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

[Conn]

Gibbs needed a RB and a good one. Champ was on his way out the door? I beg to differ, Sir. He had good years here but was more productive in Denver than CP was here in Washington and Denver also got a 2nd round pick too.

Champ was on his way out the door because it’s well known that he was cheating on his wife, who demanded he try to get traded to leave the area, which Gibbs facilitated. It’s why the value was poor for us, we didn’t have leverage as the team shopping Champ with a purpose.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Slightly disappointed with Tate's combine, but I don't think it actually change his draft valuation for me. Him not being quite the size he was advertised isn't as crucial for how he played...although his contested catch rate will come down to Earth. Expecting otherwise is absurd, it will regress. He will probably still be good at it in the Pro's, but 85% is just not sustainable.

Malachi Fields had a better combine than I thought...I hope all the teams just look at that 40 and overlook him. His 3-cone was good. Jumps were good. I really doubt he does though.

Skyler Bell came in with a little bit more size than I thought. He's a contender for 3rd round mostly Slot guy.

Denzel Boston's size is ok, 6'3.625" is alright for his playstyle. I wish his arms were a little longer, but again OK.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Love is just...everything he does is so smooth. He's got an effortless one step acceleration. You saw it in some of the on-field drills, and he did it when he didn't have to (drills ending). It's just that natural to him.

I'm of the belief if we draft a RB, it's Love. That's the only guy. If we don't draft Love, it's because we hit the spot hard in free agency.

 

[RedWolf]

I know I'm going to get hammered for this, but I still believe in Bain (shorter arms LOL). He is extremely strong, has a great first step, non stop motor and heart. He disrupts and needs to be accounted for. Some things just cannot be measured.

Bain, Love, or best WR available.

I'm sticking to it, right or wrong.

 

[Conn]

Love is just...everything he does is so smooth. He's got an effortless one step acceleration. You saw it in some of the on-field drills, and he did it when he didn't have to (drills ending). It's just that natural to him.

I'm of the belief if we draft a RB, it's Love. That's the only guy. If we don't draft Love, it's because we hit the spot hard in free agency.

Reminds me of a thicker Jamaal Charles, in many ways

 

[KDawg]

I know I'm going to get hammered for this, but I still believe in Bain (shorter arms LOL). He is extremely strong, has a great first step, non stop motor and heart. He disrupts and needs to be accounted for. Some things just cannot be measured.

Bain, Love, or best WR available.

I'm sticking to it, right or wrong.

I believe in Bain, too. But our GM very publicly values length in an edge.

He’s not going to be on our board.

If he is I’d be absolutely shocked.

 

[Dlts20]

I love Jayden but at the 5min mark he sounds like he's talking about Maholmes which makes me like him a lot less then guys who really want to be here like Tate, Tyson, Downs, Styles Bailey, Lemon, and more at positions of real need.

 

[Conn]

I love Jayden but at the 5min mark he sounds like he's talking about Maholmes which makes me like him a lot less then guys who really want to be here like Tate, Tyson, Downs, Styles Bailey, Lemon, and more at positions of real need.

Prospects without a team yet say what they think people want to hear, at the podium and in interviews. The top guys especially are all media trained. It’s nice to hear your QB or team fluffed up, but it really means nothing. You can’t tell who actually wants to play where based on what they’re saying. And you absolutely don’t skip drafting a guy because he didn’t fondle your balls enough in the media before the draft.

 

[Dlts20]

Prospects without a team yet say what they think people want to hear, at the podium and in interviews. The top guys especially are all media trained. It’s nice to hear your QB or team fluffed up, but it really means nothing. You can’t tell who actually wants to play where based on what they’re saying. And you absolutely don’t skip drafting a guy because he didn’t fondle your balls enough in the media before the draft.

Definitely wouldn't stop me from drafting him but it's still not the best feeling to know that he probably will be a little disappointed if we selected him ahead of the Chiefs. I also feel like other answers are fluff but you can tell that this was a neutral question and he chose his answer.

 

[heisenberg]

Prospects without a team yet say what they think people want to hear, at the podium and in interviews. The top guys especially are all media trained. It’s nice to hear your QB or team fluffed up, but it really means nothing. You can’t tell who actually wants to play where based on what they’re saying. And you absolutely don’t skip drafting a guy because he didn’t fondle your balls enough in the media before the draft.

I didn't know whether to laugh or like this post.

Sometimes I wish we got two emojis.

 

[Conn]

Definitely wouldn't stop me from drafting him but it's still not the best feeling to know that he probably will be a little disappointed if we selected him ahead of the Chiefs. I also feel like other answers are fluff but you can tell that this was a neutral question and he chose his answer.

We’re the Washington Commanders, man. Have some self-awareness, we aren’t “back” yet. We’re going to have to experience more success over the coming years before anyone truly HOPES to be drafted by our team. Come on. Some of them truly think Jayden is a beast and wouldn’t mind playing with him, but in any players’ heart of hearts they aren’t actually psyched to come here yet, when every team is still a possibility. Psyched for the opportunity, won over by the franchise who took the chance on them, yes. You can create and earn loyalty. But in a vacuum before the draft? No, the vast majority of players would rather the Chiefs or another consistently successful team trade up for them.

If you don’t draft dudes who would rather play with Mahomes for Reid on the Chiefs…well, you’re going to keep having a roster as bad as we currently have.

 

[RWJ]

Champ was on his way out the door because it’s well known that he was cheating on his wife, who demanded he try to get traded to leave the area, which Gibbs facilitated. It’s why the value was poor for us, we didn’t have leverage as the team shopping Champ with a purpose.

My bad I had no idea this was going on. If it was out there before the trade was made, I must have been hiding under a rock.

 

[method man]

Your post is completely logical and technically correct in terms of philosophy, but nobody cares about contract value of a 1st round RB when we don’t spend anywhere close to the cap limit anyways.

Pure, explosive talent >>

Especially for a guy who is going to make your franchise QB’s life easier (you know, the guy who is going to earn a $400M contract pretty soon if things go well. How’s that for adding cap value, if Love helps maximize Daniels?)

The EDGE prospects are flawed

S and ILB have the same low contract value as RB.

Tate is a consideration.

I don’t know who else you even think approaches Love’s talent level while bringing better positional value via cap allocation. I know you aren’t making that argument for Downs (you are, but I can’t figure out why, given the way Safeties are valued)

1) Cap management is going to start to become important once Jayden gets his record breaking extension. His 2027 cap hit will be fine but will accelerate after that

2) You have to consider what you can do with the incremental cap savings. Let’s say you take Tate and he becomes a good WR2. With that $15M delta in cap savings, that buys you an impact player at a non premium position

That being said, I am open to Love mainly because of what he could potentially do as a receiver. Bijan had 79 catches for 820 yards last season. Someone is going to go pay Deebo close to $20M a year for just that production.

I believe these backs who are 5 tool backs with elite receiver ability are greatly undervalued relative to WR2 types. I think this is an inefficiency the good teams are capitalizing on

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Cap savings are a little funky to calculate, because it's not like as a rookie the player has already hit max savings.

It's doubtful the full theoretical value of cap savings as felt as a rookie. RB is one in position where the elite prospects in theory do that though.

A little too many of the top picks in this draft likely need a year or two to get their feet wet, develop, and figure out how to combat NFL schemes. There's a lot of projection here.

Some of these guys really need the right fit with the right coaches to unlock value Year 1. They'll be schemed up specifically. That's not to say the coaches are wrong to not quite do it either. Every situation is different.

 

[Higskin]

FWIW - average of the top 5 players $$ at each position

 

[skinsinparadise]

Prospects without a team yet say what they think people want to hear, at the podium and in interviews. The top guys especially are all media trained. It’s nice to hear your QB or team fluffed up, but it really means nothing. You can’t tell who actually wants to play where based on what they’re saying. And you absolutely don’t skip drafting a guy because he didn’t fondle your balls enough in the media before the draft.

Agree, and for those who want more from Love as to liking this team he was in SF during SB week and was asked which player was he most thrilled to run into and see and his answer: Jayden Daniels.

 

[skinsinparadise]

4.53 official time. That fits the eye test. Good speed, not great speed. But great double moves in open field, body control, he doesn't drop anything, soft hands, stems his routes well, high points the ball well, great ball tracking ability.

It's the long ball tracking ability (so few WRs I watch have it) coupled with soft hands that IMO will make him a dangerous WR in the NFL. Long arms-big hands.

 

[Boone]

My bad I had no idea this was going on. If it was out there before the trade was made, I must have been hiding under a rock.

Conn is correct. I heard it directly from someone very senior in the Front Office at that time.

 

[skinsinparadise]

That 10 is noticeable when you watch him, he accelerates so quickly.

 

[Boone]

I love Jayden but at the 5min mark he sounds like he's talking about Maholmes which makes me like him a lot less then guys who really want to be here like Tate, Tyson, Downs, Styles Bailey, Lemon, and more at positions of real need.

It's a dumb question because he has zero control over where he goes. Who he would love to play with - well, obviously, any drafted player (especially an offensive one) is going to want to go to a team with a great QB.