Ten 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Sleepers To Know

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Every year, most of the draft coverage surrounds the first round, maybe extending into Day 2 a little bit. That makes sense, as most of the best players and immediate difference-makers are selected highly. NFL teams know what they’re doing and are usually better at evaluating talent than they sometimes get credit for. But every year, major contributors and stars also emerge from the draft’s third day. Rounds 4-7 provide key depth on affordable contracts for teams, but at least a few breakout players are drafted late as well. Today, I’m taking a look at my top 10 candidates from this class — Day 3 picks who could turn into real contributors early in their NFL careers. It’s worth mentioning that I didn’t include Raiders CB Jermod McCoy in this article. While he technically qualifies given he was the first pick of the fourth round, I don’t think we can really call him a “sleeper.” He’s an undeniable top-10 talent who fell due to injury concerns, but if he’s healthy, everyone’s expecting him to start and make an impact. Buccaneers CB Keionte Scott Round 4, Pick 116 How much do the Buccaneers trust Benjamin Morrison ? That’s the question that will determine Scott’s path to the field as a rookie. Call him a cornerback, call him a safety, but Scott is a nickel defender through and through. Jacob Parrish had a very good rookie season in the slot, but he played on the outside in college and could move back there. Indirectly, Scott and Morrison are probably competing for the starting spot in base defenses. Scott isn’t the most dynamic athlete, but he’s quick to the ball and has a knack for making big plays. He’s one of the rare “change the math” guys in run defense from the nickel position, and his skill set makes him a valuable commodity in that respect. Bears CB Malik Muhammad Round 4, Pick 124 Of everyone on this list, I’d guess Muhammad probably has the clearest path to starting as a rookie. He’s in a direct competition with Tyrique Stevenson for the second outside cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson . Needless to say, Stevenson hasn’t exactly inspired much confidence in Chicago so far, and there’s an opening for Muhammad to seize his role. I was much higher than consensus on Muhammad, whom I had ranked as a top-20 player in this class. He’s a very fluid athlete with great ball skills. One-on-one, he blankets receivers, and he has good instincts from off coverage, too. If he can continue to get stronger in the NFL, I think his ceiling is about as high as any other cornerback in the class. Bills WR Skyler Bell Round 4, Pick 125 Is Bell already a projected starter in Buffalo? It’s possible, depending on who you ask. It’s a crowded wide receiver room for the Bills, but not an overly talented one. Khalil Shakir is as reliable as they come from the slot, and D.J. Moore was acquired from the Bears this offseason to provide some more big-play punch. The third starting spot is up for grabs, and Bell is competing with Josh Palmer and Keon Coleman for the role. For his part, Bell complements Moore and Shakir really well. He can line up on the outside or in the slot, has the speed to take the top off a defense, and is one of the better route runners in the class. He’s similar to Shakir in a lot of ways, actually, but is more athletic and a little bigger. And we know the chemistry Josh Allen already has with Shakir. Bengals C Connor Lew Round 4, Pick 128 Lew fell in the draft due to a torn ACL he suffered back in the fall, but I think that’s a mista…