The draft is just a few weeks away. You know the big names like Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate and the rest of the top 10 picks. But what about the guys that are found deeper in the draft? The ones that really set a team up for success and are seen as hidden gems years after they are selected. Here are five under the radar draft prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jacob Rodriguez – LB – Texas Tech
JRod is seen as a second or third round pick which makes almost no sense to me given that he was up for Heisman consideration as a linebacker. He had seven forced fumbles and four interceptions in his final season in Lubbock. He has an absolute knack for finding the football and making the opposing offense pay. Rodriguez is a guy who can lead and quickly become a strong voice for a team if they take him.
Cole Payton – QB – North Dakota State
I love good developmental prospects and that’s exactly what you’d be getting with Cole Payton. Teams who need to start developing a QB of the future like the Rams or the Buccaneers could look at a guy like Payton to stash on their bench. He is 6’3 and 233 pounds but also can blaze with his legs. That reminds me a lot of Patrick Mahomes in stature alone. He has a high upside and was a winner in college. He threw for over 2,700 yards and didn’t turn the ball over much.
Max Klare – TE – Ohio State
There are a couple of very prominent tight ends in this draft class and the most popular is Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq who will more than likely be a first round pick. But this is a deep class at this position, and teams can get a bargain in later rounds. I like Klare who comes from a great program, he can grab off-target balls and creates a mismatch in the red zone which is what every team wants from a tight end. He had 448 yards in his final year.
Chris Johnson – CB – San Diego State
This is a true lockdown specialist who had the second-highest PFF grade in the nation amongst all cornerbacks. He has great size and excels in coverage, allowing just a 16.1 passer rating when targeted. He is both strong and fast and has the ability to cover both on the outside and in the slot. He is considered one of the best
Taurean York – LB – Texas A&M
This is one of my favorite players in the draft and he might fall to day three. He led A&M for two straight years in tackles. He has put up 70+ tackles in each of his three years there. Coverage might be something he needs to improve on, but he has a nose for the ball and can hunt down the ball carrier. He is a proven leader of a CFP team that has a massive hunger for success.