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

[RedWolf]

Arm length directly affects an edge defender’s ability to control offensive tackles at the point of contact. Longer arms allow pass rushers to land the initial strike and maintain separation while working through rush moves. The extra reach also helps convert speed to power and finish plays when quarterbacks attempt to step up in the pocket.

Myles Garrett’s 35 ¼-inch arms are among the upper echelon of NFL pass-rushers. He was just about as perfect as a draft prospect can get, and his wingspan is one of the many reasons he produces at a Hall-of-Fame level.

When it comes to arm length, 99% of NFL edge defenders fall somewhere between Bain and Garrett, but the data shows fairly evenly dispersed results across a variety of measurements.

Pass rush success over last three NFL Seasons by edge defender arm length ​

Arm Length	Pressure Rate	PFF Pash-Rush Grade
< 31 inches	11.7%	69.8
31-32 inches	14.9%	92.5
32-33 inches	14.1%	90.2
33-34 inches	14.5%	90.5
34-35 inches	13.8%	85.7
35+ inches	12.2%	85.0

If anything, those in the 31-32 inch category fared best. This group is highlighted by Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons — the former was a relatively overlooked 103rd overall draft pick, and the latter was an athletic freak initially pegged to play off-ball linebacker.

However, when you dip below 31 inches, things start to look much more bleak. Kyle Van Noy is the only proven success story among this group. Of the 64 sacks these short-armed edge defenders have recorded in the PFF era, Van Noy accounts for over half of them. It’s worth noting that Van Noy’s arms measured almost a full inch longer than Rueben Bain’s.

The remainder of this group hardly inspires confidence. The only other sub-31-inch edge defenders to even see 500 career pass-rush snaps in the PFF era are Genard Avery and Matt Longacre. If Bain were to move inside, he’d be compared to a similarly unremarkable group headlined by players like Dean Lowry and Calijah Kancey.

This is truly uncharted territory for a potential top-10 draft pick. It’s a testament to Bain’s skill set that he has been so productive despite this limitation. Bain possesses freakish explosiveness off the snap, knows exactly how to take advantage of leverage and can bend around the outside with the best of them.

Rueben Bain Jr. vs. the Data: The bleak track record of short-armed edge rushers

Daire Carragher details the bleak track record of short-armed edge rushers in regards to projected first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr.

www.pff.com

BAIN PRODUCES

 

[KDawg]

BAIN PRODUCES

Yup. He’s going to prove a lot of people wrong. But… he’s going to have to do it for people to believe it. The data is the way it is.

 

[skinsinparadise]

He might. But lol maybe its because I waffled on Ryan Anderson, and granted he's not as good as Bain but much of their narratives remind me of each other. I was negative on Ryan before the draft. But once it was clear this team dug him and ultimately took him, I talked myself into it with hey he's just a baller, tone setter, that you aren't going to see him being denied.

With Ryan Anderson example, 9 sacks his last season, 6 forced fumbles in his career, 18.5 tackles for a loss. Leader of that Alabama defense. Baller. tone setter.

He had short arms (not as short as Bain) same size height wise and hand size -- not much of an athlete. But this is ball and he is a football player -- who gives a rats behind about his measurables? I remember it like yesterday. And again it can turn out totally different for Bain of course. I just don't like the uncertainity of it.

Often overlooked, Alabama LB Ryan Anderson sees his stock rise

With so much star power on the Alabama defense, linebacker Ryan Anderson often flies under the radar. But that may not be the case much longer.

www.espn.com

2017 NFL Draft: Ryan Anderson is the best Alabama player no one's talking about

Anderson will be keeping track of the linebackers who get picked before him on draft night

www.cbssports.com

Some have tried to ding Anderson for his arm length and reach...“His leadership, his pass-rush ability, his ability to run, he's just a very, very good all-around football player that has done a fantastic job for us,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said at his Monday press conference.

Ryan Anderson isn't interested in being a workout warrior. He isn't bogged down over hundredths of a second on his 40-yard dash time. He isn't obsessing over his verticals, or his broad jump. At this point, if anything, he's ecstatic to have the poking and prodding and numbers-based metrics of the Underwear Olympics now firmly behind him, and the draft finally just mere days away.

Because what Ryan Anderson is fixated on is playing football -- setting the edge, overpowering a tackle, intimidating a tight end, harassing a quarterback -- and last year, in all of college football, few did it better. He doesn't give a damn about what you may think of his combine performance, frankly, as there is ample video proof of him dominating the SEC on Saturdays and of taking over bowl games, which indicates more than anything else what he may be capable of in the pro ranks. And if you need reminding of that, or some of the players he got the better of in college -- like 2016 breakout rookies Jack Conklin (Titans) or Hunter Henry (Chargers) -- well, Anderson isn't shy about doing that, either.

Anderson (6-foot-2, 253 pounds) is an alpha male among alpha males in the Alabama program, a leader, a tone setter, a violent and productive outside linebacker who just may have taken home an MVP trophy in the national championship game had the Crimson Tide held on to beat Clemson. He has been a menace to opponents the past three seasons, and was an absolute beast in 2016...

"I train hard, I work hard, but I ain't no workout warrior," Anderson explained. "I don't care about broad jumps and long jumps. I ran at the combine and I'm fast enough to set the edge -- nobody beat me on the edge. I can run with tight ends. I can cover running backs. Football is football. I'm a football player. All that other stuff, you can break it down however you want to break it down. It has nothing to do with football."

Considering the number of big games in which he has shined, the way Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban raves about him to NFL people, the deference with which some of his college teammates speak about him and the lofty position he held in this uber-program

...He's gruff. He plays with a mean streak. He's a bit of the throwback who isn't going to put on airs or try to pretend he's something he's not just to put a happy face on the lengthy, and trying, and often silly predraft process. But he is clearly passionate about football and being an impact player in the NFL.

One veteran NFC linebackers coach considers Anderson one of the better outside linebacker prospects to come around in a long time: "Just watch the (bleeping) tape! This kid is a man."

Another NFC linebacker coach expressed the following to Anderson after the combine: "When all the coaches get past all of this combine bulls--t, they will get to the film and understand that you are one of the best players at any position in this draft."

 

[KDawg]

Ryan Anderson was a linebacker playing edge. Bain is a defensive lineman. Watching them play is so different.

But like I said… I get why people don’t believe in him. He’s just going to have to do his thing to prove to everyone that he is built different.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Ryan Anderson was a linebacker playing edge. Bain is a defensive lineman. Watching them play is so different.

But like I said… I get why people don’t believe in him. He’s just going to have to do his thing to prove to everyone that he is built different.

Anderson 3-4 LB, I could swear he played 3-4 LB with the Redskins too?

And of course no player is the same. Bain could definitely prove that he's built different. Don't know. But I am not banking on it. But if this team does, like the Anderson pick I'll trust it initially in spite of my reservations and of course hope for a different out come.

Joe Barry: Defense Will Continue 3-4 Scheme

New Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry says he’s been digging right in since his hiring last week, and will continue utilizing a 3-4 front.

www.commanders.com

"I'm a 3-4 guy," Barry told Larry Michael, Voice of the Redskins, on Tuesday's episode of Redskins Nation. "I think the great thing about the 3-4 – you can disguise a bunch of things.

 

[KDawg]

Anderson 3-4 LB, I could swear he played 3-4 LB with the Redskins too?

And of course no player is the same. Bain could definitely prove that he's built different. Don't know. But I am not banking on it. But if this team does, like the Anderson pick I'll trust it initially in spite of my reservations and of course hope for a different out come.

Joe Barry: Defense Will Continue 3-4 Scheme

New Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry says he’s been digging right in since his hiring last week, and will continue utilizing a 3-4 front.

www.commanders.com

"I'm a 3-4 guy," Barry told Larry Michael, Voice of the Redskins, on Tuesday's episode of Redskins Nation. "I think the great thing about the 3-4 – you can disguise a bunch of things.

I never thought Anderson was going to be great.

He was a second rounder, not a top of the first guy, and as a linebacker playing edge he lacked a ton of the tools Bain has.

But the play will tell the story. One way or another.

 

[Renegade7]

Yes.

Because McLaurin might be in his last year and Pierce is a one trick pony. It’s a hell of a pony, though.

Having said that, it would take pressure off of WR at 7. But if Tate were there, depending on who else was there, I wouldn’t hesitate to take him.

Im not convinced it will be Terry's last year here.

Letting him leave and then our #1 WR is a 1st or 2nd year player...something is going to get worked out there.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I never thought Anderson was going to be great.

He was a second rounder, not a top of the first guy, and as a linebacker playing edge he lacked a ton of the tools Bain has.

But the play will tell the story. One way or another.

Early 2nd. And will see where Bain is drafted. But yeah definitiely will see it play out.

Feels like its the draft media and PFF who loves him versus some in the NFL, not all. I'd be fascinated to know in what camp this team is on Bain -- sounds like there is a divide on him pro or con depending on the team.

If Reese, Bailey go 2 and 3 as many right now suspect -- I think Bain has a fighting shot to go to Tennessee considering they are shopping for edge, too.

Was listening to a Titans reporter on a podcast say don't count on for sure them taking Love especially if Bailey falls to them. But supposedly they really really want an edge so RB isn't slam dunk for them according to some.

 

[ES1974]

Anderson was one of the most predictable draft picks we made in a long time, Wasn’t Bruce in an Alabama love fest at the time.

 

[DWinzit]

Seems like more of a gadget guy?

A lot of top-30 visits end up going to surprising dudes bc they’re prospects you weren’t able to get enough information on in other parts of the process.

Late round types are definitely worth keeping an eye on when they pop up as top-30 visit names, though. We brought in JCM for one last year.

His size and stats don't lead me to believe he is a gadget guy but who knows. Feels more like a 7th round QB3 to kick Hartman to the salon, I mean the curb

 

[KDawg]

Just wanted to stand on the table again and throw the name Elijah Sarratt out there again. I think he’s my stand in the table receiver.

 

[DWinzit]

Just wanted to stand on the table again and throw the name Elijah Sarratt out there again. I think he’s my stand in the table receiver.

But you don't want Waffle House on day 1 correct?

 

[ES1974]

Just wanted to stand on the table again and throw the name Elijah Sarratt out there again. I think he’s my stand in the table receiver.

LV will probably have two chances at him before we do.

 

[KDawg]

But you don't want Waffle House on day 1 correct?

He’s not a day one guy. I forget we have three threads… not a fan. Trying my best to remember and follow the new format though.

 

[DWinzit]

He’s not a day one guy. I forget we have three threads… not a fan. Trying my best to remember and follow the new format though.

I know it, difficult to keep track. I received a little blow back for questioning it so we go with 3.

 

[philibusters]

I listened to the March 17, 2026 Daft on Draft episode on wide receivers, and this was a fun one because there’s a pretty clear top group but a lot of stylistic differences in how these guys win. It felt like James and Cory agreed on the general tiers but had some really interesting differences in how they valued traits—especially when it comes to route running vs. athletic upside.

Carnell Tate: James has him as WR1 and Cory as WR2, and he might be the cleanest projection of the group. At 6’2, 192, he’s a vertical threat without legit speed, but what stood out is how he actually wins deep. James made the point that he’s not just running by people—he devours cushion, forces DBs to flip their hips, sells posts and stops to manipulate leverage, and consistently stacks corners out of his release. His burst off the line is outstanding. There was also real growth from 2024 to 2025 as an intermediate route runner—he’s sinking his hips better on comebacks and stops, showing more salesmanship, even if some routes are still a little rounded or have extra steps. The best part of his game is his hands. He catches everything—12 of 14 contested catches in 2025, 69% for his career, and zero drops on 66 targets last year. Tracks the ball beautifully and uses late hands. The biggest knock is YAC—Ohio State tried to scheme him touches and he just didn’t offer much there. Cory echoed the growth, saying his stems are now detailed and he creates blind spots for defenders. The testing vs. tracking data split is really interesting here. His combine numbers were underwhelming—a 1.61 ten-yard split (18th percentile) and 4.54 forty (43rd percentile)—but the tracking data tells a very different story. He was around the 67th percentile in deep route speed, 65th percentile in intermediate route speed, and about 70th percentile in time to top speed. On tape, his get-off looks good, so both guys seemed to think this was more about poor combine prep than a true reflection of his athleticism. Cory did note he may be more of a pure X without a ton of Z flexibility, partly because of the lack of YAC.

Jordan Tyson: Cory’s WR1 and James’s WR2, and this is where it gets interesting. Cory loves the skill set—super twitchy, very quick, and he brought up the Matt Harmon question of whether Tyson is a true technician or just a “herky-jerky” mover like Jerry Jeudy. Cory leans toward him being a legit route runner because there is real salesmanship there. He also likes how Tyson plays through contact for a slimmer receiver and noted that his QB hurt his production by constantly breaking structure—routes that should have been short gains turned into off-script plays. He’s got really strong hands and can adjust well to the ball, and while he won’t break tackles, his start-stop quickness makes him elusive. He can line up anywhere—X, Z, or slot. James is a bit lower on the physicality, pointing to reps like Kelly Jones at Mississippi State giving him trouble, but agrees he’s a natural separator with Jeudy-like movement skills plus some actual plan as a route runner.

Makai Lemon: This is the technician of the group. James really emphasized how valuable it was to study both his 2024 and 2025 tape because he ran very different route trees, and what stands out is just how advanced he is mentally and technically. He uses ambiguous stems, varies his speed, has incredibly detailed footwork, and consistently attacks leverage. The Iowa game was basically teach tape for working into blind spots against rotating safeties. He’s also got great hands—2.8% drop rate—and plays much bigger than his size at the catch point, fearlessly high-pointing the ball. He’s surgical against zone and very good at making defenders miss (34 forced missed tackles over two years).The issue is the athletic ceiling, and this is where the tracking data really backs up the tape. He’s basically a slot-only player with just two gears—he has a nice initial burst, but no real third gear to separate vertically. The tracking data shows that clearly: 9th percentile top speed, 36th percentile deep speed, and 27th percentile time to top speed. That’s a below-average athlete by those metrics. On top of that, he struggles with physicality, especially against press, like the Notre Dame game vs. Leonard Moore. Cory’s point was that because of those limitations, where he lands is going to matter a lot—he needs the right role and usage to maximize what he does well.


Omar Cooper Jr.: This is more of a traits and physicality player. Cory said the 4.48 speed is fine, not special, but he’s not limited to the slot like Lemon. He’s strong against press, has a really good hand swipe, and is tough at the catch point. He only had three drops, but all three were brutal—deep shots that would have been touchdowns. He’s also a solid blocker. James focused more on the weaknesses, noting he struggled with longer, more physical corners (Maryland and FIU 2024 games), wasn’t great using his physicality at the break point, and didn’t run a full route tree (not many curls or comebacks). A lot of it comes down to size and play strength limitations.

KC Concepcion: James has him basically tied with Lemon as WR3, while Cory has him WR5. He’s 5’11, 196 with short arms and hasn’t run a forty, but the tracking data is excellent so that’s not really a concern. He has the speed, burst, and lateral quickness to beat man coverage and was used as a gadget player at NC State, but both guys think he can run real routes. He’s got a deep release package and is very good against press, and James said he has the best hip sink in the class, which really helps him separate at the break. The issue is the hands. Cory was pretty blunt—it’s not concentration drops, it’s technique, and he might have the worst hands in the class. He’s a pure clap catcher and fights the ball constantly. His production was also hurt by poor QB play at Texas A&M, so there’s some projection there.

Denzel Boston: Big-bodied receiver at 6’3, 215 with legit straight-line speed (around 4.45–4.5). Cory said the vertical speed is real for his size, and he has strong hands and can go up and take the ball over DBs. He’s also surprisingly creative after the catch—had a punt return TD—and shows some short-area twitch when throttled down. The issue is when he’s at full speed, he struggles to sink his hips and get out of breaks, which is pretty typical for a bigger receiver. He also had a rough combine with multiple drops, though that hasn’t really shown up on tape. Cory has him as WR6 with a late second-round grade, which in this class could push him into the late first. James agreed on the physical tools but pointed out the lack of refinement—his release package is very basic and relies on brute force, which worked in college but may not translate as cleanly. He also noted that Boston’s production dipped against better competition and that he struggled in short and intermediate routes against press because he doesn’t yet have the hand usage and technique to consistently win there.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Im not convinced it will be Terry's last year here.

Letting him leave and then our #1 WR is a 1st or 2nd year player...something is going to get worked out there.

It's either his last year or his second to last year. His cap number next year is ridiculous. The year after, it's even more ridiculous.

They could work out a re-structure, but I doubt they are going to extend him with more money, so I'm operating under the assumption it's 60% this is his last year, and 39% 2027 is his last year. 1% he somehow extends/restructures/takes a pay cut and stays....

 

[RedWolf]

Yeah I don't think Terry sees year three of his contract. This year, and next year will be a transition year.

 

[burgold]

Yeah I don't think Terry sees year three of his contract. This year, and next year will be a transition year.

I'm going to be an optimist. I'm going to guess that the team comes together and is so brilliant that it makes sense for the front office to keep it together for one more year. It could happen, but for it to happen, Terry is going to have to defy Father Time and have the year of his career and the rest of the team is going to have to follow suit. If that happens then the front office will figure something out.

My (optimistic take) is that there's only a 20% chance it happens, but I can imagine a world where 2024 happens again except with a pretty good defense.

 

[SmiffySkins]

Spencer Fano’s arms measured 3/4 inch more at his pro day than at the combine. If similar occurs for Bain at his pro day does it change anything for you?