Every year, the NFL Draft is defined just as much by the names you don’t hear early as the ones you do. For every first-round lock, there are a handful of prospects quietly climbing boards, flashing traits on tape, and waiting for the right team to take a swing. These are the players who turn into Day 2 steals, late round contributors, and sometimes, if everything clicks, stars nobody saw coming.
With the 2026 class starting to take shape, we’re digging a little deeper than the headlines to spotlight five under-the-radar prospects who could outperform their draft slot in a big way.
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2026 NFL Draft Sleepers
Chris Bell (WR – Louisville)
If not for Bell tearing his ACL late in his senior season, he would not be anywhere near a “sleeper list”. Bell is a highly productive receiver who possesses excellent size, athleticism, and playmaking ability. He routinely made big plays with his speed down the field and created separation vertically with ease. Bell is dynamic after the catch and has the speed to erase angles from pursuing defenders. Had Bell not torn his ACL, he likely would be in contention for a first-round selection, but now he is trending toward a late-round two selection. At that current draft projection, Bell is a massive sleeper as he has a chance to be the most productive receiver in the NFL from this entire draft class.
Jaydn Ott (RB – Oklahoma)
A forgotten name in this RB class, Ott has the production and skillset to vastly outperform his draft slot. As it stands, Ott is projected to be a late-day three pick or undrafted free agent, which represents a massive fall off considering he was one of the most highly sought-after transfer running backs in the country last season. Ott had a stellar collegiate career early on while at California and was considered one of the country’s best and most explosive runners. While at Cal, he routinely made big plays, showcasing excellent vision, patience, and home-run speed to break off long runs. His production dipped significantly in his last year after transferring to Oklahoma, and as a result, his draft stock has fallen sharply. The fact of the matter is, the talent that made him so special at Cal is still in there, and a team could get lucky drafting this talented RB late in the draft.
Malik Benson (WR – Oregon)
The NFL is always looking for playmakers at the wide receiver position, and Oregon’s Malik Benson is certainly that. Benson was a one-year starter with Oregon after transferring from Florida State and was very productive for the Ducks. He was a big-play threat with outstanding speed and explosiveness to take the top off defenses. He has excellent hands, ball skills, and body control, and runs very good routes. He isn’t the biggest receiver in the world, and his lack of consistent production throughout his college career has hurt his stock somewhat. Still, he has all the talent to be a massive sleeper and steal if he is selected somewhere late on day three.
Sam Roush (TE – Stanford)
When it comes to tight end scouting, many evaluators are naturally drawn to more of the pass-catching tight ends who essentially serve as bigger receivers. Those players get fans excited because they can create big plays and make highlight catches, but there is still a need for tight ends who can play the conventional role of being both a good pass catcher and a good blocker. Enter Sam Roush. The Stanford product is arguably the best “Y” tight end in the draft, meaning he can play with his hand in the dirt, lined up on the line of scrimmage. He is an above-average athlete who has very reliable hands. He’s underrated after the catch and has proven to be able to make defenders miss in the open field. Roush is an excellent blocker who displays good power at the point of attack. He may not get drafted until the third day of the draft, but I fully expect him to be a contributor early on in the NFL.
Haynes King (QB – Georgia Tech)
Identifying a late-round sleeper at the quarterback position is easier said than done. It’s extremely rare for quarterbacks drafted late to ever find their way onto an NFL field, but if there was one that I am willing to bet on, it’s Georgia Tech’s Haynes King. The 25-year-old rookie brings a ton of experience as a starter to the next level. He is a proven winner and is extremely tough, both physically and mentally. While King may lack the accuracy and touch to ever be a consistent passer in the NFL, he offers outstanding athleticism, highlighted by a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine. His ability to make plays on the ground and be creative enough in the pocket to find his receivers through the air will give him a chance to compete in camp. I can envision a Taysom Hill role for King at the next level, making him an ideal sleeper candidate at quarterback.
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