Close Article Return to stream X
NFL •

2016 NFL Draft: 15 Sleeper Prospects to Keep Your Eye On

+Read full article

As the college football season winds down, it’s time to start looking towards the 2016 NFL Draft. Many NFL teams will be looking for upgrades at important positions, and there’s no better way to improve your team than to draft well. Look at the teams that are in the playoff race this year. Other than maybe the Denver Broncos, the majority of the rest are loaded with players they drafted. Let’s take a look at 15 sleeper prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft that could help your favorite team.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

15. RB Devontae Booker, Utah

RB Devontae Booker, Utah Getty Images
If healthy, I would have Booker as my No. 1 running back in this draft class. Although he's recovering from a torn meniscus, Booker should be fine by OTAs and mini-camps, and I could see him being the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, depending on which team drafts him. Some draft pundits have him as a second-round pick, while others have him in the third-round.

If healthy, I would have Booker as my No. 1 running back in this draft class. Although he's recovering from a torn meniscus, Booker should be fine by OTAs and mini-camps, and I could see him being the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, depending on which team drafts him. Some draft pundits have him as a second-round pick, while others have him in the third-round.

14. DE Carl Nassib, Penn State

DE Carl Nassib, Penn State Getty Images
Nassib is currently projected as a second-round pick, and if that's where he goes, some team is going to get tremendous value. The newly-minted Big-10 Defensive Player of the Year led the nation with 15.5 sacks despite not playing the last two weeks of the season. Nassib possesses the size, get-off, power and closing speed to play in the NFL, and he uses his long arms to keep offensive linemen off him.

Nassib is currently projected as a second-round pick, and if that's where he goes, some team is going to get tremendous value. The newly-minted Big-10 Defensive Player of the Year led the nation with 15.5 sacks despite not playing the last two weeks of the season. Nassib possesses the size, get-off, power and closing speed to play in the NFL, and he uses his long arms to keep offensive linemen off him.

13. DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky

DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky Getty Images
Spence went through a period at Ohio State where he was addicted to Ecstasy, which eventually got him banned from the Big-10. After transferring to Eastern Kentucky, Spence won the 2015 co-OVC Defensive Player of the Year Award after recording 22.5 tackles for losses, 11.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. If he ends up in a strong locker room, Spence could be a game-changing player for his second- or third-round projection.

Spence went through a period at Ohio State where he was addicted to Ecstasy, which eventually got him banned from the Big-10. After transferring to Eastern Kentucky, Spence won the 2015 co-OVC Defensive Player of the Year Award after recording 22.5 tackles for losses, 11.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. If he ends up in a strong locker room, Spence could be a game-changing player for his second- or third-round projection.

12. DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State

DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Getty Images
Calhoun is the best pass-rusher on one of the best defenses in the country. I'd like to see him put on about 10 pounds of muscle to help him get off blocks easier, but there's no denying his ability to rush off the edge. In the right system, he could have the value of a first-round pick who is currently projected to go in the second.

Calhoun is the best pass-rusher on one of the best defenses in the country. I'd like to see him put on about 10 pounds of muscle to help him get off blocks easier, but there's no denying his ability to rush off the edge. In the right system, he could have the value of a first-round pick who is currently projected to go in the second.

11. WR Nelson Spruce, Colorado

WR Nelson Spruce, Colorado Getty Images
The biggest knock on Spruce is his straight-line speed, but he plays quicker than fast. He's a great route-runner, has soft hands and knows how to create separation. With a struggling Colorado passing game, Spruce was still able to post 89 receptions for 1,053 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.

The biggest knock on Spruce is his straight-line speed, but he plays quicker than fast. He's a great route-runner, has soft hands and knows how to create separation. With a struggling Colorado passing game, Spruce was still able to post 89 receptions for 1,053 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.

10. ILB Blake Martinez, Stanford

ILB Blake Martinez, Stanford Getty Images
Martinez is Stanford's leading tackler and leader on defense. He's constantly around the ball and could certainly be a starter in the NFL, which would be tremendous value for his current fifth-round projection.

Martinez is Stanford's leading tackler and leader on defense. He's constantly around the ball and could certainly be a starter in the NFL, which would be tremendous value for his current fifth-round projection.

9. QB Nate Sudfeld, Indiana

QB Nate Sudfeld, Indiana Getty Images
After losing his top-three receivers from 2014, Sudfeld bounced back to have the best season of his career in 2015. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterback threw for 3,184 yards, 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season. Sudfeld has a strong arm and has decent accuracy as he's completed 60 percent of his passes in all four seasons at Indiana. With his current fifth-round projection, a team could be getting a steal with Sudfeld later in the draft.

After losing his top-three receivers from 2014, Sudfeld bounced back to have the best season of his career in 2015. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterback threw for 3,184 yards, 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season. Sudfeld has a strong arm and has decent accuracy as he's completed 60 percent of his passes in all four seasons at Indiana. With his current fifth-round projection, a team could be getting a steal with Sudfeld later in the draft.

8. WR Devon Cajuste, Stanford

WR Devon Cajuste, Stanford Getty Images
Cajuste is a guy who gets hurt by the offense that he plays in. Stanford is a run-heavy team, which is why Cajuste finished the 2015 regular season with only 25 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Projected as only a fourth-round pick, he runs crisp routes, has great hands and has surprising speed. I expect Cajuste to really shine in the pre-draft workouts.

Cajuste is a guy who gets hurt by the offense that he plays in. Stanford is a run-heavy team, which is why Cajuste finished the 2015 regular season with only 25 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Projected as only a fourth-round pick, he runs crisp routes, has great hands and has surprising speed. I expect Cajuste to really shine in the pre-draft workouts.

7. DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma

DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma Getty Images
Tapper has never been known as much of a pass-rusher, but the senior defensive end has recorded all seven of his sacks in 2015 in the last five games. He'd be the perfect strong-side defensive end in a 3-4 defense, and he may just be scratching the surface of his pass-rushing abilities.

Tapper has never been known as much of a pass-rusher, but the senior defensive end has recorded all seven of his sacks in 2015 in the last five games. He'd be the perfect strong-side defensive end in a 3-4 defense, and he may just be scratching the surface of his pass-rushing abilities.

6. OLB/S Eric Striker, Oklahoma

OLB/S Eric Striker, Oklahoma Getty Images
Striker reminds me a whole lot of Shaq Thompson coming out of college. He's a dynamic playmaker, strong tackler and rushes well coming off the edge, but he's undersized at 6-foot, 222 pounds. There will be some teams that pass on him because they don't know what position to play him at, but he's such a great player, I would take him and figure out where to play him later.

Striker reminds me a whole lot of Shaq Thompson coming out of college. He's a dynamic playmaker, strong tackler and rushes well coming off the edge, but he's undersized at 6-foot, 222 pounds. There will be some teams that pass on him because they don't know what position to play him at, but he's such a great player, I would take him and figure out where to play him later.

5. CB Desmond King, Iowa

CB Desmond King, Iowa Getty Images
For someone who's been shutting receivers down all season long, and recorded eight interceptions, King isn't getting much respect from draft pundits who have him as a mid-round pick. With his nose for the football, and his great tackling ability, King could be a solid slot corner right off the bat for an NFL team if he decides to come out this year.

For someone who's been shutting receivers down all season long, and recorded eight interceptions, King isn't getting much respect from draft pundits who have him as a mid-round pick. With his nose for the football, and his great tackling ability, King could be a solid slot corner right off the bat for an NFL team if he decides to come out this year.

4. SS Karl Joseph, West Virginia

SS Karl Joseph, West Virginia Getty Images
Joseph will be a player to watch during the pre-draft process. If you put on the tape of the Mountaineers' defense from early in the season, you won't be able to take your eyes off No. 8. Unfortunately, Joseph suffered a torn ACL in October and his progression from that injury, along with questions about his size, could dictate his draft stock. Based purely on talent, Joseph is a second-round pick in my eyes.

Joseph will be a player to watch during the pre-draft process. If you put on the tape of the Mountaineers' defense from early in the season, you won't be able to take your eyes off No. 8. Unfortunately, Joseph suffered a torn ACL in October and his progression from that injury, along with questions about his size, could dictate his draft stock. Based purely on talent, Joseph is a second-round pick in my eyes.

3. OLB Tyler Matakevich, Temple

OLB Tyler Matakevich, Temple Getty Images
Matakevich is the leader of one of the best defenses in college football. He's a sure-tackler with great football IQ and he's solid in pass coverage. The only thing working against Matakevich is his 6-foot, 232-pound frame, but his skill-set is better than his current third-round projection.

Matakevich is the leader of one of the best defenses in college football. He's a sure-tackler with great football IQ and he's solid in pass coverage. The only thing working against Matakevich is his 6-foot, 232-pound frame, but his skill-set is better than his current third-round projection.

2. WR Josh Doctson, TCU

WR Josh Doctson, TCU Getty Images
You've probably heard of Doctson after he recorded 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns in only 10 games for the Horned Frogs in 2015, but he's being ranked as an early second-round pick by some publications. When healthy, Doctson is my top-ranked wide receiver in this draft.

You've probably heard of Doctson after he recorded 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns in only 10 games for the Horned Frogs in 2015, but he's being ranked as an early second-round pick by some publications. When healthy, Doctson is my top-ranked wide receiver in this draft.

1. DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State

DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State Getty Images
Ogbah recorded at least half-a-sack in every game this season, except one, on his way to 13 sacks. He is a tremendous pass rusher with NFL size at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds and an endless motor. Currently, Ogbah is projected to be a late first- or early second-round pick, but I've got him in my top-15 players in this entire draft.

Ogbah recorded at least half-a-sack in every game this season, except one, on his way to 13 sacks. He is a tremendous pass rusher with NFL size at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds and an endless motor. Currently, Ogbah is projected to be a late first- or early second-round pick, but I've got him in my top-15 players in this entire draft.

Jason Fletcher is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
Your Favorites