mendoza's favorite targets and a key playmaker in Vegas' new-look offense

TE Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders

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One of the Washington Commanders' best acquisitions of the 2026 offseason has been tight end Chig Okonkwo, the former Tennessee Titan who is poised for career year.

While the Okonkwo signing is currently flying under the radar, it won't be long before he's putting up needle-moving statistics. The four-year veteran posted solid but unspectacular numbers—including a 56/560/2 line on 79 targets this past season—in the Music City, but he should easily eclipse those middling marks now that he's in a more prolific offense.

Although a touch undersized at 6'3", 238 pounds, Okonkwo possesses all the other traits an NFL team could hope for in a pass-catching tight end. He's fast and athletic, with good hands and a knack for gaining yards after the catch. Okonkwo averages 5.7 YAC for his career and put up a personal-best 342 YAC in total last year.

Offensive coordinator David Blough will be able to get creative with Okonkwo's unique skillset. The Titans deployed Okonkwo as a move tight end in recent seasons to great effect and he'll likely continue to line up across the formation for the Commanders.

An aging Zach Ertz experienced a career revival working with Jayden Daniels—Ertz put up a 66/654/7 line in 2024—and the young signal-caller should have a similar impact on Okonkwo. The tight end flirted with becoming a star in Tennessee and should finally reach that level in Washington.

DT Khyiris Tonga, Kansas City Chiefs

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Taken in the final round of the 2021 draft, Khyiris Tonga played sparingly for three different teams over his first four seasons before emerging as a legitimate force during the New England Patriots' Super Bowl run last season.

Tonga's 24-tackle stat line from 2025 may not jump off the page, but the Kansas City Chiefs should feel quite comfortable that they landed a highly productive player who will make his presence known to opposing offensive linemen.

Tonga appeared in 14 games and logged a career-most 337 defensive snaps last year. The hulking DT was too effective to keep out of the starting lineup, plugging rushing lanes as well as anyone in the league. The 6'2", 335-pounder shut down the run on nearly eight percent of his defensive snaps last year, the highest percentage of any New England defender and a mark that would have also led Kansas City.

With his immense strength and leverage, Tonga overpowers and displaces offensive linemen with ease. He not only clears lanes for his linebackers to operate, but also gets after opposing signal-callers himself. This is evidenced by the 14 pressures he created last year, as well as a Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade that ranked No. 18 amongst the 134 interior defensive linemen who qualified in 2025.

Kansas City might also get a bit of run-blocking value out of this signing. Tonga logged 14 offensive snaps during his tenure with the Pats, showing skill at the fullback position he last played at BYU. Given the creativity of head coach Andy Reid's offense, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tonga get some run in certain goal-line packages.

While he may not have been the high-profile edge rusher signing that Chiefs fans were hoping for, Tonga will be a major asset in the defensive trenches and will help Kansas City return to prominence in 2026.

S Bryan Cook, Cincinnati Bengals

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The Cincinnati Bengals found some much-needed help for a struggling secondary with their Bryan Cook signing.

While Cook wasn't one of the big-name stars on the Kansas City Chiefs' defense during their dynastical run, the safety helped the organization win back-to-back Super Bowls and reach a third during his four years with the club. He emerged as a full-time starter during his sophomore campaign, contributing a total of 238 tackles, 15 pass defenses, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Cook now gets a chance to take his game to the next level in his hometown. The Cincinnati native played three seasons of collegiate ball at the city's namesake university before he was tapped in Round 2 of the 2022 draft.

It may have only cost the Bengals $40.25 million over three years to sign Cook, but his acquisition has the potential to smooth over many of the defensive woes the squad has faced in recent years.

The Bengals are getting a high IQ safety with strong instincts, solid tackling skills and the ability to cover any position on the field. Versatility is Cook's best trait, as he is just as capable in run-support as he is in coverage. Cook and Xavier McKinney were the only two safeties in the league last year who earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 80 or higher in both categories.

While Cook alone may not make elevate the Bengals to a surefire Super Bowl contender, his presence will go a long way to getting their defense to play at a respectable level. That's all Cincinnati needs to make a run if the star-studded offensive core can stay healthy.