McShay's 2026 NFL Draft Sleeper

Todd McShay from The Ringer drops his 2026 NFL Draft sleeper, and it's a running back who should have gone higher on everyone's board months ago.

First, McShay acknowledges the Dylan Sampson to Minnesota consensus. He has not seen a mock where Sampson is not a Viking. He toys with the idea of bucking it in his own mock just to be different, but Rich talks him out of that. Do what the tape says. Do not succumb to groupthink in reverse.

Dexter Lawrence asking the Giants for a trade breaks mid-segment. Two years of no new deal, skipping OTAs, making a stand. Money talks. It will probably walk once the money shows up.

The real sleeper discussion starts when Rich asks McShay who he's pounding the table for. He is high on the linebacker class. Jacob Rodriguez is a playmaker and a difference maker who will go where he should. Beyond him, Josiah Trotter from Missouri is an absolute dog against the run. Kyle Lewis from Pittsburgh can cover like a safety and some teams believe he is one. McShay has him among the top 50 players in the class.

The running back dive is where he gets specific. After Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame and his running mate Jadarian Price, McShay thinks everyone is sleeping on Jonah Coleman.

Coleman was a hot name early, then faded from conversation. McShay went back and watched him last after cycling through the whole position group. The verdict: bowling ball build, light feet, always runs with pad level, wears defenses down. He brings energy to an offense.

This is not a running back class like last year, when 26 backs went in the draft with six in the first three rounds and 20 on day three. This one is thinner. McShay thinks Coleman falls to the fourth round and whichever team grabs him gets a starter.

He tacks on a corner recommendation too. Tacario Davis at Washington. Tall, long, physical, can play press man.

A lot of value on day two and early day three in this class. McShay has been living in that range.