All eyes are on the top prospects in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. The class could potentially produce plenty of future superstars in the pros, but not all of them are going to be drafted in the first round. There should be diamonds in the rough to be mined by teams in the later rounds. Just take for example these five players with good sleeper qualities.
Derek Stingley Jr., Trent McDuffie, Ahmad Gardner, and Andrew Booth Jr. are the top cornerbacks being discussed ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Pitre deserves some love as well. Pitre was a stud at Waco. In three years with the Bears, Pitre did not allow a touchdown on 88 targets while also coming away with four interceptions. He is a fierce competitor downfield who won’t be making life easy for opposing receivers once he gets the hang of playing in the pros.
Tyler Allgeier – Running back, BYU Cougars
Allgeier was a boulder in college with the Cougars. He is a very physical running back whose toughness should serve him well in the NFL. At BYU, Allgeier managed to gut out an average of 4.2 yards after contact. While he’s unlikely to become a star in the NFL, the team who’ll get him will have someone who could be groomed into a potent change-of-pace option that can help tire out opposing defenses.
Finding the next Rob Gronkowski is every general manager’s dream. We are not saying that Likely is likely going to be Gronk in the NFL but as a prospect projected to go off the board in the later rounds, he offers high-value upside, considering his athleticism, speed, and strong hands. He is a bit undersized for his position at 6-4, but Likely can make up for it with his agility and notable route-running.
Jack Coan – Quarterback, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
As a start, Coan has good size for the NFL at this position, standing 6-3 (217 pounds). He isn’t the best athlete out there. He’s not mobile. But his intangible qualities as a leader and proven toughness in the pocket are some of the pluses for Coan. In addition to that, Coan’s progression is above average, able to find secondary targets when the first one isn’t available. Coan isn’t going to be a starter right away but with the right tutelage and development, he can be a surprise package down the road.
Carson Strong – Quarterback, Nevada Wolf Pack
Strong is a pretty intriguing prospect with considerable potential as a sleeper. He was the main driver of Nevada’s offense in 2021 that averaged over 34 points a game put up nearly 340 yards per contest. With good size (6-3/226) and above-average arm strength to go with great pocket awareness, Strong could be a starter in the NFL sooner than most people think.
