Over the past few days, I’ve examined some potential sleeper picks on both offense and defense. Now it’s time to turn our attention back toward the top of the draft and take a look at some potential risers now that we’re less than a week out. Which players am I hearing some buzz on? Which prospects seem likely to go a lot higher than people currently expect?

Since Arif Hasan’s media consensus board hasn’t yet been published (a board that yours truly is part of once again this year), I’m using PFSN’s consensus board for this exercise. I took their composite rankings as well as my own and compared them to where prospects are currently trending. We’re looking for players who could go significantly higher than their current ranking relative to round — a 10-spot jump in Round 3 is relatively meaningless, but going from No. 20 to No. 10 in Round 1 is a big jump.

We here at NFL Trade Rumors have a lot more draft content coming your way over the next week, so be on the lookout for that! This draft is shaping up to be as wild and unpredictable as we’ve seen in recent years, so stay tuned for all our content aiming to keep you all as informed and up to date as possible.

• Final Position Rankings: Quarterbacks
• Final Position Rankings: Running Backs
• Final Position Rankings: Wide Receivers
• Final Position Rankings: Tight Ends
• Final Position Rankings: Offensive Tackles
• Final Position Rankings: Interior Offensive Linemen
• Final Position Rankings: Edge Rushers
• Final Position Rankings: Defensive Tackles
• Final Position Rankings: Linebackers
• Final Position Rankings: Cornerbacks
• Final Position Rankings: Safeties

Denzel Boston — WR, Washington

Consensus Rank: 29

There was a time when it was an open question whether Boston would be a first-round pick. That time has passed. His range probably starts at No. 13 with the Rams, as there are rumors Los Angeles really likes him (and it’s assumed they plan on drafting a receiver with that pick). I have a tough time seeing him get past the Browns at No. 24 or the Bills at No. 26.

Boston has a ton of size and maneuverability. He’s not a burner down the field, but he owns the middle of the defense, shaking loose from coverage with quick hips and agile feet. For how big he is, he generates a lot of separation consistently, and his hands are as reliable as they come. He’s a stud.

Chris Johnson — CB, San Diego State

Consensus Rank: 37

Johnson is a classic case of a prospect checking every single box throughout the pre-draft process and seeing their stock soar as a result. His tape for the Aztecs last year was sensational, and he went out at the Senior Bowl and proved it against NFL-caliber competition. His production isn’t a smaller-school fluke.

The only lingering question with Johnson was his long speed, and then he ran a blazing 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Even now, the majority of mock drafts have him getting lost in the Day 2 shuffle a bit, coming off the board somewhere in the back half of the second round. I’d be surprised if he’s available at all on Day 2, and there’s a chance he’s a top-20 pick.

Emmanuel Pregnon — G, Oregon

Consensus Rank: 47

One of my favorite mock draft prospect-to-team fits used to be sending Pregnon to the Texans at No. 28. I’ve gotten away from that in recent mocks, but I might have to start going back to it. He’s as solid a guard prospect as you’ll find, not wowing with athleticism but bringing a ton of starting experience in the league with high-level tape as both a run blocker and a pass protector.

We’ll reach a point on Thursday night when the board will flatten and teams will just start taking good football players they know will produce in the league. Pregnon has a great chance to be one of those players and surprise many by being a first-round pick. In addition to the Texans, the Chargers at No. 22 could be a team to watch.

Malachi Lawrence — ED, Central Florida

Consensus Rank: 48

Lawrence has been the worst-kept secret this cycle ever since the Combine. He blew up at that event, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, jumping 40 inches in the vertical and 10 feet 10 inches in the broad, all while measuring 6-4 and a half, 253 pounds with 33 and a half-inch arms.

It’s like he was built in a lab to play edge rusher, and there’s proof of concept, too. Lawrence totaled 20 sacks over the last three seasons at UCF. That combination of athleticism and production rarely lasts past the first round. The betting odds for Lawrence to go in the first round have moved into minus territory, so the consensus seems to be lagging behind. It’s a deep edge rusher group this year, but Lawrence is still expected to be a first-round pick.

Keylan Rutledge — G, Georgia Tech

Consensus Rank: 60

Like Pregnon, Rutledge is seeing his stock rise by just being a good old-fashioned football player. He’s got a nasty mentality in the trenches and he will try and blow up defenders every chance he gets. There’s no slowing him down and he’s versatile enough to succeed in multiple schemes.

Peter Schrager got everyone’s attention by including Rutledge in his first mock draft last week, and there are few reporters as plugged-in as Schrager. It goes to show that the league is probably higher on this guy than the media, myself included, even if he doesn’t quite manage to crack the top 32.

Treydan Stukes — S, Arizona

Consensus Rank: 64

Over the last couple of days, the buzz for Stukes has been thrown into overdrive. Coming into the week, I expected he’d be a Day 2 pick, but it sounds like he has an outside chance to go in the first round. If he doesn’t, expect him to be one of the first players taken in the second round.

It’s easy to see why he has so many fans in team buildings around the league. Stukes played in the slot in college — I have him ranked as a safety, but some teams may view him as a more natural cornerback. Either way, his versatility, toughness and agility make him a slot weapon at the next level, and defenders with his skillset are in increasing demand.

Joshua Josephs — ED, Tennessee

Consensus Rank: 70

No, that’s not a typo. Josephs is my No. 8 overall player, but he’s seen as a fringe second-rounder at best by the consensus rankings. I’m perfectly comfortable sitting out on an island with him — he was one of my favorite watches of the entire cycle.

A lot of the same reasoning for why Lawrence is a draft riser can be applied to Josephs, too. He’s a long, fluid athlete with quick-twitch burst in his movements and freakish bend around the corner. He’s a better run defender than Lawrence, but isn’t blowing up during the pre-draft process in quite the same way. While it’s not impossible (especially this year), I’d be quite pleasantly surprised if Josephs went in the first round. However, I do think there’s a good chance he’s taken earlier on Day 2 than expected. He has the profile of a player that the league will be higher on than the media.

Keyron Crawford — ED, Auburn

Consensus Rank: 84

One of my favorite players in this class, Crawford didn’t start playing football at all until his senior year of high school. He picked it up quickly, however, eventually landing at Auburn and putting together a strong season in 2025.

As an ascending player, Crawford has a lot of upside. He tested pretty well and I like his pass-rush ceiling and run defense floor. There are a ton of Day 2-caliber pass rushers, and some are bound to fall. Given how strong Crawford’s growth trajectory has been, though, I can see a team betting on him earlier than many expect.

Bryce Lance — WR, North Dakota State

Consensus Rank: 94

The younger brother of the famed QB Trey Lance, Bryce is another elite athlete entering the league from North Dakota State. Unlike his brother, he puts his talents to work as a receiver, becoming one of the best deep threats in the entire class. Last season, he had 1,079 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on just 51 catches — good for a whopping 21.2 yards per reception.

Lance measured 6-3 and a half, 204 pounds and ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, jumping 41 and a half inches in the vertical and 11 feet one inch in the broad. That’s an insane combination of size, speed, and explosiveness, and he has the production to back it up. This receiver class is too good for Lance to be a first-round pick, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he went early on Day 2.

Sam Roush — TE, Stanford

Consensus Rank: 111

The consensus board is crazy for this one. Roush is the best blocking tight end in the class and he tested like a plus athlete at the Combine, running a 4.70-second 40-yard dash at 6-6, 267 pounds. He jumped 38 and a half inches in the vertical and 10 feet six inches in the broad. Those are monster numbers for his size.

Given his lackluster receiving production in a struggling Stanford offense, it’s understandable that he wasn’t at the top of everyone’s radar heading into the offseason. But turn on the tape, and you’ll see a prospect with natural hands and a strong route tree, someone with real receiving upside with his athleticism and blocking prowess. Roush could end up being the third tight end taken in this class and there’s practically zero chance he doesn’t get taken on Day 2.