The 2026 NFL Draft revealed several standout value picks, with teams optimistic about their selections. The article ranks the 10 biggest steals that could significantly impact franchises.
Key points
2026 NFL Draft featured standout value picks
Teams aim for substantial surplus value
Selecting players on Days 2 and 3 can refurbish rosters
Only a few picks provide massive returns
Ranking of 10 biggest steals included
Mentioned in this story
Tennessee
2026 NFL DraftCB Jermod McCoyLas Vegas Raiders
The 2026 NFL Draft still feels fresh, but several teams surely exited the exercise convinced they've unearthed the latest big bargains. Only a handful, however, will be proven right.
Creating substantial surplus value by hitting it big on Days 2 and 3 of the draft can be the fastest route to refurbishing a roster and vaulting in the league's contender class. Yet a select few picks actually provide the massive returns that all franchises seek with their selections. Still, this year's event featured more than a handful of choices that stood out for their potential payoff:
Here are the 10 biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft:
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Buffalo Bills: OT Jude Bowry, Boston College
New York Jets: DT Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
Q&A
Who were the biggest steals in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The article ranks the 10 biggest steals, highlighting key players who could provide substantial value to their teams.
What makes a pick a 'steal' in the NFL Draft?
A 'steal' is typically a player selected later in the draft who is expected to outperform their draft position, providing significant value to the team.
How can teams benefit from finding value picks in the NFL Draft?
Teams can refurbish their rosters and improve their competitiveness by selecting players who offer high potential returns relative to their draft position.
What rounds of the NFL Draft are most likely to yield steals?
Days 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft are often where teams find the best value picks, as many talented players are available beyond the first round.
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This year offered plenty of depth at center, where at least four players were closely ranked as potential starters early in their careers. Two of them – Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter – were taken in the second round. Lew hung around much longer despite not being markedly behind either player in any phase. A torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in October likely weighed down his draft stock. The Bengals can ask veteran Ted Karras to mentor Lew before having the Auburn product take over as Joe Burrow's pivot for the long haul.
Rough year for the running back group, with only three taken in the first three rounds. Johnson was one of the backs who was met with skepticism until the Chiefs called on the Nebraska standout midway through Day 3. Big gains might not come easily to a runner who lacks a breakaway gear. But Johnson is built to either maneuver around would-be tacklers in close quarters or barrel through them, and he's comfortable taking on a hefty workload as a pass catcher. The Chiefs would be wise not to overload new feature back Kenneth Walker III, who's accustomed to operating in a timeshare from his years in Seattle. That could mean a decent number of opportunities early on for Johnson.
It's difficult to find edge rushers beyond Day 2 with sufficient athleticism to be actual factors in pressuring the quarterback. Count Josephs among the possible exceptions. The 6-3, 242-pound edge rusher vexes opposing blockers with his long arms and rapid burst off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to overwhelm any opponent who can't get a hand on him early. He's largely inconsistent in actually making his way to the quarterback and requires a plan built on more than just determination. The Commanders, however, can bring him along slowly behind Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson, the latter of whom could be replaced after this season.
Between his size (6-4, 240 pounds) and limited usage at edge rusher until his final season at Michigan, Barham offered up a projection less straightforward than many of his peers. What was readily evident, though, was his overall knack for creating disruption. The Maryland transfer throttles up his intensity in an instant, allowing him to close in on quarterbacks and ball carriers in short order. The Cowboys will start him off at off-ball linebacker, where his responsibilities are sure to be more complex than merely finding the ball and chasing it down. Yet it might not be long before defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants to carve out more reps for a player who can make himself a mainstay in opponents' backfields.
Getting the most out of the 6-0, 220-pound hybrid defender necessitates some creativity, as Louis doesn't fit into a typical positional bucket. For any team with patience and a vision on defense, however, the Pitt product could be a versatile coverage asset and all-purpose playmaker. The Dolphins are building from the ground up, so new head coach Jeff Hafley can work within his scheme to find a way to unleash Louis' dynamic ability.
A modest build at under 5-10 and 185 pound seems like the only thing holding Rivers back in his pro projection. Beyond matchups with supersized targets, however, the highly experienced and savvy cornerback can handle almost anything thrown at him. A move to the slot should alleviate the biggest concerns about his game. In Baltimore, that could mean learning under four-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey as a rookie before potentially taking over for him in 2027.
There was a glut of talented cornerbacks still available in the early portion of Day 3, and several talented coverage men – such as Abney – paid the price for that buyer's market. His size might have loomed large in his evaluation, with some teams surely skeptical that he could hold up on the outside. Any quarterback who targets Abney, however, does so at his own peril. His 12 pass breakups last season demonstrated how easily he'll find the ball whenever tested. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard should appreciate his versatility, instincts and physicality,
Jaguars general manager was the architect of one of this year's more bizarre draft classes, with several head-scratching moves filling out the team's effort on Days 2 and 3. Yet few will argue with the selection of Pregnon. A sixth-year senior who transferred from USC after beginning his career at Wyoming, the 6-4, 314-pound blocker blossomed into an All-American last season. His advanced age and pedestrian all-around athleticism likely left him a tick behind the likes of Olaivavega Ioane, Keylan Rutledge and Chase Bisontis, all who went within the top 35 picks. Pregnon, however, is adept at blowing up holes for ball carriers and more than holds his own as a pass protector. He'll serve Jacksonville's interest in continuing to build out its ground game, with the potential to become a high-end starter.
2. Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins (third round)
Had it not been for a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in November, Bell might have had a strong case to make it into the first round. Instead, his wait extended all the way to the tail end of Day 2. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, he draws comparisons to AJ Brown that are lofty but not unfounded. Like the bulky former Mississippi receiver, Bell's usage at Louisville – which primarily consisted of drags and slants – obscured his true ability as a downfield weapon. If he can become a more precise and nuanced route runner while regaining his explosiveness, he'll be a matchup nightmare for a Dolphins offense that's starting from scratch.
The Auburn transfer's breakout season with Miami was a driving factor in the Hurricanes' surprising run to the national championship game. In this year's draft, however, Scott was seemingly dinged for his age – he'll turn 25 in August – and lone year of elite play. He finally found a proper role for his talent as an agent of chaos out of the slot, with his best work coming as a blitzer. The Buccaneers have cycled through several nickel options in recent years, but Scott's addition could allow them to move Jacob Parrish to the outside to settle the secondary. And Todd Bowles' scheme should permit him to keep generating splash plays at an outstanding rate.
