2026 NFL Draft Fact or Fiction: Caleb Downs is generational, Jeremiyah Love is an elite prospect, and LaNorris Sellers is QB1
June can be a tough month in terms of audience engagement. We are in the dead period of the NFL and college football offseason, but for the draftniks out there never sleep. For the 2026 NFL Draft, I already have a lot of takes, and there are some takes out there that I firmly agree […]
June can be a tough month in terms of audience engagement. We are in the dead period of the NFL and college football offseason, but for the draftniks out there never sleep. For the 2026 NFL Draft, I already have a lot of takes, and there are some takes out there that I firmly agree and disagree with.
Here are some of the early NFL Draft takes that seem to be circulating out there. Let’s play a little game of Fact or Fiction.
Caleb Downs is a generational prospect – FICTION
No, he’s not. I want people for one second to go back, watch Downs, and ask yourself one question: What is the biggest impact that Downs brings in the passing game? He is one of the best open field tacklers that has come out in several years, but there is just very minimal impact making plays from depth.
That makes Downs more than likely a box centric safety at around 5-11 and 205 pounds. Can that be productive? Yes. Is that a player that should go in the first round? I don’t think so. We just had a freakshow 6-4, 220-pound safety who went No. 14 overall a couple of years ago, and he still fell because of the position he played.
Kyle Hamilton was an elite safety prospect. Downs is a very good player, but definitely not in that tier.
Jeremiyah Love is an elite RB prospect – FICTION
Love is an elite talent at the running back position for Notre Dame, but still has another level to reach to become an elite prospect. From an explosiveness perspective, Love is a rare dude at 6-0 and 214 pounds. His change of direction and instant acceleration is pretty remarkable. We also saw improved power in his game in 2024, and I expect another jump this fall.
From a vision perspective, Love does tend to bounce a little bit too quickly. He needs to trust his vision and the blocking that is in front of him more consistently. Getting Love involved more in the passing game would be huge as well. He has to talent to do so, but just needs to be able to showcase it more.
Love is, and should be, firmly in the first round conversation. Whether he can rise to the top of that first round will depend on the growth he shows in terms of nuance this season.
Is LaNorris Sellers QB1? – FACT
I am buying stock into Sellers this offseason for the upside play. He’s still rough around the edges as a passer, but Sellers has some big time tools as a thrower. Sellers is also a tremendous athlete at 6-3 and 242 pounds. The tools are awesome. You won’t find a quarterback better at breaking tackles, and extending plays than Sellers, whose game reminds me a lot of former Pro Bowler Dante Culpepper.
It’s a poor wide receiver class – FACT
Yes, I agree with that early perspective. The 2025 NFL Draft wide receiver class was solid, but a bit underwhelming compared to the previous few seasons. There just aren’t many no brainers in this group for the preseason, even less than last year.
One of my early favorites is Auburn pass catcher Eric Singleton Jr., who transferred from Georgia Tech this offseason. While he is a smaller wide receiver, Singleton has a ton of juice. He is also a very quick player who can run routes, and also win after the catch.
Speaking of juice, LSU’s Aaron Anderson has as much as anyone. The issue with Anderson is that he is just 5-8, and that type of size limits his upside. You can throw Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Eugene Wilson III (Florida) as some of the early favorites, but each have some questions.
LaNorris Sellers, Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, and more early 2026 NFL Draft quarterback thoughts
Some early 2026 NFL Draft quarterback thoughts
