6 NFL draft prospects who are sliding down big boards (and could be massive bargains)

The NFL Draft isn’t won by the teams at the top of the pecking order. It’s won by the teams toward the bottom who pull prize-winning crops from what looks like a barren field.

The Patriots built a two-decade dynasty around a sixth-round pick. The two targets that helped push Patrick Mahomes to greatness were third and fifth rounders. The quarterback Mahomes faced off against in Super Bowl 57 slid to the back end of Round 2.

Nailing your first round picks is important, but finding contributors on the second day of the draft or later can be the difference between a playoff appearance and a perpetual rebuild. That’s why the pre-draft process, all two months of it, has emerged as such an important part of the offseason. Scouts and decision makers grind game film and see what matches up with winter workouts and their own schemes. As a result, some underwhelming college careers lead to a spot in the first round. Other times, accomplished players are forced to watch their draft position drop for nebulous reasons.

Let’s focus on the latter. There are several players with prestigious pedigrees whose stock has fallen over the past few months. That’s great news for teams at the back end of Round 1 and those loaded with mid-draft selections. Who are the names we should watch the closest?