Thank you, it seems like he was just forgotten on his list. He appears to have not yet declared but is protected to be a first rounder in most boards.
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The 2026 Draft Thread - 1st Round - 7th overall
- Thread starter Canadian Hog
- Start date
I follow Fusue like you, not that I always agree with him. But I do recall he's no fan of Bell.
I like Bell on initial watch. Freakish size-speed. I only though watched the top 3 WRs at length and Concepcion. So i need to watch deeper. But I think the ACL will do him no favors on multiple counts -- 1. Takes him out of next season. 2. His size-speed is a big part of his charm so wonder if he's slowed down a little going forward.
Hard pass for me as to red shirting Chris Bell. It's too deep of a class IMO to skip a season. Maybe if he drops to the 6th.
Yeah Fusue is still very big on disliking senior WR’s even though many (especially after covid and with new NIL rules making some kids who don’t declare rich anyways) have left that behind to a degree. I get it. “Early breakout” turned out to be a little bit of a tease as an advanced analytic, and the idea of an older guy beating up on younger guys isn’t as stigmatized these days. With age comes polish, in some situations, and the NFL isn’t patiently developing guys as often anymore. So there’s some appeal to drafting some guys who spend more time in college (although in general I’d like to see us draft less 23 + 24 year olds).
But the idea that a guy has less ceiling left to reveal after playing through his Senior (or even worse, redshirt Senior) year has some merit to it. He’s more of a known and polished entity, but that has its downsides as well. Whereas, as a tiebreaker at least, prioritizing great prospects who declared early…there’s some logic that those guys are still growing and developing and you could be buying “low” on untapped potential that’s even higher than what you thought you were getting. If two guys are graded similarly but one guy is 21 and the other is 23…yeah, prioritize the younger guy who hasn’t maxed out yet
But the idea that a guy has less ceiling left to reveal after playing through his Senior (or even worse, redshirt Senior) year has some merit to it. He’s more of a known and polished entity, but that has its downsides as well. Whereas, as a tiebreaker at least, prioritizing great prospects who declared early…there’s some logic that those guys are still growing and developing and you could be buying “low” on untapped potential that’s even higher than what you thought you were getting. If two guys are graded similarly but one guy is 21 and the other is 23…yeah, prioritize the younger guy who hasn’t maxed out yet
method man
The Starter
Is Chris Bell's comp Xavier Legette/Laviska Shenault?
Bell had two monster games this season, both are ironically the ones you can see on youtube. A lot of pedestrian PFF scores in the other games.
Seeing Bell at his best he's intriguing. Among other things he has nice size and looks fast-explosive. A deeper dive into his stats show he's not a big YAC guy, wasn't much of a deep threat, had pedestrian contested catch guy and was not the most consistent player.
Hard pass for me unless he can be had in the 6th-7th range. No way I'd give up the third, and I don't think I'd give up a 5th. There are so many healthy intriguing WRs in that early third range like Branch, Lane, Brazzell, Bernard, Cooper Jr. among others. Some will be gone by then but some should be available.
Maybe. But I don't think IMHO he's worth a conversation. I'd be stunned if they took him.
It's sort of like looking for a pizzeria to have dinner tonight, and you got like 9 choices of good pizza right now. Or we can go to that pizzeria that's closed for dinner tonight but is reopening tomorrow -- so I would skip dinner and wait for tomorrow if that pizza was hands above the current choices but it isn't, it blends in with the other choices.
I don't see in a SB window, yeah lol I still think we are in one, where they are desperate for a WR that they take a flier on one for 2027 unless he falls to the 6th. It would be one thing if there was a dearth of Wrs in this draft but this draft is so deep at that spot.
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Still my #1 desire
method man
The Starter
That's fair. No point worth a discussion
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Damn. Now I want pizza.
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I've worked in two pizza joints (privately owned, not chains). There's only so much one can take.
method man
The Starter
These guys will have 4 6th & 7th round picks. Taking an injured guy to stash PUP for a season and redshirt is not a bad idea with a pick that late. There's only so many of those guys who should be making next year's roster if we are serious about competing for a deep playoff run
If he is there I would choose him. An unstoppable offense is a semi cure for a not so good defense
Always Commander Never Captain
The Free Agent Vet
Implies regression in the NFL. Outside of this season he's converted 55% of his contested catches (10 of 18). So full career being 2/3rds of contested catches he brings in seems more realistic than replicating this current season's absurd rate.
I still like Tate and would love him on the team, but I feel like he's not in the same caliber as other Top 5 overall WR picks, yet could be so simply because this draft class is not the best. I don't think he's as good of a prospect as Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers, Amari Cooper, JaMarr Chase, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, etc. I do think Tate is better than the trio of top WR picks in 2017 though, but that was a bad draft class and teams got weird.
The Chump Bailey
The 1st Round Pick
I've watched quite a few WR's thus far. Malachi Fields Notre Dame has made an impression on me. I'm sure he's been mentioned and often already so just chiming in I'm a fan. I think he would be a terrific fit and weapon for us and big time help for Daniels.
Always Commander Never Captain
The Free Agent Vet
That got me to look at Jayce Brown. He's a good prospect but his tape is awkward to watch due to a few things. One isn't his fault, his QB stunk...and it looks like defenses knew that. Far too many of Jayce Brown's receptions are him running routes against a safety 15 yards off of him...that's not Brown's fault. It's more so that I think defenses weren't scared enough of the QB to actually fear the pass game.
His catching ability is average (not bad but not good...just average). The QB was not good with ball placement and Brown isn't reeling in those difficult ones thrown behind him. In the game I saw he had fewer attempts to high point than I'd like as the QB just missed the throw. He can catch away from his body well. His hands are ok.
He's not quick, but he is straight line fast. Like really fast. He's not that super rare smooth mover that can accelerate effortlessly (like Chris Olave or DeSean Jackson). But his play speed is definitely fast. I'm guessing he'll time in the 4.3's, and that translates to the game.
The tape did not show if he could or could not beat press, or run a route through physical coverage, or slow/speed up through holes in intermediate zones. Again, the QB was kind of lacking and the defense just wasn't doing those things. He's not going to break any tackles unless the defender screws up. This goes into the not quick thing. If he gets a runway he'll outrun defenders, but his moves with the ball are not quick jukes (like Curtis Samuel, Zay Flowers, etc). He's got no power in his legs to break tackles or be a force in the run game. And he can fumble the ball, so him fighting for yards is maybe not what we want anyways.
Summing it up, I've got him in the 3rd round. I like him, I think he's most likely still gotta develop his routes/releases in the NFL. I have no idea if he can hand fight for the ball. But a 3rd rounder to see if you can develop this guy? Sure.
I ironically watched something with PFF guys the other day and they discussed him. They saw him as a 3-4th type WR. Good hands, good blocker. Lacks speed and seperation skills in their minds.
I watched him some in real time, looked at his highlights which isn't telling but fun -- some crazy good catches in the mix of his play.
Just watched the one 2025 game I can find for Notre Dame's offense. He reminds me some of Johnny Wilson from the Eagles. Didn't blow me away but one game is nothing. I need to watch at least 4 games.
On first blush he looks like a replacement type for Noah Brown -- nothing killer as to threatening defenses, but can block well and make some tough physical catches.
But lol, it made me fall further for Jeremyaih Love. I know you prefer Price over him. I like Price a lot, one cut and go but to me he's not Love. They lined up Love in the slot in one play and he makes a catch down the field like a WR. On another play the QB is under duress and finds Love on the opposite side and throws him a quick screen and Love (J. Gibbs style) takes off. What a weapon.
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Anselmheifer
The Starter
Tate plus Breece Hall, or Love plus Aiyuk?
I like the idea of bringing in Aiyuk but I see him coming off that brutal injury as more of a 3rd WR until I see otherwise.
So based on that scenario easily Tate, Hall.
Tate is still my #1 want. But if he runs decently at the combine I suspect he might go before our pick. I'd hate it if he ends up in NY. It would remind me of how much I loved Devonte Smith and now watching him play in Philly.
If they pick in the range of 7-8 -- that is the area where I think Love goes. I like Downs a lot, too in that range. But for me its easily Love over Downs.
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