The McShay Show – “2026 WR Deep Dive: Finding WR1, Favorite Comps, and Don’t Be Surprised If …”

Date: March 18, 2026
Host: The Ringer (Todd McShay and Steve Mensch, with guest Tucker)
Episode Theme: An analytical, in-depth exploration of the 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver class—breaking down elite prospects, discussing team fits, debating comps and draft scenarios, and spotlighting sleepers and personal favorites in a historically deep WR crop.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a comprehensive breakdown of what may be the NFL’s deepest wide receiver class ever. Todd McShay, Steve Mensch, and Tucker examine consensus top prospects, share insight from NFL front offices, dissect strengths and weaknesses, and dig into favorite player comps and late-round value. The hosts also introduce a recurring “Don’t Be Surprised If…” segment for under-the-radar predictions, and tease the launch of a new draft analysis website.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Depth of the 2026 WR Class

• "There's no Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson. There's no Julio Jones or Jamar Chase. But … the 2026 class might be the deepest, most talent rich group in the history of the draft. That's not hype, that's reality." – Mensch [00:06]
• Potential for up to 13 WRs drafted in the first two rounds, tying an all-time record. Comparisons to the 2020 and 2022 drafts, both with exceptional WR depth.

2. The Big Three: Tate, Lemon, and Tyson

Consensus Top 3 WRs:

• Carnell Tate (Ohio State)
• Makai Lemon (USC)
• Jordan Tyson (Arizona State)

Jordan Tyson

• Strengths: Route running, work with Heinz Ward, contest catch skills, toughness.
• Concerns: Injury history (missed eight games over three years + all of 2023 for various injuries).
• Comp: Taller Stefon Diggs. "It's like a Tasmanian devil … the urgency and ... route running ... the development over a two year span from the route running to the catching of the football, the aggressiveness," – Mensch [05:10]
• After Catch: Only 5.1 YAC per reception, not a missed-tackle breaker.

Carnell Tate

• Strengths: Physicality, contested catches (jumped to 85.7% rate in 2025), clean hands (zero drops on 51 catches in 2025), vertical tracking.
• Notable Game: "Minnesota game, if you have one tape to watch … it was an absolute clinic," – Mensch [10:53]. 9 catches, 183 yards, 1 TD.
• Comp: Physical, tough outside receiver, akin to the mold of Larry Fitzgerald (not a direct comp).
• Supporting Cast Debate: Dismisses concerns Tate’s numbers are inflated by playing alongside stars.

Makai Lemon

• Strengths: Production (2000 yards in two years), flexibility (played inside & out), route running, contested catches, toughness.
• "He is clean catching the football, man. … the focus, the body control, the ability to adjust when it's in the air," – Mensch [20:07]
• Concerns: Size (5’11, 192), is he a true outside WR? Tucker calls him "a pure slot," [19:25] but McShay sees Z/slot flexibility.
• Comp: Amon-Ra St. Brown style “dog” mentality.
• "If he's not a number one, then it's a one and one a situation in the league." – Mensch [08:00]

Order Debated:

• Tucker: Tyson, Tate, Lemon—with caveat for Tyson’s durability [03:22]
• McShay: “Consensus ... it's going to be Carnell Tate first … Lemon and Tyson close behind,” [12:55], with all three holding similar grades. Tate: 93, Lemon/Tyson: 92 [22:47]

3. NFL Draft Team/Needs Landscape for WRs

• At least ten teams in top 16 (Giants, Browns, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, Dolphins, Cowboys, Rams, Jets, Titans) have WR need [16:03]
• Teams with multiple first-rounders (Jets, Browns, Chiefs, Dolphins, Cowboys) may double-dip.

4. Depth Beyond the Big Three: Names to Watch

Top 10 WR Prospects (by McShay’s Ranking)

1. Carnell Tate
2. Makai Lemon
3. Jordan Tyson
4. Denzel Boston (Washington)
5. Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
6. Casey Concepcion (Texas A&M)
7. Antonio Williams (Clemson)
8. Chris Brazel II (Tennessee)
9. Jeremy Bernard (Alabama)
10. Zachariah Branch (Georgia)

11–20: Third-Round and Beyond

• Dion Burks, Malachi Fields, Elijah Surratt, Bryce Lance, Ted Hurst, Chris Bell, Jacoby Lane, Skyler Bell, Kevin Coleman, Eric McAllister

5. “Pound The Table” Guys: Favorite Non-Consensus WRs

X Receivers

• Denzel Boston (Washington):
  • “I think [Boston] deserves to be in the conversation as one of the top three receivers drafted in this class.” – Tucker [35:20]
  • 6-4, 212 lbs; 76.9% contested catch win rate.
  • Not fast (didn’t run at Combine), but plays smooth and efficiently, breaks out of press, “pretty good after the catch.” [36:00]
• Elijah Surratt (Indiana):
  • Transfer journey, ultra-productive (200 catches, 3000 yards, 31 TDs over three years).
  • “He is a production machine … absolute playmaker.” – McShay [41:37]
  • Wins on physicality, big frame, deep threat despite lack of burner speed.

Z Flankers

• Jeremy Bernard (Alabama):
  • “I've called Jeremy Bernard’s game boring … and I mean it as the biggest compliment … just gets open, catches the football and gets what he can after the catch.” – Tucker [43:35]
  • NFL-ready floor, versatile, few flaws but lacks elite traits.
• Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana):
  • “An absolute dog … excellent ball skills, five drops in three seasons, productive in big moments.” – McShay [46:52]
  • “Instincts vs zone, lower body strength, after-catch production.” – McShay [47:40]

Slot Receivers

• Casey Concepcion (Texas A&M):
  • “I think he uncovers as well, if not better, than any receiver in this class.” – Tucker [52:22]
  • Explosive, versatile inside/out, questions about speed but big-play/return game.
• Antonio Williams (Clemson):
  • “Absolutely sensational route runner … can explode off the line … lower body explosion.” – McShay [54:28]
  • Grown in zone feel, more aggressive after catch, fits in the top-40 picks.
  • “I think Zachariah Branch is an absolute dog. I think Deon Burks is an absolute firecracker. This group is loaded.” – McShay [54:28]

6. Prototyping Receiver Roles

McShay organizes the class into:

• X Receivers: Tall, physical outside types (Tate, Boston, Surratt, Malachi Fields, etc.)
• Z Flankers: Flexible, often motion/outside/intermediate options (Lemon, Tyson, Cooper, Bernard, etc.)
• Slot Receivers: True slots, utility and RAC threats (Concepcion, Williams, Branch, Burks)

7. “Don’t Be Surprised If …” Segment [New]

• Tucker’s pick: Ted Hurst (Georgia State) becomes a rookie starter and “long term answer” despite coming from a small program. “He moves different ... we're all sleeping on Ted Hurst a little bit too much.” [61:06]
• McShay’s pick: Eric McAllister (TCU) winds up “top seven, top eight most productive NFL receivers in the first couple years” despite off-field flags and being a likely Day 3 pick. “If juice is worth the squeeze, bro, I really do” (on betting on upside) [63:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “How about I hand you an 85.7 ball, you know what I mean?” – Mensch, on Carnell Tate’s contested catch rate [10:36]
• “If you're getting Amon-Ra St. Brown, then I get taking [Lemon] early…” – Tucker [17:21]
• “I think size matters at wide receiver.” – Tucker, summarizing his philosophy [17:36, 61:06]
• “I will drive us off a cliff if I think there’s some reward in the end.” – Mensch (on betting on upside with McAllister) [63:45]
• On Concepcion: “He's up there at the podium and he's talking and he's battling through stuttering issues that he's battled his whole life ... how many young boys and girls are watching him who are dealing with the same problem ... and are like, oh, this guy's going to be top 40 pick in the NFL draft.” – Mensch [54:28]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06 – Setting up the historic WR class, introduction of core topics
• 03:06 – Consensus Big Three: Who ranks where, team intel
• 05:10 – Jordan Tyson comped to Stefon Diggs
• 10:53 – “Clinic” game: Carnell Tate vs Minnesota
• 16:03 – NFL teams with significant WR needs, implications for draft order
• 22:44 – McShay’s top-10 WR rankings and grading
• 33:26 – Breaking WR class into X, Z, Slot archetypes
• 35:20 – Pound the Table: Denzel Boston, why he may be a Top 3 WR
• 41:37 – Elijah Surratt: Journey and statistical dominance
• 43:35 – Pound the Table: Jeremy Bernard and Omar Cooper
• 47:40 – Omar Cooper breakdown, “instincts vs zone”
• 52:22 – “Pound the Table” slot WRs—Casey Concepcion, Antonio Williams
• 61:06 – Don’t Be Surprised If: Ted Hurst (Tucker), Eric McAllister (McShay) outplay their draft slots

Conclusion/Wrap-up

The hosts emphasize that while the 2026 WR draft class may lack a once-a-decade elite prototype, it is absolutely loaded with potential impact players across multiple skill sets and body types. Teams hungry for production and depth at the position will find unprecedented options well into Day 2 of the draft. McShay and crew finish by teasing upcoming running back content, newsletter comps, and the launch of a comprehensive WR scouting site that will provide even more detail and insider access for draft enthusiasts.

For more detailed scouting reports and the complete rankings, check out the upcoming launch of The McShay Report’s micro-site and subscribe to the newsletter.