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

[Bulldog]

Maybe. However, if 2 or 3 of those guys develop into really good starters in year 3, that's still a really good draft, especially if Daniels is a top 5 QB.

I'm not suggesting it will turn into a really good draft class. But I'm also not suggesting it can't.

I guess maybe just mentally, I see the entire 2025 season as a lost season for everybody. For whatever reason, it was just a throw away. So, I'm going to pay much more attention to what they do this year. I don't think it's impossible that of that group of 5 players, 2 of them take a huge jump forward and are considered key contributors. But they have to do it first.

But in the case of a couple of these players it isn't strictly injuries or even inconsistent play, it is the failure to get on the field for plays period.

And that is troubling based on this being a 5-12 team that had a ton of guys on injured reserve and was looking for players from the PS and street free agents at times during the season.

We picked up Sheldon Day to play at DT specifically because Newton was so horrid in the run game as a rotation lineman.

Sinnott had 11 catches or less than one per game for aforementioned 5-12 team.

If he was that urgent of a talent for the team we would have seen some two tight end formations, etc.

 

[BayouBrave86]

My next superstar from LSU is our TE, Trey Dez Green..but we won’t be needing him after signing a Chig hopefully.

lol, if you are talking about the ES thread, Jayden had a lot of haters there. I recall an LSU fan defending Jayden there, guessing that was you.

On that thread, NFLchick was a bit over the top. It seemed like they were vindicated in year 1 with Jayden killing it and Maye being meh -- but it didn't age well because they attacked Maye a lot and Maye looks like the goods.

I was one of the few threading the needle, loved Maye, loved Jayden, I recall KDawg was with me too on that.

And when NFLchick disappeared, you may or maye (pun intended) remember, I became the sort of the defacto Jayden defender there for about the last 3 weeks before the draft. I was trying to be balanced because I loved them both -- but NFLchick was such a Maye hater, I debated with them plenty on that and pushed back. But when they disappeared the thread became really over the top pro Maye and to an extent anti Jayden. So I had to go the other way defending Jayden.

So lol your example helps my point doesn't hurt it.

I hadn’t been on ES in years, maybe the Chase Young draft which I hated and it had done a complete 180 from what I remembered. Anytime I tried to argue my facts of why Jayden was the best QB of the draft, I was labeled a LSU homer and that I should watch more film, etc. and anytime I snapped back to some of the personal attacks, I’d get put in timeout by that egotistical tool Jumbo. And if he’s lurking here, hopefully no longer being a mod has helped tone down that god complex of his. I argued my reasoning for Jayden with stats and facts, much like with my Tate disdain. OSU is a WR factory no doubt, but I’d take every single former OSU first round WR over Tate in the last decade. Tate is really lucky this is a draft devoid of real elite WR talent. I’m really happy with any other pick besides Bain or Tate. Styles, Downs, Love..Bailey maybe somehow someway? Sign me up. I’ve had to watch a ton of shitty QB play in my lifetime as a Skins and LSU fan and Burrow and Jayden are the two of the best I’ve ever seen do it. And I couldn’t stand Jayden his first year at LSU. He didn’t trust any of his receivers at all, but he was a workaholic and listened to coaching and established a great relationship with the WR room and voila, Heisman baby!

Anyway, glad I came across this forum which seemed to be founded by the OG Es guys like Om and Die Hard. Early ES was greatness and so many great posters. Glad to see some made the move over to here as well. Recent ES has turned into an echo chamber and almost cult like environment where if you weren’t on the mod’s good side, you were ran out 😂 such a joke.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I think free agency told us what they think of Ben Sinnott. Can posters please stop trying to pretend he is not a bust?

 

[Bulldog]

I think free agency told us what they think of Ben Sinnott. Can posters please stop trying to pretend he is not a bust?

Thank you.

My guess is he will be kept as the #3 for this season and then shown the door after 2026 so the organization can slow roll the mistake.

Kliff made some mistakes IMO in terms how he used the quarterback in the scheme but you can't accuse him of not being able to spot talent.

The fact Sinnott didn't move off the bench for TWO YEARS speaks volumes.

 

[BayouBrave86]

That 2024 second round could be Peters Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis, Devin Thomas second round 😬

Us not taking Cooper in the second will forever be a head scratcher.

 

[DWinzit]

I think free agency told us what they think of Ben Sinnott. Can posters please stop trying to pretend he is not a bust?

Well we needed another TE (one good as a receiver) whether SInnott was a superstar or a jag because Bates is primarily a small OT.

 

[skinsinparadise]

My next superstar from LSU is our TE, Trey Dez Green..but we won’t be needing him after signing a Chig hopefully.

I hadn’t been on ES in years, maybe the Chase Young draft which I hated and it had done a complete 180 from what I remembered. Anytime I tried to argue my facts of why Jayden was the best QB of the draft, I was labeled a LSU homer and that I should watch more film, etc. and anytime I snapped back to some of the personal attacks, I’d get put in timeout by that egotistical tool Jumbo. And if he’s lurking here, hopefully no longer being a mod has helped tone down that god complex of his. I argued my reasoning for Jayden with stats and facts, much like with my Tate disdain. OSU is a WR factory no doubt, but I’d take every single former OSU first round WR over Tate in the last decade. Tate is really lucky this is a draft devoid of real elite WR talent. I’m really happy with any other pick besides Bain or Tate. Styles, Downs, Love..Bailey maybe somehow someway? Sign me up. I’ve had to watch a ton of shitty QB play in my lifetime as a Skins and LSU fan and Burrow and Jayden are the two of the best I’ve ever seen do it. And I couldn’t stand Jayden his first year at LSU. He didn’t trust any of his receivers at all, but he was a workaholic and listened to coaching and established a great relationship with the WR room and voila, Heisman baby!

Anyway, glad I came across this forum which seemed to be founded by the OG Es guys like Om and Die Hard. Early ES was greatness and so many great posters. Glad to see some made the move over to here as well. Recent ES has turned into an echo chamber and almost cult like environment where if you weren’t on the mod’s good side, you were ran out 😂 such a joke.

OK, cool, then that wasn't you, then on that thread. It wasn't really a point about ES on my end -- but that's the board I can go way back on and remember patterns. But yeah there was an LSU fan that had Jayden's back on that QB thread. But there were plenty of Jayden detractors on that thread. That draft among others, based on memory is there is a person or two that really really doesn't want a player and posts a lot on it -- that ends up the player they take.

I'll have a better feel for the odds when the draft gets closer. But for me i think maybe 33% shot Love falls to 7. 50% Styles does. 60% Tate does. About 80% Downs does. About 80% Bain does.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Check out Koziol out of Houston’s highlights and numbers. He plays through injuries too. Warrior mentality and the type of guy we need on our team. 6’7 240 beast, line him up with Chig in the RZ 😎

Well we needed another TE (one good as a receiver) whether SInnott was a superstar or a jag because Bates is primarily a small OT.

 

[skinsinparadise]

That 2024 second round could be Peters Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis, Devin Thomas second round 😬

Us not taking Cooper in the second will forever be a head scratcher.

They trade down from Peters was horrible. What was the last trade down this team won? I think it would have to be the Champ Bailey trade. Otherwise they are all big losses.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Well we needed another TE (one good as a receiver) whether SInnott was a superstar or a jag because Bates is primarily a small OT.

Sinnott seems to be a fullback, that's fine, doesn't make him a bust, he's a good blocker, but he's a reach. If he was a 5th round pick he'd be fine.

I am starting to go through the tight ends. It's in a good way IMO deep albiet not top heavy.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Thank you.

My guess is he will be kept as the #3 for this season and then shown the door after 2026 so the organization can slow roll the mistake.

Kliff made some mistakes IMO in terms how he used the quarterback in the scheme but you can't accuse him of not being able to spot talent.

The fact Sinnott didn't move off the bench for TWO YEARS speaks volumes.

People on the forum keep saying Sinnott is going to be better in the new system. When asked about Sinnott, Blough said, “he has a long way to go”. I get the feeling it’s mental or a work ethic issue with Sinnott. He had the tools to be decent. If he was a grinder like Logan Paulsen, I think he could have been pretty good. I agree. He’s a bust and won’t get a 2nd contract here.

That 2024 second round could be Peters Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis, Devin Thomas second round 😬

Us not taking Cooper in the second will forever be a head scratcher.

I wanted Dejean at the time, and in general, this is why I don’t like trade downs. If there is a really good player there, take him. That said, Sainristil could really look great in this new scheme and I still have hope for Newton. I think there is a solid chance that Sainristil, Newton, and Magee all show out this year.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Yeah I still have a good amount of hope for Mikey. And he really did have some impactful plays his rookie season. I trust Daronte to find the right match ups for him and he probably has the best nose for the ball out of any of our defenders which is a trait that can keep you in the league for years.

I’m really really high on Amos and believe he will be a true shutdown guy in another season or two. Just need to find that CB to pair with him and another safety to pair with Cross and we rollin!

 

[Anselmheifer]

Who is lined up to currently be our FS? Not as important as WR2, but those are the two positions that I’m least sure about.

 

[skinsinparadise]

People on the forum keep saying Sinnott is going to be better in the new system. When asked about Sinnott, Blough said, “he has a long way to go”. I get the feeling it’s mental or a work ethic issue with Sinnott. He had the tools to be decent. If he was a grinder like Logan Paulsen, I think he could have been pretty good. I agree. He’s a bust and won’t get a 2nd contract here.



I wanted Dejean at the time, and in general, this is why I don’t like trade downs. If there is a really good player there, take him. That said, Sainristil could really look great in this new scheme and I still have hope for Newton. I think there is a solid chance that Sainristil, Newton, and Magee all show out this year.

Trade downs have sucked including ones so many forget like trading down with Dallas so they can get Demarcus Lawrence, trading down with Seattle so they can get Tyler Lockett.

With Sinnott, it annoyed me when in an interview he said his game isn't like Ertz as to being this savvy route runner but he brings other skills. My thought is why not? Why can't you be a savvy route runner? I recall Logan Paulsen saying after season 1 that as far as he can tell Sinnott is often not in the right spots so he hasn't earned the coaches trust.

He's actually a really good move blocker. So I don't see him as a bust. He's useful. But he's not a 2nd round talent. More like a 5th rounder.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Who is lined up to currently be our FS? Not as important as WR2, but those are the two positions that I’m least sure about.

Will Harris. Though part of the Flores system is the safeties are interchangable so you need to be able to play in the box and cover.

 

[DWinzit]

Sinnott seems to be a fullback, that's fine, doesn't make him a bust, he's a good blocker, but he's a reach. If he was a 5th round pick he'd be fine.

I am starting to go through the tight ends. It's in a good way IMO deep albiet not top heavy.

He was a reach, by most evals and mocks he was 3rd to 4th round player. He is more of a good blocking on the move TE/HB/FB for sure and very athletic. That is of course why they needed to be looking at more of a receiving TE between he and Bates being more blocking types.

This class is weaker at the top that I expected. There are a lot of good NFL bodied players. That said, not many of them are good at both receiving and blocking. It feels like a draft where a developmental 5th or 6th rounder would be worthy

 

[DWinzit]

Who is lined up to currently be our FS? Not as important as WR2, but those are the two positions that I’m least sure about.

Depth chart is showing Quan with Harris as the second.

Cross at SS with Reaves as the second

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Well we needed another TE (one good as a receiver) whether SInnott was a superstar or a jag because Bates is primarily a small OT.

If Sinnott was as good as they thought on draft day he should have been stepping in now. Obviously he was not the answer and he is now a role player. A TE in the 2nd, regardless of how they were planning on using him, should have been a pretty safe pick. This was a painful miss, as was Newton.

 

[DWinzit]

If Sinnott was as good as they thought on draft day he should have been stepping in now. Obviously he was not the answer and he is now a role player. A TE in the 2nd, regardless of how they were planning on using him, should have been a pretty safe pick. This was a painful miss, as was Newton.

Yes Sinnott was over-drafted by being taken in the 2nd round. Like I stated he was taken 1 to 2 rounds early and is more of a FB/HB but yes, a good blocker. It seemed they knew his strengths but didn't realize the weaknesses or refused to give him opportunies in his stronger suits.

And yes some of he ES crowd really liked the Newton pick, I did not. I hate drafting a guy early that is coming off an injury and you know they won't be available through OTAs, camp, and possibly even tthe beginning of their first season It puts him, the team and coaches at a distinct disadvantage

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yes Sinnott was over-drafted by being taken in the 2nd round. Like I stated he was taken 1 to 2 rounds early and is more of a FB/HB but yes, a good blocker. It seemed they knew his strengths but didn't realize the weaknesses or refused to give him opportunies in his stronger suits.

And yes some of he ES crowd really liked the Newton pick, I did not. I hate drafting a guy early that is coming off an injury and you know they won't be available through OTAs, camp, and possibly even tthe beginning of their first season It puts him, the team and coaches at a distinct disadvantage

I liked the Newton pick at the time. I was fine with the injury, they heal and it let a higher rated prospect fall to them. It was just a miss and it happens every draft.