With the 2026 NFL Draft just one sleep away, I consulted the sharp minds of the PlayerProfiler writers to share some last-minute 2026 NFL Draft Hot Takes.
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I’ve taken the liberty of fleshing out some of the “hot take” details from my cohorts below. So sit back, relax, and prepare for the big weekend with some spicy ones from the most profound and wisest minds in the Underworld!
Some Like It Hot!
Eli Stowers is the first tight end drafted | Jonny Tooma
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.@AlbertBreer on Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers:
“A couple of GMs gave Eli Stowers as an incredible fit for Sean Payton. One exec said to me plainly, “That’s a Sean Payton joker all day.” The problem is they may have to move up from 62 to get him.” pic.twitter.com/6zFXkmplM7
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) April 20, 2026
Consensus has Kenyon Sadiq as the first tight end off the board, but Jonny thinks that Eli Stowers is the TE1 of the class. Why the heck not! After all, Stowers is the Mackey Award winner. He out-produced Sadiq as a receiver in college. He also eked out Sadiq as the most athletic tight end of the class. It only takes one team to fall in love with the unique receiving skill set that the Commodore offers for him to vault above the Duck from Oregon.
Oscar Delp is the TE3 off the Board | Wolf Trelles-Heard
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Oscar Delp is a late riser this draft season, thanks in large part to a stellar Pro Day. Delp skipped drills at the NFL Combine as he recovered from a hairline fracture in his foot. At the Georgia Pro Day, Delp ran an impressive 4.48 40-yard dash. He also jumped 38 inches in the vertical jump. His 38-inch vertical would have placed him fourth among all tight ends if he registered it at the NFL combine. His 40-yard dash, when adjusted to 4.53, would have placed him fifth among tight ends that tested at the combine. Despite these athletic measurables, Delp never topped 300 receiving yards in any college season.
Over 12 tight ends will be drafted | Samwise
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Sam notes that this is the most athletic tight end class in NFL history. Of the top 10 tight ends in RAS score, this class has six of them. After accounting for both incoming rookie Sam Roush and veteran Theo Johnson, who boast 9.99 RAS scores, 8 of the next 12 RAS scores belong to a tight end in this class. Most of the 2026 class eclipses current studs like Kyle Pitts, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Brock Bowers, Tyler Warren, etc. Coupling these facts with the increased prevalence of 12 personnel across the league, there will be lots of tight ends selected in this draft.
Nice hand usage through the route here by Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg pic.twitter.com/I3KVu76zT8
— Jack Brentnall (@Jack_Brentnall) January 30, 2026
Gyllenborg had a better RAS (9.92) than Stowers or Sadiq.
11 Fantasy-relevant players (QB, RB, WR, TE) are drafted on Thursday | Jeremiah Retzlaff
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As of right now, the consensus has one quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, one running back, Jeremiyah Love, three receivers, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, and one tight end, Kenyon Sadiq, as first-round locks. This means that another five players need to get drafted inside the first round for this hot take to come to fruition. In a draft class where the talent after the first 15 picks is perceived as flat, why wouldn’t a team want to make a splash with, say, Jadarian Price at running back, or Ty Simpson at quarterback? Such draft round capital would be the saving grace for late-round dynasty rookie picks.
More Offensive Linemen will be drafted in Round 1 than in Rounds 2 & 3 combined | Dan Fornek
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Dan predicts that nine offensive linemen will go in round one. Who am I (or anyone, for that matter) to argue about offensive linemen with Dan? I don’t recommend it.
Makai Lemon is the SIXTH wide receiver drafted | Kyle Lesti
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This is perhaps the spiciest hot take in the Underworld. Makai Lemon is commonly mentioned among Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson as a first-tier wide receiver prospect in this draft. He boasts an elite, 81st percentile, 39.2% College Dominator and 85th percentile, 28.1% College Target Share that support inclusion among the top wide receivers in the draft. However, he has had an uneven draft process. He reportedly bombed interviews at the combine and looked a little too intense for some during press interviews. His 37th percentile 4.58 40-yard dash also didn’t help matters. Being the sixth receiver off the board would be quite the draft day fall.
The #Steelers are hosting Makai Lemon for a top 30 visit. 🚨
Steelers will probably have to trade up for him. But DK, Pittman and Lemon would be an elite WR Room. pic.twitter.com/k265rfXpos
— PortersBurgh (@PortersBurgh) April 9, 2026
The fewest number of running backs will be selected in NFL history | Ed DeLauter
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In 2020, only 16 running backs were drafted in the NFL draft. That draft class included the likes of D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, and J.K. Dobbins. This year’s draft class is not nearly as heralded. Outside of Jeremiyah Love, all running back prospects have significant warts. Whether it is (main image, pictured) Jadarian Price‘s size, Mike Washington Jr.’s college production, or Jonah Coleman‘s athleticism, GMs have lots of reasons to push running back down the board. If you needed to add youth at running back in dynasty, it’s best to wait until next season.
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