2026 NFL Draft: Hidden Gem prospects to keep an eye on Day 3

· Yahoo Sports

Sep 2, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Wyoming Cowboys tight end John Michael Gyllenborg (84) scores a touchdown in double overtime against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images

The third and final day of NFL Draft weekend will shift the focus from well-known players in this class to more of the hidden gems. Whether or not the Kansas City Chiefs draft any of these sleepers, each has a reason to root for them today.

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Here are five notable sleepers to point out:

DT Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana

In late December and early January, Proctor was a relative unknown, but that didn’t stop me from throwing on his game film against LSU to figure out how an undersized defensive lineman from a small school managed to get two sacks against a big-time SEC team.

After the watch, I felt good that Proctor had what it took to play on Sundays, and after seeing him in person at the Shrine Bowl, I felt pretty good that he would be drafted.

Four months later, it seems I’m not the only one who was high on Proctor, and some mocks have him going as high as the top 100.

Although he has gained momentum from the draft community, Proctor is a great example of why events like the Shrine Bowl are important and can help propel talented prospects from smaller schools up draft boards. A four-year player at Southeastern Louisiana, he showed improvement every season after transitioning from linebacker in high school.

TE John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming

A local prospect who attended Rockhurst High School, Gyllenborg played only one season of organized high school football before making the jump to play for the University of Wyoming. He scored seven times over four seasons, with limited time as a starter.

Gyllenborg is a worthwhile developmental prospect at tight end, and his athletic ability stood out at the NFL Scouting Combine this spring. He was one of the most athletic prospects in the class and showcased his frame and play speed well in college.

The Chiefs could certainly use young talent at tight end, but with multiple positions needed on the defensive side of the ball, it is becoming obvious that offense is waiting its turn this year.

Gyllenborg is as good a developmental player as there is in this class and is the kind of player who could eventually become a difference-maker in the NFL.

LB Red Murdock, Buffalo

Another player I was fortunate enough to speak with at the Shrine Bowl in January was Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock.

First of all, this might be the best football name in the draft and would fit perfectly with Chiefs Kingdom. Can you imagine Red’s Red Friday deal at McDonald’s? Second of all, the name fits his play style.

Murdock is the all-time NCAA leader in forced fumbles with 17 over four years at Buffalo. His ability to create plays has made him one of the top small-school prospects in the draft.

Murdock was nursing an ankle injury at the Shrine Bowl, but he did record athletic-test results during his Pro Day in late March.

Murdock is a throwback, downhill player capable of playing MIKE or strong-side linebacker in an NFL defense. He showed good communication skills when helping to organize the defense at Buffalo, and he has green-dot potential.

His best path to making the NFL will be to become a stud special-teams player while learning the ropes of an NFL defense.

LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana

Dugger is one of the “unicorns” of this draft cycle, and a defensive coordinator like Steve Spagnuolo would appreciate his versatility when looking for a way to incorporate him into the Chiefs’ defense.

Dugger entered Louisiana as a safety prospect from the University of Georgetown, but due to his size, he was moved inside to linebacker.

Dugger has a good blend of size, speed and tackling ability that should make him a Day 3 selection today. Despite his success as a Senior at Louisiana, where he was selected First Team All-Sun Belt, Dugger remains a blank slate with room to grow as a player.

Not every team will be able to draft Arvell Reese, but if a team is looking for that play style in the later rounds, Dugger would fit the bill.

DT Landon Robinson, Navy

Among the players I watched at the Shrine Bowl, perhaps the one who stood out the most for his on-field performance and off-field interviews was Landon Robinson.

Robinson didn’t get an invitation to the Combine, but he lit up Navy’s Pro Day and showed that he is athletic enough to compete at the NFL level.

Robinson has gone further than most players from the service academies ever have, but he will have a legitimate chance to hear his name called on Saturday and, ultimately, to compete for a team’s 53-man roster.

With great natural leverage and explosion out of his stance, which he attributed to his wrestling background, Robinson often won snaps with quick penetration and had the frame and strength to take on double teams in college.

Steam has been building, and he has reportedly met with a few NFL teams ahead of draft week.

The Chiefs are in need of as much help as possible on the defensive line, and Robinson would certainly help to create a much more competitive atmosphere.

Other names to watch

DE, Ricky Freymond, Western Colorado

RB Eli Heidenreich, Navy

CB Andre Fuller, Toledo

WR Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll

RB Robert Henry Jr., UTSA

CB Josh Moten, Southern Miss

LB Erik Hunter, Morgan State

RB Curtis Allen, Virginia Union

OL Joe Cooper, Slippery Rock

OL Delby Lemieux, Dartmouth

OT Quaveon Davis, Jackson State

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