Hall of Fame sportswriter Ray Didinger may be retired, but it does not mean he is retiring from poring over college film and talking to his numerous NFL sources to find out who can be sleepers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Last year, the prestigious Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award winner had on his yearly list:
Harold Fannin, Bowling Green, TE, 6’3,’’ 241 pounds: Drafted by Cleveland in the third round and played in 16 games leading the Browns in his rookie season with 72 catches on 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns.
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon, LB, 6’1,” 232 pounds: Drafted by Kansas City in the fifth round and played in five games, making five tackles.
Jacob Parrish, Kansas State, CB, 5’9,” 191 pounds: Drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round and played in all 17 games, starting five. He was fifth on the team in tackles with 76 and had seven tackles for loss.
Que Robinson, Alabama, Edge, 6’4,” 243 pounds: Drafted by Denver in the fourth round and made his NFL debut in Week 6 against the New York Jets.
Dan Jackson, Georgia, S, 6’1,” 195 pounds: Drafted by Detroit in the seventh round and suffered an injury that placed him on injured reserve.
Two years ago, Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss was on his list, who went in the third round to Denver and had five sacks, the third most of any rookie in the league and just finished his second season with the Broncos; Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington was selected in the sixth round by Miami and finished his second season with the Dolphins and was third on the team in receptions with 46 his sophomore year in the NFL; South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick went to Pittsburgh in the fourth round and started every game for the Steelers in 2025 at guard; Kanas State tight end Ben Sinnott was selected by Washington in the second round and played in 16 games, making 11 catches for 114 yards in his second season in the league; and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, from the CFL/Toronto Argonauts who the New York Jets choose in the fifth round to become the first player drafted directly from the CFL since Jermaine Haley in 1999. Stiggers played in 15 games for the Jets in 2025, making 27 tackles and recovering two fumbles.
“I’ve heard him referred to as a boom or bust guy. I’m betting boom. I know there are questions about the level of competition he played in college, but there are no questions about his physical tools. He has size, a thick frame and massive hands. He is still a little raw, but he was impressive in all his post season testing. When I first saw his tape, I thought he would be a Day Three pick, a true sleeper, but he has generated enough buzz that I now think he will go Day Two. I like him a lot.”
Zachariah Branch, Georgia, WR, 5’8” 177 pounds
“Branch was a guy I projected as a Day Two pick but he may qualify as a sleeper now that he got himself arrested right before the draft. You do have to wonder about a guy who would do something that stupid, even though it was apparently not a big deal. My guess he falls into the Day Three bin where he would be a nice pickup as a slot receiver/kick returner combo. The Eagles could actually use a player like that.
“Branch is a little guy (5-8) but very explosive. He ran a sub 4.4 at the combine and he plays that fast on the football field. He is also strong for his size. He did 20 reps in the bench press and you can see that strength in the way he fights off defenders who try to jam him. On tape, he has the same quickness and game breaking traits as Tyreek Hill. I’m not saying he IS Tyreek, I’m just saying there are similarities. He is also related to Hall of Famer Cliff Branch and that’s never a bad thing.”
Branch was arrested over the weekend in Athens on two misdemeanor obstruction charges. According to Athens-Clarke County, Branch was released Sunday on a combined $39 bail on the charges of obstructing public sidewalks/streets and the obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
The arrest could have come at a worse time for Branch, only four days before the NFL Draft. He is projected to be Day Two pick.
In a released statement by the Athens-Clarke County Police it states police were summoned at about 12:20 a.m. ET because a large crowd had gathered outside an Athens bar: “The crowd was blocking the entrance, and individuals were attempting to enter the establishment despite it not being open for entry at that time,” according to the police statement. Officers issued multiple lawful commands directing the crowd to clear the sidewalk. Zachariah Branch was specifically given verbal commands to disperse but refused to comply. As a result, Mr. Branch was placed under arrest and charged with obstruction. He was also cited for obstructing a public sidewalk.”
Branch had thrust up draft boards by running the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. He led Georgia with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in 2025 following his transfer from Southern California. His stock may drop slightly due to the recent charges.