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

[KDawg]

If the decision makers aren’t bullshitting for the sake of bullshitting we can rule out Bain, Tyson, Love. And since he said effect the WB that probably means Styles and Downs are not really being considered.

I think we’re going to go Tate or trade back.

Early impressions based on what these guys are saying. But who knows.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

We’re going to pass on Bain if he’s there. Shit.

If we do this by the letter...it rules out a lot of Edge rushers. But I'm sure Daronte Jones might override him a little if he thinks he's got specific roles for a player.

But if he's determined to fix our Edge group and thinks somebody has to check all the boxes (thereby removing what he views as risk), then just about all of the other 1st rounders besides Bailey & Reese are out. Obviously by the time Round 3 comes around...at least one ideal trait is lacking from everybody available...if not multiple traits.

I think this makes trading down less likely, unless we hammer Edge in Free Agency.

 

[DWinzit]

We’re going to pass on Bain if he’s there. Shit.

It has really always been what AP has talked about what he likes. It is a little surprising he spoke so much about arm length though because he let teams know he would not take Bain if there at 7

 

[KDawg]

If we do this by the letter...it rules out a lot of Edge rushers. But I'm sure Daronte Jones might override him a little if he thinks he's got specific roles for a player.

But if he's determined to fix our Edge group and thinks somebody has to check all the boxes (thereby removing what he views as risk), then just about all of the other 1st rounders besides Bailey & Reese are out. Obviously by the time Round 3 comes around...at least one ideal trait is lacking from everybody available...if not multiple traits.

I think this makes trading down less likely, unless we hammer Edge in Free Agency.

I actually think this makes trading down more likely. I don’t think Bailey or Reese are there, necessarily, at 7. And I agree, if we go by what they’re saying then it rules everyone else out aside from Tate (they said make explosive plays in the pass game).

 

[KDawg]

It has really always been what AP has talked about what he likes. It is a little surprising he spoke so much about arm length though because he let teams know he would not take Bain if there at 7

Yup. I know how I currently feel with this realization. But I’ll hold off and see what happens.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

If the decision makers aren’t bullshitting for the sake of bullshitting we can rule out Bain, Tyson, Love. And since he said effect the WB that probably means Styles and Downs are not really being considered.

I think we’re going to go Tate or trade back.

Early impressions based on what these guys are saying. But who knows.

Uh oh...crap, I didn't bother to watch that interview but it sounds like we all have to. A lot of new info.

 

[clskinsfan]

If the decision makers aren’t bullshitting for the sake of bullshitting we can rule out Bain, Tyson, Love. And since he said effect the WB that probably means Styles and Downs are not really being considered.

I think we’re going to go Tate or trade back.

Early impressions based on what these guys are saying. But who knows.

I am sure they are throwing out some BS. Everyone is this time of year. I will be shocked if we dont go defense in the first. Wont be shocked if they trade down though.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Is there another interview with Adam Peters where he mentions position premium or something? This one at the combine only covered a few topics

• Aiyuk - Literally can not comment
• Tunsil - deal sooner than later
• Edge arm length - longer = better but first they need to show on tape an ability to use length
• New coordinators - vision for guys already on roster has them excited
• Staff switching teams - being nice
• Andrew Wylie - Quality depth is important

 

[KDawg]

I am sure they are throwing out some BS. Everyone is this time of year. I will be shocked if we dont go defense in the first. Wont be shocked if they trade down though.

I feel like we don’t really play the mental chess game. But maybe. Seems to be consistent with what they’ve said in the past.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I am sure they are throwing out some BS. Everyone is this time of year. I will be shocked if we dont go defense in the first. Wont be shocked if they trade down though.

They - especially AP - have generally said only true items to the media, masterfully diverting in other cases. At this time of year, though? I think he can just throw thoughts out and it can be diversion and have truth too.

I haven’t seen definitive comments (but only read some quotes so far).

 

[KDawg]

Is there another interview with Adam Peters where he mentions position premium or something? This one at the combine only covered a few topics (Aiyuk - no comment, Tunsil - deal sooner than later, Edge arm length - longer = better but first they need to show on tape an ability to use length, new coordinators - vision for guys already on roster has them happy, staff switching teams - being nice)

Quinn mentions some stuff.

 

[KDawg]

Quinn mentions some stuff.

Though that DOES say FA. So maybe we’re good for the draft. Hope renewed! I missed the FA part before…

 

[Conn]

If AP is looking for explosives in the passing (and obviously running) game, look no further. If Tate is off the board (and I think he will be), Love is going to bring a lot more consistent explosiveness to your offense than any of the remaining WR’s. Including in the receiving game. And make Jayden’s life easier on top of it all as he’ll encourage heavier boxes and super-charge the legitimacy of the PA passing game.

 

[Commander Wraith]

It has really always been what AP has talked about what he likes. It is a little surprising he spoke so much about arm length though because he let teams know he would not take Bain if there at 7

Did he really rule out Bain though? I heard it as he’d prefer a player has longer arms than not, but he also talked about the importance of the tape and guys with shorter arms making it work.

 

[KDawg]

If AP is looking for explosives in the passing (and obviously running) game, look no further. If Tate is off the board (and I think he will be), Love is going to bring a lot more consistent explosiveness to your offense than any of the remaining WR’s. Including in the receiving game. And make Jayden’s life easier on top of it all as he’ll encourage heavier boxes and super-charge the legitimacy of the PA passing game.

I like this spin. I don’t think this is where they were going. But I like this spin

 

[Conn]

I like this spin. I don’t think this is where they were going. But I like this spin

Me neither. But I’m floating it out there to manifest it

 

[Higskin]

Sorry, is Finlay saying they would or would not target RB and LB in the draft?

He was only making an observation nothing concrete. These local reporters do a lot of "reading between the lines" much like SIP. LOL

 

[DWinzit]

Did he really rule out Bain though? I heard it as he’d prefer a player has longer arms than not, but he also talked about the importance of the tape and guys with shorter arms making it work.

Not totally but led you to longer arms and length in general were an important factor. It is also what he spoke of as what he likes in edges last year. He did seem to backtrack a little later on kind of saying yeah, shorter armed guys could be okay but meh....(my interpretations lol)

 

[HOF44]

I’m starting to feel like the order below for us.

1Tate
2 Bailey
3 Love.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I don't think that was backtracking.

He opened the convo with a caveat about arm length measurements in that each time can be a little different, what's key is seeing if the tape shows arm length disadvantages or advantages.

It's all about how you use what you have and a 33" pass rusher with a good extension for a long arm rush can be better than a 35" rusher that doesn't play like he's got 35" arm length. They aren't drafting arm length just to draft it. But having longer arms allows them to have a broader pass rushing skill set.

So his statements seemed consistent to me.

He did reiterate a focus in pass rush skills matter much more for them right now than run defense skills. That points to Bailey not being dinged for his run defense as a prospect. I'm going to guess they internally evaluated pass rush as the most glaring weakness on the defense, and then Daronte Jones came in and said it really needs to change for his scheme more than anything else.