Eric McAlister Rookie Super Model Prospect Profile For The 2026 NFL Draft
Dwain McFarland analyzes the Rookie Super Model's profile of wide receiver Eric McAlister.
Eric McAlister, the rookie WR prospect out of TCU, checks in as the WR18 in the release of the 2026 Rookie Super Model.
I've profiled 25 of the top wide receivers in the class with individual Prospect Profiles from their Super Model data. For the full WR class, check out the 2026 WR Rookie Super Model.
If you're new to the model, here is an introductory breakdown of the Rookie Super Model. All of this data is integrated into our free NFL Draft Guide, full of big board rankings, mock drafts and more.
You can find a glossary of terms and stats used in this breakdown at the bottom of the prospect profile
Eric McAlister Rookie Super Model Profile
- Super Model Rating: 66
- Draft Pick: 184
- Rookie Age: 23.8
- Height: 76 inches
- Weight: 194 pounds
- Production Rating: 72
- Film Rating: 71
- Program Quality Rating: 74
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2026 NFL Draft Prospect Profile For Eric McAlister
McAlister was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class. The Texas native signed with Boise State, where he redshirted in Year 1 and played a limited role in Year 2 before he broke out with 97 YPG and a monstrous 3.08 RYPTPA in Year 3.
He entered the transfer portal as a four-star recruit and returned home to sign with TCU, where he played his final two seasons. He averaged 59 YPG and 90 YPG in two seasons with the Horned Frogs, notching 1.70 and 2.54 RYPTPAs, respectively. He scored 10 TDs in his final season.
- Adjusted Career RYPTPA: 50th percentile
- Targeted QB Passer Rating: 106.9, 53rd percentile
McAlister notched a 33% best-target share season (71st percentile) and finished his career with a 27% TPRR. His 2.86 YPRR (66th percentile) and 12% FDPRR (66th percentile) were also strong marks.
Nerd Note: Those numbers provide additional context, but they aren't adjusted for age, schedule or target competition. We are doing all those things with adjusted career RYPTPA, which is the input used by the Rookie Super Model.
McAlister was a field stretcher in college, finishing his career with a 14.1 aDOT (66th percentile). He saw 61% of his targets 10-plus yards downfield.
Perhaps the most impressive non-production stat is his 7.4 YAC average. That isn't normal for a deep threat, y'all! After adjusting for aDOT, his YAC was 2.4 yards over expected.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has McAlister's prospect grade at 5.97, which is indicative of a backup in the NFL. He notes that he has the vertical speed to get deep, but has route-running issues and is a body catcher.
McAlister's 5.5% drop rate was only slightly worse than average, but his catching technique could create problems at the NFL level. His contested-target catch rate was 45%, one percentage point below average.
McAlister's closest Super Model comps:
Bottom line: McAlister didn't break out until his third season, which affects his Production Rating in the model. However, he offers a rare blend of vertical prowess with YAC ability. If he can iron out his route and catching-technique issues, he could be a valuable asset. McAlister projects as a Day 3 pick in the Rookie Super Model and is a WR6 with upside in fantasy.
Glossary of Terms In The Prospect Profile
- Adjusted Career RYPTPA: Career receiving yards per team pass attempt adjusted for age, strength of schedule, QB play, teammate competition, aDOT, and alignment. Doesn't count games missed.
- aDOT: Average depth of target in yards.
- Career Targeted QB Passer Rating: Passer rating on WR's targets.
- Contested catch rate: Percentage of contested targets caught.
- Contested catch rate over expected: Percentage of contested targets caught after adjusting for aDOT.
- Draft Capital Rating: Based on Chase Stuart's Draft Value Chart, an improved version of what many know as the Jimmy Johnson trade chart. It accounts for the larger drop-off in the first round and a flatter drop-off around the end of the second round.
- FDPRR: First downs per route run. Often shown as a percentage (first downs divided by routes).
- Film Rating: Based on NFL.com prospect grades from Lance Zierlein.
- Production Rating: A combination of adjusted career RYPTPA and career targeted QB passer rating.
- Program Quality Rating: ESPN's College Football Power Index is used to assess program quality. The model accounts for each school a prospect attended.
- RYPTPA: receiving yards per team pass attempt.
- SOS Rating: Based on strength of schedule (SOS) from Sports Reference. The model accounts for each school the prospect attended.
- Target Share: A player's percentage of team targets in games played.
- TPRR: Targets per route run.
- YAC: Average yards after the catch.
- YAC over expected: YAC over expected after adjusting for aDOT.
- YPG: Yards per game.
- YPRR: Yards per route run.
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