6 Underrated Rookies Who Can Make Big Impact on 2026 NFL Season

We haven't hit training camp yet, but this year's incoming rookie class has already had an opportunity to make an impression on their new teams. There was rookie minicamp. Voluntary OTAs that aren't exactly voluntary for rookies. Mandatory minicamps.

Now for players who heard their names called on the first day of the 2026 NFL draft, it's expected that they will impress on the practice field. But for players drafted on Day 2 or Day 3, the summer is that much more important. They may have been stars in college, but now they are fighting for roster spots.

Of course, every year we see later-round picks who do more than just earn a roster spot. They wind up playing major roles in their first seasons. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua went from fifth-round pick to arguably the best player at his position in the league. The greatest quarterback in league history was a sixth-round selection.

Now, the players listed here probably aren't going to win seven Super Bowls like the Golden Boy. But all of these players have a legitimate chance to make a real impact in their inaugural seasons.

And not one came off the board before the third round.

CB Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

There was a time when it didn't appear that Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jermod McCoy was falling under any radars. After an outstanding 2024 season at Tennessee, McCoy was considered one of the best young prospects at his position.

But in January of 2025, everything changed. McCoy tore his ACL in an offseason workout, and the injury wiped out his entire 2025 season. Still, McCoy was high on more than a few draft boards heading into this year's draft—on Bleacher Report's final pre-draft Big Board, the 6'1" 188-pounder was ranked as the No. 11 prospect overall.

As if the ACL tear wasn't bad enough, reports circulated just before the draft that some teams feared that McCoy could need another surgery on the knee—and his stock plummeted. Day 1 of the NFL Draft came and went without McCoy being picked. Day 2 did as well.

The Raiders halted McCoy's free-fall by making him the first selection of Round 4, and while speaking to reporters, head coach Klint Kubiak said that he expects McCoy to be an active participant in training camp.

"I expect him to practice. I expect him to be on the field," Kubiak said. "It's gonna be a moving target with him, but we drafted him for a reason. We drafted him to play, so I expect him to compete in camp and get plenty of reps."

The Raiders overhauled the defense in the offseason, but the team still needs quality starters on the back end. If Vegas got one of those in Round 4, it could be the single biggest steal of this year's draft.

WR Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Antonio Williams wasn't the first wide receiver drafted in 2026. Or the fifth. The 5'11", 195-pounder was the ninth player selected at his position, going 71st overall to the Washington Commanders.

Don't be surprised if Williams outperforms that draft slot—by a wide margin.

While speaking to reporters, former Commanders standout Brian Mitchell said he has been impressed by what he has seen from Williams so far on the practice field.

"It's not that you see a finished product," Mitchell said. "I think so many fans and a lot of people in the media (do this). They look for the finished product instead of, okay, I see why they drafted him. Antonio Williams? He gave you many reasons why. I could see why. You can see the quick twitch, you can see how the guy settles, or the route running. And if you continue with that, and keep building, then you see why. Then you start to see the person develop that we already look at now."

For a mid-round rookie like Williams, making an early dent isn't just about talent—it's about opportunity as well. And in that regard, Williams landed in a first-round spot. The Commanders badly need someone to step up as a secondary target opposite Terry McLaurin at wide receiver, but the team did little to address that need in the offseason.

With the likes of Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks the only thing standing between Williams and the starting lineup, if the former Clemson standout continues to shine in training camp, he's going to start opposite McLaurin in Week 1.

S A.J. Haulcy, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Safety isn't usually a position that generates a ton of hype in the NFL Draft. That wasn't the case this year—Ohio State's Caleb Downs was Bleacher Report's top-ranked prospect overall. But there was no explosion of enthusiasm when the Indianapolis Colts selected LSU's A.J. Haulcy in Round 3.

With that said, there's plenty for Colts fans to be exited about with the 6'0", 215-pounder.

Per Paul Bretl of Colts Wire, Indianapolis safety Cam Bynum said that Haulcy is already seeing quite a few reps with the first-team.

"What he's been doing so far, learning the defense, sitting next to me in film, I'm able to get a lot of knowledge from him, vice versa, I'm able to give whatever I can to him, and just from the whole room, I think everybody's been embracing all the rookies, especially AJ," he said. "He's been doing a really good job of filling in and rotating in with heavy, heavy rotating with the ones. I think he's been doing a really good job and operating like a vet."

With the departure of Nick Cross in free agency, the Colts have a hole at box safety opposite Bynum—a role that Haulcy's skill-set appears tailor-made for. In 2025, Cross had 120 total tackles—good for the fourth-most among all defensive backs.

It wouldn't be any kind of real upset to see Haulcy make a similar statistical dent in his inaugural season—or even exceed it.

WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

It was a long and winding road to the NFL for Kevin Coleman Jr.—from Jackson State to Louisville to Mississippi State to Missouri. While speaking to reporters, the 177th overall pick in this year's draft by the Miami Dolphins said he knows he has a lot to prove to his new team over the summer.

"When you go to four different schools, you've got to earn guys' trust, earn guys' respect. Some guys, when you first come in, might not respect you," said Coleman. "My mind-set coming into the league is of course I'm going to have that underdog mind-set. I've got to go prove myself. I've got to go make the team, earn guys' trust, earn coaches' trust."

The 5'10" 179-pounder is an undersized wide receiver who played almost exclusively in the slot in college. But his constant moving around could actually benefit his acclimation to the pros—Coleman has shown an ability to pick up new offenses quickly. He isn't blazing fast, but he has good short-area quickness and soft hands. He has also impressed in OTAs.

"[He's] just a playmaker, has a great feel for the game," Dolphins director of college scouting Matt Winston said. "A little more undersized than some of the other receivers we've taken, but very tough. Has a great feel for route running, spatial awareness."

After an offseason fire sale, the Dolphins just flat-out need players. And if Coleman has a good camp, there's a real path to Coleman going from late fifth-round pick to Miami's starting slot receiver.

LB Kendal Daniels, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Alonzo Adams

To see linebacker Kendal Daniels, one would never suspect that the 6'5", 242-pounder began his collegiate career as a safety. As Josh Kendall wrote for the Athletic, Daniels' impressive athletic profile is what attracted the Falcons to him in the fourth round of April's draft.

"He's definitely a Brich (defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich) guy," Cunningham said. "Fits those measurables and what he looks for and what we look for. You see him play all over the field. He's a rare athlete. When you watch the tape, the movement, the length, the fluidity, he can do a lot of things for you on defense. I know (linebackers coach Barrett Ruud) and Brich, the whole coaching staff, were all excited that we were able to get him where we did."

There was a significant shakeup at linebacker in Atlanta this offseason, with longtime "green dot" linebacker Kaden Elliss defecting to the New Orleans Saints. The belief is that Divine Deablo (who is himself a converted safety) will assume play-calling duties, and the team signed fifth-year veteran Christian Harris in free agency. But Harris' four seasons in Houston were injury-marred—he has averaged six missed games per season and has all of 28 total tackles over the past two seasons combined.

Daniels certainly has the size. He has the range. And while he's still something of a newcomer at the linebacker position, he has the summer to acclimate to Ulbrich's defense.

There are a number of young linebackers on Atlanta's roster, but none that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Given his physical tools, Daniels has a real chance to carve out early snaps as a rookie.

OG Beau Stephens, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

We'll wrap this column up with the sexiest position in all of the NFL—offensive guard.

Sizzle! Yeah!

The Seattle Seahawks don't have a lot of holes on the roster, but the offensive line was ranked middle-of-the pack by Pro Football Focus. Now, generally a fifth-round pick wouldn't be considered a real threat to start for the Super Bowl champions, but Chad Reuter of NFL.com believes that Iowa's Beau Stephens could be an exception in that regard.

"General manager John Schneider sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Browns for the right to select Stephens in the fifth round this year," he wrote. "That investment in the agile, hard-nosed Stephens portends a battle with the incumbent, Anthony Bradford, for the starting spot at right guard. Stephens spent the last two seasons at left guard, but he started at right guard earlier in his Iowa career, so he should be able to make the adjustment."

For his part, Stephens told reporters he's comfortable playing both guard spots.

"I think it's just preference in blocks, honestly," he said. "If I'm on the left side I have a preference for backside blocks. If I am on the right, I have a preference for frontside blocks. "Overall, it's not too much of a difference."

Bradford is easily the weakest link in Seattle's offensive line, and Stephens didn't allow a sack in either of his last two seasons at Iowa.

There's going to be a new starter up front for the Seahawks come the season-opening rematch of Super Bowl LX with the New England Patriots.