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2026 NFL Draft Stock Report: Big-Play Defenders Shine On Championship Weekend
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- 2026 NFL Draft Stock Report: Big-Play Defenders Shine On Championship Weekend
College football's championship weekend delivered some impressive performances from some big names in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but we also saw a handful of underrated gems make a name for themselves on the big stage.
This week's stock report features a trio of defenders who made huge plays for their respective teams with conference titles on the line, raising their draft stock in the process.
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Here are three sleeper defenders to move up your draft board after this weekend:
Stock Up: Edge Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
The Broncos bounced back from an 0-3 start to win the MAC title Saturday, and Tucker earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for his impressive performance in a 23-13 win over Miami (OH).
He bagged six tackles, three tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, showing the ability to consistently get after the quarterback, especially in crunch time. That stat line leaves Tucker with 14.5 sacks so far this season, and just like he's been all season long, he was all over the place against the Redhawks:
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Listed at 6-3, 250 pounds, the senior from New York has an NFL-ready frame that still has room for a little quality bulk. His consistent production is enough on its own to pique the interest of pro scouts, but a closer look at the tape shows a nuanced pass rusher who can get to the quarterback with a wide range of moves, winning with both speed and power. Throw in a relentless motor, and you've got a recipe for an impact player.
Even in a loaded class of edge defenders, Tucker could be pushing himself into the Day 2 discussion with the season he's having.
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Stock Up: LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
For the second time this season, the Red Raiders destroyed BYU on Saturday, this time for the first Big 12 title in program history . Roberts was a big part of it, showing off impressive skills in coverage that created multiple splash plays.
Roberts snagged not one but two interceptions off Cougars freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, displaying a fantastic combination of instincts, awareness, athleticism and ball skills with a championship on the line:
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Roberts earned MVP honors for his performance, helping lock the Red Raiders into one of the top four spots (and a first-round bye) in the College Football Playoff.
This defense has been one of the most dominant in the nation all season long, but most of the attention has gone to its elite pass-rushing tandem (David Bailey, Romello Height), and another stellar linebacker in Jacob Rodriguez. But Roberts is demanding his own share of interest with an outing like that, especially on a championship stage.
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Listed at 6-3, 235 pounds, Roberts has the ideal frame of an off-ball linebacker at the next level. He's obviously got the coverage chops to make a big impact for an NFL defense, and the overall physical/mental traits to intrigue scouts for all 32 teams. It wouldn't be surprising if he's moving up all of those boards after this weekend.
Stock Up: Edge Caden Curry, Ohio State
The Buckeyes' defense is an embarrassment of reaches, including the two best players in the 2026 draft class, but Curry reminded everyone Saturday night that he's an impact player in his own right.
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Curry made his presence felt right away, delivering a crushing blow to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza that crumpled the top passer in this year's draft class. He wasn't done, though, grabbing a pair of sacks in the first half:
The 6-3, 260-pound senior showed off a nonstop motor that NFL coaches will absolutely love, working through multiple blockers and paying off his relentless effort to get over the double-digit sack mark for the season.
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With his size, well-rounded skill set as both a run defender and pass rusher, and experience playing in a pro-style defense under Matt Patricia with other elite talent, Curry checks a ton of valuable boxes that should allow him to make an instant splash at the next level. Even on such a star-studded unit, Curry stood out on a big stage Saturday night, and that's sure to turn heads among NFL scouts and decision-makers.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
