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

Ted Hurst. WR Georgia State.
Sorry if he has been mentioned.
 
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DWinzit said:
Agreed especially CJ.

Others that popped for me were:

DL Darrell Jackson, FSU​

There may not have been a better player at the Shrine Bowl than Darrell Jackson. He was dominant on all three days during the 1-on-1s and consistently in the backfield during team drills. It’s unlikely that the Rams will draft a defensive lineman inside the top-100, but Jackson is a run-stopper and simply violent at the point of attack. If the Rams were to continue investing in the defensive line, adding another player from the Florida State pipeline wouldn’t be a bad idea.

WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa​

Kaden Wetjen is going to need to be in the right offensive system for a team to take advantage of his skill set. He’s only 5’9, but he’s slippery in space. During team drills on Day 3, he was a consistent target for the quarterbacks. In a 15-play sample, he may have had five or six catches. The intriguing aspect of Wetjen’s game is his upside as a returner. The Rams need to place more focus on special teams. Wetjen had three punt return touchdowns last year and led the nation in punt return yards while playing in the Big Ten. He may be somewhat limited as a receiver because of his size. However, if an offensive coach can find ways to get Wetjen the ball in space, he’s electric. As a late Day 3 pick, Wetjen makes sense.

S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech​

The Rams have done well in the past when drafting safeties late on Day 3 and developing them. Cole Wisniewski would make a lot of sense as the next in line for that. Wisniewski was a former linebacker at North Dakota State and those instincts were very obvious in run fits and when he played close to the line of scrimmage. With Chris Shula, the Rams have used a third safety almost as a linebacker, especially in dime. That player has typically been Jaylen McCollough. Wisniewski’s size at 6’3 and 214 pounds makes him intriguing for that type of role.


Wetjen looked like he had 2 extra gears over every other player on the field, incredibly explosive for a little dude

Edge Malachi Lawrence from UCF I have mentioned a few weeks back in this thread looked good and would be a nice day 3 pick
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Yeah, like what I saw from Wetjen and Wisniewski also. Wisniewski has plus size and good instincts, what he shows at the combine will probably determine when he goes. Wetjen is just flat fast/electric. Have to be a sort of gadget player at his size, but if he gets the chance, I’ll put money on him returning a kick for a TD next season.
 
skinsinparadise said:
Lee Hunter looking good apparently at the Senior Bowl, one of my favs, only issue with his is he has some plays where his feet look slow but I am gathering as a big guy he loses steam with too many reps. But he comes off like an old school NT with some pass rushing juice.

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Most of the defensive guys from Texas Tech are having a solid practice/drills week especially Rodriguez and Hunter
 
I'm liking a lot of what I've seen/heard from Tyren Montgomery
 
I think I'm developing a draft crush!
 
Riggo44 said:
I think I'm developing a draft crush!
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GIF by Giphy QA
 
Fun fact, I coached a team that beat John Carroll in the playoffs at some point or another.

Also, that kid is good.
 
Height is so small for an edge.
 
From the Daft on Draft coverage this is the standouts by position at the Shrine Bowl practices...

QB: Cade Klubnik was clearly the best QB on site in a weak group and finished Day 2 with one of the best throws of the week on a comeback route. His arrow has been pointing up since midseason, and in a thin QB class he’s worked his way back into early-backup draft conversation.

RB: C.J. Donaldson doesn’t pop as a tester, but his vision stood out on practice tape and live reps more than any back in Frisco. He profiles as a short-yardage and depth back, but Shrine Bowl week did exactly what it needed to do for him.

WR: Kaden Wetjen is only 5'8, but showed why scouts see him as more than just a return specialist, consistently creating space on shallow routes and motion looks. He was already a Day 3 returner, but the offensive creativity he showed could push him higher.

TE: Dallen Bentley is making a real case to be the in-line Y tight end of this class, with better burst and route polish than expected for a 262-pounder. With an estimated sub 4.7 he is not a freaky athlete, but has solid athleticism. Age matters less now, and he could end up being the second tight end drafted.

O-Line: Garrett DiGiorgio held up at tackle, guard, and center and looked like one of the most complete linemen in Frisco. He’s presenting legitimate five-position value and has been one of the best overall Shrine Bowl performers.

O-Line: Brian Parker II looked far more comfortable kicking inside to center than he ever did at tackle. When he landed his hands early, his anchor and hand cleanliness were obvious.

O-Line: Micah Morris isn’t a space mover, but he was nearly immovable once engaged and was dominant through the chest in pass-rush one-on-ones. He’s a power-based interior blocker who wins with strength and grip.

Edge: Mason Reiger was the best edge rusher in Frisco, winning with power, speed, and ghost moves throughout the week. The medicals are real, but the on-field impact was impossible to ignore.

DT: Landon Robinson was arguably the most impressive defensive lineman at the Shrine Bowl, winning consistently with leverage and explosion. Gap-shooting DCs are going to love him, and his freak testing numbers back it up.

LB: Jaden Dugger stood out immediately due to size, range, and ball production, picking off two passes in team drills. If he tests well, teams are going to talk themselves into the traits quickly.

CB: Devon Marshall only practiced two days but looked like one of the best players on site during that time. He was explosive, physical at the catch point, and clearly caught scouts’ attention.

S: Cole Wisniewski looked natural playing in the box, holding up in one-on-ones against backs and tight ends and making plays in team periods. His process will come down to testing, but this was a strong start.

Honorable mentions from Daft on Draft and Shrine Bowl tape: Malachi Lawrence, Brent Austin, Jackson Kuwatch, Kaleb Proctor, Mark Gronowski, Anthony Smith, Seydou Traore, Tyler Onyedim, Jadon Canady, Colbie Young, and Dillon Wade.
 
Guys who are still intriguing for me through Senior Bowl Week (not in any order)

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

Rausch, TE, Stanford

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State (I’d argue he may be a top 5-6 receiver in class)

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll

I haven’t spent as much time with the defensive guys for the most part because they aren’t really standing out that much (and part of that has to do with the nature of the coverage). The game will tell me a lot on D.

I’ll add more later, time crunched lol
 
philibusters said:
QB: Cade Klubnik was clearly the best QB on site in a weak group and finished Day 2 with one of the best throws of the week on a comeback route. His arrow has been pointing up since midseason, and in a thin QB class he’s worked his way back into early-backup draft conversation.
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Between the Shrine and Senior Bowls there have been a number of QB's who have shown to be good late day 3 picks for a QB3 slot. I would normally be in favor of this move with a new OC, if the right players was there is the 7th and probably if they accumulated at least another 7th rounder. DQs long term status makes me sketchy on drafting a QB
 
KDawg said:
I haven’t spent as much time with the defensive guys for the most part because they aren’t really standing out that much (and part of that has to do with the nature of the coverage). The game will tell me a lot on D.

I’ll add more later, time crunched lol
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You're right about the defensive players. I am hoping there are a bunch that pop out but so far..eh
 
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