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

[skinsinparadise]

 

[KDawg]

Bain is going to slip due to the underwear Olympics. Someone is going to get a baller wherever he falls.

As much as I don’t agree, given what AP likes, it won’t be Bain. I just don’t see it.

I still think it is Tate, Love, Styles or Downs. I don’t think the edges are there.

Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they have Faulk more highly rated than many, but he doesn’t do enough getting after the QB yet. Good as a run stuffer and can play inside, too. Needs development as a pass rusher.

 

[SkinDeep]

Watching the interviews and media appearances of Styles. Man that guy is a stud. So mature, able to talk with depth and understanding about football, about his upbringing in the sport, and his prospects for the future. Incredibly mature, doesn't stammer or second guess or wonder what to say. That's how you project yourself REALLY well in an event like this. He might be my top choice for pick seven, if he's still there, even though I agree with SIP that sometimes linebackers don't contribute right away. Sometimes you just have to take the stud football player anyway.

Liking Bailey's measurements too. Although it probably guarantees he won't make it to us.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Watching the interviews and media appearances of Styles. Man that guy is a stud. So mature, able to talk with depth and understanding about football, about his upbringing in the sport, and his prospects for the future. Incredibly mature, doesn't stammer or second guess or wonder what to say. That's how you project yourself REALLY well in an event like this. He might be my top choice for pick seven, if he's still there, even though I agree with SIP that sometimes linebackers don't contribute right away. Sometimes you just have to take the stud football player anyway.

Liking Bailey's measurements too. Although it probably guarantees he won't make it to us.

Like I said earlier today I've warmed up to Styles at 7. It's not that I don't love the player, I've been talking about him for months and before he became a projected top 10 player.

He seems to be a special dude, both as a person and as an athlete so he might be a difference maker quicker than the standard LB.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

With Harbaugh's ego this guarantees they are taking Delane

 

[philibusters]

So the 30.75 from training camp ended up being within 1/8th of the measurement from the combine of 30.875. And Cashius Howell had even shorter arms. This will be the draft of the short arm Edges.

 

[method man]

Another thing that makes me pause about Styles is this LB crop is loaded. Yeah Louis killed the Senior Bowl. Jake Golday is a fun watch, and can do it all. Anthony Hill who I know you like, etc.

I feel the same way about Downs and the other safeties. Haulcy in the late second/ early third just feels like better value than Downs at 7

 

[skinsinparadise]

I feel the same way about Downs and the other safeties. Haulcy in the late second/ early third just feels like better value than Downs at 7

Safety is loaded too, I agree.

 

[Dlts20]

If it makes you feel better, the best and most explosive offenses in the league are leaning into heavy personnel, the run game, PA passing, etc. It’s not at all about being conservative or favoring run-run-pass, or neutering talented QB’s. It’s about marrying the run and pass game to make things hard on the defense and easier on the offense all around, disguising what you’re doing (especially situationally) and relying less on constant subs to try to manipulate matchups you want. You’re still creating matchups of course, but you’re also trying to make concepts look similar enough at the snap that it’s hard to prepare for what’s coming.

Now what will rookie OC Blough’s bastardized year 1 version of this, taken from the various coaches he’s spent time with in his professional life, look like? No idea. But the successful version of this across the league is not conservative or run-run-pass, and helps QB’s rather than restraining them.

And that's why I said that I'm ok with it as long as it isn't a total switch up to being conservative. The good thing about DQ is that he has always been a defensive coach who allowed his OCs to play aggressive and be explosive.

Still, I think that 5 at his peak also has some Brady type of surgical brilliance to him and I don't want to take that away either. If we are playing a bad pass defense, I do sometimes want to just stay in the gun more and let him dice them up but we definitely need more talent at the skill positions to do that

 

[philibusters]

Looks like Arvell Reese measured in at 6'4 241 32.5 inches arms (I was seeing estimates of about 33.5 half so that is shorter than I was expecting), 9.5 inch hards. Nothing terrible surprising there though I did think his arms would be over 33

 

[Anselmheifer]

Jermod McCoy not working out or doing drills is a huge red flag for me. I wonder how far he might fall

 

[philibusters]

Jeremie McCoy not working out or doing drills is a huge red flag for me. I wonder how far he might fall

Same here. I thought the feel was that he was healthy enough too. People were surprised he didn't go to the senior bowl, but for that its like he may feel like he is a little rusty and you don't want your first work to be in front of scouts intensely analyzing you. You'd rather do that in your own team practicese where you can work off the rust. But at some point you have to do something, right? Maybe at the Tennessee pro day?

 

[clskinsfan]

Howell at 30, wow

Faulk is just a monster.

 

[clskinsfan]

I would absolutely trade out of the first round entirely this year to be in a position to take Jeremiah Smith next year.

Takes 2 to tango. I cant see anyone trading up in this draft to be honest. The talent just isnt there to waste draft picks.

 

[clskinsfan]

Jeremie McCoy not working out or doing drills is a huge red flag for me. I wonder how far he might fall

Agreed. I love his tape. But he may fall out of the first now. Wish we had access to player medicals. Wonder if he will even be ready for camp.

 

[clskinsfan]

Bain is going to slip due to the underwear Olympics. Someone is going to get a baller wherever he falls.

As much as I don’t agree, given what AP likes, it won’t be Bain. I just don’t see it.

I still think it is Tate, Love, Styles or Downs. I don’t think the edges are there.

Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they have Faulk more highly rated than many, but he doesn’t do enough getting after the QB yet. Good as a run stuffer and can play inside, too. Needs development as a pass rusher.

You know I have been pounding the table for Faulk if they go edge. I think I would take Downs or Love over him though at 7. If they can trade back a little bit? Yeah I am all in on Faulk.

 

[BayouBrave86]

I would absolutely trade out of the first round entirely this year to be in a position to take Jeremiah Smith next year.

Now THAT is a top 5 pick. Smith is incredible.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Faulk is just a monster.

If only he played like one. But he's young, it could come in time.

 

[clskinsfan]

If only he played like one. But he's young, it could come in time.

Go watch his tape against Bama and Georgia in 24. He played like a monster in both games.