Each new NFL draft cycle brings a wave of discovery, and that discovery course of by no means actually ends. There are all the time new sleepers to unearth and add to the watch listing, and this preseason 2023 NFL Draft All-Sleeper Workforce completely represents that. Which prospects deserve extra hype than what they’re getting at this level?
2023 NFL Draft All-Sleeper Workforce: Offense
Within the final cycle, sleepers emerged at a couple of place on offense. Kenny Pickett, already an intriguing mid-round prospect, had a profession 12 months and leveraged it right into a Spherical 1 choice. Zion Johnson and Ikem Ekwonu additionally rode dominant campaigns to first-round touchdown spots, and numerous others went on to dot the Day 2 and Day 3 ranks. Under, you’ll discover the highest 2023 NFL Draft sleepers on offense, in addition to the hyperlinks to the total lists.
Quarterback | Operating Again | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Interior Offensive Line
Quarterback
NC State QB Devin Leary: The 2023 NFL Draft QB class is huge open after C.J. Stroud and Bryce Younger. A passer who wants extra love within the second tier is Devin Leary. Leary may not be elite in any space, however he has a superb arm, strong mobility, and wonderful poise, particularly in clutch moments. He’s a candidate to play his approach into early-round territory.
Operating Again
UAB RB DeWayne McBride: UAB’s DeWayne McBride is among the best operating backs within the nation. Final season, he put up 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns on 205 makes an attempt, averaging 6.7 yards per try. Whereas he’s not a lot of a receiving risk, his mixture of burst, contact steadiness, and physicality on the bottom may be very interesting.
Central Michigan RB Lew Nichols III: Even after incomes 1,848 yards and 16 scores on 341 carries in 2021, Lew Nichols III falls beneath the radar. He may very well be a worth deal within the 2023 NFL Draft. At 5’10”, 220 kilos, he’s well-leveraged and intensely dense. He not solely has burst but in addition the inventive instincts to navigate by way of congestion.
Broad Receiver
Virginia WR Dontayvion Wicks: There aren’t many receivers in school soccer put collectively fairly like Dontayvion Wicks. He’s 6’1″, 206 kilos, with arms that can probably measure over 33″. He brings size, density, explosiveness, and pure physique management and is an incredible match for the three-level risk definition.
Michigan State WR Jayden Reed: Jayden Reed doesn’t fairly have the bodily make-up that Wicks does, however he’s a formidable three-level risk in his personal proper. He’s not an elite measurement risk at 6’0″, 185 kilos, however he brings nice pace and burst, wonderful catching instincts, slippery RAC capability, and toughness as a blocker. He’s the total bundle.
Stanford WR Elijah Higgins: Treylon Burks enamored onlookers along with his bodily profile within the 2022 cycle. Elijah Higgins ought to garner comparable respect, at the least for his measurement. He’s a large 6’3″, 235-pound move catcher with wonderful size and conversion capability on the catch level. If he can broaden his route tree, look out.
Tight Finish
Stanford TE Benjamin Yurosek: Higgins isn’t the one Stanford move catcher value keeping track of. Benjamin Yurosek can also be an underrated participant at his place. Yurosek is noticeably underweight, however he’s an explosive, light-footed athlete whose high-level coordination and ball-tracking capability assist to compensate.
Baylor TE Ben Sims: There’ll all the time be a spot within the NFL for tight ends who can do some little bit of every part. That’s Baylor TE Ben Sims within the 2023 NFL Draft. Sims may not be elite anyplace, however at 6’4″, 253 kilos, he’s well-sized, methodical as a route runner, and extremely aggressive in each phases.
Offensive Sort out
Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron: In a large open deal with class, sleepers might finally emerge as bona fide early-round prospects. Matthew Bergeron is a candidate to observe that path. He has nice measurement at 6’5″, 327 kilos, however can also be an exceptional short-area athlete with grip energy, energy, and lively hand utilization.
Tennessee OT Darnell Wright: Had been this All-Sleeper Workforce to be put collectively in actual life, Darnell Wright would have added worth as a deal with with expertise on each side. However his affect goes far past versatility. Wright is a large, dominating specimen with the upper-body torque and elite energy capability to be an early-round decide.
Offensive Guard
Utah G Sataoa Laumea: The Utah Utes have a severely underrated guard prospect in Sataoa Laumea. Laumea brings a superb mixture of athleticism, hip fluidity, play energy, and energy to the fold, and he maximizes these traits with regular leverage and approach.
Kentucky G Kenneth Horsey: The Wildcats had two linemen chosen within the 2022 NFL Draft, whereas a 3rd signed as a UDFA. Kenneth Horsey would be the subsequent in a protracted line of Kentucky gamers to make the leap. Horsey is alluring due to his mixture of pure leverage and elite proportional size, however his character will solely assist his trigger.
Heart
Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann: With a lot returning expertise at middle, Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann generally falls beneath the radar. However Tippmann ought to finally make his identify recognized on the 2023 NFL Draft stage. He’s athletic, highly effective, and tenacious and has excellent leverage acquisition for a 6’6″, 320-pound blocker.
2023 NFL Draft All-Sleeper Workforce: Protection
Prospects like Aidan Hutchinson, Devin Lloyd, and Devonte Wyatt have been thought-about sleepers very early on within the 2022 NFL Draft cycle. As we’ve seen numerous instances earlier than, early sleepers can go on to turn out to be bona fide early-round contenders. Which defensive 2023 NFL Draft prospects have that potential this cycle? Right here’s the All-Sleeper Workforce on the defensive facet, full with hyperlinks to the total positional lists.
Defensive Tackle | Edge Rusher | Linebacker | Defensive Back
Defensive Sort out
Oregon DT Brandon Dorlus: Odd and hybrid-front groups will probably circle Brandon Dorlus early of their evaluations. The Geese defender continually popped on movie whereas I watched Kayvon Thibodeaux, and he now has an opportunity to make a reputation for himself. At 6’3″, 285 kilos, Dorlus is an alignment-versatile lineman with shocking energy capability.
Miami DT Akheem Mesidor: The “twitched-up ball of power” mildew is a enjoyable one at DT. A number of 2023 NFL Draft prospects match this mildew, together with Miami’s Akheem Mesidor. At 6’2″, 272 kilos, he doesn’t have the dimensions of different DTs. However he’s extraordinarily dense and well-leveraged, and his explosiveness and high-energy type solely compound his enchantment.
Edge Rusher
Military EDGE Andre Carter II: Andre Carter is turning into a recognized commodity within the draft group. However there’s nonetheless some room for catching up within the common media. You don’t usually discover a 6’7″, 265-pound edge rusher as fast and versatile as Carter. He has room to maintain refining his hand utilization, however the instruments are early-round high quality, indisputably.
Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire: Isaiah McGuire seems like a prospect who can explode with one other sturdy 12 months. He’s a protracted, high-mass EDGE at 6’4″, 272 kilos. With that body, he brings nice energy and energy capability, however he’s additionally explosive and reveals off eye-catching ankle flexion across the apex. His rip strikes will be devastating.
Linebacker
Purdue LB Jalen Graham: The fashionable linebacker is right here, and he seems like Jalen Graham. Trenton Simpson will deservedly get first-round hype, however Graham is one other hybrid with tantalizing potential in the appropriate place. Listed at a compact 6’3″, 220 kilos, Graham can cowl from the slot or crash the field with power.
Tennessee LB Jeremy Banks: The early success of Nick Bolton can have evaluators in search of the following compact, instinctive linebacker to be the glue of their second-level models. Jeremy Banks is a candidate to fill that archetype within the 2023 NFL Draft. A former RB, he’s a bit undersized. However he’s a rangy tackling machine who’s progressing rapidly.
Duke LB Shaka Heyward: Prospects with versatility will all the time be coveted on the defensive facet of the ball. That’s one thing that Shaka Heyward particularly brings to the desk. The 6’3″, 240-pound linebacker can play in area, however he’s additionally efficient on the blitz and as an additional edge setter in opposition to the run. His measurement makes him very distinctive.
Cornerback
Syracuse CB Garrett Williams: If you happen to’re in search of a CB who makes an affect on the bottom and within the air, Garrett Williams is your man. The 6’0″, 189-pound Williams has the high-level ball abilities and aggressive focus to make performs on the catch level. However he’s additionally an especially tenacious run assist defender with excellent burst and tackling capability.
Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson: Cam Smith would have been on this listing, however he’s rapidly turn out to be a mainstream early-round prospect. In his place is Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson’s expertise is alluring. He’s 6’0″, 214 kilos, with lengthy arms and elite explosiveness. However he’s additionally surprisingly fluid, disciplined, and sound along with his approach.
Marshall DB Micah Abraham: It takes a prime performer to face out within the MAC. That’s what Micah Abraham is. As a real junior in 2021, he put up a decide and 14 move deflections. Abraham is noticeably underweight, however he’s lengthy, performs low in his stance, and may rapidly flip and run with receivers. And his manufacturing on the ball speaks for itself.
Security
Florida S Rashad Torrence II: Getting into his first 12 months of eligibility, Rashad Torrence is already an thrilling prospect along with his projection. The 6’0″, 205-pound Torrence has a powerful body with wonderful short-area twitch and fluidity, and when he presses the throttle, he’s off. He’s additionally proven he can handle area in deep protection and implement downhill.
Missouri S Jaylon Carlies: Missouri has a couple of defender value keeping track of within the 2023 NFL Draft. Past McGuire, in addition they have security Jaylon Carlies, who may very well be a sleeping large on the place. Carlies is 6’3″, 204 kilos, with superior size. He’s a power within the field, however he additionally reveals off vary and playmaking capability in protection.
