Mel Kiper Jr. Drops New NFL Draft Rumors on 'Hottest Names' Ahead of Round 1, Day 3 'Sleepers,' More

As teams make their final preparations for the 2026 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has revealed some late-rising names to keep an eye on for Day 1 and potential sleepers for Day 3.

The ESPN draft guru noted two of the "hottest names" being mentioned by teams for the first round are Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood and Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis.

Going deeper into the draft, Kiper cited defensive tackles Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M) and Jordan van den Berg (Georgia Tech), as well as Connecticut wide receiver Skyler Bell as potential "sleepers" to watch for the final day.

Given the expectation that there will be a run on offensive linemen early in the first round, someone like Bisontis sneaking into the back half wouldn't be a surprise.

It could be argued that starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21, every team picking from that point has some level of need for help on the offensive line.

B/R's NFL scouting department has both Hood and Bisontis ranked outside the top 50 overall prospects. Bisontis is the No. 4 interior offensive lineman in the class.

Hood is the eighth-ranked cornerback on B/R's big board, but his strong athletic testing and scheme versatility could make him an intriguing option late in the first round.

Sticking with elite-level athletic traits, van den Berg was a standout at the scouting combine as the second-highest graded athlete at defensive tackle dating back to 1987, behind only Jordan Davis.

The primary knocks against van den Berg are age (24) and technique issues that will leave him vulnerable against NFL-level competition. There are plenty of physical tools for pro coaches to work with that if they can help him hone that ability, he could turn into one of the steals of the draft.

Onyedim is another older prospect after playing five years in college and is undersized for an interior defender, but his quickness off the line has earned him praise leading up to the draft.

Based on B/R's rankings, Bell making it to Day 3 would be a surprise. He's a top 50 overall prospect at No. 49, with Jayden Reed of the Green Bay Packers cited as his pro comp.

Bell's speed and athleticism tested very high at the NFL scouting combine. He is primarily fighting to overcome the concerns about his size (6'0", 192 pounds) that make him susceptible against press coverage.