Seven Draft Steals Nobody's Talking About Yet, and One Could Lead His Team in Receiving Yards as a Rookie

Missing the first round of the NFL draft doesn't mean a player gets buried. Look at 2025: Carson Schwesinger won Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori and Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts both went after Day 1 and finished as award finalists. On offense, two second-rounders in New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough and New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson nearly took Offensive Rookie of the Year from Tetairoa McMillan. Even this year's draft class, light on blue-chip talent at the top, is loaded with potential breakout first-year contributors buried deep in the order. Here are seven under-the-radar guys who could actually matter.

Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins: The Size Advantage Nobody Saw Coming

Bell is coming back from a torn ACL suffered in October, which makes him look like a questionable pick for this list. Fair point. But Miami's receiving corps is barren of established stars, and Bell's 6-2, 222-pound frame stands out in a group of smaller receivers. The third-round pick from Louisville was underutilized in the downfield passing game during college, but his run-after-catch ability could be exactly what new QB Malik Willis needs to build confidence early. Fellow third-rounder Caleb Douglas is built for deep routes, but Bell? He might be the sleeper candidate to lead his team in receiving yards as a rookie.

Jadon Canady, CB, Kansas City Chiefs: The Nickel Nobody Expected

Mansoor Delane got the headlines when the Chiefs traded up to No. 6 overall for him. GM Brett Veach even acknowledged Kansas City tried to hide their interest before making that move. But Canady could be the other key piece reshaping Kansas City's secondary. The 5-11, 187-pound cover man won't dominate bigger receivers, but moving him to the slot solves that problem. He'll battle free-agent signing Kader Kohou for the nickel role, and his aggressive, reliable style could make him a legit building block alongside Delane.

The Rest of the Class With Instant Impact Potential

Pittsburgh's Gennings Dunker, a third-round offensive tackle from Iowa, is getting moved inside to left guard. With Isaac Seumalo gone, Dunker's punching style could give new coach Mike McCarthy the reliable run game he wants. Buffalo grabbed TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the fourth round to energize a shaky inside linebacker group under new coordinator Jim Leonhard's scheme. Elarms-Orr's 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine shows playmaking range miles ahead of Buffalo's existing options. Indianapolis also made noise despite losing a first-round pick in the Sauce Gardner trade, bringing in second-round LB CJ Allen to invigorate a stale defense. A.J. Haulcy, the Colts' safety pick, continues that defensive refresh.

Draft sleep picks don't mean irrelevant rookies. Watch these seven.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.