WRs: 2026 Draft Class

Originally posted by Ezekiel38:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:

Originally posted by ritz126:
Not sure i agree with all of this KC Concepcion, Brazell and Boston i think are at least 2nd round talents i would put Antonio Williams also in 2nd/3rd round talent. Stribling, Fields, and Branch are also a bit low.

Looking forward to signing Josh Cameron and Kendrick Law as UDFAs!

Kendrick Law going in the 3rd/4th round .... this chart is not accurate ... Antonio Williams 5th rounder?

Its not predicting what rounds people get drafted, its a grading system.

I dont know the algorithm used, but Antonio Williams statically regressed. He had the same number of receiving yards his freshman and senior seasons. Historically guys probably arent very good when that happens. Kendrick Law only has one season over 140+ yards and has the worst ADOT in the country. Its easy to see why stat based models might not like him.

i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

Originally posted by ritz126:
i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

Either that or they're collecting Texas A&M alumni and KC Concepcion will be the 27th pick.

I can see 1 of our 4th rd picks being used on Josh Cameron out of Baylor, also really starting to like Barion Brown out of LSU. Think both are going to be steals.

Originally posted by ritz126:
i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

I'm not entirely sure about that. It almost makes less sense to draft a WR in the 4th now.

Youve got Evans, Ricky, Kirk, Robinson, Cowing, Watkins under contract. Thats 6 and you are only going to carry 6. There's no world where it makes sense to cut your 4th round pick, so somebody would need to be displaced.

To me that means 2 things.

1. Youre going to draft a WR that you know will displace one of those other WRs. I.E. draft a WR early and feel confident that you made an upgrade. Like draft Concepcion and cut Cowing.

or

2. You are really down on somebody in that group of 6 and feel like they will be cut no matter what, in which case you bring in a 4th rounder. I.E We've lost all faith in Cowing. Kirk can handle PR/KR. Bring in a 4th round rookie and we'll reset the developmental cycle again. In this case you might explore a draft day trade to move a WR.

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by ritz126:
i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

I'm not entirely sure about that. It almost makes less sense to draft a WR in the 4th now.

Youve got Evans, Ricky, Kirk, Robinson, Cowing, Watkins under contract. Thats 6 and you are only going to carry 6. There's no world where it makes sense to cut your 4th round pick, so somebody would need to be displaced.

To me that means 2 things.

1. Youre going to draft a WR that you know will displace one of those other WRs. I.E. draft a WR early and feel confident that you made an upgrade. Like draft Concepcion and cut Cowing.

or

2. You are really down on somebody in that group of 6 and feel like they will be cut no matter what, in which case you bring in a 4th rounder. I.E We've lost all faith in Cowing. Kirk can handle PR/KR. Bring in a 4th round rookie and we'll reset the developmental cycle again. In this case you might explore a draft day trade to move a WR.

very good point

i was thinking more late round but youre right might be wasted pick regardless might as well do it in UDFA. I think next year its different but this draft we will go after some different needs. Its clear were putting a "bandage" on the WR position which i think will be pretty effective i really like this WR core. Not as good as Deebo Aiyuk and Jennings but still

After the moves in FA, I'd like to see a WR project with future #1 X receiver potential.

If Ted Hurst was still on the board in the 4th, he'd be a great developmental candidate to groom to take over for Mike Evans.

Originally posted by Butter:
After the moves in FA, I'd like to see a WR project with future #1 X receiver potential.

If Ted Hurst was still on the board in the 4th, he'd be a great developmental candidate to groom to take over for Mike Evans.

Josh Cameron from Baylor in the 4th.

Originally posted by Butter:
After the moves in FA, I'd like to see a WR project with future #1 X receiver potential.

If Ted Hurst was still on the board in the 4th, he'd be a great developmental candidate to groom to take over for Mike Evans.

Hurst is one of my favorites. Developmental X but can be a rotational Z as well.

Originally posted by Butter:
After the moves in FA, I'd like to see a WR project with future #1 X receiver potential.

If Ted Hurst was still on the board in the 4th, he'd be a great developmental candidate to groom to take over for Mike Evans.

Ted freaking Hurst. Would love to add him to our WR group.

This is a guy might have to draft at #58 or do what I showed below.

He is a late 2nd/early 3rd round guy highly unlikely this dude makes it to the late 3rd lest the 4th.

Trade back with DEN to #30 to get their #94. Assuming we resign Trent Williams ...

#30. Akheem Mesidor / Malachi Lawrence / Cashius Howell EDGE (whoever is Shanalynch's favorite)
#58. AJ Haulcy S (trade up to 50-52 if he falls there with a 2027 4th)
#94. Ted Hurst WR (trade up to 70ish if he is there using pick #127 to secure him)
#133. Landon Robinson / Zane Durant / Chris McClellan DT
#138. Sam Roush / Dallen Bentley TE
#139. Jalen Farmer G

I think Kirk says more about Cowing then it does our draft plans.

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by ritz126:

i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

I'm not entirely sure about that. It almost makes less sense to draft a WR in the 4th now.

Youve got Evans, Ricky, Kirk, Robinson, Cowing, Watkins under contract. Thats 6 and you are only going to carry 6. There's no world where it makes sense to cut your 4th round pick, so somebody would need to be displaced.

To me that means 2 things.

1. Youre going to draft a WR that you know will displace one of those other WRs. I.E. draft a WR early and feel confident that you made an upgrade. Like draft Concepcion and cut Cowing.

or

2. You are really down on somebody in that group of 6 and feel like they will be cut no matter what, in which case you bring in a 4th rounder. I.E We've lost all faith in Cowing. Kirk can handle PR/KR. Bring in a 4th round rookie and we'll reset the developmental cycle again. In this case you might explore a draft day trade to move a WR.

No one outside of Evans and Pearsall are locks to make the final 53.

Kirk - similar production as Robinson (not much in the regular season, but popped for one game in the playoffs). Safety net but not a lock.

Robinson - see above

Cowing - minimal impact year 1, injured year 2. Unclear his role and viability in 2026. Needs to prove himself.

Watkins - couldn't break thru the depth chart even with injuries. Really hoping he becomes our #3/#4 in 2026, but needs to earn it.

And given Evans age and Pearsall injury history, we absolutely need more depth and competition at the position. Don't be surprised if we double dip at the position during the draft.

Originally posted by GEEK:

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by ritz126:
i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

I'm not entirely sure about that. It almost makes less sense to draft a WR in the 4th now.

Youve got Evans, Ricky, Kirk, Robinson, Cowing, Watkins under contract. Thats 6 and you are only going to carry 6. There's no world where it makes sense to cut your 4th round pick, so somebody would need to be displaced.

To me that means 2 things.

1. Youre going to draft a WR that you know will displace one of those other WRs. I.E. draft a WR early and feel confident that you made an upgrade. Like draft Concepcion and cut Cowing.

or

2. You are really down on somebody in that group of 6 and feel like they will be cut no matter what, in which case you bring in a 4th rounder. I.E We've lost all faith in Cowing. Kirk can handle PR/KR. Bring in a 4th round rookie and we'll reset the developmental cycle again. In this case you might explore a draft day trade to move a WR.

No one outside of Evans and Pearsall are locks to make the final 53.

Kirk - similar production as Robinson (not much in the regular season, but popped for one game in the playoffs). Safety net but not a lock.

Robinson - see above

Cowing - minimal impact year 1, injured year 2. Unclear his role and viability in 2026. Needs to prove himself.

Watkins - couldn't break thru the depth chart even with injuries. Really hoping he becomes our #3/#4 in 2026, but needs to earn it.

And given Evans age and Pearsall injury history, we absolutely need more depth and competition at the position. Don't be surprised if we double dip at the position during the draft.

Yeah I don't think getting Kirk and Evans prevents us at all from taking Omar Cooper Jr or KC Concepcion at #27.

If/when Pearsall or Evans goes down with an injury and misses games, are you really ok with Evans/Pearsall and Kirk as your starting WRs we'd have to rely on to score points and make plays in the passing game? Kirk is just insurance in case the WRs we like in the draft are not available when we pick for good value at that spot. Same for Joey Bosa - insurance in case the EDGEs we want are not there when we pick and we are unable to trade to a spot to get one. This is whart free agency is for.

The more I think about it the more I think we select one of those two WRs at #27 if one of them is there, assuming we resign Trent Williams. If we don't all bets are off and we are selecting the best available OT at #27.

#27. Cooper Jr / Concepcion WR
#58. Cashius Howell / Malachi Lawrence / Zion Young EDGE (trade up to 50 using a 2027 4th if any of those three are on the board at 50 - all these guys are dawgs)
#127. Devin Moore CB (6'3 198lbs really good cover guy watch his youtube vids + I've heard said he could be an even better FS - either way I think he would be good enough to take Green's spot in our zone scheme by Year 2 and maybe start at FS this year after Sigle blows coverages deep down the field)
#133. Sam Roush / Dallen Bentley TE
#138. Landon Robinson / Zane Durant / Chris McClellan DT
#139. Jalen Farmer G

Originally posted by jersey49er:

Originally posted by Butter:
After the moves in FA, I'd like to see a WR project with future #1 X receiver potential.

If Ted Hurst was still on the board in the 4th, he'd be a great developmental candidate to groom to take over for Mike Evans.

Josh Cameron from Baylor in the 4th.

This!

Signing Kirk makes me want to take the upset gamble on Cameron even more now. Sure… he looks like he could be another Leggett/Treadwell. But he also looks like he could be another Brandon Marshall.

I could see picking between Stribling and Cameron in the 4th. Stribling looks more polished to me but Cameron has true number 1 potential.

Originally posted by GEEK:

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by ritz126:
i think with Evans and Kirk signing it is unlikely we will be spending a day 1 or day 2 pick on a WR

I'm not entirely sure about that. It almost makes less sense to draft a WR in the 4th now.

Youve got Evans, Ricky, Kirk, Robinson, Cowing, Watkins under contract. Thats 6 and you are only going to carry 6. There's no world where it makes sense to cut your 4th round pick, so somebody would need to be displaced.

To me that means 2 things.

1. Youre going to draft a WR that you know will displace one of those other WRs. I.E. draft a WR early and feel confident that you made an upgrade. Like draft Concepcion and cut Cowing.

or

2. You are really down on somebody in that group of 6 and feel like they will be cut no matter what, in which case you bring in a 4th rounder. I.E We've lost all faith in Cowing. Kirk can handle PR/KR. Bring in a 4th round rookie and we'll reset the developmental cycle again. In this case you might explore a draft day trade to move a WR.

No one outside of Evans and Pearsall are locks to make the final 53.

Kirk - similar production as Robinson (not much in the regular season, but popped for one game in the playoffs). Safety net but not a lock.

Robinson - see above

Cowing - minimal impact year 1, injured year 2. Unclear his role and viability in 2026. Needs to prove himself.

Watkins - couldn't break thru the depth chart even with injuries. Really hoping he becomes our #3/#4 in 2026, but needs to earn it.

And given Evans age and Pearsall injury history, we absolutely need more depth and competition at the position. Don't be surprised if we double dip at the position during the draft.

That might be technically true, but in reality it is not.

Cutting Robinson brings on a 3.75 mil dead cap hit. We dont know the exact terms of Kirks deal, but you can look around the league at other 1 year deals in the 5-7 million dollar range and the dead cap hit it 3.5 to 5 mil. Then of course your are signing a new player to fill those voids and if those are higher round picks youve just inverted your cap by 14 million dollars. And you didnt draft dudes at another position that you now need to go sign.