First-round picks may get most of the attention during the NFL Draft, but it's not the only round that teams have to worry about.
The best teams across the league have to routinely ace Days 2 and 3 of the draft in order to ensure that their rosters are deep and talented. After all, the NFL is more of a battle of attrition than anything else. So, the teams that are able to find quality sleepers in the mid-to-late rounds of each draft class are often the ones that have sustained runs as contenders.
And those that don't? Well, they typically remain near the bottom of the league.
The 2022 NFL Draft will be no different than its predecessors in that the non-first-round picks will be critical to having a successful draft. In fact, they may be even more important this year given the lack of blue-chip players in the first round; with fewer safe early picks, teams will have to unearth some hidden gems to bolster their rosters.
While the 2022 NFL Draft is a bit top-light, it is deep. So, there will be plenty of quality sleeper candidates. Here's a breakdown of the top sleeper candidates at every position on offense and defense.
MORE NFL DRAFT: TSN's 7-round mock | Top 150 big board
2022 NFL Draft sleepers
Quarterback: Sam Howell, UNC
Sam Howell was once considered the likely No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. That changed rapidly during his final season at UNC, as he regressed from the solid form he showcased as a sophomore. That said, Howell had lost numerous weapons to the NFL the previous year, including Javonte Williams, Michael Carter and Dyami Brown, so there was bound to be some regression.
Howell still posted decent numbers in 2021, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,056 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions while running for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. He did well to adjust to his circumstances and provided some serious rushing pop for a team that needed it.
Howell has a good-looking arm and great mobility, so he could develop into an NFL starter. He's a bit like Baker Mayfield, which may not sound like a ringing endorsement, but quarterback-needy teams would be glad to get a Mayfield-type on Day 2 of the draft, especially given that Howell runs better than Mayfield.
Also watch: EJ Perry, Brown. Perry has steadily risen during the pre-draft process after an excellent showing at the East-West Shrine Game and a solid combine. He looks like more of a career backup in the mold of Colt McCoy, but don't be surprised if he carves out a decade-long NFL career.
Running back: Brian Robinson, Alabama
Alabama has produced pro-level running back talent at a prolific rate under Nick Saban. Robinson is the latest with the potential to be a solid NFL starter or part of a top-notch one-two punch in the NFL.
Robinson was buried behind the likes of Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris, Najee Harris and Bo Scarbrough during his early days with the Crimson Tide. Last season, he was finally given a chance to produce and did an excellent job as Alabama's top back.
Robinson ran for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns on 271 carries. He also caught 35 passes for 296 yards and two scores. The 6-2, 225-pound back possesses the ability to run through players and should be a great power back at the next level. There are questions about his top-end speed as well as his durability considering his running style, but after handling 306 touches last year, NFL teams won't shy away from him. He could be the latest mid-round steal at running back.
Also watch: James Cook, Georgia. Dalvin's little brother ran for a career-high 728 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry during his career and profiles as a great change-of-pace and pass-catching back.
Wide receiver: Justyn Ross, Clemson
Ross was once considered a potential first-round pick after he racked up 1,000 yards or 46 catches as a freshman. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed his career and limited him to just 10 games over the last two seasons.
NFL teams will be concerned about Ross' injuries, especially the spinal surgery that caused him to miss the 2020 season. That said, he still possesses great size at 6-4, 205 pounds and has a big catch radius, which helped Trevor Lawrence early in his career at Clemson.
Ross' aforementioned spine injury will make it a massive risk to draft him, but some team will fall in love with his elite upside. And if Ross can recapture even 75 percent of the form he showcased during the first two years of his career, he could turn into one of the draft's biggest mid-round steals.
Also watch: Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky. Robinson is small (5-8, 178 pounds), but he's a fast receiver who is great with the ball in his hands. The team that drafts Robinson needs to carve out a specialized role for him, but he will be able to play all over the field. Just don't ask him to be a true contested-catch receiver (despite his toughness).
Tight end: Jelani Woods, Virginia
Woods had a career year after transferring from Oklahoma State to Virginia, posting 44 catches for 598 yards and eight touchdowns with the Cavaliers. He's a physically imposing tight end at 6-7, 259 pounds, but he's also a terrific athlete.
Woods impressed greatly at the 2022 NFL Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds and generating 24 bench press reps despite his 34 1/8-inch arms. He also looked good in the on-field drills and has received plenty of pre-draft attention because of it.
Woods is a well-rounded player who can both block and catch. He could develop into a starter at tight end and if not, he'll be an excellent do-it-all role player.
Also watch: Chigoziem Okonkwo, Maryland. Okonkwo is another tight end who blew up the combine. He blazed a 4.52-second 40-yard dash and looked fluid in the on-field drills. He's only 6-2, 238 pounds, so he's less of a tight end and more of an H-back. Still, he could find success as a Charles Clay-type role player in the NFL.
NFL DRAFT ORDER: All 262 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft in order
Offensive tackle: Abraham Lucas, Washington State
As far as combine drills go, there's no better measure of an offensive lineman's pro potential than how fast they run the short shuttle. Lucas was the fastest in that area at the 2022 NFL combine, blazing a 4.4 flat in that area.
Lucas is one of just six offensive tackles to complete the shuttle in 4.4 or fewer seconds since 2011. Most of the others have turned into solid starting tackles. Below is a full list of the players to break that mark.
| Player | Shuttle time (seconds) |
| Jake Fisher | 4.33 |
| Nate Solder | 4.34 |
| Anthony Castonzo | 4.40 |
| Andre Dillard | 4.40 |
| Charles Leno Jr. | 4.40 |
| Abraham Lucas | 4.40 |
Fisher didn't pan out and Dillard has yet to as well, but Solder, Castonzo and Leno all developed into strong starters. They have combined to start 398 career games, and both Solder and Leno are still playing. Lucas won't mind joining that group of talented blockers.
Add in that top-tier interior linemen like Jason Kelce, James Daniels and Nick Mangold broke this time, and it seems like Lucas should have a good chance to develop into a quality starter. He's also 6-6, 315 pounds and has four years worth of starting experience, so that should help him quickly transition to the NFL.
Also watch: Sean Rhyan, UCLA. Rhyan is an interesting player to watch, as he has the versatility needed to play either guard or tackle. He was a three-year starter at UCLA and while he's not the athlete that Lucas is, he performed well for the Bruins and has a well-built 6-5, 321-pound frame.
Guard/center: Cole Strange, Chattanooga
If you're looking for an experienced blocker, Strange has you covered. He spent six years at Chattanooga and was a starter for five of them. The 6-5, 307-pound blocker played primarily at left guard with a couple of starts at tackle mixed in.
Strange has a high football IQ and is great in space, so he should be a good zone-blocking guard at the NFL level. He may need to add a bit of weight to hang on the interior, but his skill set is already sharp. He may be a third-round pick but could quickly become a starter.
Also watch: Cam Jurgens, Nebraska. Jurgens is an athletic center with good functional strength. He is a smart, three-year starter and his only concern is his lean 6-3, 303-pound frame. That said, if he bulks up a bit, he will have a chance to become a decent starting center or a high-end interior backup.
Defensive tackle: Travis Jones, UConn
NFL teams can never have enough quality pass rushers, especially on the interior defensive line. Jones qualifies as such and should be a strong three-down defender at the NFL level.
Jones totaled 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks during his final season at UConn. He didn't play in 2020, but he had 3.5 sacks in 2019. His ability to get pressure on quarterbacks will get him attention, and his 6-4, 325-pound frame will make him strong against the run.
There's an outside chance that Jones is a top-50 pick given his strong performance the week of the Senior Bowl. But if he slips to even the latter end of the second round, he could be a steal.
Also watch: Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma. Winfrey is another plus pass rusher, who generated 5.5 sacks during his final year with the Sooners. He's not as big as Jones at 6-4, 290 pounds, but he could have more versatility across a defensive front.
Edge rusher: Micheal Clemons, Texas A&M
Everything about Clemons is solid. His size at 6-5, 263 pounds is good. He was productive at Texas A&M, recording 32 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks during his final season with the Aggies.
Clemons isn't the most athletic guy, but he still has enough power to make up for his lacking agility. He should be a rock-solid edge player at the next level. He should be particularly good against the run and will have enough power to be a complementary part of a strong pass rush.
Also watch: Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa. VanValkenburg is the latest defensive end prospect to come out of Iowa with pro-level talent. He may not be a starter, but like Clemons, he's a well-rounded player with few weaknesses. He had 5.5 sacks for the Hawkeyes last season.
Linebacker: Damone Clark, LSU
Clark is in a similar boat to Justyn Ross. The LSU product had spine surgery during the offseason and will miss his rookie year as a result. That has greatly impacted his draft stock, but Clark should still draw plenty of attention from NFL teams.
Clark was trending toward being a Day 2 pick before his injury. Now, he will likely last into Day 3 despite posting 135 tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception for the Tigers last season. Clark has good size at 6-3, 245 pounds and if he can recover well from this surgery, he could be a starter.
Like Ross, taking Clark would be a risk, but it could pay off for a team that is willing — or able — to take a chance.
Also watch: Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati. Beavers is another productive linebacker who was a key force for the Bearcats' defense. He racked up 98 tackles and four sacks for the team last year and is roughly the same size as Clark at 6-3, 242 pounds. If a team is worried about Clark's health, Beavers could be their preferred mid-round sleeper target.
Cornerback: Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Sauce Gardner gets most of the attention for his performance at cornerback, but Bryant developed into a quality starter across from him. Teams tended to avoid throwing at Gardner, so Bryant was targeted often. He notched 44 tackles, 11 pass defenses and two interceptions as a senior.
Bryant was a steady performer over his four years with the Bearcats, never notching fewer than seven pass breakups and totaling nine interceptions. He has good size at 6-1, 193 pounds and his instincts allow him to play a bit quicker than his 4.54 speed. He looks like a No. 2 cornerback at the best and at the worst, he will be a quality depth piece.
And for those wondering, yes. He is named after the late, great Kobe Bryant.
Also watch: Tariq Woolen, UTSA. Woolen put up insane numbers at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.26 second despite being 6-4, 205 pounds. He has long arms and immense potential, but he has only played corner for two years. As such, he is still learning the position and will need a lot of time to develop his instincts and technique in the NFL.
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Safety: JT Woods, Baylor
Woods has been an extremely productive safety during his career, and his final two years at Baylor under Dave Aranda were excellent. He logged 103 tackles and eight interceptions during those seasons combined and worked well with Jalen Pitre in the secondary.
Woods has slipped through the cracks a bit while Pitre and speedster Kalon Barnes have gotten attention ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. But at 6-2, 195 pounds and good speed of his own, Woods looks like a potential NFL-level playmaker. The only problem is he swings for the fences a bit too often. So, while his stats look good, he has had plenty of big-time busts.
But on Day 3, drafting Woods is a gamble worth taking. Because if he can play with better discipline... look out.
Also watch: Smoke Monday, Auburn. Monday (6-2, 207 pounds) is a downhill playmaker and a hard hitter at safety. He doesn't have the best deep speed, which may limit him in coverage, but he can find a home as a box safety/linebacker hybrid and special teams ace.
