2026 NFL Draft sleepers: Why these prospects could rise into Round 1

As the 2026 NFL Draft nears, we’re getting closer to the Las Vegas Raiders kicking things off with their second No. 1 pick in franchise history. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the first overall selection as Las Vegas starts a new era under coach Klint Kubiak.

There are specific players expected to be early picks as well such as the Ohio State trio of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs as well as edge rushers David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr . Those are easy projections that everyone would be surprised not to see called on the first night of the NFL draft . But what about the surprises?

More: NFL stars break down Ohio State's top 2026 draft prospects Every year, a player or two sneaks into the first round after a team decides they have to get them in the building. The New York Giants turned heads when they traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select quarterback Jaxson Dart . In 2024, wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette went off the board earlier than anticipated.

There are candidates who could do the same in 2026 and hear their names called earlier than expected. Here are six Round 1 sleepers for the 2026 NFL Draft - and which teams could be interested: 2026 NFL Draft sleepers Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL) Mesidor has two things going against him: Age (he’ll be 25 before the draft) and injury history (multiple foot surgeries). But all it takes is one franchise to see the upside.