Every year, NFL scouts and decision-makers go to ever-increasing lengths to find talent and potential, and the 2026 NFL Draft process has been no exception.
While there are plenty of under-the-radar prospects who are sure to emerge from more conventional routes throughout the landscape of American college football, the NFL's International Pathway Program is also shining a light on potential sleepers who bring a ton of athleticism and upside to the table.
If you're looking for two names to add to your favorite team's deep-sleeper list, Joshua Weru and Uar Bernard are your guys.
Both Weru and Bernard have made the most of their opportunities to shine in front of league personnel during this year's predraft process, showing off elite athleticism at recent workouts that's sure to create plenty of buzz:
A Kenyan rugby player, Weru brings a rare combination of size and athleticism to the table as a potential edge rusher in the NFL. Bernard does the same, with the frame to be an interior defensive lineman.
That athleticism and explosiveness is on full display when you watch Weru on the rugby pitch. Good luck tackling this guy when the ball's in his hands:
The NFL's IPP program has had success stories before, including Jordan Mailata, who has become a dominant left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL teams love to spend late-round picks on lottery-ticket players who bring a ton of upside to the table, but it's not a heavy investment if things don't work out. Playing football at the highest level requires far more than pure athleticism, and it's likely to take time for both of these draft hopefuls to develop into quality players on the gridiron.
That said, the building blocks are clearly there, and it won't be surprising if both of these players hear their names called at some point on Day 3 of this year's draft.
