2026 Draft: My guys, Not my Guys, and Day 3 Sleepers

philibusters

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This will be one my guy and one day three sleeper at each position and a handful of not my guys for the 2026 draft. I will do offense here and come back for defense later.

QUARTERBACK
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Cade Klubnik
I do not see starter traits, but if you are looking for a long term backup in the seventh round he makes sense. He had a rough start to the 2025 season, but over the second half he really cleaned things up and limited negative plays. There is value in a quarterback who protects the ball and can execute the offense without hurting you.

RUNNING BACK
My guy: Jonah Coleman
I like his vision and the way he consistently falls forward for extra yardage. There is a toughness to his game that stands out, especially knowing he played through injuries in 2025. That likely contributed to the dip in production from 2024, but the underlying traits are still there.

Not my guy: Nicholas Singleton
I can see a path where he develops into a third down back, but I struggle to see him as a true every down player. The vision just is not there consistently enough, and that limits what he can be at the next level.

Day three sleeper: Kaelon Black
I kept hearing good things and the playoff run backed it up. Even without diving into all 22, he looked decisive and effective as a runner. He stood out as clearly more impactful than Roman Hemby in those games.

WIDE RECEIVER
My guy: Deion Burks
He reminds me a lot of Jaylin Lane in terms of build and play style. He has thick lower half power that shows up in his acceleration and explosiveness. The 4.30 speed and strong ten yard split show up on tape. He is still developing as a route runner and can get rerouted with contact, but he competes at the catch point. The low center of gravity gives him natural contact balance which translates to YAC and quick game usage. The size limits the catch radius, but his body control helps him win in tight situations.

Day three sleeper: Cyrus Allen
Allen is a very dependable target with consistent hands and only one drop on the year. He tracks the ball extremely well down the field and shows strong body control, especially along the boundary where he routinely gets his feet in. There is real nuance in his route running with head fakes and tempo that help him create workable separation. He is not going to be a major YAC creator or a contested catch winner, but he projects as a reliable chain mover who can be trusted when targeted.

TIGHT END
My guys: Max Klare and Oscar Delp

Max Klare
I went into the 2024 tape expecting a solid player and came away more impressed than expected, especially as a blocker. At around 240 he is not overpowering, but he consistently gets the job done with technique and movement. As a receiver he is fluid with natural acceleration and very little wasted movement in his routes. There is some real separation ability on tape and he showed good feel on scramble drills. The biggest issue is handling press, where he can get disrupted too easily at times. His hands are fine but not a strength, and after the catch he is more elusive than powerful. Overall the 2024 version looks like a late first to mid second type player, and the question is how much the 2025 dip should impact that evaluation.

Oscar Delp
Delp fits into that large day three tight end group, but he stands out because of his versatility. He can function in the slot as a receiver while also holding up inline as a blocker, which not all players in that range can do. The athleticism is solid with good fluidity and the ability to transition upfield quickly after the catch. As a route runner he shows nuance with head fakes, eye manipulation, and good hip sink. The production does not fully reflect the tape, but there are some concerns about contested catch ability and overall catch radius. As a blocker he is good enough to play inline and shows flashes of real Y ability, which is what pushes him up within that tier.

Day three sleeper: Nate Boerkircher
Like Delp, he was not heavily utilized, but the play itself was solid. He brings real pop as a blocker and is willing to mix it up, especially against linebackers and safeties. There is enough versatility to line up inline, in the slot, and even function in motion or H back roles. He is not going to create much after the catch or be a featured receiver, but he runs clean routes and moves well for the position. He feels like a dependable TE2 or TE3 who can do the dirty work.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Travis Burke
Burke has ideal size and the tape matches what you expect from a player built like that. He anchors extremely well and has a powerful inside hand that can shut down reps when it lands. The foot speed is solid for his size, but the bigger issue is redirectability when his base gets compromised. In the run game he is more of a people mover than a space player, bringing real strength and physicality. There are limitations, but the combination of size, anchor, and play strength gives him a path to being at least a reliable swing tackle with starter upside.

OFFENSIVE GUARD
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Keegan Trost
Trost plays with a very controlled base and stays balanced in pass protection, which gives him a solid foundation inside. He is likely a guard at the next level due to limitations in depth of set, but he is at his best when he can initiate contact quickly. The football intelligence stands out with strong spacing and awareness, rarely giving up easy counters. He brings enough play strength to move defenders in the run game, even if pad level can be inconsistent. Overall he feels like a steady, experienced player who can carve out a role.

CENTER
My guy: Trey Zuhn
Zuhn brings a really intriguing combination of movement skills and intelligence to the position. He is a smooth mover in space with excellent pacing climbing to the second level and the ability to seal lanes with his hips. Even as a part time center, he showed the awareness to set protections and was extremely disciplined with penalties. The play strength is not dominant, but he does enough to hold up and frame run lanes. There are still reps needed at center, but the upside is there if he continues to develop at the position.

Day three sleeper: Matt Gulbin
Gulbin is a very balanced and controlled pass protector with quick feet and a strong initial set. He moves well in space and does a great job hitting landmarks when climbing to the second level. The awareness stands out with the ability to pick up games and delayed pressure consistently. He is more of a finesse player than a power blocker, and the anchor can get tested when defenders get into his chest. Still, the combination of movement skills, technique, and intelligence makes him an interesting developmental option.

That is it for offense. I will circle back and do defense later. What does everybody else have?
 
This thread deserves more attention
 
I don't know many of the players you mention, but I agree on Max Klare. I kinda doubt we'd target him with the picks (or lack of...) we have.

It'll be interesting to see where all these guys go.
 
This is the defense version. Same idea as offense. One my guy and one or two day 3 sleepers at each position, plus a handful of not my guys later. I will stick to defense here.

EDGE
My guy: Gabe Jacas
Jacas is just aesthetically pleasing to watch. I love the way he plays with leverage and how compact and controlled his game feels snap to snap. I am not totally sure he is the cleanest fit for the Commanders, but I love the player. He wins with power, effort, and strong hands more than rare bend, and there is real value in how rugged and dependable his game is. He feels like the type of edge who consistently compresses the pocket, sets edges, and makes life harder on offenses even if he is not the twitchiest rusher in the class.

Day 3 sleeper: Anthony Lucas
Lucas is the classic traits bet. The production has not really matched the tools, but the size, length, and movement ability are easy to see, and that is exactly the kind of day 3 edge swing I can get behind. He has the frame and athletic profile to play through contact, convert speed to power, and keep developing a fuller rush plan. The inconsistency is real, which is why I am talking about him as a day 3 guy rather than some locked in top 50 player. But if he is sitting there in the fifth round, that is exactly the kind of upside pick I would love.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
My guy: Lee Hunter
I watched three potential first round interior guys in Christen Miller, Caleb Banks, and Lee Hunter, and Hunter was my favorite film of the three. I will admit I am not fully confident in this one because he does have that heavy upper half and thinner lower half that gives me a little pause for an NFL defensive tackle. Still, the tape is just good. In a trade back that nets Washington a second rounder, I would love him. He plays with leverage, natural anchor, strong hands, and the kind of run defense that makes life easier on everyone else around him, even if the pass rush is more steady than spectacular.

Day 3 sleeper: Tyler Onyedim
Onyedim sounds like a pretty clean scheme fit to me. He looks like a good one gap interior defender with length, strength, and enough first step quickness to penetrate without needing to live off pure explosiveness. The overall profile seems to be solid all around rather than dominant in any one area, which is part of why he feels more like a day 3 target than a premium pick. But those are the kinds of defensive tackles that can actually help you if the fit is right. Even without me having done the same deep tape dive on him, the way he has been described lines up with a player who could make sense in this defense.

LINEBACKER
My guy: Josiah Trotter
I think Trotter is an elite run defender. He has dynamite in his hands and deconstructs blocks from guards and tight ends about as well as anyone in the class. There is definitely work needed in pass defense, but I trust that he can learn it because the instincts and physical temperament are there. He reads quickly, attacks downhill, and has the kind of violent hand usage that lets him slip and shock blockers before they ever really get comfortable. He just looks like a linebacker when the ball is handed off.

Day 3 sleeper: Aiden Fisher
Fisher would be a great fifth round pickup. He is not the flashiest linebacker in the class, but he is instinctive, disciplined, and reliable as a tackler, which tends to translate for depth players. Against the run he reads blocking schemes well, fills with control, and consistently gets to the spot on time. He also looks like the kind of player coaches trust because he is usually where he is supposed to be. That is the profile of a useful day 3 linebacker, especially for a team that needs dependable rotational snaps and special teams value.

Day 3 sleeper: Jimmy Rolder
Rolder would also be a great fifth round pickup. He brings a more physical downhill style, and there is some real pop and tackle violence to his game when he triggers. At the same time, he is not just a thumper, because there are evaluators who like his range and think there is some coverage upside still to unlock. The big thing with him is that he does not have a massive starting sample, so you are projecting a bit. But for day 3, betting on a sure tackler with speed, effort, and special teams utility is pretty easy for me.

CORNERBACK
My guy: None
Day 3 sleeper: Jadon Canady
In zone, Canady reads the play really well. He is one of those defensive backs whose versatility stands out immediately because he can play nickel, outside, or safety, and that kind of flexibility has real value on day 3. He processes quickly, drives downhill, and has the mentality for the slot even though he can survive in other roles. He is not a big body, but he plays bigger than that and competes. I would love him in the fifth round because that is the kind of depth piece that can quietly give you a lot of answers.

SAFETY
My guy: Caleb Downs
With Downs, I see two A traits on film. His ability to break on in breakers is outstanding, and his run defense is outstanding. I have a hard time seeing a guy with two true A traits fail, even if he is not some perfect deep safety or the very best defender of out breakers in the class. And those are not even real weaknesses, just areas that are not quite as special as the best parts of his game. He processes at an extremely high level, plays with physicality, and has the kind of versatility and consistency that make him one of the safest defensive players in the draft.

Day 3 sleeper: VJ Payne
Payne would be great in the fifth round. He has the size and speed profile teams want, and the better parts of his tape seem to come in zone coverage, over the top, and in run support rather than in pure matchup duty every snap. There is enough versatility there to play different alignments, which gives him a real path to making a roster and growing into more. He is not a perfect player, but the combination of length, range, and special teams or sub package utility is exactly what I want to chase on day 3. He feels like one of those safeties who could outplay where he gets drafted.
 
Who are peoples my guys and day 3 sleepers? Even if you don't have them for every position you can post the ones you do have here so you can prove in 3 years, that you were high on that guy.
 
I plan on doing this right before the draft tonight.
 
Love the thread! Sorry I didn't follow your nice outline.

I skipped all the top prospects and included a bunch of late day 3's.
Most of my favorite players are projected to go between pick 20- 65. I avoided most of their names reluctantly. Not having a 2nd rounder will kill me tomorrow.
There are so many DB's that I really like

QB Clemson Cade Klubnik
QB Rutgers Athan Kaliakmais

RB Favorite Oregon Jonah Coleman (best do everything RB other than Love and he could drop day 3)
RB Indiana Kaelon Black
RB Oklahoma Jaydn Ott

WR Favorite Louisville Chris Bell - hoping he drops a lot due to injury
WR Alabama Germiie Bernard (one of the safest picks)
WR Ole Miss De'Zhaun Stribling
WR LSU Zavian Thomas

TE Notre Dame Eli Raridon (SIP sold me on him)
TE Texas A&M Nate Boerkircher
TE Utah Dalle Bentley

C Favorite Kansas Sam Hecht
C Iowa Logan Jones
C Kentucky Jager Burton

IOL Iowa Beau Stephens

LB Favorite Texas Tech Jacob Rodriguez
LB Pitt Kyle Louis
LB TCU Kaleb Elarms-Orr
LB Indiana Aiden Fisher love his intangibles
LB/Edge/S LSU Harold Perkins
LB/S Louisiana Jaden Dugger ex Safety

Edge Favorite Missouri Zion Young
Edge Texas Tech Romello Height

DT Favorite Texas Tech Lee Hunter
DT South Carolina Nick Barrett
DT Louisville Rene Konga

CB Favorite Indiana D'Angelo Ponds
CB/S Favorite Miami Keionte Scott
CB Arizona Treydan Stukes
CB Iowa TJ Hall

S Favorite TCU Bud Clark(Also of course Thieneman and McNeil-Warre!)
S LSU Al Haulcey
S USC Bishop Fitzgerald Love his intangibles
S Maryland Jalen Huskey

K Florida Trey Smack
 
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For me, except for the obvious ones, and I am not expert honestly:

QB Garrett Nussmeier

RB Jonah Coleman
RB Emmett Johnson

OL Jake Slaughter

TE Oscar Delp
TE Dallen Bentley

WR Germie Bernard
WR Malachi Fields
WR De'Zhaun Stribling

DL Caleb Banks
DL Nick Barrett
DL Tyler Onyedim

EDGE Gabe Jacas
EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton

LB Jacob Rodriguez
LB Josiah Trotter

S Treydan Stukes
S Jalon Kilgore

CB Keionte Scott
CB Tacario Davis
 
Y'all rock. It's amazing to read so much knowledge and effort put into this. Surprised no one has added Elijah Sarratt to their sleepers yet. I think he's a fit
 
Y'all rock. It's amazing to read so much knowledge and effort put into this. Surprised no one has added Elijah Sarratt to their sleepers yet. I think he's a fit
Oh, he’s on my list.
 
Y'all rock. It's amazing to read so much knowledge and effort put into this. Surprised no one has added Elijah Sarratt to their sleepers yet. I think he's a fit

I like him, but see him more as a high floor guy rather than a high ceiling guy. Like an 75 percentile scenario for him is he is the next Jauan Jennings and a 25 percentile outcome is he is the next Noah Brown. I do think he'll likely be a useful player. I went with Deion Burks as my guy... I think he has a greater chance to kind of be a nothing in the NFL than Surratt, but I also think he has a better shot at a 1000 yard scenario. However there are those on this board who believe Surratt is not only a high floor player, but also a fairly high ceiling guy.
 
I keep praying for a 6’3 - 6’4 wide receiver who can beat man coverage and give Daniels a legitimate long- term running mate.

I think we have enough 5’11 ragamuffins to sit down inside.

Those guys are a lot easier to find.
 
I keep praying for a 6’3 - 6’4 wide receiver who can beat man coverage and give Daniels a legitimate long- term running mate.

I think we have enough 5’11 ragamuffins to sit down inside.

Those guys are a lot easier to find.
5'11", 6'4". does it really matter. We just need legit starters!

But yes, I get wanting a big good receiver....enters the Anthony Mix comment
 
It makes a difference when you have receivers that can't get off press man coverage and teams sit on the TE, RB and a guy like Deebo running the underneath stuff.

A guy that is 6'3 or 6'4 can often turn an off target pass into a touchdown in the red zone or on third downs.

I still love Jimmy Johnson's quote that in the NFL talented bigger people usually beat talented smaller people.
 
QB:
No one. Mendoza is too obvious and is the class of the group. I think long term he is going to be a really good quarterback. Good pick for the Raiders.

RB:
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame -Yes, he's obvious. But I am taking him. I pushed hard for him all off season.

WR:
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana - I'm not sure how much better he's going to get, but he's a grinder. A guy who will get dirty on every play, get himself open, but clutch in big moments and be a red zone threat.

Honorable mentions: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma, Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Tight End:
None

OT:
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State - He is raw, but still one of the best tackles in the class. He has the size, athleticism and he handled David Bailey and Romell Height among others. He is going to be the best tackle in the 2026 class.

IOL:
Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Boring. Best in class.

Edge:
Reuben Bain, Jr, DE, Miami - I mean, was this even a question? I hope he takes his T-Rex arms and beats all of you haters with them when he kicks ass in the NFL.

DT:
Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn - Yes, I'm cheating. No, I don't care. I think Faulk is very position versatile and I think he will develop into a very good NFL player.

LB:
Josiah Trotter, LB, Mizzou - He can't cover for shit, but he is athletic enough to develop that. There isn't a better block destructor, blitzer and downhill run destroyer in this draft class. He meets you with violence and makes you pay.

CB:
Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington - He's a big corner that can do a little bit of everything. Needs time to develop, but has all the tools and is competitive.

Safety:
Keionte Scott, STAR, Miami - He's a difference maker.

Special Teams:
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M - Explosive any time he touches the ball. May be the most explosive guy in the class with the ball in his hand, but I think he's even more dangerous as a return man.

Overall Sleepers:
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech
Nadame Tucker, Edge, Western Michigan
Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
Hezekiah Masses, CB, Cal
Jalen Kilgore, S, South Carolina

High Bust Candidates:
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - His talent is undeniable - but the way he moves puts a lot of emphasis on his legs, he has a history of severe leg injuries. If he overcomes them, sky is the limit. But I'm not sure he will.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama - One of the most important stats for QB success in the NFL is career starts over around 25. Ty Simpson has half of that. If he were coming in to sit on the bench I think he'd be fine as a starter in year 2 or beyond. But if he goes to some place like Arizona he's in for a rough ride to start his career.

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - I don't actually think he's going to be an outright bust. At the very least he's going to be serviceable. But he doesn't use his hands well and is a liability against the run. Bigger tackles give him a headache and running backs that can pass protect are going to be new for him. As a top 3 pick, I think he underperforms. But I think he has a decent to good career.
 
My Guys - first rounders who still are not appreciated enough:
Downs
Tate
Lomu
Cooper

My Guys - WR's who will be day 2 or later that I think are really good
Sarratt
Brazzell

Sleepers:
Dillon Bell, WR, Georgia
Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy
Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Aamil Wagner, OT Notre Dame
Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana
Jaden Dugger, LB Louisiana
Bud Clark, S TCU
Enrique Cruz, G Kansas
Delp, TE Georgia
Raridon, TE Notre Dame
Adam Randall, RB Clemson
Beau Stephens, G Iowa
Jimmy Rolder, LB Michigan


NOT My guys - I don't see what others see:
Tyson
Lemon
Sadiq
Faulk
Boston

Predicted surprise: Ty Simpson to the Cardinals at pick #20 in the first round....yes, after a trade with Dallas!
 
This will be one my guy and one day three sleeper at each position and a handful of not my guys for the 2026 draft. I will do offense here and come back for defense later.

QUARTERBACK
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Cade Klubnik
I do not see starter traits, but if you are looking for a long term backup in the seventh round he makes sense. He had a rough start to the 2025 season, but over the second half he really cleaned things up and limited negative plays. There is value in a quarterback who protects the ball and can execute the offense without hurting you.

RUNNING BACK
My guy: Jonah Coleman
I like his vision and the way he consistently falls forward for extra yardage. There is a toughness to his game that stands out, especially knowing he played through injuries in 2025. That likely contributed to the dip in production from 2024, but the underlying traits are still there.

Not my guy: Nicholas Singleton
I can see a path where he develops into a third down back, but I struggle to see him as a true every down player. The vision just is not there consistently enough, and that limits what he can be at the next level.

Day three sleeper: Kaelon Black
I kept hearing good things and the playoff run backed it up. Even without diving into all 22, he looked decisive and effective as a runner. He stood out as clearly more impactful than Roman Hemby in those games.

WIDE RECEIVER
My guy: Deion Burks
He reminds me a lot of Jaylin Lane in terms of build and play style. He has thick lower half power that shows up in his acceleration and explosiveness. The 4.30 speed and strong ten yard split show up on tape. He is still developing as a route runner and can get rerouted with contact, but he competes at the catch point. The low center of gravity gives him natural contact balance which translates to YAC and quick game usage. The size limits the catch radius, but his body control helps him win in tight situations.

Day three sleeper: Cyrus Allen
Allen is a very dependable target with consistent hands and only one drop on the year. He tracks the ball extremely well down the field and shows strong body control, especially along the boundary where he routinely gets his feet in. There is real nuance in his route running with head fakes and tempo that help him create workable separation. He is not going to be a major YAC creator or a contested catch winner, but he projects as a reliable chain mover who can be trusted when targeted.

TIGHT END
My guys: Max Klare and Oscar Delp

Max Klare
I went into the 2024 tape expecting a solid player and came away more impressed than expected, especially as a blocker. At around 240 he is not overpowering, but he consistently gets the job done with technique and movement. As a receiver he is fluid with natural acceleration and very little wasted movement in his routes. There is some real separation ability on tape and he showed good feel on scramble drills. The biggest issue is handling press, where he can get disrupted too easily at times. His hands are fine but not a strength, and after the catch he is more elusive than powerful. Overall the 2024 version looks like a late first to mid second type player, and the question is how much the 2025 dip should impact that evaluation.

Oscar Delp
Delp fits into that large day three tight end group, but he stands out because of his versatility. He can function in the slot as a receiver while also holding up inline as a blocker, which not all players in that range can do. The athleticism is solid with good fluidity and the ability to transition upfield quickly after the catch. As a route runner he shows nuance with head fakes, eye manipulation, and good hip sink. The production does not fully reflect the tape, but there are some concerns about contested catch ability and overall catch radius. As a blocker he is good enough to play inline and shows flashes of real Y ability, which is what pushes him up within that tier.

Day three sleeper: Nate Boerkircher
Like Delp, he was not heavily utilized, but the play itself was solid. He brings real pop as a blocker and is willing to mix it up, especially against linebackers and safeties. There is enough versatility to line up inline, in the slot, and even function in motion or H back roles. He is not going to create much after the catch or be a featured receiver, but he runs clean routes and moves well for the position. He feels like a dependable TE2 or TE3 who can do the dirty work.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Travis Burke
Burke has ideal size and the tape matches what you expect from a player built like that. He anchors extremely well and has a powerful inside hand that can shut down reps when it lands. The foot speed is solid for his size, but the bigger issue is redirectability when his base gets compromised. In the run game he is more of a people mover than a space player, bringing real strength and physicality. There are limitations, but the combination of size, anchor, and play strength gives him a path to being at least a reliable swing tackle with starter upside.

OFFENSIVE GUARD
My guy: None
Day three sleeper: Keegan Trost
Trost plays with a very controlled base and stays balanced in pass protection, which gives him a solid foundation inside. He is likely a guard at the next level due to limitations in depth of set, but he is at his best when he can initiate contact quickly. The football intelligence stands out with strong spacing and awareness, rarely giving up easy counters. He brings enough play strength to move defenders in the run game, even if pad level can be inconsistent. Overall he feels like a steady, experienced player who can carve out a role.

CENTER
My guy: Trey Zuhn
Zuhn brings a really intriguing combination of movement skills and intelligence to the position. He is a smooth mover in space with excellent pacing climbing to the second level and the ability to seal lanes with his hips. Even as a part time center, he showed the awareness to set protections and was extremely disciplined with penalties. The play strength is not dominant, but he does enough to hold up and frame run lanes. There are still reps needed at center, but the upside is there if he continues to develop at the position.

Day three sleeper: Matt Gulbin
Gulbin is a very balanced and controlled pass protector with quick feet and a strong initial set. He moves well in space and does a great job hitting landmarks when climbing to the second level. The awareness stands out with the ability to pick up games and delayed pressure consistently. He is more of a finesse player than a power blocker, and the anchor can get tested when defenders get into his chest. Still, the combination of movement skills, technique, and intelligence makes him an interesting developmental option.

That is it for offense. I will circle back and do defense later. What does everybody else have?

A lot of the guys I liked went higher than they were on the consensus board:

Cade Klubink: Was 176 on the last consenus board, went 110th. When I said he was my day 3 sleeper I was not expecting him to be one of the first 10 picks of day 3, thinking more 6th or 7th round.
Jonah Coleman: Was 94th on last consensus board, went 108th. I liked him in the third round and he fell to to the fourth.
Kaelon Black: Was 214 on the last consensus board, went 90th. This was a guy I liked for the team at 187 or 209, I definitely was not expecting him to go on day 2.
Deion Burks: Was 96th on consensus board, went 254th. I think teams had additional information about his injury history that I was not privy to. I liked him at pick 71 and had him above Ted Hurst and Antonio Williams. Never though he would make it to the 7th round.
Cyrus Allen: Was 184 on the consensus board and went 176th. I would have been interested in him even earlier in the 5th round, but he went about where he was on the consensus board.
Max Klare: Was 71th on the consenus board and went 61st. I was interested in him at 71.
Oscar Delp: Was 101 on the consensus board and went 73rd. I was interested in him at pick 147. That said when I started liking him a couple months ago 147 felt realistic.
Nate Boerkircher: Was 162 on the consensus board and went 56th. Like Kaelon Black, when I picked him as my day 3 sleep I was thinking he could be a decent value at like 187 and okay value at 147. I think he was bad value where he actually got drafted.
Travis Burke: Was 136 on the consensus board and went 117th. When I did his film review about two weeks before the draft he was still in the 150's on the consensus board. He was a late riser.
Keegan Trost: Was 164th on the board and went 93rd. Another one that I thought could be solid value at 147 and good value at 187 who went way earlier than anticipated and probably wasn't great value where actually drafted.
Trey Zuhn: Was 110 on consensus board and went 91st.
Matt Gublin: Was 168th on the consenus board and went 209 to us. I thought he would be good value at 187 for us so getting him at 209 was a great value. I was interested in him as early as 147. When I described him in my summation of the daftondraft episode of the center position, James and Cory had him as the center 3 and 5 respectively (he later fell to center 4 for James), but they described as kind of a player of extremes. The things he was good at, like anchoring, getting calls correct, hand placement, he was very good at and things he was bad at like lateral quickness, he was pretty weak at. So he was always going to be a bit of a wildcard.

So of the 12 guys I called my guys are day 3 sleepers on offense , 9 of the 12 went higher than their consensus board rating.
They went +66, +124, +8, 10, +28, +106, +19, +71, and +19 higher = +451 total.
The three that went lower were -14, -158- (Deion Burks), and -41 (Matt Gublin) = -213

Deion Burks was the biggest faller and it sounds like a foot injury that caused him to miss most of the entire 2024 season was at least part of the reason he had such a big fall---though part was likely cause the NFL was not as high on his game as me, if it was only the foot injury concerns somebody likely takes a flier late in the 5th round or early in teh 6th round--and I feel like the fact that I didn't have the injury information partially explains why I was so off on him. I also feel good about the Gublin pick. He was the second biggest faller on the list and unlike Burks has no injury concerns that I am aware of so I feel like we got great value catching a faller.

I probably do a similar analysis of my defensive guys.
 
Love the thread! Sorry I didn't follow your nice outline.

I skipped all the top prospects and included a bunch of late day 3's.
Most of my favorite players are projected to go between pick 20- 65. I avoided most of their names reluctantly. Not having a 2nd rounder will kill me tomorrow.
There are so many DB's that I really like

QB Clemson Cade Klubnik
QB Rutgers Athan Kaliakmais

RB Favorite Oregon Jonah Coleman (best do everything RB other than Love and he could drop day 3)
RB Indiana Kaelon Black
RB Oklahoma Jaydn Ott

WR Favorite Louisville Chris Bell - hoping he drops a lot due to injury
WR Alabama Germiie Bernard (one of the safest picks)
WR Ole Miss De'Zhaun Stribling
WR LSU Zavian Thomas

TE Notre Dame Eli Raridon (SIP sold me on him)
TE Texas A&M Nate Boerkircher
TE Utah Dalle Bentley

C Favorite Kansas Sam Hecht
C Iowa Logan Jones
C Kentucky Jager Burton

IOL Iowa Beau Stephens

LB Favorite Texas Tech Jacob Rodriguez
LB Pitt Kyle Louis
LB TCU Kaleb Elarms-Orr
LB Indiana Aiden Fisher love his intangibles
LB/Edge/S LSU Harold Perkins
LB/S Louisiana Jaden Dugger ex Safety

Edge Favorite Missouri Zion Young
Edge Texas Tech Romello Height

DT Favorite Texas Tech Lee Hunter
DT South Carolina Nick Barrett
DT Louisville Rene Konga

CB Favorite Indiana D'Angelo Ponds
CB/S Favorite Miami Keionte Scott
CB Arizona Treydan Stukes
CB Iowa TJ Hall

S Favorite TCU Bud Clark(Also of course Thieneman and McNeil-Warre!)
S LSU Al Haulcey
S USC Bishop Fitzgerald Love his intangibles
S Maryland Jalen Huskey

K Florida Trey Smack
For the most part this list did way better than where they were on the consensus rankings
 
This is the defense version. Same idea as offense. One my guy and one or two day 3 sleepers at each position, plus a handful of not my guys later. I will stick to defense here.

EDGE
My guy: Gabe Jacas
Jacas is just aesthetically pleasing to watch. I love the way he plays with leverage and how compact and controlled his game feels snap to snap. I am not totally sure he is the cleanest fit for the Commanders, but I love the player. He wins with power, effort, and strong hands more than rare bend, and there is real value in how rugged and dependable his game is. He feels like the type of edge who consistently compresses the pocket, sets edges, and makes life harder on offenses even if he is not the twitchiest rusher in the class.

Day 3 sleeper: Anthony Lucas
Lucas is the classic traits bet. The production has not really matched the tools, but the size, length, and movement ability are easy to see, and that is exactly the kind of day 3 edge swing I can get behind. He has the frame and athletic profile to play through contact, convert speed to power, and keep developing a fuller rush plan. The inconsistency is real, which is why I am talking about him as a day 3 guy rather than some locked in top 50 player. But if he is sitting there in the fifth round, that is exactly the kind of upside pick I would love.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
My guy: Lee Hunter
I watched three potential first round interior guys in Christen Miller, Caleb Banks, and Lee Hunter, and Hunter was my favorite film of the three. I will admit I am not fully confident in this one because he does have that heavy upper half and thinner lower half that gives me a little pause for an NFL defensive tackle. Still, the tape is just good. In a trade back that nets Washington a second rounder, I would love him. He plays with leverage, natural anchor, strong hands, and the kind of run defense that makes life easier on everyone else around him, even if the pass rush is more steady than spectacular.

Day 3 sleeper: Tyler Onyedim
Onyedim sounds like a pretty clean scheme fit to me. He looks like a good one gap interior defender with length, strength, and enough first step quickness to penetrate without needing to live off pure explosiveness. The overall profile seems to be solid all around rather than dominant in any one area, which is part of why he feels more like a day 3 target than a premium pick. But those are the kinds of defensive tackles that can actually help you if the fit is right. Even without me having done the same deep tape dive on him, the way he has been described lines up with a player who could make sense in this defense.

LINEBACKER
My guy: Josiah Trotter
I think Trotter is an elite run defender. He has dynamite in his hands and deconstructs blocks from guards and tight ends about as well as anyone in the class. There is definitely work needed in pass defense, but I trust that he can learn it because the instincts and physical temperament are there. He reads quickly, attacks downhill, and has the kind of violent hand usage that lets him slip and shock blockers before they ever really get comfortable. He just looks like a linebacker when the ball is handed off.

Day 3 sleeper: Aiden Fisher
Fisher would be a great fifth round pickup. He is not the flashiest linebacker in the class, but he is instinctive, disciplined, and reliable as a tackler, which tends to translate for depth players. Against the run he reads blocking schemes well, fills with control, and consistently gets to the spot on time. He also looks like the kind of player coaches trust because he is usually where he is supposed to be. That is the profile of a useful day 3 linebacker, especially for a team that needs dependable rotational snaps and special teams value.

Day 3 sleeper: Jimmy Rolder
Rolder would also be a great fifth round pickup. He brings a more physical downhill style, and there is some real pop and tackle violence to his game when he triggers. At the same time, he is not just a thumper, because there are evaluators who like his range and think there is some coverage upside still to unlock. The big thing with him is that he does not have a massive starting sample, so you are projecting a bit. But for day 3, betting on a sure tackler with speed, effort, and special teams utility is pretty easy for me.

CORNERBACK
My guy: None
Day 3 sleeper: Jadon Canady
In zone, Canady reads the play really well. He is one of those defensive backs whose versatility stands out immediately because he can play nickel, outside, or safety, and that kind of flexibility has real value on day 3. He processes quickly, drives downhill, and has the mentality for the slot even though he can survive in other roles. He is not a big body, but he plays bigger than that and competes. I would love him in the fifth round because that is the kind of depth piece that can quietly give you a lot of answers.

SAFETY
My guy: Caleb Downs
With Downs, I see two A traits on film. His ability to break on in breakers is outstanding, and his run defense is outstanding. I have a hard time seeing a guy with two true A traits fail, even if he is not some perfect deep safety or the very best defender of out breakers in the class. And those are not even real weaknesses, just areas that are not quite as special as the best parts of his game. He processes at an extremely high level, plays with physicality, and has the kind of versatility and consistency that make him one of the safest defensive players in the draft.

Day 3 sleeper: VJ Payne
Payne would be great in the fifth round. He has the size and speed profile teams want, and the better parts of his tape seem to come in zone coverage, over the top, and in run support rather than in pure matchup duty every snap. There is enough versatility there to play different alignments, which gives him a real path to making a roster and growing into more. He is not a perfect player, but the combination of length, range, and special teams or sub package utility is exactly what I want to chase on day 3. He feels like one of those safeties who could outplay where he gets drafted.
If one on offense I was pretty in tune with how NFL saw players compared to the consenus board, the opposite was true on defense. Only 4 out of 9 of the my guys or day 3 sleepers I mentioned went higher than their consensus board ranking and 5 out of 9 went lower.

Defense
Gabe Jacas: Was 50th on the consenus board and went 55th.
Anthony Lucas: Was 168th on the consenus board and went undrafted.
Lee Hunter: Was 45th on the consenus board and went 49th
Tyler Onyedim: Was 129th on the consenus board and went 66th
Josiah Trotter: Was 62nd on the consenus board and went 46th
Aiden Fisher: Was 149th on the consensus board and went 243rd.
Jimmy Rolder: Was 167th on the consensus board and went 118.
Jason Canady: Was 143rd on the consensus board and went 109
VJ Payne: Was 122nd on the consensus board and wen t 228th.
 

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