The 2016 NFL Draft is coming at the end of the month, and prospects are taking visits with teams across the league as draft boards are shuffled and clarified. We’ll hear plenty about the top prospects in this year’s class over the next three weeks, but here are 10 sleeper prospects to keep an eye on.
10. BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi
Getty ImagesKaufusi is gaining some buzz as a potential late first-round pick, with size (6-foot-7, 285 pounds) and athleticism to function in a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive scheme. He is older than most prospects (25 in July), but Kaufusi is still someone to watch as draft day approaches.
9. UMass WR Tajae Sharpe
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Sharpe had 196 receptions for 2,600 yards over his final two seasons at UMass, and Pro Football Focus credited him with just three drops on 114 catchable targets last season. His level of competition could be used to discount him, but Sharpe's high marks for athleticism and route running translate to the next level and make him a sleeper prospect.
8. Akron OLB Jatavis Brown
Getty Sports ImagesBrown earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors with a great senior season (116 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks), though his size (5-foot-11, 222 pounds) may dictate an NFL future as a safety. In any case, being a ball hawk, highly productive and versatile has a place in the NFL.
7. Baylor CB Xavien Howard
Getty ImagesHoward is the kind of bigger corner, at 6-foot and 201 pounds, that NFL teams seek, and he ran a 4.38 40 at Baylor's pro day. February "buzz" that Howard could be a late first-round pick is an overstatement, but he is a sleeper prospect who may go earlier than expected.
6. Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
Getty ImagesReynolds is embracing a switch from college quarterback to another position at the next level, as he also worked out at running back, wide receiver and defensive back at his pro day. An NFL team might get a real steal in Reynolds.
5. Arkansas RB Jonathan Williams
Wesley Hitt Getty ImagesWilliams missed the entire 2015 season with a foot injury, but he showed serious NFL potential in 2014 (1,190 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, 5.6 yards per carry). As long as his foot is 100 percent, Williams could be a Day 3 draft steal.
4. Oregon QB Vernon Adams
Getty ImagesAdams' single season at Oregon did not go quite as planned, with injuries costing him three games, but he did have 26 touchdown passes and six interceptions. A lack of ideal size may drop his draft stock, but as time goes on draft analysts are praising Adams. He may only need a clear opportunity to eventually become an NFL starter.
3. Stanford WR Devon Cajuste
Getty ImagesCajuste is a wide receiver/tight end tweener, at 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds, without great speed (4.60 40 at NFL Combine) or great strength as a blocker. But he does have a place in today's NFL as that type of player, and teams could easily see a malleable talent.
2. Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell
Getty ImagesMitchell's college career was marked by injuries, and he started his time at Georgia shuttling between cornerback and wide receiver. He has good measurables though (4.45 40-yard dash, 36-inch vertical), which is surely enticing to NFL teams.
1. Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
Kevin C Cox Getty ImagesPrescott is a personal favorite of mine, and he's had a full schedule of visits and workouts with teams with various degrees of need at quarterback. Once the top quarterbacks are off the board, Prescott is a potential steal for a team that wouldn't have to make him a starter right away.
