Sleepers in the NFL draft are the jewels every year. They’re the most fun players to unearth, as difficult as it may be to do so with as thorough and comprehensive as the scouting has become.

Still, every draft produces players like Julian Edelman, a former small-school college quarterback converted to receiver, who slip through the cracks and become stars as he did with the Patriots. For every highly touted player like a Keyshawn Johnson, there is a Wayne Chrebet in waiting whom a team takes a chance on and watches as it pays off.

Here’s a look at 10 potential “sleepers’’ who will be available in this week’s draft:

1. Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State

Is he the next Carson Wentz? Maybe not. But how can teams look past a player who succeeded the now-Eagles quarterback, who happened to be the second overall pick in 2016, and will leave the program as the school’s all-time leader in passing yardage (8,693) and TD passes (88). He also rushed for 2,523 career yards and 41 TDs. North Dakota State, by the way, has won seven FCS national championships in the past eight seasons, including the last two.

2. James Williams, RB, Washington State

Teams seeking a third-down, change-of-pace, “scatback’’ runner might take a long look at Williams, who’s probably the best pass-catching back in this draft, having caught 202 passes in three seasons. New England could be the perfect place for him with the way the Patriots use their backs as receivers.



3. Cortez Broughton, DT, Cincinnati

After playing on the outside two years ago, the 290-pounder flourished this season playing on the inside, producing 7.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. He has the look of a poor man’s Ed Oliver, considered one of the best interior linemen in this draft, and will come at much less cost.

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4. Justin Hollins, DE/LB, Oregon

The 6-5, 245-pound edge rusher produced 6.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, forced five fumbles and batted six passes this past season. Pro Football Focus graded Hollins as the best edge-defender in the Pac-12.

5. Donald Parham, TE, Stetson

He’s raw, having played only one year of high school ball, and he comes from a school better known for its prominent tennis program. But Parham’s size — 6-8, 240 — and athleticism is something to develop. The former basketball player (hello, Tony Gonzalez) caught 85 passes for 1,319 yards and 13 TDs in his senior year. He’s a total project, not a strong blocker, but possibly worth developing with a significant ceiling.

6. Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor

He transferred from Tennessee, where he was a highly recruited running back who rushed for 1,288 rushing yards in his sophomore year before transferring to Baylor. After sitting out 2017, the 6-4, 217-pound Hurd led the Bears with 69 receptions for 946 yards.

7. Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison

He has terrific ball skills, with 18 career INTs. What he’ll have to overcome — and what will keep him from attracting teams at the top of the draft — is his size. Moreland is 5-10, 179 pounds and has 29½-inch arms. He missed the 2015 season after he was kicked off the team over a petit larceny charge. Some teams will overlook those issues for a player who defended 63 passes and scored six defensive touchdowns in his college career, though.

8. Matt Nelson, DT, Iowa

The 6-8, 295-pounder comes from a big-time program and has been well-coached by Kirk Ferentz. He began his career on the outside, moving inside after the 2017 season. He has an injury history that will affect his draft status, having had three surgeries, including shoulder surgery after the 2017 season. Ironically, he’s a medical student. He did manage to play in 13 games in each of his four seasons and recorded 111 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and had eight sacks.

9. Malik Grant, S, Marshall

He’s a 6-2, 200-pound former walk-on who produced 89 tackles (nine for losses), had eight passes defended and two INTs in 2018. He’s a tenacious point-of-attack player, best when working near the line of scrimmage defending the run.

10. Ulysees Gilbert III, LB, Akron

If speed kills, then Gilbert is a deadly defender, noted as one of the fastest players at his position coming out of this draft. He was productive, racking up 353 tackles (28.5 tackles for loss) in 50 career games. With his athleticism, he could project as a player in sub packages with his speed and athleticism in space.