3 underrated players on every NFL team’s roster in 2026

Watching football is fun, right?

Analyzing football is even funner! Or, to be grammatically correct, more fun!

And the most fun I have when picking apart game tape and advanced metrics is finding those players whose efforts on the field far exceed their name recognition. When you find those Hidden Gems and broadcast their greatness to the world, it’s a nice feeling.

I’ve been writing about underrated players for SB Nation for a while now — between the offseason Hidden Gems and the in-season Secret Superstars — and it’s time to get the Hidden Gems wrapped up for the 2026 NFL season. Especially as Week 1 of the preseason is underway, and a lot of these guys will be seen in that preseason, with hopes of gaining traction in a starting sense for their teams.

With the Hidden Gems, I like to feature one underrated veteran, one underrated free-agent signing (I will occasionally cheat with a traded player), and one underrated draft pick. For all kinds of reasons, these players have not received the recognition they deserve, and each one of them is on the upswing.

We’ll have all 32 teams up before the preseason is over, so keep coming back to this page to see who the Hidden Gems are for your favorite teams. Here’s what we have now — click on the team name to visit the SB Nation team page for detailed analysis as to why these guys are special, though not enough people seem to realize it just yet.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: TE Jackson Hawes, DB Dee Alford, WR Skyler Bell
Miami Dolphins: OT Patrick Paul, WR Jalen Tolbert, LB/DB Kyle Louis
New England Patriots: Safety Craig Woodson, WR Romeo Doubs, CB Karon Prunty
New York Jets: EDGE Will McDonald IV, DI T’Vondre Sweat, CB D’Angelo Ponds

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: CB Nate Wiggins, DL Calais Campbell, WR Elijah Sarratt
Cincinnati Bengals: CB Dax Hill, DL Jonathan Allen, Center Connor Lew
Cleveland Browns: QB Dillon Gabriel, LB Quincy Williams, DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Pittsburgh Steelers: Center Zach Frazier, CB Jamel Dean, RB/WR Eli Heidenreich

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans: CB Kamari Lassiter, Safety Reed Blankenship, WR Lewis Bond
Indianapolis Colts: Center Tanor Bortolini, EDGE Arden Key, LB Bryce Boettcher
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Tennessee Titans:

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos:
Kansas City Chiefs:
Las Vegas Raiders:
Los Angeles Chargers:

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys: WR Ryan Flournoy, Safety Jalen Thompson, CB Devin Moore
New York Giants: DB Dru Phillips, TE Isaiah Likely, WR Malachi Fields
Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Jalyx Hunt, WR Dontayvion Wicks, OG Micah Morris
Washington Commanders: Safety Jeremy Reaves, EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, WR Antonio Williams

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears: RB Kyle Monangai, LB Devin Bush, CB Malik Muhammad
Detroit Lions: CB Rock Ya-Sin, WR/Returner Greg Dortch, CB Keith Abney
Green Bay Packers: CB Keisean Nixon, LB Zaire Franklin, DL Chris McClellan
Minnesota Vikings: RB Jordan Mason, CB James Pierre, CB Chuck Demmings

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons:
Carolina Panthers:
New Orleans Saints:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals:
Los Angeles Rams:
San Francisco 49ers:
Seattle Seahawks: