Day 2-3 NFL Draft Sleepers – Who Can Make an Impact?
With the NFL Draft just 1 day away, we know who the top prospects and the best players available that are will have their names called on Thursday.
However, anyone who knows anything about franchise building knows days 2 and 3 of the draft are just as important, as these are where you can find 2+ difference makers that were slept on who put your franchise over the top. Here are some sleeper prospects I love:
EDGE Felix Aniduke Uzomah – Kansas State
The reigning Big 12 player of the year had big production for the conference championship-winning Wildcats, with 11 sacks his sophomore year and 8.5 sacks last season, Anudike Uzomah is someone who will probably go early on day 2. He has effective use of his length and plays with high-level intensity, but still can develop his moves as a pass rusher, making him an attractive target for teams to want to develop while being able to produce at the same time. His ceiling is just as high as a lot of day 1 edges.
CB/S Kelee Ringo – Georgia
One of the top DBs on the team who won 2 straight national championships Kelee Ringo can be a versatile NFL piece for whoever drafts him. Ringo has excellent size for a corner at 6’2 210 pounds, and can travel and cover with most of the bigger WRs in the league. There has also been some talk of moving Ringo to safety given his great tackling ability, so the plus side is a lot with his versatility to move around, Any team who drafts Ringo is certainly getting a plus athlete.
WR Marvin Mims – Oklahoma
Marvin Mims has a 101 in route running, as he consistently makes opponent Defensive backs look silly while trying to guard him. Mims put up 54 receptions for 1,083 yards his junior year with a whopping 20 yards a catch by using his pristine route running and slick footwork and jukes to work, while being one of the Big 12’s best WRs. I fully expect Mims to be a starter at the next level within 2 years.
CB Clark Phillips III – Utah
What Phillips III lacks in size, he makes up for double in the heart. Phillips is a playmaker, with 6 INTs last year, and absolutely has the ball hawk skills and eyes to do it at the next level. He’s also not a shy tackler and will make plays in the run if you need him to. I believe Phillips III will be an excellent nickel corner in the NFL.
G Steve Avila – TCU
Steve Avila might just be the best run blocker in this draft and is an absolute mauler when he gets his feet driven. He’s also more than capable of holding his ground in the pass block area, and could even possibly go Round 1 with how well-rounded he is. Besides O’cyrus Torrance he’s the best pure interior O lineman in this draft and could be a day 1 starter.
WR Jonathan Mingo – Ole Miss
Mingo might be chosen way earlier than expected due to the lack of bigger WRs available after Quentin Johnston is gone, and he is absolutely worth the gamble. At 6’2 Mingo ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash with pretty good production last year at 51 receptions for 861 yards, and a record-setting 220+ yards against Vanderbilt. Mingo is a name I wouldn’t be surprised to see chosen early in RD 2.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson – UCLA
Dorian Thompson-Robinson was a 5-year starter who was highly effective during his time at UCLA at both running and throwing the football while turning the Bruins around into a winning program. Thompson-Robinson threw for 3,154 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 646 yards and another 12 his senior season, and could become a really good backup who turns into a starter if chosen late in Day 2 or early Day 3 ala Tyrod Taylor. He’d be a great value pick for anyone in need of a QB.
Kris Torres is a Junior Journalism Major at Mercy College. A former football player, he is passionate in writing about Campus Current events, Sports,...