There aren't many things NFL fans love to talk about more in the offseason than the NFL Draft, and the topic of "steals" and "sleepers" is always brought up at nauseum.
With the 2026 NFL Draft having come and gone, the focus has now shifted among fanbases to planting their flag on their new draft classes and projecting which players will outperform their draft position. Plenty of prospects selected in the latter half of the draft will work their way into becoming starters, and/or generally impactful players.
Here's one player from each AFC East team who fits that mold:
New England Patriots: Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M - Round 6, Pick 196
It was no secret that the Patriots entered the draft with a plan to address their offensive line, a position group that got absolutely torn apart in their Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After taking their hopeful right tackle of the future in former Utah lineman Caleb Lomu at the back end of the 1st round, they doubled up with Crownover on Day 3.
The former Aggie is a mammoth of a man, standing at 6-foot-7 and nearly 320 pounds. There's a lot of work that needs to be done with his technique and movement skills, but if he can put it together, New England could have a fantastic rotational OT with the potential to start down the line if needed.
Buffalo Bills: Toriano Pride, CB, Missouri - Round 7, Pick 220
Despite taking 4 cornerbacks in the last two drafts, the Bills still aren't loaded on the back half of their defense. Toriano Pride Jr. likely won't set the world on fire in the NFL, but a future as a reliable defensive back in a contending rotation could be a realistic outcome for the Missouri product.
Defensively, he showed potential as both a boundary corner and nickel, especially in his physicality at the catch point. He also possesses experience on special teams from his collegiate days. Pride Jr. isn't a consistent tackler or run defender by any means, but he could be a valuable piece for Buffalo as they look to counter the growing leaguewide passing attacks.
Miami Dolphins: Kyle Louis, LB/S, Pittsburgh - Round 4, Pick 138
The definition of a media darling, Louis was a fan favorite among analysts and scouts on social media leading up to the draft. He can play as an off-ball linebacker, has seen time in the slot, and can work deeper into the secondary in a more traditional safety alignment. He lit up the combine with some elite testing numbers, including a 1.58-second 10-yard split and 39.5-inch vertical jump.
Finding the key to success for Louis at the NFL level will be found through balancing his versatility with stability. Miami's thin and inexperienced secondary should open a pathway for him to push for extended early playing time, and getting on-field reps would benefit his development into an every-down defender.
New York Jets: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State - Round 7, Pick 228
Similar to Louis, Payne was used as a true versatile weapon in the Kansas State secondary. A more standard safety profile, he's a lanky defensive back who took major strides with his coverage abilities in 2025. His size should allow him to develop as a Jamal Adams-type box safety, although he has had issues with instinctual lapses and defensive miscommunications.
Getting viable secondary depth in the later rounds is always something that teams target, and Payne is the exact type of player that front offices have found success with in the past. He can, at the very least, be a Day 1 contributor on special teams, and he has the athletic foundation to project as a productive player if developed correctly.
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