SNS 2026 Deep Dive – The UDFAs that Could Impact the NFL

There are more than 1,600 names confirmed for the 2026 NFL Draft listed in the Comprehensive Eligibility Tracking database (https://www.stacknshed.com/comprehensive-draft-eligibility) and only 257 of those prospects will hear their name called this weekend. That means for the 1,400 or so prospects that were not selected, their hope is to be offered a free agent contract or a formal try-out offer to have an opportunity to attend rookie minicamp this summer. But as long-time fans know, adding quality UDFAs with starter’s traits allow an NFL team to build depth that is needed to navigate an NFL season. Let’s take a look at some prospects who are unlikely to get drafted but have the skills needed to contribute in the NFL.

Anthony Hankerson / RB / Oregon State

SNS RB Ranking – 17

Big Board 500 Ranking – 252

Hankerson has rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons for the woeful Beavers, was the only NFL-caliber prospect on their offense, and excelled despite being the focus of the defensive game plan every week. Hankerson has adequate height, a thick, sturdy frame, and solid mass. Very good vision. Patient runner. Light feet and loose hips give him good lateral agility and cutting ability. Excellent burst to and through the hole. Hankerson has great contact balance and seems to always fall forward – drives legs and fights for every yard. Physical and strong inside runner. Hankerson is a reliable outlet receiver – effective on short routes and in the screen game and possesses soft hands. Hankerson is very durable despite having a heavy workload in Corvallis. If Hankerson signs with the right team, he could earn a job as a backup RB as a rookie this fall.

Khordae Sydnor / EDGE / Vanderbilt

SNS EDGE Ranking – 37

Big Board 500 Ranking – 305

Transfer from Purdue. Possesses the desired height, frame, and mass (6044 / 262 lbs) for a 4-3 DE. Extremely long arms and a massive wingspan (34 & 5/8” Arms / 83 & 3/4” Wingspan). Sydnor has nice agility with light feet and good mobility – very good range for his size. Strong and establishes containment well and pushes the run back inside consistently. Sydnor only possesses average speed to power conversion ability. Overly reliant on his bull rush and needs to add some moves to his pass rushing arsenal. Solid production over the last three years with 9.5 sacks and 17.5 TFL at Purdue and then Vanderbilt. Sydnor should be a much sought after UDFA who will push for a practice squad spot or a roster spot on a 53-man roster this fall.

Junior Vandeross / WR / Toledo

SNS WR Ranking – 45

Big Board 500 Ranking – 328

Vandeross is an undersized slot receiver lacking desired height (5077) but has a solid frame and marginal mass (177 lbs). Vandeross has long arms and large wingspan for his height (30 & 5/8” Arms / 72 & ½” Wingspan). Likely will be limited to slot duties in the NFL due to lack of size and strength. Vandeross has very good hands. Very good route runner – sinks hips and consistently creates separation. Knows how to adjust his route to leverage coverage and create separation in his route. Quick and agile in space with good burst to find holes in the coverage. High football IQ. Quickness and agility allow him to uncover against both man and zone coverage. Effective YAC ability due to speed, agility, and vision. Vandeross will push for a roster spot over the summer.

Javon McIntyre / S / Pittsburgh

SNS S Ranking – 24

Big Board 500 Ranking – 338

McIntyre lacks great ball skills with only 3 career INTs and 13 passes defensed over his four-year career as a Panther and that limits his upside, but McIntyre is a team captain with outstanding leadership skills and profiles as a core special teams contributor in the NFL. Good height / frame with adequate mass and very good length and long arms – looks the part. Displays the ability to stay in-phase with slot receivers in coverage without relying on physicality. McIntyre displays very good coverage ability on TEs in coverage. Uses length well to disrupt passes at the catch point. Physical tackler who sometimes comes in out of control, attempts to tackle high, and falls off the tackle attempt. Needs to become a more secure open field tackler. Very effective crashing down in the box and supporting against the run. McIntyre will need to excel on special teams but his size and durability give him a chance to stick on an NFL roster.

James Thompson / IDL / Illinois

SNS IDL Ranking – 30

Big Board 500 Ranking – 343

Thompson has experience at both DT and EDGE in college at Wisconsin and Illinois and has a great physical profile to play 5T in an odd man front – 6052 / 301 lbs / 32” Arms / 79 & ¾” Wingspan. Thompson displays some promise as an interior pass rusher and flashes great hand use and shedding ability. Impactful tackler. Nice first step and initial quickness – especially when rushing from the inside. Thompson lacks some desired agility and he can get washed out of plays when his pads rise but he has a combination of skills that fits in well with a 3-4 front. Thompson could become a starter down the road even if he goes undrafted this weekend.

Bryce Foster / OC / Kansas

SNS IOL Ranking – 29

Big Board 500 Ranking – 348

A Track and Field All-American at Kansas, Foster looks like an NFL center - 6042 / 317 lbs / 31 & 7/8” Arms / 76 & 7/8” Wingspan – and plays with a wide base with very good balance and body control. Great athlete. Very good mobility with the light feet to be used to lead on pulls and out front in the screen game. Smart and aware – redirects well. Makes the line calls and has good leadership skill. Very strong. Gets glued on blocks and does not get to the second level and complete combo blocks as well as desired. Throws a strong punch but placement is poor and may be prone to holding calls at the next level. Grip strength needs improvement – hands are too easily discarded. Foster’s combination of experience, intelligence, and athleticism give him an excellent opportunity to make a 53-man roster or practice squad this fall.

Paul Rubelt / OT / UCF

SNS OT Ranking – 34

Big Board 500 Ranking – 356

Rubelt is a German citizen who has only played competitive football for a short period of time but as the old saying goes, “you can’t teach size” – Rubelt measures in at 6103 / 304 lbs / 34 & ¾” Arms / 84 & ¾” Wingspan and could possibly be the tallest player in the NFL. Lacks some desired mass and strength – should benefit from an NFL strength program. Bends well for his size and plays with good leverage despite height – notable for a player with the height of an NBA center. Adequate base and balance – will sometimes lose balance against a speed rusher and end up on the turf. Slides well laterally – combined with his length makes him effective against most speed rushers. Needs to improve hand use – needs to throw punches with more shock and improve placement consistency. Needs to use length better, lock out, and control defenders with his massive wingspan – too much a “catcher” as opposed to a “dealer” of violence. Approach to pass protection is too passive and he can be overwhelmed by quickness or power. May lack the desired nasty edge for an NFL OL. Needs to improve grip strength – hands too easily discarded. Premium size with a body that has yet to fill out. Likely will begin his NFL career on a practice squad but he has size that you cannot teach and is worth developing.

Jeffrey M’ba / IDL / SMU

SNS IDL Ranking – 33

Big Board 500 Ranking – 356

Another relatively inexperienced football player, M’ba impressed at the Senior Bowl at the end of January as he displayed fantastic athleticism including an impressive first step and his initial twitch is excellent. M’ba, a French citizen born in Gabon, Africa, is not ready to contribute immediately in the NFL but his combination of elite size – 6054 / 316 lbs / 33 & ¾” Arms – and athleticism makes him a probable inactive player on most game weeks since placing him on the practice squad would expose him, per NFL rules, to being picked up by an opposing team. In other words, M’ba has tremendous upside to be developed into an eventual starter even if he is not ready quite yet. If M’ba goes undrafted, he would be a high priority UDFA. Expect to see M’ba play in the NFL within a few years.

Jacob Thomas / S / James Madison

SNS S Ranking – 28

Big Board 500 Ranking – 376

Possesses desired size for safety – tall (6003), solid build and quality mass (210 lbs), and long arms (31 & ¼”) and a large wingspan (77 & 1/8”). Physical tackler who closes quickly and brings his pads – works to finish his tackle. Good leaping ability to make plays on the ball at the catch point. Effective as a blitzer off the edge – good agility and a nice burst. Breaks down well and makes form tackles in the open field. Thomas is well-coached and smart. Used in the box like an undersized LB and navigates trash around the LOS well. Smart and instinctive. Good long speed but lacks any explosive qualities – only possesses one gear. Displays good ball skills with solid production – recorded 5 INTs and 10 passes defended over the last two seasons. Limited fluidity and can be exploited in man coverage against WRs and RBs. Profiles as a core special teamer with the agility and tackling ability to excel on special teams. Thomas will push for a roster spot this fall.

Dasan McCullough / LB-EDGE / Nebraska

SNS LB Ranking – 31

Big Board 500 Ranking – 393

The much-traveled McCullough, who had stints at Indiana and Oklahoma as well as Nebraska, is long and lean (6051 / 220 lbs / 34 & 1/8” Arms / 81 & 5/8” Wingspan) and lacks a natural position in the NFL without the size and strength for EDGE duties and the experience and instincts for off-the-ball LB. McCullough can bend, flatten, and close on the QB like few others in college football. The Husker has excellent range and speed – huge strides that eat up turf in chunks.  Great burst displayed to close on the QB or ball carrier. Flashes moments of dominance while disappearing at other times. McCullough possesses excellent potential to excel on special teams in the NFL, if he can find a position fit and prove to have a role on defense.

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