When the 2024 NFL Draft begins later this week, all 32 teams will search for the next late-round prospect who will make an instant impact on their franchise.
Who are the top 2024 NFL Draft sleepers to be aware of this week?
Top 10 NFL Draft Sleepers for 2024
10) Blake Watson, RB, Memphis
The list of unheralded Day 3 or undrafted free agent running backs who have made an immediate impact in the league is pretty extensive compared to other positions in the NFL. Blake Watson, out of Memphis, flashes the type of dynamic playmaking ability that potentially projects as an NFL contributor.
Watson was actually a receiver prospect entering the college game, catching 106 passes for 1,885 yards and 25 TDs during his prep career.
Fortunately for his draft stock, Watson successfully transitioned to RB at the college level and provided outstanding production in 2023 as a member of the Memphis Tigers, amassing 1,632 yards and 17 TDs on 245 touches.
His exceptional acceleration, explosive top speed, and surprising plus-level contact balance for an 189-pound back make him a very intriguing prospect entering the NFL game. His Memphis Pro Day testing results were outstanding, which could help him garner Day 3 draft capital.
9) Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota State
The 2023 NFL Draft produced a mauling interior line prospect in North Dakota State Bison Cody Mauch, who went on to start at guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year.
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This year, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits may have the interior line prospect who quietly makes an early impact for an NFL offensive line in Mason McCormick.
His Iron Man durability, extensive starting experience, and mauler mentality make him an intriguing small-school prospect who could provide quality interior line depth at a minimum but could develop into a plus-level starter down the road after posting impressive testing numbers at the NFL Combine.
8) Tahj Washington, WR, USC
Caleb Williams, MarShawn Lloyd, and Brenden Rice may dominate the buzz around USC Trojan prospects coming in this draft cycle, but WR Tahj Washington is a name to watch during Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Washington is a relatively polished receiving prospect entering the league with very few technical weaknesses, but his physical profile caps his potential ceiling and effectiveness at the next level.
He does his best work out of the slot, which will be his calling card to making an NFL roster. His route-running IQ, plus-level playmaking ability as a YAC threat, and excellent hands give him a chance to contribute to an NFL offense in 11-personnel sets that could use a reliable slot option.
However, it is unclear how much he’ll be able to offer past that role with a limited catch radius and average vertical speed.
His football integrity is certainly there across the board. Despite his well-rounded skill set entering the league, he likely projects as a Day 3 prospect whose best path to a lengthy NFL career will primarily be in the slot with some upside as a potential contributor in the screen, quick, and manufactured-touch game.
7) Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville
Another running back cracks the list. Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo possesses exceptional athleticism and the ideal amount of tread on the tires for a Day 3 prospect who can contribute to the NFL backfield early in his career.
His explosive playmaking ability is sprinkled throughout the film. He is an absolute load to bring down if he hits the second level at top speed. His athletic profile and flashes of home-run ability at the running back position make him an incredibly intriguing prospect.
Guerendo’s pass-catching ability helps him check another box at the next level, with some nice reps in pass protection to go with his natural hands out of the backfield.
His impressive downhill running style and elite top speed could make him an absolute nightmare to deal with in wide-zone schemes. The upside with Guerendo as a potential full-time starter is certainly there. However, he is still a little inconsistent with his reads, and his stock might be hampered by a lack of top-tier foot quickness, lateral agility, and creativity in tight spaces.
6) Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Some would argue that Sione Vaki projects out more favorably as a running back heading into the NFL. Still, his impact as a safety at Utah makes me feel comfortable projecting as an impact player on that side of the football.
Vaki is a physical presence in the box who has the plus-level short-area quickness to shoot gaps on outside rushing concepts and break down with ease in space as an underneath slot defender.
He is a bit undersized and lacks the vertical speed to thrive as a single-high safety, but he could be instrumental as an instinctive player near the line of scrimmage who plays with a faster processor than his 40-yard dash time suggests.
5) Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
If not for suffering a broken tibia and fibula late in the 2023 college football season, Zak Zinter may not qualify as one of these 2024 NFL Draft sleepers.
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He’s an effective athlete in space when pulling across the formation and working to the second level, displays plus-level awareness when sifting through stunts, and flashes ample power to move defenders off their spot with an impactful first punch at the point of attack.
His lower body strength isn’t elite and can be a little stiff in the hips. Still, his leadership qualities and experience against top-tier opponents in college make him an intriguing prospect who could provide great value later on Day 2 or anywhere on Day 3.
4) Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
The NFL bloodlines are strong with this one. Forgive me for the Star Wars reference, but Rice’s Luke McCaffrey certainly has big shoes to fill for a receiver prospect with the last name McCaffrey entering the professional ranks.
Fortunately, his athletic profile at 6’2” and 198 pounds is paired with exceptional change of direction skills, with a 6.7-second time in the 3-cone drill and 4.02 seconds in the short shuttle.
He could use a bit more refinement with his release package and efficiency at the breakpoint. However, the raw movement abilities are undoubtedly present for him to develop into a quality contributor to an NFL passing attack.
3) Jaheim Bell, TE, FSU
The Florida State Seminoles had an embarrassment of riches for quarterback Jordan Travis to throw to last year with Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, and Trey Benson. Yet, one of the most versatile offensive weapons for FSU in 2023 was TE Jaheim Bell.
There’s certainly some debate as to his ultimate fit in an NFL offense. He’s definitely on the smaller side, which could limit his impact or reps as an in-line tight end. Yet, he has exceptional YAC ability as a ball carrier, is a moveable weapon in the passing game from the slot or split out wide, and has the athleticism to threaten defenses vertically on the second level of the field.
2) Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue
It’s unfortunate that it took Tyrone Tracy Jr. so many years to officially switch from wide receiver to running back in college, but his flashes as a ball carrier certainly suggest it was the correct move.
He is an exceptionally creative runner with a plus-level burst and plenty of strength to elude and dismiss undisciplined tacklers through contact. His lateral agility and acceleration are still very present despite adding over 10 pounds of muscle to become a full-time running back at Purdue.
His ability to pass protect, create mismatches in the passing game as a receiver, and contribute in the return game already make him a candidate to make an NFL roster. Yet, combining that with his explosive athletic profile and impressive creativity as a runner could lead to a starter-level ceiling at the next level.
1) Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross
WR Jalen Coker from Holy Cross is one small-school prospect who has caught my eye during the pre-draft process. His ball skills, verticality attacking the football, and route running all fall in the elite category.
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If you switched his Crusaders jersey for an Alabama Crimson Tide one, we’d likely talk about him as a lock for a Day 2 selection. Yet, his level of competition at Holy Cross certainly does bring his projection to the top level of competition into question.
His reps against Boston College CB Elijah Jones — a prospect who will likely hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft — this year make me feel confident he’ll be able to succeed against NFL-caliber talent and present a major bargain entering the NFL.
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