The 2026 Draft Thread - 1st Round - 7th overall

Anselmheifer said:
Makai Lemon is far down my list at 7, but I was just watching him and thinking that he reminds me a little of Steve Smith Jr. Short and more compact, but feisty. Plays angry. Small but has really good strength and contact balance. Really good YAC guy.
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Ehhh, not seeing that one.

Steve Smith Jr was 2 inches shorter and the same weight as Lemon. He was a compact ball of muscle. The play strength and contact balance were evident when running routes for Smith. Despite being only 5'9 it was hard for defenders to get into him and knock him off course. That is unfortunately Lemon's big weakness. I'll also add that college Steve Smith was a real deep threat. He averaged 20 yards a catch.

Ooooohhh this brings up one of my favorite "this guy might be a real sleeper" statistic. It's Receptions Per Touchdown.

In college, Steve Smith was less utilized than he should, but whenever the ball got into his hands good things happened. He had 12 touchdowns on 78 receptions in college. That's really reminiscent of our Terry McLaurin. I mention this specifically as both Steve Smith Jr and Terry McLaurin were drafted in the 3rd round.
  • Steve Smith RPT - Every 6.5 catches, it was a a touchdown
  • Terry McLaurin RPT - Every 4 catches, it was a touchdown, and his last year was even more absurd, every 3 catches was a touchdown
Here's the current draft class for some non-1st rounders:
  • Malachi Fields - Every 10 catches, it was a touchdown (this includes Virginia)
    • @ Notre Dame was better Every 7 catches it was a touchdown
  • Germie Bernard - 12 catches per touchdown
  • Skyler Bell - 9 catches per touchdown
  • Denzel Boston - 6.5 catches per touchdown
  • Elijah Sarratt - 6.5 catches per touchdown
  • Omar Cooper Jr - 5.2 catches per touchdown
  • Chris Bell - 12.5 catches per touchdown
  • KC Concepcion - 7.4 catches per touchdown
  • Antonio Williams - 10 catches per touchdown
  • Chris Brazzell - 8.5 catches per touchdown
  • Ted Hurst - 8.5 catches per touchdown
  • JaKobi Lane - 5.5 catches per touchdown
  • Zacahariah Brance - 17.7 catches per touchdown
  • Bryce Lance - 5.1 catches per touchdown
The big "trio" although people are souring on everyone but Tate now
  • Carnell Tate - 8.6 catches per touchdown
  • Jordyn Tyson - 7.2 catches per touchdown
  • Makai Lemon - 10 catches per touchdown
The only guys that might make it to the 3rd round that have great catches per touchdown ratios are:
  • Sarratt, Lance, Lane, (and if we want to include just Fields last year after transferring, then him too)
Past star WR prospects:
  • Jamarr Chase - 4.7
  • Jeremiah Smith - 6 (next years top prospect)
  • Larry Fitzgerald - 4.7
  • Calvin Johnson - 6.3
 
I have long said I see the cards as the most likely of the top six to trade down.

I wonder if they're looking for 2027 draft assets to go after a QB in that class
 
SkinDeep said:
I have long said I see the cards as the most likely of the top six to trade down.

I wonder if they're looking for 2027 draft assets to go after a QB in that class
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Yep, getting 12 and 20, plus change, from the Pukes is a good start with that. They’ll probably move back again to go after 2027 ammo.
 
Boone said:
I feel like it will be either Styles, Downs, or Love at #7, because those guys are viewed as game-changers at their positions - positions that we still have significant needs in.
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I narrow it to Styles or Love.

For whatever reason, I don’t think it’s Downs.

I could be very wrong on that. But it’s a hunch.
 
heisenberg said:
I think its a rumor based on some insider knowledge but it likely wouldn't happen until draft night if its true that the deal centers on bailey.

If it does happen I sure hope Kdawg is right about bailey.
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It wouldn’t happen until the cards are on th clock because Dallas needs to make sure the guy they want at 3 is still there.
 
I think for me there's a quartet I would be happy with (a quintet if somehow Bailey fell)

Styles, Love, Tate, Delane.

I'd be okay with any of them. If Styles, Love, and Bailey are taken and you think you can get away with a small trade down to pick up a second or third, I'd be okay with Tate, Delane, or Bane.) If they grabbed Tate, Delane, or Bain with 7 I wouldn't be thrilled but I'd be fine with it.
 
Given the leaning of this board currently…Downs will be the pick and you should all start preparing for it. 😉
 
Chris said:
Given the leaning of this board currently…Downs will be the pick and you should all start preparing for it. 😉
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lol. It will not be the first pick that I didn't like and it won't be the last. It also won't be the first pick (if it happens) that I find away to justify and player who I root for with all my voice despite him not being my first, second, or third choice.
 
Chris said:
Given the leaning of this board currently…Downs will be the pick and you should all start preparing for it. 😉
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Yep. I said this a few weeks ago. Because the universe is going to make us unhappy in a cruel joke.
 
Everyone was ecstatic when we drafted Chase Young. Lesson is ‘no one knows’ who the right pick is up front.
 
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