Antwan Staley: 6 prospects who could be steals in this year’s NFL draft

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The 2026 NFL draft class has been criticized for a significant lack of elite top-end talent.

This is particularly true at the quarterback and running back positions, where only one player from each position could be selected in Round 1 (QB Fernando Mendoza and RB Jeremiyah Love).

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t underrated prospects who could make an immediate impact. Each position has its sleeper players. Here are a few of the Day 2 or Day 3 prospects who could become productive players in the league.

Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

This is not a great quarterback draft in terms of depth at the position. But Green could be worth taking a swing at on Day 3 of the draft.

Green is a raw, dual-threat quarterback with a high ceiling thanks to his rocket arm and overall athleticism. He would work well in today’s NFL offenses with the usage of RPOs and play-action passing. At 6-6 and 227 pounds, Green has excellent size, which will be intriguing to some teams looking for a developmental quarterback.

During his five seasons at both Boise State and Arkansas, Green threw for 9,662 yards, 59 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. He will need to limit his turnovers at the next level. But Green throws the ball downfield well enough while being able to be a backfield creator, which is exactly the archetype teams are searching for at the quarterback position.

Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

Coleman is an experienced running back who can play all three downs. Despite his 5-8, 220-pound frame, he is a downhill ball carrier who has only fumbled once in four seasons at Washington and Arizona.

Coleman is incredibly difficult to take down while also showing patience and vision to evade defenders.

But Coleman lacks the top-end speed teams want to see from a player of his size. Coleman didn’t do any testing at the combine because he was rehabbing an ankle injury.

However, Coleman could come in and compete for a backup running back job as a rookie after rushing for 3,054 yards and 34 TDs in four seasons.

Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Bell is only on this list because he suffered an ACL injury last November, which dropped his draft stock from the first round. At 6-2, 222 pounds, Bell has everything teams look for in a receiver. He is a big target who can turn short routes into long gains.

In 11 games before his ACL injury, Bell registered 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns for the Cardinals. The most impressive part about Bell’s game is that he welcomes contact and is difficult for defenders to bring down.

In four seasons at Louisville, Bell caught 151 catches for 2,166 yards with 12 touchdowns. He didn’t do any pre-draft testing because of the ACL injury, but Bell could be a second-round steal for a team in need of receiver help.

John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming

Gyllenborg is arguably one of the most underrated players in this year’s draft. During his four seasons with the Cowboys, he finished with 80 catches for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gyllenborg wasn’t super productive, but his talent is evident when watching any Wyoming game. He attacks defenses in the middle of the field with his athleticism and size. At 6-6, 249 pounds, Gyllenborg ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

Gyllenborg isn’t going to impress anyone with his blocking skills. However, his athletic receiving ability could make an immediate impact in the NFL, much like Oronde Gadsden II did last year with the Chargers after he was drafted in the fifth round.

Markel Bell, OT, Miami

At 6-9, 346 pounds, Bell is a mountainous player, which helps him keep pass rushers at bay while also moving well for a player his size. He started all 15 games at left tackle for the Hurricanes last season, earning All-ACC third-team honors.

Bell played 1,034 offensive snaps, fifth-most in the FBS. He also allowed zero sacks across 558 pass-blocking snaps in his senior season. Bell allowed just nine pressures and one quarterback hit in 2025, with an elite 83.8 pass-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fast pass rushers may give Bell trouble at the next level, which is why he could slip until the third or fourth round. But Bell could eventually be a starting tackle because of his size and the strides he made while at Miami the previous two seasons.

Jadon Canady, DB, Oregon

At 5-10, 181 pounds, Canady is an undersized defensive back, which will scare some teams away. But he’s a versatile player who brings experience at safety, nickel and cornerback.

Canady was the Ducks’ nickel corner last season and helped them rank fourth in passing yards allowed. In 15 games, Canady finished with 39 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.

Canady projects as either a slot cornerback or a free safety at the next level and is worth a late Day 2 or 3 pick.