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While headline names like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate will steal the spotlight in the first round of the NFL Draft, Days 2 and 3 should still bring plenty of excitement as teams look to find hidden gems in the later rounds.
This is where rosters are built, depth is strengthened, and diamonds in the rough are found.
Over the past decade, some of the NFL’s most valuable and impactful players have come from outside the first round, winning Super Bowls, breaking records and earning major awards.
In Rounds 2 and 3, players like quarterback Jalen Hurts led their teams to multiple Super Bowl appearances and won Super Bowl MVP. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp had a historic season, setting the single-season record for total receiving yards and winning Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP in 2021.
In rounds 4-7, the list of impact players is even more impressive.
Puka Nacua, a fifth-round pick in 2023, has quickly become one of the best wide receivers in the league. Tyreek Hill and George Kittle are other notable names who were selected on Day 3.
At quarterback, Dak Prescott has been a franchise cornerstone for nearly a decade after being drafted in the fourth round, and Brock Purdy went from Mr. Irrelevant to the San Francisco 49ers’ $265 million franchise quarterback.
Strong organizations not only get their first choice right; they constantly find contributors throughout the rest of the draft.
With that in mind, here are the top five sleeper prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Keionte Scott checks all the boxes as a modern nickel defender in the NFL.
In his final season in Miami, he had 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, showing rare production from the slot and a very explosive profile.
Scott backed up his tape with an elite Pro Day performance. He recorded a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, a 44-inch vertical and a 10-foot-3-inch broad jump. His vertical would have led all defensive backs at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Add in Scott’s physicality against the run and his strong football IQ, and he projects as a true three-down impact player who could come off the board sooner than expected.
Taylen Green is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After transferring to Arkansas, he displayed a rare combination of size, athleticism and production, throwing for 2,714 yards with 19 touchdowns while adding 777 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
At 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds, Green combines that dual-threat production with eye-popping testing numbers, including a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. Those marks place him among the most athletic quarterbacks ever tested, backed by a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score of 9.99.
He’s still a raw passer with inconsistencies, but his physical tools and playmaking ability give him a very high ceiling.
After following Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington, Jonah Coleman had 1,053 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 before adding 758 yards and 15 scores in 2025 despite battling a late-season knee injury.
Standing at 5-foot-9 with a powerful frame, Coleman thrives on finishing through contact, which often requires multiple defenders to take him down.
Even more impressive is his confidence on the ball. In 552 career rushing attempts, he fumbled just twice.
While he lacks elite breakaway speed at the NFL level, his vision, contact balance and power make him a strong candidate to surpass his draft position. Teams looking for a physical three-down running back could target him on Day 2 or early on Day 3.
Gabe Jacas is one of the most underrated edge defenders in this class and a strong Day 2 sleeper.
As a four-year starter at Illinois, he was asked to do much more than simply rush the passer, constantly establishing the edge, covering and handling multiple responsibilities within the defense.
At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Jacas brings a powerful, physical playing style that is rooted in his wrestling background. Despite taking on that integral role with the Fighting Illini, he still produced at a high level in 2025 with 11 sacks, 34 pressures and 13.5 tackles for loss, while finishing his career with 26 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.
He may not have the flashiest pass-rushing arsenal, but his strength, versatility and consistency give him a high floor as a reliable three-down edge. Teams looking for a complete defensive end could value him more than expected, making him a likely Round 2 pick with a floor in Round 3.
Bryce Lance, brother of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance, is one of the top FCS prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft and a high-upside sleeper with legitimate vertical ability.
The North Dakota State standout posted two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including a breakout 2024 campaign with 75 receptions for 1,053 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns.
He followed that up in 2025 with 51 catches for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging an incredible 21.2 yards per catch. At 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, Lance combines that production with a 4.34 40-yard dash and a 41.5-inch vertical, making him one of the most explosive receivers in his class.
With his size, speed and downfield tracking ability, Lance profiles as a true deep threat weapon at the next level, drawing comparisons to players like Alec Pierce and Christian Watson.
