2026 NFL Draft’s best UDFA fits: 1 undrafted free agent to watch on each roster
When it comes to undrafted free brokers, there may be all the time no less than a little bit little bit of gold someplace in these hills.
I’ve been placing collectively a post-NFL Draft checklist of my favourite UDFAs for each crew for 5 years now, and through that span, we’ve seen gamers corresponding to Rashid Shaheed, Jack Sanborn, Ivan Pace Jr., Tyson Bagent, Keaton Mitchell (gamers singled out on earlier variations of this checklist, by the way in which) discover NFL houses, a method or one other.
This yr might be no completely different. Here’s a have a look at my favourite UDFA from each crew as rookie minicamps get underway:
A well-balanced 5-foot-11, 192-pound Z receiver (who’s extra possible to be an NFL slot), Wallace put up huge numbers at Penn State in 2024 and Ole Miss in 2025 as a fearless, quarterback-friendly goal. Wallace may additionally present punt return and particular groups worth for the Cardinals, who simply misplaced Greg Dortch in free company.
Known in scouting circles as one of many smarter offensive line prospects within the 2026 NFL Draft, Brockermeyer is a restricted athlete who’s a bit undersized (6 toes 3, 298 kilos) however will get completely every little thing out of his physique. He performs with nice stability and, most significantly, all the time appears to know the place he’s going and what he’s doing.
Baltimore Ravens: Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss
Of all the blokes on this checklist, I’m most likely most shocked about Pounds not being drafted. The 6-foot-6, 325-pounder with practically 34-inch arms, good explosion and fast toes was a strong and sturdy run blocker at each Ole Miss and North Carolina. He may very well be a shock in Baltimore, as you hardly ever discover UDFAs with this sort of run-blocking potential.
Buffalo Bills: Max Tomczak, WR, Youngstown State
A small Z/slot receiver with potential as a kick/punt returner, Tomczak ran one of many quickest brief shuttles (4.01 seconds) of any participant within the draft class. The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder had greater than 3,000 profession receiving yards at Youngstown State, together with 70 catches for 1,021 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
Carolina Panthers: Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
A six-year faculty participant, King began his final three seasons at Georgia Tech — and became certainly one of faculty soccer’s best dual-threat gamers within the course of. He ran a 4.46-second 40-yard sprint (with a 4.17 brief shuttle and a 6.89 three cone) on the mix. He’s nearly the identical measurement (and practically as outdated) as Taysom Hill was when he entered the league.
Chicago Bears: Caden Barnett, G, Wyoming
A protracted-armed lineman, Barnett was a two-year beginning proper deal with at Wyoming earlier than ending his profession as an all-conference proper guard. A former wrestler with big-time energy within the run recreation, Barnett (6-3, 316) is a superb mover who may compete for a roster spot.
Cincinnati Bengals: Eric Gentry, LB, USC
An extraordinarily lengthy off-ball linebacker (6-6, 221, with 35-inch arms) with excellent agility, Gentry is an old-school tweener with no true place — he’s too mild to be an edge however too athletic to not be on the sphere someplace. I used to be shocked he went undrafted, even when he’s a mission.
Cleveland Browns: Logan Fano, edge, Utah
The older brother of Browns first-round decide Spencer Fano, Logan Fano (6-5, 257) made a mixed 18 tackles for loss with 10 1/2 sacks over the previous three seasons as a hardworking edge. He’s dependable in opposition to the run and a former crew captain. Don’t be shocked if he joins his brother and carves out a job in Cleveland.
Dallas Cowboys: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
Dallas really snagged two actually fascinating tight ends: Trigg and TCU’s DJ Rogers. Trigg performs like a 6-foot-4, 240-pound X receiver who’s dynamic within the air. He has extraordinarily lengthy (34 1/2-inch) arms and can make his share of highlight-reel performs in camp.
Dallas signed a robust UDFA class total, additionally including SMU receiver Jordan Hudson.
Denver Broncos: Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M
Size is the one cause York wasn’t drafted — he’s a 5-foot-10, 226-pound linebacker with brief arms and small palms. He’s one of many smarter linebackers within the 2026 NFL Draft class, nevertheless, and performs a bit like a poor man’s Devin Bush Jr.
My best NFL comp for Kitselman may really be Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Kitselman isn’t the athlete Campbell was, however the 6-foot-5, 251-pounder is a former highschool offensive lineman who’s extraordinarily critical about run blocking. He will get every little thing out of his physique, and there’s no manner the Lions gained’t like him.
Green Bay Packers: RJ Maryland, TE/WR, SMU
The Packers have Maryland — a university tight finish — listed as a large receiver, so we’ll see the place he matches in. The son of former Cowboys No. 1 decide Russell Maryland, RJ Maryland (6-4, 236) ran a 4.51 40 on the mix, trailing solely Kenyon Sadiq on the place. He may very well be a matchup downside.
Houston Texans: Collin Wright, CB, Stanford
Well-built with stable size, Wright (6-0, 188) is a bodily nook who has good stability and may play both outdoors or within the nickel. A crew captain at Stanford, Wright had a mixed 16 move breakups over his previous three seasons.
Indianapolis Colts: Cameron Ball, DT, Arkansas
A superb run defender with fast palms and quick toes, Ball (6-3, 310), a crew captain at Arkansas, had some promising flashes on the Senior Bowl. I’m unsure he can play three-tech within the NFL, however he’s a worthy nostril prospect.
Jacksonville Jaguars: J’Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia
The 5-foot-9, 199-pounder put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Virginia and North Carolina Central, with a mixed 29 touchdowns in that span. He’s a small, affected person runner between the tackles and a legit receiving risk — Taylor had 98 catches for 982 yards and 10 TDs in faculty.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
I’m fairly shocked nobody took an opportunity right here on Day 3 of the draft, as Caldwell (6-5, 216) is a uncommon mix of measurement and elite athleticism (4.31 40, 42-inch vertical soar, 11-2 broad). He performed just one yr on the FBS stage and was inconsistent, however the traits are value a glance.
Las Vegas Raiders: Chase Roberts, WR, BYU
Roberts (6-3, 209) is a novel athlete. He has fairly middling velocity, however he’s an explosive participant with terrific agility (6.89 three-cone, 4.33 brief shuttle). If he can dangle on to the ball in camp, he may very well be a reputation to watch.
The Raiders additionally snagged gifted Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson.
Los Angeles Chargers: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
World (6-5, 323, with 34 1/2-inch arms) has the traits of a top-100 participant, and he delivers a bunch of explosion out of his stance. He performed 4 years at Nevada earlier than one within the Big Ten. His method is erratic, but when anybody can spin a mission like World into gold, it’s Jim Harbaugh (and new offensive line coach Butch Barry).
Los Angeles Rams: Dan Villari, TE, Syracuse
A former backup quarterback at Michigan, Villari transitioned to tight finish after touchdown at Syracuse in 2022 and has been a really ascending expertise since. The 6-foot-3, 243-pounder is a succesful blocker with highly effective palms on the catch level. And the Rams, in fact, love tight ends. Villari remains to be a mission, however he’s undoubtedly an fascinating one.
Miami Dolphins: Mason Reiger, edge, Wisconsin
The Dolphins signed an excellent UDFA class that included Iowa QB Mark Gronowski, Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss and Reiger (6-4, 251), a really explosive participant who had an amazing week on the Shrine Bowl. Reiger’s effort makes up for lots, and he may stick out early in camp.
Minnesota Vikings: Delby Lemieux, C, Dartmouth
A 3-time All-Ivy League left deal with, Lemieux (6-5, 309) is a terrific athlete who moved inside to work at heart for scouts through the pre-draft course of. He has brief arms (31 3/8 inches), however he’s an amazing athlete and a really clever lineman.
New England Patriots: Kyle Dixon, WR, Culver-Stockton
A 6-foot-2, 220-pound NAIA receiver with a 40 1/2-inch vertical and 10-11 broad soar, Dixon had a mixed 143 catches for two,394 yards and 24 touchdowns throughout his final two faculty seasons. Originally a university baseball participant at SIU-Edwardsville, Dixon is newer to soccer however extremely intriguing.
New Orleans Saints: (*1*), edge, Central Michigan
An entire edge within the MAC, Heldman (6-4, 268) had a dominant 2025 at Central Michigan (10 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss). A savvy run defender with highly effective palms, Heldman is an ascending expertise who may shock.
New York Giants: Dominic Zvada, Ok, Michigan
Zvada was one of many handful of kickers I believed had a shot at being drafted on Day 3. He made 21 of twenty-two subject targets in 2024 to earn Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors. He was much less constant final season as a senior however has proven a giant leg — he was the primary kicker in Michigan historical past to hit 4 or extra from 50-plus in a single yr.
New York Jets: Chip Trayanum, RB, Toledo
A former two-way participant (linebacker and working again) at Ohio State, Trayanum (5-10, 224) is a terrific athlete who spent a number of years attempting to discover his best spot on the sphere. He broke via with a 1,015-yard season at Toledo final yr and may very well be an actual issue on particular groups sooner or later.
Philadelphia Eagles: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
A two-time captain at Alabama who helped hold issues collectively after Nick Saban retired, Lawson (6-2, 226) is a protracted and lean off-ball linebacker with fast toes and disciplined eyes between the tackles. I’m unsure if he’ll give you the option to maintain up bodily on a down-to-down foundation, however he may very well be a helpful particular groups/rotational piece.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Lake McRee, TE, USC
Injuries had been an element all through McRee’s profession, however his work as a run blocker is tough to ignore — he will get after it with robust palms and a want to end. Despite being a comparatively common athlete, he’s a well-balanced participant who hangs on to the soccer and likes to do the soiled work.
San Francisco 49ers: Mikail Kamara, edge, Indiana
Kamara (6 toes, 250, with sub-32-inch arms) doesn’t have NFL measurement, and he’s not very quick. He does, nevertheless, have terrific short-area quickness with excellent palms and a high-powered motor that by no means appears to decelerate. He continuously acquired the job performed at Indiana (and at James Madison earlier than that), be it dashing inside or off the sting.
Seattle Seahawks: Aidan Hubbard, edge, Northwestern
A former off-ball linebacker who bulked up into a university edge, Hubbard is a really explosive presence with fast toes and nice stability. He’s fast off the snap, performs with nice knee bend and is aware of what he’s doing versus the run. Hubbard had 20 1/2 sacks throughout his time at Northwestern.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Paul Rubelt, OT, UCF
Likely the tallest prospect within the 2026 NFL Draft, Rubelt (6-10, 313, with 35 7/8-inch arms and an 83 1/4-inch wingspan) is an excellent athlete for a person his measurement. He ran a 4.99 40 (1.79 10-yard cut up) and posted a 32-inch vertical. Rubelt strikes like an athletic basketball participant, even when leverage is a pure situation. He’s undoubtedly value a glance.
Tennessee Titans: Aamil Wagner, OT, Notre Dame
Wagner (6-5, 306, with 34 1/2-inch arms and an 83 5/8-inch wingspan) has an enormous body. He was a proper deal with at Notre Dame (and a captain in his remaining season), however he’s fast sufficient to play both facet. Wagner is usually a little stiff and is hardly a technical wizard, however he has the athletic profile — and soccer character — to be a productive NFL swing deal with.
Hilton (6-0, 188) by no means had a constant on-field run in faculty, as he battled a number of accidents (meniscus in each knees; ankle; shoulder), however he’s a legit velocity presence (4.41 with a 1.57 cut up on the mix). He runs with great stability and physique management — he’s simply a particularly uncooked participant.
Others to watch: Le’Veon Moss, RB (Dolphins); John Michael Gyllenborg, TE (Chiefs); Dae’Quan Wright, TE (Eagles); Garrett DiGiorgio, iOL (Jaguars); Tyreak Sapp, edge (Browns); Gary Smith III, DT (Raiders); Lander Barton, LB (Chargers); Drew Stevens, Ok (Commanders); Brett Thorson, P (Vikings); Luke Altmyer, QB (Lions).