NFL fans are always focused on the first day of the draft because that’s when a lot of the marquee talent in the class is selected.
That said, the second and third days of the 2024 NFL Draft will be more important than the first day.
The reason for this is simple. NFL teams rely heavily on their depth to get them through each season because of injuries, so it’s important to have a deep coffer of talented players.
Also, many unheralded gems are unearthed on Days 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft. Tom Brady is the poster child for the importance of Day 3, while Brock Purdy’s status as Mr. Irrelevant has received similar attention. Just last year, the Rams landed Puka Nacua in the sixth round. He became an All-Pro second-teamer after recording 105 catches, 1,486 yards, and six touchdowns as a rookie.
Not every team will hit on a Nacua-type player, but NFL executives will be under pressure to find legit contributors, especially on the final day of the draft. The proliferation of NIL throughout the NCAA has whittled the list of early draft declarations to the point that Day 3 isn’t as flush with high-upside prospects as it was in previous years.
Even so, there will be plenty of sleeper candidates for teams to target outside of the top 50 picks. But which players will provide the most value to teams?
Sporting News is breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft’s top sleeper candidates at every position on offense and defense. Here’s a look at the players to keep an eye on after the first round ends.
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NFL Draft sleepers 2024
Quarterback: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
When Rattler arrived to Oklahoma in 2019, he came carrying lofty expectations. He was the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country and many believed he would thrive in Lincoln Riley’s offense.
Things didn’t work out for Rattler at Oklahoma. He enjoyed a great 2020 season but struggled the following year when he was eventually displaced as the starter by Caleb Williams.
Rattler will go much later in the 2024 draft than his former teammate, but there’s reason for optimism about the 23-year-old’s future. He isn’t the biggest quarterback at 6-0, 211 pounds, but he has good functional mobility and the arm talent needed to find a role in the NFL.
Rattler also overcame adversity during his college career. Not just because of his lost battle against Williams, but also because of the talent he played with at South Carolina. He was under constant pressure and endured a lot of drops which made his senior-year numbers — 68.9 completion percentage, 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions — impressive to at least one NFL decision-maker.
“I think Spencer Rattler is a good player, and in the right situation, he can be a starter in the NFL,” an AFC scouting director told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “He’s definitely edgy and super confident, which I kind of like. But what I like about Spencer’s film the last couple years is he went to more of a mid-tier SEC team, so every week they were playing against people better and faster than them. There’s probably more throws that he made from tight pockets, under duress than any other prospect. And that’s the NFL. He’s made those throws.”
If Rattler ends up on a team with a solid supporting cast, he may be able to outperform expectations. That makes him a solid Day 2 investment, as even if he doesn’t develop into a starter, he could be a high-end backup for the next decade-plus.
Also watch: Joe Milton, Tennessee. Milton is the opposite of Rattler in that his physical profile is ideal for a franchise quarterback. He’s 6-5, 235 pounds and has a cannon of an arm that could allow him to be a big-time playmaker in the NFL. He will need to be coached up while continuing to develop his accuracy, but he has the raw tools needed to be a higher-end starting quarterback if he reaches his full potential.
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Running back: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
The 2024 NFL Draft’s running back class is considered weak, but there are still a few good mid-round options that can serve as game-changers. Wright is one of them, and he could end up being the first selected at some point in the draft’s second round.
His combination of athleticism (4.33 40-yard dash) and receiving production (22 catches for 141 yards in 2023) give him the potential to be a three-down back in the NFL.
Wright isn’t the most elusive running back, but he still has great downhill speed and the size needed to be a between-the-tackles workhorse at 5-10, 210 pounds. He racked up 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on just 137 carries during his final season with the Volunteers, and his two-year workload as an SEC starter should convince a team to take him on Day 2.
Also watch: Isaac Guerendo, Louisville. Guerendo is another do-it-all running back who thrived at the NFL Combine. He blazed a 4.33 40 despite measuring at 6-0, 221 pounds ahead of the event. He’s a solidly built power runner with more than enough speed and receiving skills (22 catches, 234 yards as a senior) to carve out a role at the next level.
Wide receiver: Brenden Rice, USC
Rice isn’t the same type of technically-perfect playmaker that his father, Jerry Rice, was during his NFL days, but the USC product has the skills needed to be a top red-zone target.
The younger Rice caught a whopping 21 touchdowns on 111 career receptions during his time at Colorado and USC, good for a touchdown percentage of 18.9 percent. He has good physicality on his 6-2, 208-pound frame and should be able to win consistently at the top of routes against NFL-caliber defenders.
Questions existed about Rice’s ability to get separation, but he certainly doesn’t lack speed. He logged a respectable 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine and posted a maximum speed of 23 mph on GPS tracking during his college days.
Thus, if Rice can improve his route running a bit, he can be the full package at receiver. And if he struggles to separate, he should still be a solid contested-catch wideout.
Also watch: Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington. Polk was overshadowed at times by Rome Odunze, but he was a solid No. 2 weapon for Michael Penix Jr., catching 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. He doesn’t play quite as fast as Rice, but he has a well-built 6-1, 203-pound frame that should allow him to be an effective possession receiver at the next level.
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Tight end: Theo Johnson, Penn State
Johnson is one of the most athletic tight ends in the draft, and he showed off his skills at the 2024 NFL Combine.
The Penn State product ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds and logged an impressive 7.15-second 3-cone time while measuring at 6-6, 259 pounds. He showed well in the drills too, showcasing good hands and smooth route-running skills that should make him a successful pass-catcher in the NFL.
Johnson isn’t the best blocker, but he has the size needed to improve with better coaching, effort, and technique. Either way, he could end up being a dangerous red-zone target in the NFL after recording touchdowns on 12 of his 77 catches in college. That included seven TD grabs on 34 catches during his senior season.
Also watch: Tip Reiman, Illinois. If Johnson is a prototypical receiving tight end, Reiman is an old-school blocking tight end with excellent size at 6-5, 271 pounds. He only caught 41 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns during his four-year career at Illinois, but his 4.64-second 40 time and 7.02-second 3-cone drill show that he has the athletic ability needed to be a functional pass catcher in the NFL. Consider him this draft’s version of 11-year NFL veteran Lee Smith.
Offensive tackle: Patrick Paul, Houston
The 2024 NFL Draft is deep at tackle. That will push players like Paul further down the board than they might normally go.
Paul is a mammoth tackle prospect at 6-7, 331 pounds and started 44 games for the Cougars. He has great length (36 1/4-inch arms) on his frame and thrived as a pass blocker playing on the left side of the line at Houston.
Paul’s size, length, and solid athleticism should allow him a chance to develop into a productive left tackle. He will need to add strength at the next level to improve as a run blocker, but he has all the tools needed to be a great value pick in this year’s draft.
In a normal year, Paul might have a shot at being an early second-round pick, but with so many tackles ahead of him, he could last into the third round. If he does, he could be a steal if the right team lands him.
Also watch: Frank Crum, Wyoming. Crum has a massive frame at 6-8, 313 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.94 seconds. He started four seasons at Wyoming and has the length needed to hold up at tackle in the NFL. He needs to improve his lateral quickness a bit to deal with NFL-caliber edge rushers, but Crum looks the part of a solid swing tackle.
Guard/center: Dominick Puni, Kansas
One number can explain exactly why Puni is among the 2024 NFL Draft’s best offensive line sleepers. He ran the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.40 seconds.
Since 2010, just 28 offensive linemen have run that drill in 4.47 seconds or less, per Underdog Fantasy’s Josh Norris. Twenty-four were drafted and have combined to start 84 percent of their NFL games.
The short-shuttle drill measures foot speed, change of direction, and lateral quickness, so it’s sensible that it would be predictive of success along the offensive line. Puni’s solid mark in that category also matches what we’ve seen on tape, where he showed well as a puller and consistently worked the proper angles to cut off defenders trying to get by him.
Puni could add some strength to his 6-5, 313-pound frame to aid him as a run blocker, but he should be a capable, plug-and-play starter in the NFL who can help keep his quarterback clean. That makes him a great value in the Round 3-4 range.
Also watch: Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin. Bortolini would be a good mid-round add for a team looking for an athletic center with good technique. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.94 seconds and logged an incredibly impressive 4.28-second short shuttle. At 6-4, 303 pounds, Bortolini has the talent needed to become a high-quality center if he adds some strength to his frame.
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Defensive tackle: Kris Jenkins Jr., Michigan.
Yes, Kris Jenkins Jr. is the son of that Kris Jenkins, the one who played nine NFL seasons and earned two All-Pro nods. He has NFL bloodlines and put together solid tape at Michigan that should make him a Day 2 pick.
Jenkins has excellent play strength and showed his functional strength is great at the NFL Combine by logging 29 bench press reps. He also has good lateral mobility and the length and quickness needed to wreak havoc as an interior pass rusher, traits that are becoming increasingly popular at the professional level.
The one concern with Jenkins is that he stands at just 6-3, 299 pounds, which is a less-than-ideal size for an NFL defensive tackle. That makes it hard for him to win against double teams, so there may be some matchups that simply don’t favor him in the NFL.
Still, Jenkins may be able to bulk up at the next level to diminish concerns about his size. Even if not, he has a high motor and can be paired with a bigger-bodied nose tackle in 4-3 to create an effective interior tandem.
Also watch: Maason Smith, LSU. Smith was a five-star recruit coming out of high school but didn’t fully pan out at LSU. He had four sacks in seven games as a freshman but had just 2.5 in 14 games after that season, so his production is worth questioning. That said, the 6-5, 306-pound tackle has ideal size and length at the position and could become a productive role player with proper coaching. He’s a bit of a project, but he could be worth the risk.
Edge rusher: Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Kneeland is one of the more productive edge rushers in this year’s draft class despite only recently moving to the edge. He played tight end in high school but turned into a high-quality pass rusher at Western Michigan.
Kneeland racked up 28 TFL and 12.5 sacks during his college career while showing consistently good effort and solid athleticism. He has good bend off the edge, meaning he can turn his body close to the ground and slip by offensive tackles, and those traits should translate well to the NFL.
Kneeland (6-3, 267 pounds) will face a jump in competition from the Group of 5 to the NFL, but he should be equipped to handle it. He has good enough strength to go with his size, and so long as he is willing to continue to add to his pass-rush arsenal, he will have a chance to become a solid starter. He seems likely to be a Day 2 pick given the weaker state of the 2024 edge rusher class, and he should live up to that billing.
Also watch: Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State. Kamara is undersized at 6-1, 248 pounds, but he logged 29.5 sacks during his four years at Colorado State, including 13 in 2023. He showed good power and energy at the NFL Combine and might have endeared himself to several teams by doing so. He may not be a slam-dunk prospect, but he has great on-field strength, which should allow him to carve out a rotational role in an NFL defense as an edge setter.
Linebacker: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Watson has some warts as a draft prospect. He’s going to be a 24-year-old rookie after spending six years at Mississippi State, and his athleticism is merely solid, at best.
That said, Watson showcased elite instincts for the Bulldogs last season. He racked up a whopping 137 tackles, 13 TFL, and 10 sacks playing at linebacker. He also forced a couple of fumbles and generated an interception.
Watson is quick to the ball despite his lack of high-end speed, and he could emerge as a solid starter in the NFL because of that. At the worst, he’ll be a high-end special teams player and a rock-solid backup, giving him a high floor for the NFL.
Also watch: Tyrice Knight, UTEP. Knight is a solid tackler and a big-time playmaker who racked up 140 tackles, 15.5 TFL, and 4.5 sacks during his final year at UTEP. He isn’t the biggest linebacker at 6-0, 233 pounds, but he is a playmaker with good nose-to-the-ball instincts. Knight may need to freelance a bit less at the NFL level to improve in coverage and avoid giving up massive running plays, but if he can while maintaining his playmaking skills, he could be a nice mid-round pick in 2024.
Cornerback: Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State
Smith-Wade was one of the stars of Senior Bowl week. He made several big plays in practice and showed well during the game, returning an interception 83 yards to the one-yard line to seal a win for the National team.
Those same skills that Smith-Wade flashed that week were apparent on tape. He might be undersized at 5-10, 184 pounds, but he is strong in coverage and has high-end ball skills that should make him a turnover threat in the NFL.
Smith-Wade had two interceptions and 14 pass defenses over his last 20 games at Washington State. He should be ready for the jump in competition, though it isn’t clear whether he will best fit on the outside or if he will have to play the slot in the NFL.
Either way, he has the athletic ability needed to stick with NFL receivers and the ball skills required to be a playmaker. Provided that he doesn’t get burned deep too often while hunting for underneath passes, NFL teams will be happy to have him compete for playing time.
Also watch: Elijah Jones, Boston College. Jones spent six seasons at Boston College but broke out in his last campaign, totaling five picks and eight pass defenses. He’s 6-1, 185 pounds and has the length needed to be a solid NFL cornerback. He should be an early Day 3 pick and might be a starter early thanks to his wealth of college playing experience.
Safety: Tykee Smith, Georgia
Smith had an interesting college career. He played at West Virginia for two seasons and was a productive safety, generating at least 50 tackles and two picks each season, before transferring to Georgia. Smith took until 2023 to put together a great season for the Bulldogs, logging 70 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions as part of Kirby Smart’s defense.
Smith (5-10, 202 pounds) played a variety of roles at Georgia, operating mostly as a safety but sometimes performing as a linebacker in certain packages. He won’t be asked to do that often at the NFL level, but his versatility could come in handy if he’s used in a three-safety package.
Smith ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and showed explosiveness at the NFL Combine. Teams should be intrigued by his ball skills and won’t hesitate to consider him as a mid-round pick. His instincts are good, as evidenced by his statistical output, and it should be easy enough to find him a role on both defense and special teams.
Also watch: Sione Vaki, Utah. Vaki is one of the most versatile players in the NFL Draft, as he played both safety and running back at Utah. He could play either position in the pros, but his thick, 210-pound frame would play well at safety. He has good instincts and is a rock-solid tackler, so keep an eye out for him on Day 3 of the draft. It will be interesting to see what position he ultimately plays in the NFL.