2026 Draft: WR

[manxman2601]

Connor Rogers compares Skyler Bell to Zay Flowers

 

[PatsFan2]

Making fun of me mayo??

 

[scott99]

If the Pats draft a WR early (first 3 rounds), I want one with size AND speed. Would love to land Chris Brazil II from Tennessee. Denzel Boston is another guy I like. Both give Drake that tall, somewhat fast X receiver with a big catch radiuses.

 

[manxman2601]

I was doing some research on WR and I got really excited when I noticed that Zachariah Branch was the leading WR against man coverage with a 90% catch rate. What an achievement right? That was until I noticed that his average depth of target was 2.7 yards.

Denzel Boston does have a 71% catch rate though. The best of the non-slot receivers.

 

[Clonamery]

I was doing some research on WR and I got really excited when I noticed that Zachariah Branch was the leading WR against man coverage with a 90% catch rate. What an achievement right? That was until I noticed that his average depth of target was 2.7 yards.

Denzel Boston does have a 71% catch rate though. The best of the non-slot receivers.

What is Branch's YAC?

 

[manxman2601]

What is Branch's YAC?

Against man coverage - 12.4 yards per reception.
Against all coverage - 8 yards per reception.

He has one main competitor for no 1 on Yac. De'Zhaun Stribling. They are basically one and two in YAC against man.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm just going to use this to predict that Stribling will be a Patriot come May. Other Ole Miss Rebels are available.

 

[manxman2601]

I was looking at WRs just in case we needed to find a Diggs replacement.

Lemon is the obvious guy but I came to the conclusion that Antonio Williams might be my no2 on that front. Maybe no3 after Concepcion.

 

[mayoclinic]

Lemon, Concepcion, Branch, Williams for me. Dion Burks and De'Zhaun Stribling worthy of consideration.

 

[manxman2601]

Lemon, Concepcion, Branch, Williams for me. Dion Burks and De'Zhaun Stribling worthy of consideration.

I like Branch as you know and thought Burks could be the guy but I was really looking at someone who could play both the slot and Z and Branch and Burks are 5'9" and probably slot only guys. I also really like Stribling but that Ole Miss system limits his route tree early and I wanted a plug and play high volume guy if we needed to replace Diggs.

I'm absolutely fine with Branch, Burks and Stribling but they didn't fit that specific use case I was looking for.

PS. I doubt we'll have to replace Diggs, it was more a 'what-if?' exercise.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think they could all be Diggs replacements.

No 2 WR are identical.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

I think they could all be Diggs replacements.

No 2 WR are identical.

No they're not, but some can't really play the Z and some aren't projected easily to be high volume guys. Bernard was one I missed out on but he's better against zone than he is man.

 

[manxman2601]

Branch is awesome but he’s more a rival for Chism than he is Diggs in my mind.



Oops. Didn’t realise Mayo had posted the same tweet.

 

[scott99]

Branch was a good return man when he was at USC. So he’s very versatile.

 

[dliverey44]

I would like 1 Charlie Becker please

 

[mayoclinic]

Agreed.

 

[dliverey44]

Big Body with speed and seems to create separation. I think he is a true Soph so another season with Hollins and then in 2027 Becker becomes our Hollins+

 

[scott99]

I would like 1 Charlie Becker please

Big, fast and runs good routes, has good hands. Yes please.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yhonzae Pierre also looking good.