The 2026 Draft Thread - 1st Round - 7th overall

It may also speak to how some of these players don't know how to deal with failure. Probably all his life he was a stud on stud teams. Now, he's on a basement team going nowhere and maybe he's finding it hard to inspire himself to think the season matters.
The Giants are a perennial dumpster fire, and I am here for it. John Mara is an awful owner and only gets any reprieve because of his last name. He can eat a back of dicks--I'll even warm them up for him to make them extra squishy. Yes, I am still pissed about that bullshit $36m cap penalty.
 
It's kind of interesting to hear Abdul Carter getting in trouble for potentially sleeping through a walkthrough (he doesn't deny missing a walkthrough, but does deny it was sleep; he says he was recuperating or something) - but then more reports that during Daboll's tenure Carter was frequently late for meetings.

I don't remember any big personality issues in the pre-draft info. I guess that's the sort of stuff the GMs may hear but it doesn't always leak out. It's always instructive because sometimes we are so confused why person A/B/C didn't get drafted and even get annoyed by it, but it's possible a GM heard something and believed it. I have also heard that some GMs put out fake information to drive slips in draft stock. Seems really crummy to play games with livelihoods.

I think it’s also a bit more of a reflection on Daboll, who didn’t put boundaries in place when this started happening earlier in the season. You hope rookies come into the building as professionals, but they don’t always. It’s still your job to not just develop their talent, but their work ethics and their professionalism. It’s part of building a culture. You do it well enough and the players already in the locker room help you maintain those expectations in the talent pipeline
 
I think it’s also a bit more of a reflection on Daboll, who didn’t put boundaries in place when this started happening earlier in the season. You hope rookies come into the building as professionals, but they don’t always. It’s still your job to not just develop their talent, but their work ethics and their professionalism. It’s part of building a culture. You do it well enough and the players already in the locker room help you maintain those expectations in the talent pipeline
That was my first reaction too, but it was surprising. I had heard Daboll was more to the other side in my understanding - yelling and making an uncomfortable work environment. At least Wink hinted at that - so maybe Daboll was only yelling at his coordinators? Maybe the DC didn't hold Carter accountable, and Kafka stepped in? Some of the info didn't fully jibe with other stories, so while that was my first reaction, it didn't all click.
 
I wouldn't say professionalism is in Daboll's wheelhouse.

I have no worry that Mara and Schoen will hire another HC that sucks. In the last 15 years, they've had a positive point differential three times--including the biggest fluke championship in the history sport, when they were -6. They have one double-digit win season in that timespan too. Hijacking the thread a bit, so last post. Promise.
 
I wouldn't say professionalism is in Daboll's wheelhouse.

I have no worry that Mara and Schoen will hire another HC that sucks. In the last 15 years, they've had a positive point differential three times--including the biggest fluke championship in the history sport, when they were -6. They have one double-digit win season in that timespan too. Hijacking the thread a bit, so last post. Promise.
As long as you are hacking a thread to bash the Giants, have at it :D.

I want them to always suck but I also don't want them getting another #2 pick in the draft so I hope they win a little. Getting rid of Daboll might do that
 
That was my first reaction too, but it was surprising. I had heard Daboll was more to the other side in my understanding - yelling and making an uncomfortable work environment. At least Wink hinted at that - so maybe Daboll was only yelling at his coordinators? Maybe the DC didn't hold Carter accountable, and Kafka stepped in? Some of the info didn't fully jibe with other stories, so while that was my first reaction, it didn't all click.

Daboll definitely created a coaching environment where there was tons of friction. He purposely hired a bunch of coaches he didn’t know (and who didn’t know each other) and then tried to play Alpha. The reporting at the time was he was a bit of a nightmare in those first couple years I think, and scrambling to be taken seriously while he yanked play calling around from one coach to another (and himself). I think it was seen as pretty unprofessional, yeah.

I don’t know if he has the same rep with players, I do know he spent all season making doe eyes at Dart thinking the kid could save his job. So maybe he’s more buddy buddy with the star players.
 
WR from South Carolina Nyck Harbor caught my eye at the weekend. 6’5” and runs a 4.2. Looks really raw though. I think he’s just recently committed to football over track. Opinions on him seem to vary widely from as low as 20 on some early boards to mid 200s on others!
 
But back to the draft, while still bashing the Giants, I am not sure what to make of Schoen. Letting Barkley and McKinney walk in the same offseason no less looks terrible. They nailed the 2024 draft, but the others are not good (jury out on 2025). 2021 was Rivera level bad: Kadarius Toney (Out of the league, 82 total receptions), Azeez Ojulari (backup on Eagles), Aaron Robinson (DB, lasted just 2 years), Elerson Smith (DE, out of the league, played just 15 games), Gary Brightwell (RB, out of the league, 41 career rushing attempts), Rodarius Williams (CB, out of the league, 8 total games). 2023 is bad: Deonte "Where's 17? Oh, catching his 2nd TD on me..." Banks (sucks), John Michael Schmitz (decent center), Jaylin Hyatt (sucks, 36 rec, 0 TDs), and four more players no one has ever heard of. 2022 was better: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Wandale Robinson, Cordale Flott (FA target for us, IMO), Micah McFadden are all decent-to-good players; but they also whiffed on Evan Neal at #7 overall. He's been more miss than hit in the draft.
 
WR from South Carolina Nyck Harbor caught my eye at the weekend. 6’5” and runs a 4.2. Looks really raw though. I think he’s just recently committed to football over track. Opinions on him seem to vary widely from as low as 20 on some early boards to mid 200s on others!
Boards are all over the place, in general, this time of year. But this year, there is less consensus about even the top 10 players, it seems.
 
It's still early but as for pass rushers right now, Bain, Bailey, Faulk seem to be the three titans on edge as for likely top 15 picks, if the mock drafter types are on the money.

I got to dive in more. Edge is really hard I find to gauge. It's not surprising to me that PFF has a study that show more failures in the first round edge than any spot, or maybe it's 2nd worse, I don't recall but it wasn't as good as most spots.

I've watched a little of all three, intrigued by all three but not blown away by any of them on initial watches. But I need to watch a lot more. Bailey stylstically is the one who intrigues me the most of the three. Peter Woods impressed me in the one game I watched.

I've dived deeper in the top 3 WRs, or perceived ones right now, Tyson, Tate, Lemon.

Carnell Tate seems to me the cleanest prospect where I have almost no doubt. I want to him run though. I need him in the 4.5-4.6 range. But a dude who catches the ball that cleanly, who is tall and can high point the ball like that usually translates. I know players like that aren't always popular with some within our fanbase on draft threads over the years -- guys like Drake London had their loud critics, Mcmillan, etc. But they've played very well. But it doesn't feel sezy to some within our fanbase who prefer speed.

Look don't get me wrong, I prefer speed everything being equal. But tall WRs, who know how to seperate, have sticky hands and can high point the ball -- everything being equal.

As for speed, albiet might not be killer speed, KC Concepcion is a fun watch. He would be a fun match with Jayden. Tyson gets some hype as a YAC guy but I don't see that but I do like watching Tyson as a seperator on all three levels. But Concepcion is explosive with the ball in his hands and makes big plays. Boston reminds me some of Drake London, a bit of a body catcher, but still comes down with the ball. i got more to watch and am still early into this.

I one hundred percent agree with all of this. The pass rushers this year make me nervous. And a WR would be a huge addition.

Tate looks like he would be killer with us. Jordyn Tyson’s ability to separate also looks great. Tate is outperforming Tyson this year, statistically. The other thing about Tate though is the Ohio State pedigree. Those guys come out knowing how to run routes, beat press, and block. I’d expect Tate could step in and produce at a relatively high level immediately.
 
Tyson is the guy at Arizona St. while Tate gets the advantage of having the best player in college football drawing attention away from him. They’re also nothing alike as players and I think it’s easier to find a Tate than a Tyson. Both would thrive here in the short term though. No question in that.
 
I think Tate would be me top receiver choice--if for no other reason he comes from OSU. They have so many studs in the NFL, it's hard to overlook.

He looks so smooth and effortless.

 
Tyson is the guy at Arizona St. while Tate gets the advantage of having the best player in college football drawing attention away from him. They’re also nothing alike as players and I think it’s easier to find a Tate than a Tyson. Both would thrive here in the short term though. No question in that.

Am still digesting both players. I think the combine is important for both of them.

I don't worry about their teams having other good WRs as to the evaluatiion. I recall back in the day some would say the same to knock Devonte Smith -- hey he's got Ruggs, Waddle, Jeudy, etc. Tate gets plenty of attention from the defense to showcase what he can do. Also, the big ten has typically stiffer competition.

I like Tyson from the context of you see him running around the field, all over it, first level, 2nd level, 3rd -- a lot of first level. Reminds me some of Nabers but without Nabers YAC ability. Really good run blocker and he gets downfield to make some blocks way down the field. Really good hands.

I like Tate from the context of he makes big plays down the field, a skill which this team could use. We don't want another season of teams crowding the line of scrimmage or betting on blitzes working without repercussions. Tate makes so many big plays down field. And his catch radius is sick. According to PFF he has zero drops this season. He's at least by PFF metrics and even better blocker than Tyson.

Tate on 20 plus yard throws is 9 for 10. On 10 plus he's 10 for 14. Tyson on 20 plus is 4 for 15. on 10 plus he's 14 for 29. Tyson is at his best catching the ball on short passes -- 25 for 31 at 0-9 yards and 15 for 15 behind the line of scrimmage.

Tate at least the college version is a home run-doubles hitter. Tyson has some of that in him, but not as prolific as Tate, he's more of a singles hitter.

Tate's more of a move the chain type of WR with some big play in him -- that's why he reminds me in that regards to Nabers or Diggs. But IMO he's no Nabers because Nabers is so dangerous with YAC while Tyson is meh as far as YAC. I notice some draftniks praise him for YAC but I didn't see it much in the games I watched and I looked up his YAC numbers with PFF and they are pedestrian.

Tate reminds me more of a Higgins-Devante Adams type. He's also a better contested catcher IMO than Tyson.

I can see either one being better than the other in the pros on first glance. In other words, there are two different style WRs. I don't know if one type is harder to find than another. If I had to stick to that point, I'd go with Tate because I don't think its easier to find tall dudes who don't drop any balls, make contested catches routinely (almost 100% contested catch rating from PFF), have sick catch radius and seems to be a magnet for making big plays. Both players are currently banged up, missing time. Tyson is the one who had the big injury in colllege, tearing his ACL if I recall when he was a freshman.

Tyson, strikes me a little more boom-bust. From a bust standpoint, I don't think he has a low floor, but i think its possible he ends up just OK. But yeah if he ends up Stephan Diggs, Smith-Njigba round 2, then you found one heck of a gem.

I think their 40 time is going to be big. With the way Tyson plays who catches a lot underneath, you are going to want ideally good speed -- especially considering you wonder why he's just OK at YAC. As for Tate, you want him to have Davante Smith type speed, be somewhere in the 4'5's. If its in the high 4'6s am not intigued

 
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It's still early but as for pass rushers right now, Bain, Bailey, Faulk seem to be the three titans on edge as for likely top 15 picks, if the mock drafter types are on the money.

Just a cursory look at this group I would give a slight nod to Faulk over Bailey with Bain coming in 3rd.
 
I think we'll have our choice of impactful EDGEs and WRs when we pick in the top 8. While I get the sense there are no obvious generational All Decade Team talents at either position in the draft, there are certainly guys with multi time Pro Bowl upside at both positions. If you follow the money and go off AAVs for the highest paid guys, I think the league values the WR1s just very slightly ahead of the EDGE1s but it is close.

It is going to be interesting to see how they view Dorance and Terry internally going into 2026 and beyond.

Regarding Dorance, he is never going to be the EDGE player with the insane first step and wicked bend who is creating havoc play after play but he was headed for a Pro Bowl year before he got hurt and it seemed like he was at least getting to the Greenard tier of pass rushers. The ACL injury throws in uncertainty and he only has 1 year left on his contract after this year. I wonder if they potentially think they'll be good to go at EDGE pairing someone like Kwity Paye who can give you 6-8 sacks a season while also providing great run defense.

Regarding Terry, we know the deal. It becomes a major question whether he will be able to carry a team as a WR1 in 2026 and beyond and, even if Deebo comes back, we've all seen for ourselves he is a joker (I mean the position) who can't carry a team himself. This is a great spot to potentially grab that WR1.

When I look at the prospects, I think the first tier of EDGE players is clearly better than the first tier of receivers and the mocks bear this out. However, while Reese is potentially Parsons 2.0, I don't know if anyone sees Bain or Bailey as the next Hutchinson or Garrett.

Finally, if you play the odds, when you look at 2020-2023, your only true top 15 WR pick draft bust has been Henry Ruggs and that obviously due to off the field issues. Your low case guys have been guys Jameson Williams (premier deep threat) and Jerry Jeudy (Pro Bowler). At DE, you have Tyree Wilson as your bust and a lot of guys who have landed at the low case (Chase Young, Travon Walker, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Lukas Van Ness, Will McDonald). Taking a WR in the top 15 is oddswise safer on landing a hit and at least getting someone who ends up being a premier WR2/borderline WR1.

As it stands, given the depth of the FA EDGE class and the relative safety in Tate, Tyson and Lemon, I would probably err on the side of singing the young FA DE2 and drafting a WR with our first. For the trade down crowd, if they like all three, they are probably not losing any real quality dropping from say #7 to #11 and grabbing more picks. While there probably won't be a QB someone will trade up for at #5, #6 or #7, there has been a recent history of teams trading up aggressively for EDGE players (Will Anderson and James Pearce recently) so I wouldn't be surprised if a team traded a haul for Bailey
 
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Well, if Washington is smart they will move around in the draft to focus attention on these premium positions.

WR1, pass rushing DL, cover corner, etc.

These are the MUST HAVE positions along with QB and OT.

The other thing we need is a pass receiving TE to help Daniels out in the middle of the field.

This unit is substandard as Bates and Sinnott are not credible receiving options for the team and Ertz is 35 years old and not capable of getting down the field any longer.

BTW, if I am the GM I am not counting on Terry McLaurin next season. Yes, he's coming back but to me the team needs to upgrade here with younger players. I would not resign Deebo or Brown.
 
Just a cursory look at this group I would give a slight nod to Faulk over Bailey with Bain coming in 3rd.

These hybrid guys like Faulk carry more risk to them and the scheme fit has to be perfect. Scheme agnostic is high priority- I love Bailey but he needs to show up to the combine at like 255-260 to get confidence that he can be a full time player at EDGE
 
These hybrid guys like Faulk carry more risk to them and the scheme fit has to be perfect.
Faulk is a hybrid guy? Hes 6'6" 285, perhaps you meant Cashius Howell?
 

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