Which 2026 NFL Draft prospects could slide to later picks?

In the NFL draft , the appearance of late movement might be merely an illusion. Terms like "rise" and "fall" have become staples of the draft lexicon as means of accounting for the discrepancy between the pre-draft expectations for a player and his ultimate landing spot. And when a gulf between the two sides emerges and entails an extended wait, it's difficult not to revert to the popular terminology.

Ultimately, however, there's little actual late action to a monthslong process in which the bulk of the evaluation work was completed a good while ago. Yet even though this year's class surely won't produce as much drama as Shedeur Sanders lasting until the fifth round did last April, the notion of a draft-day slide is sure to re-emerge. With that said, here are five players who could end up being taken later than the consensus suggests: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Fourteen months after McCoy suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the injury issue should be put to bed.

An April pro day in which he was timed at 4. 38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, per multiple reports, and showed off his explosion in his vertical leap (38 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-7) should have done just that. For NFL teams weighing a potential make-or-break investment, however, things are never that straightforward.

Any team potentially selecting McCoy in the top half of the first round will have to be fully comfortable with his prognosis, and there could be varying comfort levels with taking on such a risk. But unless there's a significant medical scare, any tumble shouldn't be a precipitous one for a player widely seen as a top-tier talent. McCoy's range likely begins at No.