2013 NFL Draft Projections: Sleepers Who'll Sneak into First Round

The NFL draft class this year is loaded with players who have slipped down draft boards, which inevitably means some of those sleepers will sneak back into the first round despite the public finding reasons to dock them.

One aspect most people forget when assessing "high-risk, high-reward players" is the high-reward part. Just ask players like Vontaze Burfict, who went from a first-rounder in 2012 to being undrafted, only to become a the Cincinnati Bengals' leading tackler in 14 games started in just his rookie season.

Thanks to the NFL combine and pro-day workouts, players' stocks go up and down all over the place between the end of the 2012 college football season and the 2013 NFL draft. 

Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU

The LSU defensive end has slipped down draft boards ever since his comments at the NFL combine (via New Orleans Times-Picayune), but one thing is for sure: Montgomery can play at the highest level.

Montgomery's lanky frame and great physical build is ideal for the NFL defensive end (6'3", 262 pounds), and that, along with his successes statistically at LSU will get him a high draft pick.

What I love most about Montgomery's game is his ability to chase down plays after they get away from him. Defensive ends earn their bread from rushing the passer and eliminating the pocket, but the ability to stay with plays when they become extended is a huge trait to winning defensive units. 

Montgomery may not have played his hardest with the Bayou Bengals at times, and he certainly got on his strength coach's bad side during his time there (via FanSided), but a stiff NFL program to oversee his development should fix that quite well.

Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams became well known for his interesting mohawk and "YOLO" face tattoo (Sporting News), but his best asset to the Crimson Tide was his insane ability to stuff the line of scrimmage.

His low center of gravity and wide frame allows him to be a menace in the opposing offense's run game. Even if he isn't as durable as you'd like, Williams should be an imposing force in almost every play he lines up for.

As a late-first, early second-round player, Williams will be headed to a pretty good team theoretically, if he ends up going in the first round. San Francisco would be an ideal fit at No. 31 overall, where he could slowly develop into a starter while contributing immediately to an already stuffy defense. 

Williams comes from a winning culture to say the least, and that will reflect in his play in the NFL. He won't be the first, second or third Crimson Tide player taken in the draft but is still worthy of a first-round pick.

Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Once heralded as one of the top defensive end prospects in this draft, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner has dropped significantly down draft boards after a disappointing NFL combine and pro-day workout. But there's no doubting what he can do on the football field.

Werner is a product of Germany and brings a high motor to his game, which allowed him to tear through his two seasons in the ACC with 23.5 sacks and 35 tackles for loss in those two seasons.

His ability to flatten the pocket and use his body strength to push back blockers will allow him to impact games similar to Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings. 

Despite his fall down draft boards, Werner is undoubtedly one of the 32 most talented and strongest players in this draft. Watching him slip past the first round would be a travesty.

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