NFL Draft’s 7 biggest sleepers in 2026 who could turn into steals

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 14: Eli Heidenreich #22 of the Navy Midshipmen rushes the ball during a game between Navy and Army at Northwest Stadium on December 14, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We are just over 24 hours until the 2026 NFL Draft, where we expect Fernando Mendoza to be the first player selected.

But he will not be the only player selected.

There are 257 draft slots in this year’s NFL Draft, starting with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and finishing with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Whether it is the Broncos or another team making that pick remains to be seen, but the simple fact is this: there are lots of players who are going to be drafted over the next few days.

Including some sleepers.

Let’s dive into seven of them, including one who might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of the sleeper police, but might be my favorite player to watch in this class outside of Caleb Downs.

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

Several defenders from Texas Tech are expected to come off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pass rusher David Bailey might be drafted second by the New York Jets, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could sneak into the first round, and defensive tackle Lee Hunter and pass rusher Romello Height are expected to be Day 2 picks.

Safety Cole Wisniewski, however, might slide late into Day 3. But there is a lot to like about his game. Wisniewski racked up 78 total tackles for the Red Raiders last season, along with six pass breakups and a sack.

He did this after missing the entire 2024 season due to a foot injury.

While Wisniewski is more of a deep safety, you could draw a comparison to Caleb Downs in terms of his versatility. Wisniewski is on the bigger size, weighing in at 220 pounds, which allowed Texas Tech to drop him down into the box in certain situations, even when he might be playing in a traditional single-high role during the same possession.

Take this play against UCF, where he slides down into the box, feels the run play perfectly, and makes a tackle for a short gain:

Texas Tech has several defenders that should be drafted this week.

Including Wisniewski.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College

Lewis Bond did almost everything a wide receiver can do to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He caught 88 passes for 993 yards and a touchdown in 2024, with those 88 receptions setting a new team record. He leaves Chestnut Hill having set a new career reception mark with 213, and also checks in at fifth in the school’s record book with 2,385 career receiving yards. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection, and garnered praise for his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Yet when it came time for Combine invitations, he was left on the outside looking in.

Watching Bond on film, you see a player with great feel for the position, great awarness for his nearest threat in the secondary, and the ability to play both outside and in the slot. If you needed just one play to sum up what he can bring to an NFL offense it is this reception against Syracuse, where he beats the man coverage defender, makes a tough adjustment to an off-target throw, and finishes the play with an explosive gain in the passing game:

That will work.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

While measurements vary, tight end Tanner Koziol checks in with a wingspan around 83 inches based on his measurements at the Combine.

And the tight end puts every bit of that wingspan to use on plays like this one:

Koziol’s ability to play above-the-rim stands out, and his ability to win in contested catch situations will serve him well at the next level. There is some “big wide receiver” to his game, along with good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Add in some ability as a blocker — and a whole lot of willingness — and you have a nice find on the third day of the draft.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah

Bentley was mired on the depth chart at Utah for the two previous seasons, catching just three passes over two years with the Utes. But he got a chance to see more playing time this past season and caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns for Utah this past season.

Those numbers saw him finish second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead in touchdown catches. The 6’4, 253-pound tight end also posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

But what might help him the most is what he can do as an in-line blocker. Bentley is every bit the complete tight end, with an ability to execute blocks on both gap and zone designs from an in-line or a wing alignment. For many tight ends coming out of college, picking up the blocking part of the job is the toughest part of the transition, but Bentley looks ready to step in right away in that area.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor generated the most buzz on the defensive side of the ball as Miami stormed to an appearance in the title game, but if you watched the Hurricanes defense this year you probably saw something in addition to those pass rushers.

#0 near the football.

That would be slot corner Keionte Scott, who was a force in his own right for the Miami defense. Scott racked up 67 tackles, including 13 for a loss, last season while adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Watch him on this play against Texas A&M dip under the blocker, and chop down the receiver for a loss on a quick screen:

Those four sacks punctuate his effectiveness as a blitzer, and the best example of that trait might be his 11-yard sack against Louisville, when he knifes into the backfield with a well-timed blitz to put the Cardinals into a third-and-long situation.

Scott did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, saving that for his Pro Day. The unofficial time of 4.25 seconds certainly turned heads, but even the more conservative time of 4.37 seconds that was reported is an eye-popping number.

Scott might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of some, as he could be drafted on Day 2. But he might be one of my favorite players in this entire class to watch, so I’m putting him here.

Expected Draft Rounds: Rounds 2-3

Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke

The production might not be there.

But the tool kit is.

Wesley Williams recorded just a pair of sacks in 2025, a year after recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. But when you watch him on film, you see a pass rusher with a plan, a tool kit to work with, and the ability to tie it all together.

Take this play against Virginia, where he is working against the left tackle:

Williams uses his hands to perfection, swatting away the blocking attempt before dipping around the edge, putting a shot on the quarterback just as he releases a throw.

Pressure is production, and Williams can generate pressure on the opposing passer. He can win with power, speed, and technique off the edge. He also posted the ninth-best vertical among defensive ends at the Combine, checking in at 35.5 inches. That speaks to his power and explosiveness off the edge.

Williams might be available late into Day 3, but some team is going to take advantage of that fact when they turn in a card with his name on it.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Eli Heidenreich, Football Player, Navy

You knew this name was going to make an appearance.

I’ve listed Navy’s Eli Heidenreich as a “football player” because his skillset is so unique. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy offense, Heidenreich lined up at various spots for the Midshipmen as one of their “Snipe” players, best described as a hybrid slot back/running back/wide receiver. You might see him aligned in the offensive backfield on first down, in the wing on second, and then in the slot on third.

During the 2025 season, Heidenreich tallied 1,440 yards from scrimmage, including 499 rushing yards (on just 77 carries, for 6.9 yards per attempt) while catching 51 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns.

And not all of those receptions were bubble screens or checkdowns. Not by a long shot:

Heidenreich’s incredible Combine — where he posted numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey — has many dreaming that he could become that kind of player at the next level. That kind of comparison is lofty, and seems a long way off.

But what Heidenreich could be is still very valuable to an NFL team, and that is an offensive weapon who can create mismatches all over the field thanks to his athleticism and versatility.

That is certainly worth a pick on Day 3.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7