2026 All-Underrated defense reveals NFL Draft’s biggest sleeper to watch

With the NFL Draft just days away, it is time to release NFL Mock’s All-Underrated Defense. Like the offensive unit released last month, this group is made up of sleepers who are being overlooked and are not ranked among the top 50 players on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.

2026 All-Underrated defense features NFL Draft’s biggest sleeper to know

DE: Ethan Burke, Texas

Ethan Burke is being completely overlooked in this edge class. He was not invited to the NFL Combine and is rated as the Athletic’s 43rd ranked defensive end, which is way lower than his actual value as a player. He is not a flashy pass rusher, but he is a strong run defender who does a great job setting the edge and posted an 83.2 PFF run defense grade that matches what you see on tape.

Burke also brings real value on special teams with three blocked kicks over the past two seasons. He is not going to win with elite bend or speed off the edge, which is why he is not getting much buzz, but he is the type of player who sticks in the league for a long time as a reliable rotational defensive end and special teams contributor.

DT: Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana 

Kaleb Proctor is a small-school explosive defensive tackle who should turn out to be a great value pick. This past season he was named Southland Conference Player of the Year after recording 13 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. He followed that up with an impressive NFL Combine that included a 4.79 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time among defensive tackles. He should be a good fit for a team that wants to find a 3-technique defensive tackle.

DT: Jackie Marshall, Baylor

Jackie Marshall is a player who could go undrafted after a disappointing season, but still carries high upside. He only recorded 2 sacks this year, but shows good explosion as a pass rusher, highlighted by a 4.88 40-yard dash. He also holds up surprisingly well against the run for an undersized defensive tackle and earned an 88.4 PFF run defense grade in 2024.

DE: Mason Reiger, Wisconsin

Mason Reiger is the opposite of Ethan Burke in this group, he is an explosive pass rusher who wins more with burst and athletic traits than power right now. This past season he put up 45 pressures and 5 sacks, and a big reason for that production is how quickly he gets off the ball and attacks upfield. He also has good size and length at 6-foot-5 with 32 5/8-inch arms, which gives him real developmental upside. The concern is strength, especially when he has to hold up against the run or finish through contact, but if he adds that to his frame he has starter upside in the NFL as a classic Day 3 sleeper edge.

OLB: Trey Moore, Texas

Trey Moore is a player who has stood out since 2022 when he was a Freshman All-American at UTSA and then spent his last two seasons at Texas. He is not a perfect fit in a 4-3 defense as he lacks the fluid hips to consistently hold up in coverage and does not have the size to be a traditional defensive end, but he is a strong fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His burst off the ball and ability to turn the corner make him a natural pass rusher in that role.

MLB: Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Aiden Fisher may lack elite measurables at 6-foot-1 with a 4.76 40-yard dash, but he is the type of smart, physical leader teams should be targeting late in the draft. He brings toughness and reliability to the middle of a defense and projects as the kind of player who can stick in the league for a long time as a backup linebacker and core special teams contributor, which is strong value on Day Three.

OLB: Keyron Crawford, Auburn

Keyron Crawford is the player on this team with the highest consensus draft grade and for good reason. Like Trey Moore he fits best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he can also contribute in a 4-3 defense as a situational pass rusher. He is still a developing player with a lot of untapped potential since he did not start playing football until his senior year, which makes his upside even more appealing.

CB: Daylen Everette, Georgia 

Daylen Everette is one of the most impressive athletes in this year’s cornerback class with a strong combination of speed and size. The First Team All-SEC selection showed good quickness when driving on the ball and finished the season with 11 pass breakups and in 2024 he had three interceptions.

S: VJ Payne, Kansas State

VJ Payne is one of the few players to be named to both the preseason All-Underrated and postseason All-Underrated teams. While he may not have elite production, he is an elite athlete with high upside. At 6-foot-3 with 4.4 speed, he has excellent range in coverage and can cover a lot of ground as a free safety. With improved technique, he has the tools to develop into a starting NFL free safety.

S: Kamari Ramsey, USC

Kamari Ramsey played more of a nickel or free safety role at USC, but projects better as a strong safety in the NFL. He brings a physical, big hitting style and only missed one tackle, showing reliability as a tackler in space and near the line of scrimmage. He is also solid in coverage and has the range to handle most tight ends at the next level. On top of that, he has strong football IQ as the leader of the USC defense and was responsible for making all defensive calls.

CB: Jadon Canady, Oregon

Jadon Canady is a nickel corner who should be good value on Day Three. He is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds and can get pushed around at times, but he is very good in coverage because of his quickness and ability to pattern match. Last season he did not allow a single reception over 11 yards and gave up just a 46% completion rate when targeted.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow