As the 2026 NFL Draft nears, we’re getting closer to the Las Vegas Raiders kicking things off with their second No. 1 pick in franchise history.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the first overall selection as Las Vegas starts a new era under coach Klint Kubiak. There are specific players expected to be early picks as well such as the Ohio State trio of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs as well as edge rushers David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr.
Those are easy projections that everyone would be surprised not to see called on the first night of the NFL draft. But what about the surprises?
Every year, a player or two sneaks into the first round after a team decides they have to get them in the building. The New York Giants turned heads when they traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select quarterback Jaxson Dart. In 2024, wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette went off the board earlier than anticipated.
There are candidates who could do the same in 2026 and hear their names called earlier than expected. Here are six Round 1 sleepers for the 2026 NFL Draft — and which teams could be interested:
Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor could be a fit for Buffalo or New England.
Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
Mesidor has two things going against him: Age (he’ll be 25 before the draft) and injury history (multiple foot surgeries). But all it takes is one franchise to see the upside.
Mesidor was Bain’s teammate at Miami and some may like his size, quickness, and length which will help him in run defense — a knock on some of the top edge rushers in this class. His age means he’s far along in his development, with multiple pass-rush moves available to him as a rookie. He’s also been productive in Miami with 67 pressures and 13 sacks in 2025. For playoff teams late in the first round looking for a rotational edge who can support a top line as a rookie, Mesidor makes sense.
Potential fits: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots
OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
This is an interesting offensive tackle class. The top prospects at the position — typically seen as Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa — lined up specifically on the right side in college. Once you get past the first 40 prospects, the position generally flattens out for a while. Teams looking for a tackle may have to spend a top-40 pick on it or wait for a developmental guy late in Round 3 at best.
That’s why a guy like Tiernan could sneak into the late first round. He was a left tackle with the Wildcats for the last three years and didn’t miss a snap. At 6-foot-8 and 323 pounds, he’s got the length to be a solid pass protector immediately. His ceiling may be ultimately lower than others in the class but his very high floor makes him an enticing option for a team looking for a starter sooner than later.
Potential fits: San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
On the other side of the tackle coin is Iheanachor, who is a bundle of intriguing traits. His background in both basketball and soccer means he has excellent foot speed for a man who measures in at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds. His great footwork, active hands and overall athleticism are some of the best tools at the position in the class.
But he is still a raw prospect. He’ll need time to get close to his high ceiling. Teams may opt to do something similar to what Green Bay’s done with 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan. The Packers rotated him at both guard spots in 2024 before giving him more snaps at both spots in 2025 and adding time at both tackle spots. In 2026, he’s projected to be the Packers’ starting left tackle.
A team drafting him in the latter part of the first round this year could be looking for a starter at guard in the near-term with a long-term vision of taking over for an aging tackle on the outside.
Potential fits: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers
Running back Jadarian Price works out during Notre Dame football's Pro Day on March 24 at Irish Athletic Center in South Bend, Ind.
RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
This is a one-prospect class at running back with Price’s teammate Jeremiyah Love likely hearing his name called in the first 10 selections of the draft. But after that, the landscape isn’t great for the next two rounds.
Price stands out as one of the best options at the position after Love. He split carries for much of his college career but has breakaway speed and versatility as a receiver. He’s a patient runner as well, which could work for teams looking for a complementary back or a faster receiving option in a split backfield.
It’s tough to tell with running backs given how devalued the position is generally in the modern NFL draft. But if a team has a need at that spot, addressing it in Round 1 with Price may be the best way to get a significant contributor for 2026.
Potential fits: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers receives a pass during football pro day on March 20 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
This tight end class is top-heavy with Kenyon Sadiq, the clear No. 1 prospect at the position, and expected to go early in the first round. He may not be the only one, though.
This is a deep tight end class beyond Sadiq with easily a dozen tight ends who will hear their names called. Because of that, some franchises may opt to wait until after the first round to get their guy. If not, Stowers could be a surprise pick.
The Vanderbilt product is an outlier athlete at the position. At 6-foot-4 and 239 pounds, he hit 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash — faster than Jaxon Smith-Njigba — jumped 45½ inches in the vertical jump and hit 11 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump. There just aren’t many explosive athletes like him at the tight end position, let alone the class as a whole.
He’s less likely to be a first-rounder than others higher on this list. But outliers can break through and he’s certainly one of them.
Potential fits: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs
Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Rounding out this group of sleepers is another outlier athlete with Lawrence. The 6-foot-4 edge rusher from UCF was one of the most athletic testers at the NFL combine thanks to his 4.52 40-yard dash time, a 40-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump.
He’s on the lighter side at 253 pounds but offers solid length (33⅝ inch arms) in addition to his burst off the edge. That shows up on his UCF film.
This edge class doesn’t have a lot of No. 1-type pass rushers, but instead it’s many solid No. 2 options who can deliver double-digit sacks at their peak. When it comes to first-round pass rushers, teams are more willing to bank on elite traits (look no further than the Jaguars opting for Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson in 2022). In that vein, Lawrence could make the first 32 selections, even though it is a long shot.
Potential fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills
