NFL Draft Preview: Ray Didinger’s annual sleepers for the Eagles

Nov 1, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Georgia State Panthers wide receiver Ted Hurst (16) makes the catch against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images Hall of Fame sportswriter Ray Didinger may be retired, but it does not mean he is retiring from poring over college film and talking to his numerous NFL sources to find out who can be sleepers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Last year, the prestigious Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award winner had on his yearly list: Harold Fannin, Bowling Green, TE, 6’3,’’ 241 pounds: Drafted by Cleveland in the third round and played in 16 games leading the Browns in his rookie season with 72 catches on 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns.

Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon, LB, 6’1,” 232 pounds: Drafted by Kansas City in the fifth round and played in five games, making five tackles. Jacob Parrish, Kansas State, CB, 5’9,” 191 pounds: Drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round and played in all 17 games, starting five. He was fifth on the team in tackles with 76 and had seven tackles for loss.

Que Robinson, Alabama, Edge, 6’4,” 243 pounds: Drafted by Denver in the fourth round and made his NFL debut in Week 6 against the New York Jets. Dan Jackson, Georgia, S, 6’1,” 195 pounds: Drafted by Detroit in the seventh round and suffered an injury that placed him on injured reserve. Two years ago, Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss was on his list, who went in the third round to Denver and had five sacks, the third most of any rookie in the league and just finished his second season with the Broncos; Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington was selected in the sixth round by Miami and finished his second season with the Dolphins and was third on the team in receptions with 46 his sophomore year in the NFL; South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick went to Pittsburgh in the fourth round and started every game for the Steelers in 2025 at guard; Kanas State tight end Ben Sinnott was selected by Washington in the second round and played in 16 games, making 11 catches for 114 yards in his second season in the league; and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, from the CFL/Toronto Argonauts who the New York Jets choose in the fifth round to become the first player drafted directly from the CFL since Jermaine Haley in 1999.

Stiggers played in 15 games for the Jets in 2025, making 27 tackles and recovering two fumbles. This year, Didinger likes: Ted Hurst, Georgia State, WR, 6’3½,” 203 pounds “I’ve heard him referred to as a boom or bust guy. I’m betting boom.