Story byMichael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAYSat, December 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM UTC·7 min readAre the days of the NFL draft sleeper dying off? Not necessarily. The label itself has long been somewhat of a moving target, becoming something of a catch-all for players who last beyond the first round. But the sea change that came to college football with the rise of name, image and likeness deals – and the corresponding boom in transfer portal action – has also reshaped prevailing notions about the draft. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSmall-school standouts now tend to be few and far between, as many players who build a buzz for themselves at lower rungs tend to leap at the opportunity to seize a larger spotlight – and payday – before jumping to the draft. Even if migration patterns are shifting, teams remain as hopeful as ever that they can unearth mid-to-late-round gems, with Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr.