2026 NFL draft: Louis Riddick’s favorite prospects, sleepers

I absolutely love it nfl draft. I love tape. I like evaluation. I like anticipation and anticipation. And we’re almost there– 2026 draft starts with round 1 On 23 April. You can see me on the ESPN set for all three days of action.

This is not the whole truth on tape possibilities. The real analysis comes from spending time with them and understanding who they are; That’s why team interviews and visits are so important. But the tape doesn’t lie, and after spending hours watching this class, I wanted to pick out a few potential ones that really caught my attention. there are my people In the classroom – players I would have stood at the table to draft.

The first five are first-rounders who will be stars. I can’t get enough of them and would love to have any of them. There are five other sleepers that I really like. If I were running an NFL team I’d be targeting them the other day, and I think they all could easily outperform their projected draft slots.

This is the fourth year we’ve made this list, and it starts with a star expected to go in the top 10 and ends with a Day 2 safety with plenty of upside.

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First-rounders I like
sleepers who could be stars

Five Surefire Stars in Round 1

Height: 6-0 | weight: 212

Every NFL general manager and head coach this time of year is on a mission to add offensive players who can win games in a single play. Love is that boy. He can make big plays from anywhere on the field. Last season he had 11 runs of 20 or more yards, and six of them went for touchdowns.

Love has the power, speed, open-field elusiveness and versatility to hit in the run game and pass game. His route running is as good as most NFL wide receivers. Up to that point, I thought He looked like a running back running wide blocking routes at the combine. He shifts his weight and changes direction in a moment. Love caught 27 passes for 280 yards last season.

Don’t get into the debate over whether a running back should be included in the top 10. This young man is not a running back. He’s a game-changing playmaker who produced 1,652 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns last season. After all, that’s what every team wants.

Height: 6-5 | weight: 244

In a game that is so dependent on environment and the ability to physically persevere, there is no possibility that cannot be missed. But… Styles is a prospect that can’t be passed up.

With a mix of unique physical attributes – size, speed and fluid athleticism – and diamond-level character, I’ll sleep great at night knowing I’ve selected a player who can be the face of the franchise. He finished last season with 77 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. And then, he showed off his explosion at the combine with a vertical jump of 43½ inches. He does it all.

Styles is only scratching the surface of his potential as a multitool defender. There are a lot of things he can do to improve the defense – the most important of which may be his ability to lead and make those around him better. Styles is built for big roles in big moments, and in that sense he’s an incredibly safe prospect already A pro he is a basic player.

Height: 6-4 | weight: 320

At its core, football is about dominant, physical play along the lines of a scrimmage. And there was no one in college football last season who had more snaps playing on the offensive line than Ioane. He’s an absolute tank at 320 pounds, and he has the versatility to line up anywhere on the line. Ioane plays with power, agility, speed and a level of toughness when finishing blocks that is truly unparalleled.

Any front office that believes in building from the inside out and being strong in the middle – which I’ve been talking about for the last decade – should view Ioane as an essential foundational player.

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Olivavega Ioane’s NFL Draft Profile

Check out some of the top highlights from Penn State’s Olivavega Ioane.

Height: 6-2 | weight: 203

Tyson is the best wide receiver in the 2026 draft. Full stop.

He has it all… size, explosive athleticism, body control, strength and solid top speed. He can move seamlessly between the X, Z and slot receiver positions and can put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses by taking advantage of matchups anywhere on the field. Tyson had 75 catches, 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 before posting 61 catches, 711 yards and eight TDs in nine games in 2025.

The main thing preventing Tyson from being widely regarded as a definitive superstar is his significant injury history. He suffered a torn ACL/MCL/PCL in 2022 broken collarbone and settled in 2024 hamstring issues In 2025. The conversation among members of the team medical staff regarding Tyson’s future availability projection will be interesting. But I believe the risk is worth the reward. This boy will be special.

Height: 6-0 | weight: 199

A very intelligent and accomplished wide receivers coach told me a long time ago that one of the most important differentiating characteristics he looks for when evaluating wideouts – beyond consistently catching the ball – is how quickly and effectively they can transition after the catch. Do they get the ball upfield? Can they make defenders miss? Can they break tackles? And does he have the speed to convert a short pass into a long gain?

Cooper checks those boxes. He averaged 7.3 yards after the catch last season and showed no fear in snatching the ball in traffic. he made toughest catch of the season in a position to get it against penn state. And Cooper, who had 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, can play the X or Z spots, in the slot or outside.

When he ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, it sealed it for me. This guy will be a star at the NFL level.

Five sleepers out of Round 1

Height: 5-11 | weight: 193

Turn on any tape of the Hurricanes in 2025, and I guarantee you that if Scott was on the field, he was making plays. Last season he had 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

He is the ultimate competitor and plays the game with a passion for contact. He has the next-level football IQ and the speed/quickness to become a three-down factor at the nickel position, and that has become key to the best NFL defenses. I saw times in the 4.32-4.35 range for his Pro Day 40-yard dash. he is Extraordinary. In my opinion, we should hear his name at the beginning of the second day.

Height: 6-0 | weight: 220

I’ve talked about Lewis a lot this spring, and not just because he played at Pitt.

Remember how dominant former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks was against the run and pass during his legendary NFL career? I’m not saying Louis is Brooks, but the Hall of Famer’s playing style is exactly what I see when I watch Louis. He has the speed skills of a defensive back and the hands of a wide receiver. And as soon as he steps onto the football field, I see instincts, key-and-diagnosis traits and overall toughness in the box against the race to become an elite-level playmaker in the pros. He can come off blocks, defend the run and make tough tackles (77 of them last season, including 7.5 for loss).

“He reminds me a lot of Derrick Brooks.” @LRiddickESPN They say @pit_fbKyle Lewis has everything it takes to become a star in the NFL pic.twitter.com/y2g9EbcVRr

– ACC Network (@accnetwork) 30 March 2026

Starting Day 1 with Pro Bowl upside. Lewis is a true baller built for today’s game, and I like him to be a quintessential will linebacker for any defense.

Height: 6-4 | weight: 316

Georgia Tech coach Brent Key has said that Rutledge has the potential to become the best offensive lineman he has coached, which is saying something. Rutledge is a block of granite who plays with leverage and leg drive. He has the athleticism to play in zone or man run-game blocking schemes, and you can sense his competitiveness and desire to put defenders on their backs.

Rutledge will need to improve his pass pro technique, but he has a strong punch and excellent anchor. Some believe he could be an All-Pro center at the NFL level. I don’t care what position he plays; I would like him on my team.

Height: 6-1 | weight: 188

When a player finishes his college career with 15 interceptions, there’s no doubt that he has the propensity to anticipate route combinations, get good breaks on the football, and create turnovers. Clark is waiting to have a big play, whether his alignment starts in the box as a nickel or dime LB, or in the back end in split-safety/single-high middle coverage, where he can really show off his 4.41 speed and range. Oh, and he’ll support runs and strikes as a tackler too. It all adds up to the kind of prospect teams will be craving next week.

Height: 6-1 | weight: 190

He may fly under the radar for the average football-watching fan, but NFL teams know the upside of Stukes. He has good size and exceptional functional explosiveness. Stukes ran a 4.33-second 40 and had a 38-inch vertical jump at the combine.

Stukes can play nickel, dime, free safety or strong safety because he is smart, intuitive and an alpha competitor who loves to hit. Additionally, he is a good blitzer. He is equally skilled as a man or field defender, and has exceptional range and ball skills as a deep field safety. Stukes has seven career options, including four from last season. There’s nothing not to like about the Stukes… at all.