Hunting for Sleepers Rather Than Easter Eggs

Here is one under-the-radar player at every position for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Apr 9, 2023 1:18 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s Easter, that day when dentists around the world dress as rabbits and hide copious amounts of candy to rot kids’ teeth to grow their businesses. It’s also that time of year when NFL scouts are searching for hidden gems – aka NFL Draft sleepers.

Via conversations with scouts, here is one at each position.

Quarterback: Tyson Bagent, Shepherd

Bagent won the Harlan Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II in 2021 and was a finalist again in 2022. As a senior, he completed 69.9 percent of his passes for 4,580 yards with 41 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions. No player in the history of college football can match his 159 career touchdown passes. He didn’t look out of place at the Senior Bowl.

Running back: Eric Gray, Oklahoma

Gray has a three-down skill-set. As a senior, he rushed for 1,366 yards (6.4 average) and 11 touchdowns and added 33 receptions for 229 yards (6.9 average), giving him 1,595 total yards. Only Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh, who had 42 receptions and led the class with 2.21 yards per pass route, had more catches without a drop, according to Pro Football Focus. He’ll be dinged by his 4.63 in the 40 and a Relative Athletic Score of 4.73 but a Packers running back has to catch the ball and pass protect.

Receiver: Andrei Iosivas, Princeton

Ever year, there are at least a few receivers like Iosivas – small-school guys with big-school skill-sets at 6-foot-3 and with 4.43 speed in the 40. A first-team FCS All-American, he caught 66 passes for 943 yards and seven touchdowns. Oh, and he was an All-American in the heptathlon.

Tight end: Payne Durham, Purdue

Durham caught 101 passes for 1,027 yards and 14 touchdowns during his final two seasons. He’ll be dinged by a 4.87 in the 40 and a RAS of 6.52, but he’s a sure-handed target with the size (6-foot-5 5/8) to be a security blanket on critical third-and-medium situations and the potential to be an above-average blocker.

Offensive line: McClendon Curtis, UT-Chattanooga

The Packers love left tackles with the ability to play inside. Curtis spent most of his career at right guard – he was voted the Southern Conference’s top offensive lineman in 2021 by the league’s defensive linemen – before spending most of his senior year at left tackle. At 6-foot-6 and with 35-inch arms, he has tackle size.

Defensive line: Karl Brooks, Bowling Green

“I don’t know what you’d do with him but I hope we find out,” was one scout’s statement on Brooks. At 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, he’s got the size of a defensive lineman. However, he lined up on the edge at Bowling Green and was a game-wrecker with 10 sacks and 18 tackles for losses. Can he adapt to life on the inside in the NFL?

Outside linebacker: YaYa Diaby, Louisville

This isn’t the first time that Diaby has flown under the radar. Entering his senior year of high school, he had zero scholarship offers. As a senior at Louisville, he piled up nine sacks and 14 tackles for losses. At 263 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.51 seconds. That’s faster than most receivers.

Linebacker: Daiyan Henley, Washington State

Henley transferred from Nevada to Washington State for his sixth collegiate season and set career highs with 106 tackles, four sacks, 12 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles. At Nevada in 2021, he had four interceptions. He’s 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, so a bit undersized, but he’s got 4.54 speed. Speed and playmaking will never go out of style.

Cornerback: Jartavius Martin

Martin’s probably not really a sleeper. There’s a chance he’ll go in the third round. At 5-foot-11, Martin’s got 4.46 speed and a 44-inch vertical. So, he’s got the athleticism to go with the production (three interceptions, 11 passes defensed in 2022). Most of Martin’s snaps the last two seasons came in the slot, and that’s what the Packers need with Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes offering high-quality play on the perimeter.

Safety: Jordan Howden, Minnesota

Howden brings a wealth of experience with 49 starts and 240 tackles over five seasons, with ample playing time at safety as well as the slot. He had two interceptions in 2022 to match his career total. At 6-foot and 203 pounds, Howden ran his 40 in 4.49 seconds. That’s faster than how he plays, though, which will push him down the board. Howden had a predraft visit with the Packers.