For every J.J. Watt, Andrew Luck and Larry Fitzgerald in the NFL Draft, there's a Justin Houston, a Russell Wilson and a George Kittle. The sure bets in the selection process make for relatively easy decisions. What separates the best NFL general managers and what elevates teams most are the NFL Draft steals in later rounds.
Every draft class includes a handful of sleepers waiting to surprise the rest of the league and force senses of regret upon the teams that passed on them. The 2020 NFL Draft is no different. Most of the sure bets in this year's class will be selected early, well before more future Pro Bowlers are found in Rounds 2-7.
Based on Sporting News' seven-round mock draft and our big board of the top 100 players in the 2020 NFL Draft class, we've pinned 11 prospects who have strong chances to outperform their draft positions. They're our NFL Draft sleepers for 2020.
MORE NFL DRAFT:
Mock draft with trades | Top 100 overall players
2020 NFL Draft sleepers
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 34, Colts
- Big board: No. 31
Like a couple of other wide receivers on this list, Aiyuk is considered a sleeper in part because a whopping six receivers are ranked ahead of him on our big board. Yet, if drafted by the right team, Aiyuk could become as impactful in the NFL as any receiver in the class.
A player likely to spend a lot of time in the slot at the next level, Aiyuk is a quick slant machine waiting to happen. His ridiculous quickness helps him get separation from defenders both in his release and after the catch. That, combined with his speed, means he can be an asset in the return game, too.
Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 41, Browns
- Big board: No. 46
When one watches tape of Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is one of the best prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft, it quickly becomes evident that Auburn benefited from not one, but two dominant defensive linemen. Brown is properly rated as the freak he is, but Davidson is a monster in his own right.
Lining up most often at end, Davidson consistently got the best of the one-on-one matchups he faced in part because of Brown's presence. He is great with his hands, and his shorter, stouter frame for an end (6-3, 303 pounds) helps him with leverage in the pass rush. There's no reason to believe he can't be just as effective as a three-technique in the NFL if asked to slide inside.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 47, Falcons
- Big board: No. 44
Edwards-Helaire ranks fourth among running backs on our big board (behind DeAndre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor), but in part because the position carries value deep into the draft, the team that lands the versatile LSU rusher should be thrilled with its pick.
Edwards-Helaire is a small (5-7, 207 pounds) but super-quick dasher who makes tackling a chore for defenders both in the box and in open space. He is exactly the kind of back who can work wonders as a receiver in the NFL, too. If you're still not sold on him, simply pop in the 2019 Alabama tape.
K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 51, Cowboys
- Big board: No. 40
If not for his freshman-year ACL tear and the questions about all of his dropped passes at Penn State, Hamler likely would be considered among the best receiver prospects in the class. Instead, the speedster ranks ninth among wide receivers on our big board. So if he can stay healthy and become more reliable as a pass-catcher in the NFL, somebody is going to get a steal.
Hamler, who also can contribute to the return game, simply leaves defenders in the dust when he gets in open space. He is relatively small (5-9, 178 pounds), but that hasn't mattered for the likes of Tyreek Hill, Jakeem Grant and Marquise Brown in the NFL.
Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 60, Ravens
- Big board: No. 66
Dugger is the kind of player who will cause a spike in "Lenoir-Rhyne" Google searches when he introduces himself as a starter on prime-time NFL broadcasts. Those already familiar with the Division II school in Hickory, N.C., might simply search something like, "How the hell did Kyle Dugger end up at a D2 school?"
He is one of those players who is simply good at football, for lack of a better phrase, as proven by his impact both in the secondary and as a return specialist. That versatility will allow him to play either safety position in the pros.
Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
- Mock draft: Round 2, No. 61, Titans
- Big board: No. 64
Hall is ranked ninth among corners on our big board in part because he is still recovering from the ankle surgery that cut short his senior season at Virginia. Yet he is on track to be fully healed in time for the offseason program (if it takes places), and he could become a great value pick for a team in need of an outside corner.
Many believe Hall will play best in zone schemes in the NFL, but the former standout high school wide receiver is perfectly capable of hanging with receivers on the perimeter in man coverage.
Jeremy Chinn, LB/S, Southern Illinois
- Mock draft: Round 3, No. 69, Panthers
- Big board: No. 77
Chinn could be considered the "small school" version of Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, one of the best players in the 2020 NFL Draft, as a versatile, speedy-but-powerful linebacker/safety hybrid. His athleticism is off the charts, and his closing speed and efficient tackling make him a good blitzer.
If he is asked to play weakside linebacker in the NFL, Chinn will flourish as a cover man, even in tough matchups against top tight ends.
Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
- Mock draft: Round 3, No. 92, Ravens
- Big board: No. 75
Edwards being this low on our big board and in our draft projection is directly related to his recent injuries — certainly not his ability when healthy. The 6-3, 212-pound receiver missed his last two college games with a knee injury and broke his foot while training for the NFL Combine. Including another knee injury that prematurely ended his senior season in high school, those ailments are the only sources of pause.
If Edwards can stay healthy in the pros, the team that drafts him is going to get a steal on a physical possession receiver who can dominate the short-to-intermediate area of the field.
Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
- Mock draft: Round 3, No. 102, Steelers
- Big board: Unranked
Like Davidson and his teammate Brown at Auburn, Hamilton is another impressive defensive line prospect who was overshadowed by one of the draft's best players — in this case, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
Hamilton's quick first step and initial punch make him a problem for blockers, and even when a lineman gets his hands on him while run-blocking, Hamilton patiently holds his ground and wisely sheds the block at the perfect time and angle. At worst, he can be a rotational defensive lineman who can play multiple positions, but his impact in the NFL likely will be greater.
DRAFT STEALS SINCE 2000:
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7
Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
- Mock draft: Round 4, No. 108, Redskins
- Big board: No. 85
It may be a big ask coming out of FCS Dayton, but if Trautman's skills translate to the highest level, he will be among the NFL's best receiving tight ends.
Trautman's massive frame (6-5, 255 pounds) is complemented by impressive speed and route savvy. That size, though, is why he has a chance to enhance his blocking skills and develop into an ideal all-around pro tight end.
Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
- Mock draft: Round 5, No. 167, Bills
- Big board: Unranked
Evans' tape is ridiculously impressive, and if he can add a little to his 5-10, 203-pound frame, he has what it takes to be a three-down running back in the NFL.
If he indeed slips to the fifth round, somebody is going to draft a good all-around running back who, if not a strong rotational player, could be an impactful starter.