Fans tend to dismiss late round picks as throwaways and almost worthless flier, but the 2016 NFL draft, like others will prove to have quite a few sleepers in good time.
The question is who might some of those players be? Starting first with the offensive side of the ball, here is a shortlist of names from each position that bears watching both due to their own talent as well as the fluid situations they’re in.
QB: Jeff Driskel (49ers, 6th round)
Often the best places to spot a potential sleeper at quarterbacks is on teams that have no definitive starters. In that case, it’s important to keep an eye on Jeff Driskel. Though he was a 6th round pick, his pure physical talent suggests he has a much higher ceiling if he can get the proper coaching and development he never really got at Florida. He’s big, athletic, can run and has the arm to push the ball down the field. With neither Colin Kaepernick nor Blaine Gabbert set in stone beyond 2016, the window is there for the young man to seize on it.
RB: Jonathan Williams (Bills, 5th round)
In 2014, people really missed out if they didn’t see Jonathan Williams run. He showcased everything required of being a workhorse running back: vision, strength, toughness and a dogged approach to just keep grinding until the defensive will breaks. Unfortunately an injury sidelined him most of 2015, so many forgot about him as can often happen in the draft. The Buffalo Bills can thank their lucky stars. They have yet another quality back to join LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams to form a potential three-headed monster. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a frequent nightmare in short yardage.
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WR: Daniel Braverman (Bears, 7th round)
The Chicago Bears have their two big receivers on the outside with Alshon Jeffery (6’3″) and Kevin White (6’3″). So the next logical step would be to find a shifty and fast receiver to move around the slot to create mismatches over the middle. Most would assume Eddie Royal will do that, but warnings are going around not to overlook Daniel Braverman. He was a constant menace at Western Michigan and exhibits the exact skill set of a Wes Welker or Cole Beasley, finding the soft spots in coverage and moving the chains.
TE: Jerell Adams (Giants, 6th round)
It was a surprise that he fell that far. Jerell Adams, in terms of mixing size with speed and athleticism was among the most promising in the draft. Perhaps some felt he lacked enough bulk or didn’t trust his concentration, which has led to frequent drops at South Carolina. Even so he had some experts tagging him as a 3rd round pick on talent alone. So to give him to Eli Manning, a quarterback known for getting the absolute most out of otherwise no-name tight ends in the past, could turn into a boon for New York.
OL: Kyle Murphy (Packers, 6th round)
Ted Thompson has developed a reputation for being able to find decent offensive linemen in later round and it seems like he may have found another one. Kyle Murphy doesn’t lack for intelligence or polish coming from Stanford. He’s also athletic and moves well in space, showing the instinct to find and pick up blocks on the move. If he can learn to play with a lower pad level and improve his overall functional strength, he will be a starter for a long time in the league.