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

[KDawg]

I could see this playing out, and I’m okay with Tate, but I would really hate to watch the top RB, Safety, and CB go to division rivals while we reached for a need.

I don’t agree that Tate at 7 is a reach.

 

[Conn]

Interesting and worth keeping an eye on. Assume it would be a day 2 pick if it’s real

 

[Faithful Fan]

I would hate to see Love in NY. I don't see Tate as a reach.

I don’t agree that Tate at 7 is a reach.

Maybe not, and I get taking the best WR in our position, but I would not be the least bit surprised if some of the next 5 receivers have better careers. I really worry Tate was never tested because Smith drew coverage, and guys like Concepcion also look good to my eyes. A lot of people think Tate is a sure thing though, so hopefully they’re right if it plays out that way.

The draft is just such a crapshoot. I’ve seen so many sure things bust—remember how much we loved Chase Young? I guess that would apply to most any of our targets besides Love though. Makes me nervous, and the worst thing is we really won’t know who guessed right until they’ve played a couple seasons.

 

[ES1974]

I don’t agree that Tate at 7 is a reach.

I think he probably is

 

[skinsinparadise]

Maybe not, and I get taking the best WR in our position, but I would not be the least bit surprised if some of the next 5 receivers have better careers. I really worry Tate was never tested because Smith drew coverage, and guys like Concepcion also look good to my eyes. A lot of people think Tate is a sure thing though, so hopefully they’re right if it plays out that way. The draft is such a crapshoot. I’ve seen so many sure things bust—remember how much we love Chase Young? I guess that would apply to most any of our targets besides Love though.

A lot of people think Tate is the sure

He still needs to beat the CB in front of him, still needs to catch the ball regardless of what Jeremiah Smith is doing.

No drops. Best hands in this group IMO. Has a high 80s contested catch score which is insane. Good route runner. Good blocker. And he's only 21.

As far as which WR from this class ends up the best. I'd bet Tate. But you never know. Concepcion is probably the most boom-bust of the first-2nd round types -- electric, shaky hands -- i read recently there are some character issues.

We can say the same thing for a number of spots -- many like Downs, some say Thieneman ends up better. Sadiq the #1 TE, but some think Stowers might end up better. You don't know.

 

[ES1974]

Interesting and worth keeping an eye on. Assume it would be a day 2 pick if it’s real

Yeah that’s the draft trade talk that was alluded to yesterday

 

[The Rook]

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free...

steelersdepot.com

Tate is number 3 WR on his board.



The Rook

 

[washington football]

Watch for the cowboys to draft a WR and then trade Pickens. They may be in WR market. Titans may have interest.

 

[KDawg]

I think he probably is

But no one has yet to provide a reason other than “ya. He is.”

I’ve been typing all sorts of Tate stuff.

I’d love to hear it.

At first, when I wanted Love everyone told me, “position value!!!”

(I still want Love)

Now, we’re talking about the best receiver in the class and it’s “no, he’s a reach!”

I’m struggling to keep up.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Just keep in mind that AJ Brown still may not be traded or he may be replaced. If NY gets Tyson, we will have Brown, Smith, Nabers, Tyson, Lamb, and Pickles in our division. We also have to play the tandems of Jefferson & Addison, Chase & Higgins, and Puka & Adams.

There is even talk about the Rams drafting receiver. We may need some extra help covering these guys or maybe we need to give Jayden a 2nd WR to match these tandems. Either way, I won't be as happy as others if Tyson is in the division

As I’ve been saying, we could really use Delane. Plus I love that he is a local kid.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Rivera would be really dangerous in a draft like this -- he'd be itching to do something funky, like taking Thienimann at 7, or if Love fell to 7, trading back and taking his teammate Price instead.

Joking aside, Price is a good runner though.

 

[KDawg]

He still needs to beat the CB in front of him, still needs to catch the ball regardless of what Jeremiah Smith is doing.

No drops. Best hands in this group IMO. Has a high 80s contested catch score which is insane. Good route runner. Good blocker. And he's only 21.

As far as which WR from this class ends up the best. I'd bet Tate. But you never know. Concepcion is probably the most boom-bust of the first-2nd round types -- electric, shaky hands -- i read recently there are some character issues.

We can say the same thing for a number of spots -- many like Downs, some say Thieneman ends up better. Sadiq the #1 TE, but some think Stowers might end up better. You don't know.

I think Concepcion is going to be an absolute baller. But he will be as frustrating as he is electric.

I’d love to have him if we had a more solid receiver corps to surround him with and could use him as a return man, too. Dude is dangerous.

If we did trade back and got him I’d be pretty excited.

But he will drop the ball. And he will not block well. And people will get super frustrated between 60 yard highlights.

 

[Canuck]

My Top 4 assuming Love is gone
Tate-Top at his position which is a premium position and area of need
Downs-Best pure FB player in the draft, getting downgraded by media fo rnot working out
Styles-Feak athlete, top 10 talent, but not top 5
Delane-Premium position, all the measurables, but how important is CB in the new scheme

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think Concepcion is going to be an absolute baller. But he will be as frustrating as he is electric.

I’d love to have him if we had a more solid receiver corps to surround him with and could use him as a return man, too. Dude is dangerous.

If we did trade back and got him I’d be pretty excited.

But he will drop the ball. And he will not block well. And people will get super frustrated between 60 yard highlights.

He's fun. I talked about him some on that podcast we did.

He's my favorite with the ball in his hands -- catches in stride and takes off. Branch and K. Law would be my next favs as to YAC.

The weird thing for him is for a dude with shaky hands he also makes spectacular catches. Agree not a good blocker.

But I am going purely for the most exciting WR, it would be Concepcion.

 

[Faithful Fan]

But no one has yet to provide a reason other than “ya. He is.”

I’ve been typing all sorts of Tate stuff.

I’d love to hear it.

At first, when I wanted Love everyone told me, “position value!!!”

(I still want Love)

Now, we’re talking about the best receiver in the class and it’s “no, he’s a reach!”

I’m struggling to keep up.

I gave reasons. Main one being he was a WR2 going against CB2s. Also he is a good not great athlete, and there are other receivers in the same tier. You don’t agree with those reasons, that doesn’t mean no one provided any.

I’ve come around to the idea of taking whoever we think is the best WR though, and if that’s Tate I’m fine with it. You and skinsinparadise have also convinced me he is better than I originally thought. But I still think some skepticism about it is fair.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Joking aside, Price is a good runner though.

He is but to trade down to mid first and take him, sort of my joke about Rivera is too early for him. Rumor is Seattle takes him in the late first.

 

[RWJ]

Joking aside, Price is a good runner though.

2nd/3rd best behind Love.

 

[KDawg]

I gave reasons. Main one being he was a WR2 going against CB2s. Also he is a good not great athlete, and there are other receivers in the same tier. You don’t agree with those reasons, that doesn’t mean no one provided any.

I’ve come around to the idea of taking whoever we think is the best WR though, and if that’s Tate I’m fine with it. But I think some skepticism about it is fair.

I actually didn’t even see your post where you said those things. And ya, I disagree. But at least you have reasons.

The WR1/2 thing I don’t care about. So I won’t even talk about that.

The athlete I agree but with a caveat. I think he’s a damned good athlete, but not an athletic freak. I know many equate 40 time to athleticism, but watching the way he moves in his routes, in the air, his body control… this dude is a high end athlete. But he’s not a freak athletically. So I can’t say I fully disagree there.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[ES1974]

But no one has yet to provide a reason other than “ya. He is.”

I’ve been typing all sorts of Tate stuff.

I’d love to hear it.

At first, when I wanted Love everyone told me, “position value!!!”

(I still want Love)

Now, we’re talking about the best receiver in the class and it’s “no, he’s a reach!”

I’m struggling to keep up.

He looks like a great possession receiver you’d typically get slightly later in the draft that top 10.

Best I can do.