2026 Free Agency and Draft: WR/TE

6-4, 206, 4.42 forty. Hurst is obviously not Randy Moss, but when I first watched him run, that's who I immediately thought of. 

The Vikings have a top 30 visit scheduled with WR Ted Hurst https://t.co/GOWbh9eX53

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) March 27, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:
6-4, 206, 4.42 forty. Hurst is obviously not Randy Moss, but when I first watched him run, that's who I immediately thought of. 

The Vikings have a top 30 visit scheduled with WR Ted Hurst https://t.co/GOWbh9eX53

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) March 27, 2026

I see a target for one of our 3rd rounders... especially if we trade down in the first and get another day 2 pick as a result.  I really like the potential there,  he could use a few cheeseburgers,  but he highpoints the ball, routinely catches with his hands away from his body and positions his body to shield the defender on contested throws.  apparently his drop rate is concern and his slight build makes his separation an issue against more physical DBs in press.

Very similar measurables to Colbie Young, UGA.
Except Young is slightly taller, heavier, faster.

Production goes to Hurst, as Young & UGA had more off. Weapons and tougher competition.
I could go with Hurst, tho.

With Jefferson, Addison and Felton.... I'd rather get a smaller, uber quick WR that works closer to the LOS,
Middle of the field. Like Z Branch, or similar, as Branch will go top 2 rounds.

JimmyinSD wrote:

I see a target for one of our 3rd rounders... especially if we trade down in the first and get another day 2 pick as a result.  I really like the potential there,  he could use a few cheeseburgers,  but he highpoints the ball, routinely catches with his hands away from his body and positions his body to shield the defender on contested throws.  apparently his drop rate is concern and his slight build makes his separation an issue against more physical DBs in press.

I think you're right that he'll go in the late 3rd. Just not sure I'm willing to take a WR that high. We definitely need someone to compete with Felton for the WR3 position, but I think we can probably find that on day three.

I think a surprise in the first 3 picks could be a TE like Max Clare from Ohio State. That's exactly the kind of X factor a KOC offense/QB needs, an athletic dude that can widen out on certain matchups which is killer.

Although I really, really love Ted Hurst, he's going to kill it, I think there's plans for Tai Felton for QB3: he's that linear speed merchant the team doesn't currently have to take the top off when Jefferson and Addison hit their shorter/intermediary routes. 4.37 40 at the Combine. He's working out like a machine offseason right now.

StickierBuns wrote:
I think a surprise in the first 3 picks could be a TE like Max Clare from Ohio State. That's exactly the kind of X factor a KOC offense/QB needs, an athletic dude that can widen out on certain matchups which is killer.

Although I really, really love Ted Hurst, he's going to kill it, I think there's plans for Tai Felton for QB3: he's that linear speed merchant the team doesn't currently have to take the top off when Jefferson and Addison hit their shorter/intermediary routes. 4.37 40 at the Combine. He's working out like a machine offseason right now.

Agree. I don't think we necessarily need to upgrade the WR3 position, but we at least need to generate a legit competition for Felton. A 4th or 5th round WR would probably do the trick. I don't think we have a shot at Hurst, but one of my favorite day-three guys is DeZhaun Stribling from Ole Miss. 6-2, 207, 4.36 forty. Check the speed at 2:53.

StickierBuns wrote:

I think this is definitely happening.

The Vikings announced the decision to pickup Jordan Addison's 5th-year option. The official word: “#Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski told local media earlier today that the team plans to exercise the 5th-year option on WR Jordan Addison.”

Were it not for off-field issues, the Jordan Addison decision wouldn’t have been much of a decision. The reality, though, is that there have been various problems away from the football field, creating some mini suspense until today.

Tacking on the 5th year ensures that the 24-year-old WR2 sticks around for a minimum of two more years. He’s carrying a $4.3 million cap charge into 2026 that will bump up to $18 million in 2027, per OTC. Afterwards, Minnesota could apply the franchise tag if an extension doesn’t get sorted out.

Any Bison fans? Bryce Lance, 6-3, 204, 4.34 speed with a ridiculous 1.49 split, 41.5-inch vert, elite contested catch numbers, very low drop rate. Current consensus value: late 3rd round. 

Bryce Lance (6’3 204) North Dakota State

+ Contested catch ability (66.7% rate in 2025)
+ Over 1,000 yards receiving in back-to-back seasons
+ Ball tracking down the field
+ Big play ability
+ Speed to gain yards after catch
+ Just a 3.8% drop rate
+ 3.57 yards per route ran in… pic.twitter.com/VnVONoO2rD

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) March 14, 2026

Not sure how I'd feel about taking a TE in the 1st round after years of arguing why it's never a good idea. But that might be changing a bit with the recent success of McBride, Bowers and Warren. 

With Hock in a contract year, I wouldn't be too surprised if the Vikings think long and hard about Kenyon Sadiq if he's there at 18. 

Kenyon Sadiq blocking pic.twitter.com/sJnknsTCxS

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 19, 2026

Been watching Oscar Delp for a couple years now. Really thought he’d pick up after Brock Bowers. For whatever reason Georgia decided to really limit his targets. His acceleration is insane for his size. You don’t see TEs outrun angles. This guy can. We know K1 can feed a TE.

JustInTime wrote:
Been watching Oscar Delp for a couple years now. Really thought he’d pick up after Brock Bowers. For whatever reason Georgia decided to really limit his targets. His acceleration is insane for his size. You don’t see TEs outrun angles. This guy can. We know K1 can feed a TE.

Bowers, as you know, was a freak.

As someone that’s caught UGA/GT college ball, agree Delp is a hidden gem.  I believe MB is on-board as well. 

Great measurables, can’t remember a negative play. 

Is he a + over TJH/Oliver?  Not now, but in near future, yes. What pick # would you take?

savannahskol wrote:

Bowers, as you know, was a freak.

As someone that’s caught UGA/GT college ball, agree Delp is a hidden gem.  I believe MB is on-board as well. 

Great measurables, can’t remember a negative play. 

Is he a + over TJH/Oliver?  Not now, but in near future, yes. What pick # would you take?

He is. We’ve discussed him a bit. Definitely see him as a replacement for Hock in 27. Assuming a small trade down from 18, I pick him between 97 and 163. But there’s another 4 or so guys I like, but Delp could really explode.

JustInTime wrote:
Been watching Oscar Delp for a couple years now. Really thought he’d pick up after Brock Bowers. For whatever reason Georgia decided to really limit his targets. His acceleration is insane for his size. You don’t see TEs outrun angles. This guy can. We know K1 can feed a TE.

Yep. Every now and then you'll watch a guy that just makes you sit up and notice. That was Delp for me. The acceleration he shows at 2:00 is damned impressive for a TE. 

MaroonBells wrote:

Yep. Every now and then you'll watch a guy that just makes you sit up and notice. That was Delp for me. The acceleration he shows at 2:00 is damned impressive for a TE. 

It’s like he hit the NOS and found two additional gears.

CJ Daniels’ big catch ability makes him an intriguing fit in KOC’s pass heavy offense. pic.twitter.com/6PM09UVocp https://t.co/HlXVTvenqv

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) April 8, 2026

Two of my favorite values in this WR/TE class:

Skyler Bell - reminds me of a poor-man's Cooper Kupp/Antonio Brown (before CTE)/Percy Harvin (he played out of the backfield at times)
Riley Nowakowski - blue-collar workhorse that will fill the locker room void left by Aaron Jones when he leaves and can play H-Back/TE

Bell isn't the biggest guy at 6' nor the fastest but does have the speed to outrun DBs.  He has great hands, great body positioning and awareness, as well as route running is good.  Good vision and wiggle.  He needs to work on his blocking as well, but he could be a great safety valve for our QB with value found later in the draft.  As mentioned, he met with the Vikings and they have him ranked in the 2nd round, which I think is very generous and speaks more about what they see in him.  I see far more value in him if the Vikings could get him in the 3rd round or later.  He's a little older than I'd prefer for a rookie WR at 24, but that just means he may be further along in the development from day one.  Last point I'll make is, while I recognize he played at UCONN and not against top talent overall, his ability to find the soft spots in coverage reminds me most of Kupp and Tyreek Hill, which is critical for a QB, IMO.

Nowakowski is one of my favorite sleeper picks in this draft/UDFA.  He is not a flashy player nor is he going to out measure the top players, but he may just out work all of them and he will have a smile on his face while doing so.

"I think that Oscar Delp is not just going to be ok. I think he's going to be a true asset"

Oscar Delp and Kenyon Sadiq shouldn’t be this far apart in consensus rankings 👀 pic.twitter.com/AK1GXlqAXt

— Underdog NFL Draft - Josh & Hayden (@UDFootballShow) April 9, 2026

I get Pickens vibes when I watch Tyson. Like Pickens, too many issues to go early, but his movement jumps off the tape. Pickens was the 11th WR taken that year, and it hasn't been all pretty. But I think you can make an argument that he's now one of the better receivers from that class.

First Round
Pick 8: Drake London (USC) — Atlanta Falcons
Pick 10: Garrett Wilson (Ohio State) — New York Jets
Pick 11: Chris Olave (Ohio State) — New Orleans Saints
Pick 12: Jameson Williams (Alabama) — Detroit Lions
Pick 16: Jahan Dotson (Penn State) — Washington Commanders
Pick 18: Treylon Burks (Arkansas) — Tennessee Titans

Second Round
Pick 34: Christian Watson (North Dakota State) — Green Bay Packers
Pick 43: Wan'Dale Robinson (Kentucky) — New York Giants
Pick 44: John Metchie III (Alabama) — Houston Texans
Pick 50: Tyquan Thornton (Baylor) — New England Patriots
Pick 52: George Pickens (Georgia) — Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick 53: Alec Pierce (Cincinnati) — Indianapolis Colts
Pick 54: Skyy Moore (Western Michigan) — Kansas City Chiefs

An interesting note on #Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers: While officially he's a TE, several teams are evaluating him as a WR.

At 6-foot-4, 239, his build can be compared to Mike Evans. Stowers, by the way, visits the #Broncos next week, and he's done #Rams, #Titans, and #Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/B2VwS2Uzjn

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2026

"This guy can get on a team and be a day 1 guy"😤@delaniewalker82 believes @KenyonSadiq is THAT guy | @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/ySOcUAjy7D

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 14, 2026

Last 4 games, 3 of them bowl games, was pretty pedestrian. Fade, figured out, or was the other Duck’s TE just getting more targets? 

Just had a top 30 with Philly.