DT Kaleb Proctor picked as sleeper for Arizona Cardinals' draft class

The Arizona Cardinals made seven player selections in the 2026 NFL draft, and they hope many of them can be solid contributors this season and in the future. Their first two selections were running back Jeremiyah Love and guard Chase Bisontis. Those two are expected to start and play well. Anything short of that will be considered a disappointment.

But what can make a draft class are sleepers — guys in later rounds who turn out to be good players.

NFL.com's Gennaro Filice picked a sleeper from the Cardinals' draft class, and it coincides with a few analysts.

He believes that defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor, the Cardinals' fourth-round pick out of Southeastern Louisiana, has potential.

As an FCS prospect coming out of Southeastern Louisiana, Proctor naturally carries concerns about the competition level he faced over the past four years. But his Lions did play LSU last September, and Proctor racked up a pair of sacks in an eye-opening display of destruction.

His physical traits and the dominance he played with in the FCS, combined with the fact he plays a position where players get into the game rotationally, set him up to be able to contribute early.

As a rookie, he might not play more than 15-20 snaps a game, but in those limited snaps, he can make an impact with a few splash plays.

And playing with a young core of defensive tackles like Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen, if Proctor can produce early, the Cardinals have a group that can dominate for multiple seasons.

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