2026 Free Agency and Draft: WR

[MaroonBells]

Probably little chance we can draft him since he'll likely go somewhere between our picks at 18 and 49, but Omar Cooper Jr is my first real draft crush of 2026. His body control and RAC is remarkable. I don't care what he measures; I don't care what he times; OCJ is going be a weapon in the NFL. 

[purplefaithful]

Probably little chance we can draft him since he'll likely go somewhere between our picks at 18 and 49, but Omar Cooper Jr is my first real draft crush of 2026. His body control and RAC is remarkable. I don't care what he measures; I don't care what he times; OCJ is going be a weapon in the NFL. 

Agreed 100%

I luv Sarrat too, very different players..

[MaroonBells]

Agreed 100%

I luv Sarrat too, very different players..

Quick, when was the last time an Indiana WR was taken in the 1st round? There's never been one. This year there might be two.

[MaroonBells]

Seems Daniel Jeremiah reads Vikefans.  In his latest Top 50, Omar Cooper Jr jumped from outside his top 50 to....19th!!?

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah...nkings-2-0

[dadevike]

Before he tore his ACL, I thought Chris Bell was likely a first rounder. Bell seems to have been forgotten since his injury.

I assume we will lose Aaron Jones and Speedy Nailor in FA. We do not have an in-house replacement for Jones; we do for Speedy - Tai Felton. Depending on what we do in FA, our biggest needs at the moment are Safety, CB, and RB. If TJ leaves in FA or is cut, I would add TE as another position of need. Same if we lose Wilson: add ILB as a need. Next in line is probably Center. Most of the college Centers are a bit small. I would love to get Rutledge.

But I don't really see WR as a need now and do not want to draft one in the first 3 rounds. Absolutely take one later in the draft, but we have other issues to address early.

[MaroonBells]

Before he tore his ACL, I thought Chris Bell was likely a first rounder. Bell seems to have been forgotten since his injury.

I assume we will lose Aaron Jones and Speedy Nailor in FA. We do not have an in-house replacement for Jones; we do for Speedy - Tai Felton. Depending on what we do in FA, our biggest needs at the moment are Safety, CB, and RB. If TJ leaves in FA or is cut, I would add TE as another position of need. Same if we lose Wilson: add ILB as a need. Next in line is probably Center. Most of the college Centers are a bit small. I would love to get Rutledge.

But I don't really see WR as a need now and do not want to draft one in the first 3 rounds. Absolutely take one later in the draft, but we have other issues to address early.

It's not likely we draft a WR on either of the first two days, but it's possible, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Addison and Nailor. 

I think TE is a need only if we move on from Hockenson, and the more I think about that, the more I think we keep him. I'd put ILB on the needs list even if we resign Wilson. He turns 32 in September and the other guy, IPJ, is such a severe liability in coverage I'm not sure we can risk starting him anymore. I think a LB to play next to Cashman is among the considerations on the first two days. 

I might be OK going into the season with Brandel and Jurgens competing at center. In his last five starts at center, Brandel gave up no sacks and his PFF pass blocking grade over those five games never dipped below 70. Give him a training camp at center and we might have something.

[Knucklehead]

It's not likely we draft a WR on either of the first two days, but it's possible, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Addison and Nailor. 

I think TE is a need only if we move on from Hockenson, and the more I think about that, the more I think we keep him. I'd put ILB on the needs list even if we resign Wilson. He turns 32 in September and the other guy, IPJ, is such a severe liability in coverage I'm not sure we can risk starting him anymore. I think a LB to play next to Cashman is among the considerations on the first two days. 

I might be OK going into the season with Brandel and Jurgens competing at center. In his last five starts at center, Brandel gave up no sacks and his PFF pass blocking grade over those five games never dipped below 70. Give him a training camp at center and we might have something.

Whether the team prefers to keep Brandel in his OL6 role or will move him to center is one of the story lines to watch this offseason. Given the resources that they have allocated to the OL already, I don't see them signing one of the better FA centers or selecting one within the top 3 rounds. OTOH, Jurgens was less than impressive when he took center snaps last season.

Something to keep an eye on.

[MaroonBells]

[StickierBuns]

Tai Felton....yeeesh. You'd think if he had some juice they'd easily let Nailor go.