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

KDawg said:
I’ll need to watch more of Lemon. On first watch he was not someone I thought was worthy of a high selection, and it seems like the media is trying to push his traits to kind of offset that. But generally SIP has a good eye and I’m not generally as far off on a guy as we seem to be on Lemon… so when I get a chance I’ll take a look again and see what I think.

Sarratt is still my guy.
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Sarrat so far is my guy in the third round range. Lemon if its a trade down in the first. I'd be surprised if he fell out of the first round.

To the naked eye, as you were saying before there is something off about Lemon, to me the something is off is he doesn't physically look like a stud WR. Not a big dude, doesn't look to have long arms, he's quick but not lightening fast. He's definitley not built in a lab for a WR. And then you got some media draftniks including Kiper, McShay, PFF guys fawning all over him, which lol to me is a turn off.

But when you watch him and at this point I've watched more Tyson, Tate and Lemon than any three players -- his feet are so quick, the head fakes, double moves, stutter steps -- it all happens so fast with him, that he's hard to stop. Then he catches everything. Makes contested catches. Makes acrobatic catches showcasing body control. And he's one of the better YAC guys in this class, definitely better on that front than Tyson, Tate, and Boston. And not a bad run blocker for a smallish dudes. To me more than any receiver I've watched this year, he's just a baller. As I mentioned if the game is on the line and I want a big play, whether its making a tough catch, or taking a short screen and running for a critical first down -- he's the one I'd trust.

Concepcion and Branch I'd trust over him as to YAC but I don't trust their route running or hands the same way.
 
Interesting. Do you see him as a prospect with #1 receiver potential? Are do you see him more as WR2? I am trying to think of who is a decent comp for Surratt...maybe Josh Palmer?
 
philibusters said:
This is not a great draft class. All the draft class analysts that I listen to like Dane Brugler (Building the Beast podcast) or the guys on the Daft on Draft podcast agree on that. And that makes a receiver like Lemon who may go between 15 and 25 in other draft classes viable in like the 6 to 20 range pending on team needs. I like Sarratt too, but his lack of athleticism means he is not going in the first round. He kind of reminds me of Jahan Dotson in terms of quality of prospect (totally different player though, Dotson was more athletic and way less physical) in that he is a prospect who has a realistic projection as a WR2. Dotson never fulfilled his potential as a solid #2 WR, but I think Sarratt could, but Surratt is definitely a prospect you can get on day 2.
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I think the drill with Lemon and to some extent Downs, too is those type of prospects can kill it in the NFL yet aren't taken early typically. A Cooper Kupp, Nacua or even McConkey or St. Brown don't go in the first. If you did a redraft in hindsight, they would go now in the first. But slot WRs who aren't great physical specimens don't go in the first generally. The question though is should exceptions be made?

Downs also. Safety isn't a premium spot. And Downs is a great player but not a physical freak. But as some of the PFF guys say of late, if the premium safeties in the league were in redrafts they'd go much higher than they did at the time.

As for Sarratt, he was my guy early on in that 2nd tier, as I was watching players and discussed that here. KDawg has even more Sarratt love. I get it. He has such a high floor IMO. He reminds me some of Michael Pittman, also a WR I liked before the draft and if I recall KDawg did too. And he could end up better than Pittman. IMO he's a more fluid seperator than Pittman was in college. I get he's not exciting. He's not super fast and is just OK as to YAC. But he seperates so seemlessly, great ball tracking skills, strong hands and those traits tends to translate to the NFL. I'd love him in the early 3rd but I suspect he goes early in the 2nd but will see, combine important for him.

Sarratt also has been very productive 3 seasons in a row in college, rare to see that. I think in that 2nd tier he's easily the safest and perhaps best prospect. Depending on how he and Boston run, he might leapfrog Boston with me. I don't though put him in the same tier as Tate, Tyson, Lemon.
 
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Spoiler: It has us taking Downs 7th, one spot ahead of Bailey. I would throw things and say naughty words if that happened.
 
Gooseneck said:
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I have been looking at round 3 edge players in case we do not address the position via FA, at 7 or in a trade down.

He discusses a guy I like in that range, Gabe Jacus Illinois. He has a wrestler, top athletically with power, great motor, quick get off, can attack and shed The video is a little long but you can see, great kid. Can't wait to see him in the East West Shrine Game at the end of the month:

 
Speaking of the East West Shrine Game, there are a lot ton of prospects who accepted invitations. It is Tuesday January 27

shrinebowl.com

2026 Accepted Invites - East-West Shrine Bowl

Updated daily, this roster showcases the nation’s top college prospects headed to Frisco, Texas, for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl, benefiting Shriners Children’s. The game kicks off Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Ford Center at The Star, where future NFL stars take the field. Get your tickets now!
shrinebowl.com shrinebowl.com
 
Riggo44 said:
Spoiler: It has us taking Downs 7th, one spot ahead of Bailey. I would throw things and say naughty words if that happened.
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I would definitely take Bailey over Downs, but Downs is very likely going to be a good player. One of the safest picks in the draft in my opinion.
 
philibusters said:
I would definitely take Bailey over Downs, but Downs is very likely going to be a good player. One of the safest picks in the draft in my opinion.
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Yeah I like Downs, but not at the expense of Bailey
 
DWinzit said:
I have been looking at round 3 edge players
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There's quite a few I like in that range too some are in the 4th and 5th area but will likely rise after all the Shrine & Senior Bowl Games and combine but definitely like Jacas as well.

R Mason Thomas
Zion Young
Malachi Lawrence
Derrick Moore
Caden Curry is a riser for me
 
Matayo Uiagalelei is returning to Oregon but IMO he would have been a 1st rounder and I think Cashius Howell will be too.

Howell
Bailey
Bain

It's close for me and very hard to separate them.
 
The Chump Bailey said:
There's quite a few I like in that range too some are in the 4th and 5th area but will likely rise after all the Shrine & Senior Bowl Games and combine but definitely like Jacas as well.

R Mason Thomas
Zion Young
Malachi Lawrence
Derrick Moore
Caden Curry is a riser for me
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Yeah I like Lawrence later like you say, 4th or 5th . I haven't reviewed all of them lower .

I know skinsinparadise had an in last year with UCF, wondering if he has any insight in Malachi?

It is difficult going from the potential of Bailey to this though
 
DWinzit said:
Wow, I don't think he is near as dynamic a player pass rushing and or in coverage abilities
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Howell was actually the first Edge that jumped out at me. Don't get me wrong - not knocking Bailey he is obviously very good but he also had a nice supporting cast along the line something that Howell did not, IMO. I'd be ecstatic with either one. *I'll say better supporting cast I do like Albert Regis Texas A&M DT.
 
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