Five under-the-radar 2026 NFL Draft prospects to know: Former first-round QB's brother could be WR steal

Gyllenborg is a solid route runner and capable of extending plays after the catch. Predominantly used as an in-line tight end, Wyoming also explored placing Gyllenborg in the slot, where he lined up on 40.7 percent of his pass snaps the past two seasons. The following reel from NFL Draft Files shows the various ways Gyllenborg was deployed, revealing a player who could be a weapon in the right offense at the next level.

San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson

Sticky in coverage, Johnson, a fourth-year senior, allowed a 41.9 percent completion rate on 43 targets this season, helping him earn first-team All-Mountain West honors. Quarterbacks threw four interceptions and no touchdowns when going after Johnson while posting a ghastly 16.1 NFL passer rating. (h/t Pro Football Focus)

On the following rep against the Colorado State Rams, Johnson (6 feet, 185 pounds) remained with wideout Jordan Ross, who attempted to gain separation with a stop-and-go, every step of the way. At the end of the play, Johnson shrewdly eased up on the underthrown ball to avoid plowing through Ross, keeping officials from flagging him for defensive pass interference.

North Dakota State Bison wide receiver Bryce Lance

The younger brother of former first-round flameout Trey Lance, Bryce could be one of the biggest steals at receiver in the 2026 draft. He has game-breaking speed that translates to a diverse route tree profile. On the following play, he blazed past defenders for an 81-yard touchdown on a deep post.

On the next play, Lance takes a wide receiver screen three yards behind the line of scrimmage and 75 yards for a touchdown.

Lance (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) isn't all speed, however. He's also an excellent red-zone threat. Lance caught a slant between two defenders from the 1-yard line for a score against Montana State in last year's FCS national championship game.

He had a sensational leaping catch at the front corner of the end zone against Northern Iowa in November 2024, while only needing one hand for a touchdown against South Dakota State in last year's playoff semifinal.

Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

The Philadelphia Inquirer sports editor and NFL Draft analyst Devin Jackson highlighted safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (No. 7) in August 2025, before his outstanding senior season, with a reel that revealed a physical defender with impressive ball skills.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety is the latest defensive player from the Toledo pipeline to force his way onto draft big boards, joining cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (2024) and defensive tackle Darius Alexander (2025).

His aggressiveness makes him excellent against the run as well as at creating turnovers. He stood out earlier this season against Kentucky, perhaps most notably on the following play.

McNeil-Warren lined up between the hash marks at the time of the snap, then sprinted left to help take away a deep perimeter route. Kentucky quarterback Zach Calzada threw underneath to tight end Willie Rodriguez on a shallow crossing route, and he gained 20 yards before McNeil-Warren punched the ball loose and recovered it.

In the regular-season finale against Central Michigan, he made an incredible diving interception along the sideline, his fifth career interception, to go along with eight forced fumbles.

Western Michigan Broncos defensive end Nadame Tucker

The Senior Bowl announced Tucker will be in Mobile this coming January on Monday. He'll be one of this year's can't-miss prospects after coming out of nowhere for a remarkable senior year.

The 2025 MAC Player of the Year led the country with 14.5 sacks this season after going without one in his first three FBS seasons at Houston. He played at Independence and Hutchinson Community Colleges in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Tucker (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) has an intriguing mix of speed and power on his pass rushes, which he showed in the MAC title game win over Miami (Ohio), fighting through a double-team for one sack and blowing past offensive tackle Eric Smith on another.

With only a season's worth of data, the next few months — beginning in Mobile, Ala., at the Senior Bowl — will be huge for Tucker to solidify his name on draft boards.