When it comes to the NFL Draft, the expectation is that teams nail their early-round picks. Players who are drafted at the top of the first round are expected to become stars, and anyone selected in the first couple of rounds is expected to be a big contributor. Finding talent in the later rounds is much tougher, though. Teams that find hidden gems set themselves up brilliantly for the future. So, check out the gallery to see who the best sleeper picks in the 2026 NFL Draft are.
5. Jonah Coleman, Washington, RB
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This is a pretty weak running back class. Both the top two ball carriers are from the same school: Notre Dame. Jeremiyah Love is viewed by some as a generational prospect, and Jadarian Price has starter potential despite being Love’s backup in college, but there isn’t much talent behind those two. This is especially the case after Emmett Johnson was one of the biggest losers of the NFL Scouting Combine.
Jonah Coleman is one player who isn’t getting enough respect, though. He surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past three seasons, and that was between time spent with both Arizona and Washington. Coleman’s ability to thrive regardless of which system he is in is a good sign for his transition to the NFL.
Coleman is a career 5.5 yards-per-attempt runner, but he might not even go in the first three rounds of the draft. The good news is that in this thin running back class, somebody with a need at the position may end up taking a chance on a sleeper pick like Coleman earlier than expected.
4. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, WR
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While weak at running back, the 2026 NFL Draft is considered loaded at the receiver position, largely because of the big three pass catchers. Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson are all expected to be selected within the top 15, though, meaning none of them are sleeper prospects. Because of the star talent at the receiver position in this class, there will certainly be some really good pass catchers who fall down the draft board.
KC Concepcion has first-round potential, but it is possible that he will fall outside of the top 32. Concepcion is a bulky and physically imposing receiver who thrives with the ball in his hands. He should be a yards-after-catch beast at the next level, making him the ultimate weapon for NFL signal callers.
The Texas A&M receiver had 61 catches for 919 yards and nine receiving touchdowns this past season. He additionally did some work on the ground, even punching the ball into the endzone once with his legs. At the next level, Concepcion can make an immediate impact as a gadget weapon, and he can continue further developing as a route runner from there. Concepcion is a little bit raw, but his potential is sky-high, and he should outplay his projected draft range.
3. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, TE
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Kenyon Sadiq has received a lot of hype during the pre-draft process this year. He had one of the best NFL Scouting Combine performances ever among tight ends, as his 4.39 40-yard dash time set the all-time record for his position group. The blazing speed made it to where none of Sadiq’s tight end peers have seen much draft love.
Stowers was just as impressive in the Scouting Combine, though, and he certainly has the potential to become a great professional. Stowers broke a tight end record in his own when he leaped 45.5″ on his vertical jump. The Vanderbilt tight end is just as much a freak athlete as Sadiq is.
He should be able to win jump ball scenarios and dominate in the red zone at the next level, yet Sadiq might be the only tight end drafted in the first round. Stowers is taller (6-foot-4) and had more receptions (62) last season, and he deserves to at least be in conversations with Sadiq as the top tight end in this class.
2. Devin Moore, Florida, CB
Alan Youngblood/Gainesville SunJumbo-sized cornerbacks are all the rage these days. Devin Moore from Florida is 6-foot-3.5 and weighs 198 pounds, and he was productive for the Gators, yet Tankathon lists him as CB16 and the 107th best prospect overall. Teams aren’t ranking Moore all that high because he was frequently injured over his first three seasons.
When on the field, though, Moore displayed his potential, and he was finally healthy as a senior. If he can continue to stay healthy, he has the talent and physical tools to far outplay his draft projection. In fact, there could very well be a team that sees the potential and decides to take him before the third or fourth round, in which he is expected to be selected.
Moore plays the cornerback position with physicality. He can jam receivers in press coverage, and he is willing to put his head down and make a tackle. His size will come in handy at the next level.
1. Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State, WR
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Brenen Thompson’s draft stock could have shot to the moon after the Scouting Combine, but he still isn’t all that highly touted. The Mississippi State receiver is considered a third-to-fifth round draft choice, and Tankathon ranks him as the 20th best receiver. This is despite the fact that he was the number one player amongst all positions in 40-yard dash time.
Thompson’s 4.26 40-yard dash time proved that he could be one of the best deep threats in the NFL. Thompson isn’t someone who didn’t produce in college and then went on to have a big Scouting Combine performance, though. Scouts have seen raw athletes thrive in the combine but not produce in college or the NFL because they just aren’t gamers.
Thompson ranked 13th in the nation with 1,054 yards last season. Thompson is undersized for the next level, but he has a clear role as a burner, and his route running and sure-handedness have become underrated. The Mississippi State product is really going to open up the offense of whichever team drafts him.
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