@Pro__Ant I agree that there is room for concern for that position. I'm just not sure how eager Beane is to move on from some guys who he's taken in the last couple drafts (Carter, Sanders, Jackson).
What draft guys do you envision fitting into that role? Halton,Regis, Onyedim, Proctor?
I just gotta say…
There are some incredibly talented people in the NFL Draft space. The tools, websites, draft and GM simulators and draft sites that people are creating is next level.
Personally, I have no idea how to do any of that stuff but hats off to so many of you.
@ErikJTurner Agreed. When a side of the ball is transitioning, I think the players they should be targeting in FA are "system optimal" guys who can set the floor. The defense isn't one guy away. Let's get the foundation and develop from there.
Been working through the LBs for the 2026 NFL Draft and Missouri LB 40 Josiah Trotter is electric. On this play, he reads the pulling LG & LT on Q Counter Sweep Read. Instantly triggers with good burst, pad level and rips under the RT to meet the QB in the hole.
@SalSports@ExtraPointWGR@MikeCatalana I think it reaffirmed that we needed to see change on the defensive side of the ball, and the only way that was going to happen was to move on from McDermott. Also, not turning over the football can take you a LONG way.
Omar Cooper Jr.
#5 WR/#34 overall
Balanced skillset with very few red flags/major weaknesses. Good straight-line athlete, adequate size, excellent COD/fluidity. Played slot (83.3%) in '25 & Z (90.3%) in '24 - probably a slot in the NFL, but showed he can at least survive vs. press.
Strengths:
- Speed, C.O.D., & technique to separate from/stack man coverage at all 3 levels
- Advanced salesmanship & sudden transitions as a route runner. Good feel for attacking leverage & turning the DB's hips
- Changes speed down the stem to disguise his route & delay/rush the defender’s break
- Separated consistently on digs/posts/outs/corners/sail routes. Very effective rocker step
- Dangerous blend of elusiveness & contact balance after the catch
- Led this WR class in missed tackles forced (27) & ranked 2nd in Yds After Contact/Rec (5.6)
- 4.2% career drop rate
- Body control, balance, & hand-eye-foot coordination to secure acrobatic catches
Weaknesses:
- Struggles to play through contact at the stem & breakpoint. Too easily knocked off schedule by grabby coverage
- Inexperienced running curls & comebacks (19 routes/0 targets in 2025)
- Needs to speed up his internal clock & get in/out of breaks more efficiently. Occasionally wastes time setting up/gathering into breaks
- Had issues disguising routes & separating vs. trail technique
- Struggles to win on quick slants vs. press-man. Needs a more convincing outside fake to set up the diamond release & a more explosive crossover step to gain separation
- Gets stalled by quick jams at the LOS. Can sometimes dodge the punch, but it takes him a while to release through contact
Treydan Stukes
#4 safety/#1 nickel/#38 overall (would be #26 without injuries)
Defensive chess piece with top-tier movement skills & versatility. Injury history hurts his grade, but he’s worth a top 50 pick if the medicals clear.
- 2,674 career snaps between safety (503), slot (1,174), & boundary CB (943)
- Matchup-proof athlete with the size, recovery speed, burst, & hip fluidity to execute a wide range of coverage assignments
- 4 INT/6 PBU in 9 games this year
- Flips his hips & makes effortless transitions in deep coverage
- Closing burst to erase cushion/separation & jump passing lanes
- Elite body control & ball-tracking skills. Composed turning & locating the ball downfield
- Plays long at the catch point, strikes/rakes with exceptional timing & accuracy
- Effective jam at the LOS. Can reroute TEs & power slots
- Good physicality & play strength taking on blocks
- Had trouble mirroring digs in press-man. Stair-step technique gave him hell (Houston tape)
- Slow to ID routes in off coverage - more reactive than anticipatory. Nuanced WRs can stem him out of position or freeze him at the breakpoint
- Needs to improve discipline vs. double-moves
A former safety before switching to LB with the @RaginCajunsFB, Pittsburgh native Jaden Dugger says he's studying #Steelers LB Payton Wilson as he aims to be the next great LB in the NFL.
Read more: @Steelersdepot
https://t.co/o6fauRqZMS