NFL Draft sleepers to know: 11 potential steals in 2026 include Kaytron Allen, Chris Johnson

NFL Draft sleepers to know: 11 potential steals in 2026 include Kaytron Allen, Chris Johnson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Four of our top sleepers for the 2026 NFL Draft played in the College Football Playoff championship game last season – and three of those players were transfers.

This is the college football landscape in 2026. Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and center Pat Coogan were top players for the Hoosiers, and Jakobe Thomas and Markel Bell were among the standouts for the Hurricanes. None of those players are projected to be first-round picks, but that makes them ideal sleepers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Sleepers and steals are always well-documented during the draft process, but the profile varies. Penn State's Kaytron Allen is the school's all-time leading rusher. San Diego State's Chris Johnson was a standout in the Mountain West Conference.

Will their production at the next level match the draft-day value? It's a hit-and-miss science, and last year we hit on RJ Harvey and Harrold Fannin Jr.

Sporting News looks at our favorite sleepers from each position group ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft – a wide range of players from the Power 4, Group of 6 and FCS who we think will hit in the NFL:

MORE 2026 NFL DRAFT:

• Complete 7-round mock draft
• Trade predictions for the first round
• Where will each quarterback go in 2026 draft?

NFL Draft sleepers 2026

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Quarterback: Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Altmyer (6-2, 210) is our favorite Day 3 quarterback. He had a 61.1% completion on passes of 10-19 yards with 14 TDs and one interception the last two seasons with Illinois – a sign he can work in a range where NFL quarterbacks need to be on point. Altmyer had a 147.7 QB rating against ranked teams and he was 19-7 as a starter with the Illini. He'll develop into a high-end backup with a chance to start.

Also watch: Cole Payton, North Dakota State. Payton (6-3, 232) is a dual-threat talent who had a 72% completion percentage. He rushed for 777 yards and 13 TDs with the Bison. Payton was not a high-volume passer, but according to Pro Football Focus he hit 35 of 56 passes (62.5%) on passes of 20 yards or more. That has our attention.

Running back: Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Allen (5-11, 216) broke the Penn State career rushing record with 4,180 yards and was a bright spot through a tough 2025 season. He averaged 3.77 yards after contact according to PFF, which ranked eighth among running backs with at least 200 carries. He averaged a career-best 6.2 yards per carry last season with 15 TDs. He also had 70 receptions at Penn State.

Also watch: Jonah Coleman, Washington. Coleman (5-8, 220). Coleman has more draft-day buzz than Allen – he's ranked No. 3 behind Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in Sporting News' RB rankings. Coleman is a compact back who scored 15 TDs last season. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry between Arizona and Washington.

NFL DRAFT RANKINGS 2026:QBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE | RBs

Wide receiver: Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati

Allen (5-11, 180) played at Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M before catching on with the Bearcats – where he 51 catches for 674 yards and 13 TDs. He tailed off at the end of the last season – and there is a boom-or-bust feel to this pick – but he had seven TDs in the red zone. That production keeps young receivers on the field.

Also watch: Skyler Bell, UConn. Bell (6-0, 192) brings elite production as a possession receiver. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch as a junior in 2024 and led the FBS with 101 catches in 2025. Bell had seven games with at least 100 yards receiving. He ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine – which makes him a solid pick when the Day 2 receiver run starts.

Tight end: Tanner Koziol, Houston

Koziol (6-6, 247) is a big target who led all FBS tight ends with 74 receptions last season. He also played at Wisconsin. He had 94 receptions the previous season at Ball State. He's the prototype possession-receiver tight end. Koziol ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine – which is in the neighborhood of Fannin's time of 4.71 in the 40-yard dash last year.

Also watch: Dan Villari, Syracuse. Villari (6-4, 245) is one of the most-versatile athletes in the draft. He had 39 catches for 412 yards last season with a 70.9% catch percentage. He is a converted quarterback who can run short-yardage out of the Wildcat. He's a deep sleeper who might not get drafted, but file this name away for the preseason.

Iowa offensive tackle Gennings Dunker

Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Offensive tackle: Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Dunker (6-5, 315) gained notoriety for his hairstyle – but that was quickly overshadowed by his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. He's one of three trust-worthy Iowa offensive linemen in this draft along with Rimington Trophy winner Logan Jones and guard Beau Stephens. All three will make an impact at the next level. Dunker played left tackle last season but has the ability to slide down to guard .

Also watch: Markel Bell, Miami. Bell (6-9, 346) is a massive tackle who will not go as high as teammate Francis Mauigoa but still exhibits some of the dominant traits at tackle. Bell did not allow a sack last season and improved with each season under coach Mario Cristobal. He'll continue to develop, and and there is upside as a Day 3 pick.

Guard/center: Jake Slaughter, Florida

Slaughter (6-4, 303) was one of the top centers in college football each of the last two seasons. He allowed just two sacks in two seasons, and has the ability to play guard in the NFL. He is a Day 2 pick who should have the chance to start right away in the right situation.

Also watch: Pat Coogan, Indiana. Coogan (6-5, 311) played in two consecutive CFP championship games with Notre Dame and Indiana, and he had just six penalties. He's an excellent run blocker and should be a late-round steal who develops into a starter.

Defensive tackle: Chris McClellan, Missouri

McClellan (6-3, 313) had four sacks in the Tigers' last four games – a late breakout as a pass rusher. McClellan was one of five players in the FBS with at least five sacks and 25 run stops. He had the second-lowest 10-yard split (1.80) at the NFL Scouting Combine – which tempers our expectations – but we like the ability to flash against the run and pass from the interior.

Also watch: Darrell Jackson, Florida State. Jackson (6-5, 315) totaled 77 tackles and seven tackles for loss the last two seasons for the Seminoles. He dropped 20 pounds after the NFL Scouting Combine and could push into Day 2 as a result.

Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker

Nov 29, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) passes under pressure from Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker (3) in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Edge rusher: TJ Parker, Clemson

Parker (6-3, 263) was No. 3 on our Big Board at the start of the 2026 NFL Draft process. He had five sacks in 2025 – including four in the regular-season finale against South Carolina. That was down 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss the previous season. He averaged 11 hits and 26 hurries the last two seasons with the Tigers, and his time in the 10-yard split (1.61) is comparable to the first-round pass rushers in this draft. Can a NFL franchise refine that talent at the next level?

Also watch: Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan. Tucker (6-2, 247) transferred from Houston to Western Michigan – and he led the FBS with 14.5 sacks. He ranked eighth in the FBS with 61 pressures, according to PFF. He could break through as a situational pass rusher as a rookie.

Linebacker: Kyle Louis, Pitt

Louis (6-0, 220) averaged 91 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions the last two seasons for the Panthers – production that rivaled Ohio State's Sonny Styles and Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. in that stretch. Louis doesn't have the size of his counterparts, but his ability to create negative plays (25.5 tackles for loss the last two seasons) and coverage skills stand out among a loaded group of linebackers.

Also watch: Karson Sharar, Iowa. Sharar (6-1, 231) waited his turn with the Hawkeyes as a five-year player, and he totaled 83 tackles, four sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season. He flashed in the ReliaQuest Bowl with five tackles and two sacks.

Cornerback: Chris Johnson, San Diego State

Johnson (6-0, 193) had a smooth workout at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash — the third-fastest time among cornerbacks – with a 1.54 split. We're even more interested in the on-field production. Johnson had four interceptions and two pick sixes in 2025. He also forced four fumbles the last two years for the Aztecs. Johnson is a Day 2 pick with first-round value.

Also watch: D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana. Ponds (5-9, 182) is a fierce competitor who helped the Hoosiers with the CFP championship. According to PFF, he allowed a 50% catch percentage on 64 targets. He also missed just two tackles.

Safety: Jakobe Thomas, Miami

Thomas (6-1, 211) improved his stock in the College Football Playoff – especially in the quarterfinal victory against Ohio State. Thomas averaged seven tackles per game with an interception in those four games and had five interceptions for the season. Thomas is a hard-hitting safety whose coverage improved in the second half of the season with the Hurricanes. He's a value pick on Day 3.

Also watch: Michael Taaffe, Texas. Taaffe (5-11, 190) won the Wuerffel Trophy as a senior. He averaged 65 tackles the past three seasons and totaled seven interceptions with the Longhorns. Taaffe ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, can play multiple positions and adds value on special teams.