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<\/p>\nThe top each NFL team\u2019s draft class garners headlines today, but it\u2019s the draft steals that make waves for years to come.<\/p>\n
Which players have the potential to outperform their draft slot? Which teams maneuvered the board best for top talent? The Athletic\u2019s NFL beat reporters have the best value pick for all 32 NFL teams.<\/p>\n
Read carefully \u2014 the league\u2019s next late-round success story could be here.<\/p>\n
Arizona Cardinals: Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeast Louisiana<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 104, Round 4<\/p>\n
A three-year starter, Proctor had a chance to jump to the FBS level for more lucrative NIL offers, but he chose to stay. As a senior last season, Proctor became the first player in school history to be named the Southland Conference Player of the Year. The Cardinals liked what they saw on tape and throughout the draft process. The Athletic\u2019s Dane Brugler ranked Proctor as the 14th-best defensive tackle in this class and wrote that his intangibles are qualities NFL teams should want in their organization. He was worth taking in the fourth round. \u2014 Doug Haller<\/p>\n
Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 48, Round 2<\/p>\n
Lost in the feel-good story of Atlanta putting Terrell in the same defensive backfield as his brother A.J. is the fact that the Falcons may have gotten a steal. He was rated the fourth-best cornerback and 27th-best prospect at any position by Brugler, but Atlanta got him with the 48th pick. Terrell\u2019s draft stock was hurt when he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at Clemson\u2019s pro day while nursing a hamstring injury, but he said Saturday his leg is healthy, and he\u2019ll be able to go full speed throughout the offseason program. \u2014 Josh Kendall<\/p>\n
Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 45, Round 2<\/p>\n
There weren\u2019t a ton of players with legitimate first-round grades in this draft, but that didn\u2019t stop the Ravens from organizing their board accordingly, and Young was comfortably ranked within their top 32 players. The Ravens were surprised when they were on the clock at No. 45 in the second round and Young was still available. The Ravens believe he fits them perfectly with his physicality, edge-setting capabilities and pass-rushing upside. There were other players whom they really liked at No. 45, including Clemson\u2019s Avieon Terrell and Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers. They couldn\u2019t resist Young, however. He was the 10th edge rusher selected. \u2014 Jeff Zrebiec<\/p>\n
Buffalo Bills: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 126, Round 4<\/p>\n
The Bills\u2019 pick of Elarms-Orr at No. 126 is a potential home run. In the pre-draft process, he was one of my favorite fits for the team, given his potential draft cost and what he could be in the Bills\u2019 new defensive scheme. Elarms-Orr has definitive starting potential, offering excellent athleticism, tackling and blitzing abilities that can help them on the field in several different ways. The opportunity could be there, too \u2014 and as early as the 2026 season. If Elarms-Orr is a backup in 2026, his vast special teams experience will keep him with a game-day role. \u2014 Joe Buscaglia<\/p>\n
Carolina Panthers: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 144, Round 5<\/p>\n
Hecht was Brugler\u2019s second-ranked center, behind Florida\u2019s Jake Slaughter. While Slaughter went in the second round to the Chargers, Hecht had to wait until the fifth round to hear his name called. \u201cI was a little surprised,\u201d Hecht said. \u201cI was kind of hearing I would be third round to early Day 3. But everything happens for a reason.\u201d In two seasons as a starter, Hecht allowed no sacks in 796 pass-blocking reps, according to Pro Football Focus. He also didn\u2019t commit a penalty last season, per Brugler. \u2014 Joseph Person<\/p>\n
Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 25, Round 1<\/p>\n
Thieneman was ranked 18th overall in Brugler\u2019s top 300. He was 17th on our consensus big board. Two defensive backs coaches told The Athletic\u2019s Bruce Feldman that they had Thieneman rated ahead of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. No one had any quibbles with the best safety available going to the team that had an opening at starting safety. It\u2019s good value, a perfect fit and an immediate boost to the depth chart. \u2014 Kevin Fishbain<\/p>\n
Cincinnati Bengals: Connor Lew, C, Auburn<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 128, Round 4<\/p>\n
Lew was on a path to be a potential top-50 pick before an ACL tear in October. He was a freshman All-American at Auburn and established himself as a leader and captain despite being only 20 years old entering the league. Lew\u2019s strength is in pass protection, which makes him an ideal fit in Cincinnati, and holding up in the SEC for three years serves as an ideal training ground for the NFL trenches. The idea is that Lew could be the Bengals\u2019 starting center in 2027, succeeding the 33-year-old Ted Karras, if this year goes well for him. That\u2019s an easy path to envision. \u2014 Paul Dehner Jr.<\/p>\n
Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 58, Round 2<\/p>\n
The Browns went into the second round believing they might select McNeil-Warren at No. 39. With Denzel Boston still available, the team understandably chose its perimeter wide receiver but felt compelled to move when McNeil-Warren was still on the board at No. 58. Cleveland safety Grant Delpit just had his best season, but he is currently only signed through 2026. The Browns value McNeil-Warren\u2019s versatility and athletic upside regardless of how they proceed with Delpit and some of their other defensive veterans. \u2014 Zac Jackson<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 11, Round 1<\/p>\n
Most experts didn\u2019t think there was any chance Downs would still be on the board at Pick 11. The Cowboys did the right thing by picking up the phone, calling the Miami Dolphins and trading up one spot to get their guy. Adding Downs is bigger than just filling a position of need. He\u2019s the type of player who can be the face of a defense, impacting games at all three levels. \u2014 Jon Machota<\/p>\n
Denver Broncos: Kage Casey, OL, Boise State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 111, Round 4<\/p>\n
Casey\u2019s value could come in his versatility, a priority for the Broncos as they continue to build depth behind the veteran starters on their offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Casey will get his snaps at tackle during the offseason, but the Broncos will also want to see what he can do at left guard, where starter Ben Powers is entering the final year of his contract. If Casey can prove to be a replacement at the position by 2027 \u2014 or at least an option to compete for the job \u2014 the pick could turn into a major hit. \u2014 Nick Kosmider<\/p>\n
Detroit Lions: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 157, Round 5<\/p>\n
Abney entered Saturday as one of the top prospects available, ranked No. 61 on Brugler\u2019s big board. You had to think he was considered at No. 118. It didn\u2019t take long for the Lions to turn in their selection when they were back on the clock at No. 157. A smaller, fiery cornerback with the competitive mindset required to play in the NFL, Abney fits the Lions as an instinctive player and a physical defender in run support. He projects best as nickel but could offer inside-outside versatility in ways that Amik Robertson brought to the Lions. This is excellent value. \u2014 Colton Pouncy<\/p>\n
Green Bay Packers: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 120, Round 4<\/p>\n
Packers director of player personnel John Wojciechowski said Dennis-Sutton\u2019s best attribute is his pass rush because of his speed to chase down quarterbacks combined with his length (33 1\/2-inch arms) and height (6-5 1\/2) to disrupt passing lanes. That may come in handy since fellow Penn State alumnus edge rusher Micah Parsons is expected to miss the first couple of games of next season while finishing ACL rehab. Dennis-Sutton, 22, led the Big Ten with 3.8 pressures per game last season and posted 8 1\/2 sacks in each of the last two years. \u2014 Matt Schneidman<\/p>\n
Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 36, Round 2<\/p>\n
McDonald was my favorite pick of the Texans\u2019 draft class in part because of his value. The Texans got a first-round talent four picks into the second round, even though some projections had him going significantly higher. Brugler rated McDonald 32nd in his top 300 rankings. The Texans capitalized on the opportunity to get an immediate impact player to add to an already imposing defensive front. \u2014 Mike Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n
Indianapolis Colts: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 135, Round 4<\/p>\n
A former baseball star who was drafted in the 13th round by the Houston Astros in 2024, Boettcher stuck with football and turned into one of the top linebackers in the country. He led the Big Ten with 136 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2025. Boettcher was Brugler\u2019s 110th overall prospect, and Indianapolis grabbed him with the 135th pick. The Colts were very thin at linebacker, even with the addition of second-round pick CJ Allen, so Boettcher offers much-needed insurance and depth. He projects as a backup with the chance to be a spot starter. \u2014 James Boyd<\/p>\n
Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 88, Round 3<\/p>\n
Guard Emmanuel Pregnon wa Brugler\u2019s 57th-ranked prospect, and the Jaguars got him with the 88th pick. Pregnon, whom Liam Coen lauded for his \u201cass and mass,\u201d might not have a direct path to a starting job with Ezra Cleveland and Patrick Mekari on the roster, but we\u2019ve yet to find a team that\u2019s ever complained about having good depth up front. Pregnon will likely get a chance to fill in at some point as a rookie, and those opportunities could lead to a more consistent playing time down the road. \u2014 Jeff Howe<\/p>\n
Kansas City Chiefs: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 161, Round 5<\/p>\n
The Chiefs had to do a pick swap with the Steelers to get up to No. 161, but by doing so, they landed Brugler\u2019s 105th-ranked player and fourth-rated running back in the fifth round. It\u2019s no secret that the Chiefs\u2019 running backs room was a player short entering the draft, so adding Johnson fills a need and also should fit into the offense well with his pass-catching skills. Johnson seems like a good value considering most mock drafts had him going a round or two earlier. \u2014 Jesse Newell<\/p>\n
Las Vegas Raiders: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 101, Round 4<\/p>\n
McCoy was the consensus top player at his position and a top-20 prospect overall when he declared his intentions to enter the NFL. But concerns about his knee arose in the weeks leading up to the draft. Teams that medically evaluated McCoy discovered a cartilage issue unrelated to a surgically-repaired ACL; it\u2019s widely believed that he\u2019ll need surgery soon, if not immediately. McCoy said that he feels good and getting surgery will be \u201cstrictly based off what the team wants me to do.\u201d If the Raiders share McCoy\u2019s sentiment, he could immediately be an impact starter in a secondary in need of playmakers. \u2014 Sam Warren<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Chargers: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 105, Round 4<\/p>\n
Thompson ran the fastest 40 of any player at the combine at 4.26, and he was Brugler\u2019s No. 82 overall player. The Chargers got him in the fourth round. Speed is typically quite coveted in the draft, and Thompson is more than just a straight burner. He has real upside as a route runner, particularly when setting up cornerbacks with double moves on the outside. He can create after the catch. Size was likely a factor in the fall. Thompson measured at just over 5-9 and weighed in at 164 pounds. Mike McDaniel is the exact schemer and play caller who can maximize this skill set, though. Thompson called pairing up with McDaniel a \u201cperfect fit.\u201d I agree. \u2014 Daniel Popper<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Rams: Tim Keenan III, DT, Alabama<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 232, Round 7<\/p>\n
Landing Keenan in the seventh round was a nice outcome for someone Brugler had a sixth- or seventh-round grade on. It isn\u2019t flashy to take a run-focused nose tackle, but it\u2019s a sneaky depth role on this team. The Rams remade their run defense last year with the addition of nose tackle Poona Ford, but it saw a noticeable drop-off whenever he left the field. With Ford turning 31, it makes sense to rotate in a 23-year-old to ensure the unit remains sound. After a draft of early reaches, this was a solid move after the Rams made just one pick in Rounds 4-6. \u2014 Nate Atkins<\/p>\n
Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 12, Round 1<\/p>\n
I think there\u2019s a very real chance Proctor becomes a legitimate franchise tackle, which means the Dolphins might have gotten a steal at No. 12. If he takes the professional work ethic to heart, Proctor has the talent to be a dominant lineman. If we\u2019re re-drafting this class in a few years, I\u2019d be surprised if Proctor didn\u2019t turn himself into a top-five caliber player in the class. \u2014 Howe<\/p>\n
Minnesota Vikings: Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 159, Round 5<\/p>\n
The fifth-round pick has the potential to pick up where C.J. Ham left off, providing serious contributions on offense and special teams. This offseason, Minnesota added former Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith as its assistant head coach. With his arrival comes several new ideas. Notably, the 2025 Dolphins used a fullback on almost 25 percent of their snaps last season, the second-highest rate in the NFL. In Bredeson, who can line up at tight end and in the backfield, the Vikings hope to have found their version of Alec Ingold. Expect Bredeson to contribute early and often. \u2014 Alec Lewis<\/p>\n
New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 55, Round 2<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t great value in that they had to trade up to land him, but getting a player at No. 55 who perfectly fits the attitude Mike Vrabel wants for his team is impressive work. Were there players available at that point who are better pure pass rushers? Yes. Were there some who could stuff the run better than Jacas? For sure. But none fit as well with the Patriots, where Vrabel wants his edge rushers to play with a high motor and nasty demeanor. \u2014 Chad Graff<\/p>\n
New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 42, Round 2<\/p>\n
Miller, taken in the second round, could give the Saints a long-term player up the middle that they\u2019ve lacked for years. New Orleans has been typically weak against the run and none of the free agents it has added lately has been able to fix those ills. Miller\u2019s stats might not be over the top given his role. Making life tough for opposing running backs, though, could make life easier defensively. \u2014 Larry Holder<\/p>\n
New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB\/Edge, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 5, Round 1<\/p>\n
It might sound counterintuitive to put the No. 5 pick as the best value, but given Reese\u2019s rankings coming into the draft it was hard to imagine he\u2019d be available for the Giants. He was Brugler\u2019s top overall prospect. Even general manager Joe Schoen didn\u2019t anticipate the linebacker would be available. Coach John Harbaugh said, \u201cI think Joe probably ran about a zillion mocks \u2026 and this one didn\u2019t come up.\u201d Reese will start off at inside linebacker alongside Tremaine Edmunds, but will be used in unique ways and add to an already formidable pass rush. \u2014 Charlotte Carroll<\/p>\n
New York Jets: D\u2019Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 50, Round 2<\/p>\n
Ponds is a diminutive cornerback (5 feet, 8 inches) who doesn\u2019t play like he\u2019s small. Snagging him in the second round \u2014 after trading back six picks to No. 50 and picking up an additional fourth-round pick, no less \u2014 was a smart move and a great value at that spot. There really aren\u2019t many knocks against Ponds \u2026 other than his size. Many inside the league believe he would have been a first-round pick if not for his height. \u2014 Zack Rosenblatt<\/p>\n
Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 20, Round 1<\/p>\n
Lemon was a top-15 player on the Eagles\u2019 draft board. They traded up from No. 23 to No. 20 to select him, but it\u2019s difficult to suggest the two picks they gave up would have offered the Eagles greater value had they chosen to stay at No. 23 and missed out on the first-team All-American. At 5-11, 195 pounds, he offers the Eagles an inside-outside option. He led the FBS in first-down receptions in 2025 (50) and was the only Big Ten player with 500-plus yards after the catch. \u2014 Brooks Kubena<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Steelers: Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 96, Round 3<\/p>\n
After the Steelers filled nearly every starting job in free agency, guard loomed as one of the biggest immediate needs. They addressed the position in a substantial way with Dunker. He was rated 71st overall on Brugler\u2019s big board; the Steelers were able to select the powerful offensive lineman with position flexibility using pick No. 96. Beyond his big-board value, it was also a well-spent selection to find a possible Day 1 starter at the end of Round 3. \u2014 Mike DeFabo<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Iowa\u2019s Gennings Dunker participates in a drill during the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Stacy Revere \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
San Francisco 49ers: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 107, Round 4<\/p>\n
Hmm. Not a lot of options here. It\u2019s either Romello Height or Halton, as everybody else was a little bit of a reach. Give me Halton, who might be a little undersized at 6-3, 293 pounds, but is athletic and was able to get off blocks against some pretty good competition at Oklahoma. He ran a 4.83 40-yard dash at the combine, and the explosiveness shows up on film. He rounds out a pretty formidable foursome inside for the 49ers. \u2014 Vic Tafur<\/p>\n
Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 64, Round 2<\/p>\n
By the consensus big board, the Seahawks didn\u2019t get great value with any of their first three selections. Jadarian Price (No. 47 on the big board), Clark (No. 77) and Julian Neal (No. 123) were selected a bit earlier than their consensus rankings projected. It would be unfair to deem any of those picks reaches, but they probably aren\u2019t steals, either. That said, Clark and Neal will look like steals if they become impact players in Year 1. Clark has a clean path to the starting lineup, and if he winds up there, he\u2019ll prove a very valuable pick. \u2014 Michael-Shawn Dugar<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 116, Round 4<\/p>\n
If Scott does for the Bucs what he did in college, he will be much more valuable than a fourth-round pick is supposed to be. Especially last year, Scott made big plays, and his aggression and energy was contagious for Miami. He was probably the best defender on a team that played in the national championship game. Before transferring to Miami, Scott also returned punts for Auburn, leading the SEC with a 14.8 average in 2023. And he could have a ripple effect on the defense. If Scott can be the nickel corner, the Bucs can move Jacob Parrish outside, where he could compete with Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum. \u2014 Dan Pompei<\/p>\n
Tennessee Titans: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 165, Round 5<\/p>\n
Faulk was the best value in relation to Brugler\u2019s board \u2014 Faulk was his No. 15 prospect and the Titans moved up to 31 to get him \u2014 but the answer here is Singleton at 165. Brugler had him at 163, which makes him one of three Titans draftees rated higher than they went. This was good patience for the Titans, grabbing an explosive player who could easily beat out Tyjae Spears and be the third-down back in 2025. If Singleton can improve his vision and patience, it might be him and a workload partner TBD in the Titans backfield in 2026. \u2014 Joe Rexrode<\/p>\n
Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Pick: No. 7, Round 1<\/p>\n
Styles may have been among the best values of the entire draft. The former Ohio State captain was one of the most athletic and versatile players available, and he fills a significant need for Washington as a defensive leader and playmaker. Pre-draft projections for how the top 10 would unfold were especially erratic this year, but the chances of Styles being available at No. 7 seemed unlikely to many \u2014 including the Commanders. (Brugler ranked Styles as the fourth-best prospect overall.) Styles, as general manager Adam Peters said, \u201cchecks every box\u201d for the Commanders and should be a long-time staple of their defense. \u2013 Nicki Jhabvala<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The top each NFL team\u2019s draft class garners headlines today, but it\u2019s the draft steals that make waves…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22238,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[320,485,331,340,335,339,327,323,329,343,333,488,8,342,486,487,326,318,337,330,328,334,344,325,322,319,9,1042,338,336,341,345,332,321,7,324],"class_list":{"0":"post-22237","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-stories","8":"tag-arizona-cardinals","9":"tag-atlanta-falcons","10":"tag-baltimore-ravens","11":"tag-buffalo-bills","12":"tag-carolina-panthers","13":"tag-chicago-bears","14":"tag-cincinnati-bengals","15":"tag-cleveland-browns","16":"tag-dallas-cowboys","17":"tag-denver-broncos","18":"tag-detroit-lions","19":"tag-green-bay-packers","20":"tag-headlines","21":"tag-houston-texans","22":"tag-indianapolis-colts","23":"tag-jacksonville-jaguars","24":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","25":"tag-las-vegas-raiders","26":"tag-los-angeles-chargers","27":"tag-los-angeles-rams","28":"tag-miami-dolphins","29":"tag-minnesota-vikings","30":"tag-new-england-patriots","31":"tag-new-orleans-saints","32":"tag-new-york-giants","33":"tag-new-york-jets","34":"tag-news","35":"tag-nfl","36":"tag-philadelphia-eagles","37":"tag-pittsburgh-steelers","38":"tag-san-francisco-49ers","39":"tag-seattle-seahawks","40":"tag-tampa-bay-buccaneers","41":"tag-tennessee-titans","42":"tag-top-stories","43":"tag-washington-commanders"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22237\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}