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

[BayouBrave86]

I’m not really worried about the Giants honestly. Dart isn’t long for this league and he’s going to be the next Tua imo. He entered concussion protocol in more than half his games that he actually played. That’s insanity and Jordan Reed esque. Skattebo is right there with him. He can’t stay healthy and he plays out of control at times and tries to hero mode way too often. Plus I don’t think his mental make up is there when the going gets tough. He always melted down in the big games in college. He had a nice flash to start his career but imo he ain’t gonna be the long term answer for the Giants. It’s crazy how Jayden gets ragged for being injury prone yet most folks trashing him seem to prop up Dart (media wise). I hate the Saints but I think Shough is going to end up being the best QB from that class. He’s Josh Allen lite. Cam Ward still has a ton of potential too and hoping he turns it on next season, seems like a great dude that didn’t have any hype coming out of Hs. Don’t even think he had a recruiting star 😂 Always loved him ragging on Shedeur.

Love on this offense would make our run game a cheat code and arguably the best in the league. Jayden has never had an elite RB either. Let’s make it happen if we can’t get Styles or Downs. Until then, we will all keep discussing the same talking points until the draft 😂

 

[Riggo44]

I low key hate the idea of the Giants adding weapons like Tate. I had been thinking of us as markedly improved with all of the FA additions we made, but even before this draft, I still think the Giants have the more talented roster. It’s really just QB and maybe OL where we are better.

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I might be the biggest Giants hater on this board. They're two behind the Eagles in annoyance. Cowboys fans have started to recede into the same We'll-Never-Win-Under-Jones resignation that we were under Snyder.

I'd much rather them have Tate than Love, I think. I hope they go Mauigoa. Dart is a better-armed Taylor Heinicke. Their defense is three really good pass-rushers and hot crap every where else. There's a reason we gashed them for 200 yards on the ground--with CRod and Brian Robinson leading the way--just about every time we play them. Until proven otherwise, they're New-York-Mets-of-the-NFL hype. They lost Robinson and Flott, and didn't really replace them. Thomas will miss approximately half the season. If the Cardinals had the same roster, no one would give a shit.

Right now, I like our RBs way better. Tell me why Tyrone Tracy is better than Rachaad White. I don't see it. The longest play in Tracy's career is a 45 yarder (probably against us), Skattebo is just 24. Whereas all of our RBs have longer plays, more explosive plays. JCM adds any kind of pass threat, that makes him far better than their JAG RBs.

I love Nabers, but he is coming off a serious injury. I saw some reports of his rehab not going so well (could be complete bullshit too, I never dove into it). But minus Robinson, their depth might actually be worst than ours: Slayton, Hyatt, Calvin Austin?

Harbaugh is a rich-man's Ron Rivera, with an extra layer of douchebag.

The Giants are also 0-5 all time against Quinn as an HC.

 

[ES1974]

You were right to bring up that they may have loved Sain so much that if they’d stuck and picked, they may have just taken him over Dejean and Kool-aid anyways. But now you go a little too far asserting that we KNOW that’s the case. It’s true that it could be true. We can’t know.

Four CB’s (and five DB’s total) went after we traded back and before Sainristil. So while we know they loved Sainristil, we really don’t know anything else. They were certainly pleased he was there for them and considered it a gamble paid off. Doesn’t mean he was their only or top choice at the original spot the Eagles traded into. They may have traded back because they had 5 guys they really liked there, and we got the 5th one. Who knows.

Maybe so, but AP and Newmark, I think it was, joked heavily prior to the pick to get at DQ. I personally have a hard time believing we were picking any other DB.

 

[SkinDeep]

Not sure how accurate Chad Reuter has been but man I hope this is realistic. He has us getting our choice of Styles, Downs or Tate in Round 1 and Chris Bell, Sarratt, and Haulcy in round 3.

Four-round 2026 NFL mock draft: Texans, Patriots and Saints pounce on running backs in Round 4 | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates | NFL.com

In his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft -- a four-rounder! -- Chad Reuter envisions the Texans, Patriots and Saints all pouncing on running backs in Round 4.

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[KDawg]

Not sure how accurate Chad Reuter has been but man I hope this is realistic. He has us getting our choice of Styles, Downs or Tate in Round 1 and Chris Bell, Surratt, and Haulcy in round 3.

Four-round 2026 NFL mock draft: Texans, Patriots and Saints pounce on running backs in Round 4 | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates | NFL.com

In his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft -- a four-rounder! -- Chad Reuter envisions the Texans, Patriots and Saints all pouncing on running backs in Round 4.

www.nfl.com

The third round is most intriguing. Chris Bell has flaws but he is a YAC machine and an absolute monster with the ball in his hands.

I think Sarratt is the sleeper of the class.

Haulcy I’m not as high on as some other guys, but I like him and certainly wouldn’t be upset adding a true center fielder.

That would be a good problem.

For the round 1 stuff… I doubt it. But… I’d go Styles there and not think twice

 

[SkinDeep]

Agree on all the above. He also has Bud Clark, who I like better than Haulcy, available in the late third.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

The third round is most intriguing. Chris Bell has flaws but he is a YAC machine and an absolute monster with the ball in his hands.

I think Sarratt is the sleeper of the class.

Haulcy I’m not as high on as some other guys, but I like him and certainly wouldn’t be upset adding a true center fielder.

That would be a good problem.

For the round 1 stuff… I doubt it. But… I’d go Styles there and not think twice

as for WR, 3rd round: Saratt, Bernard, A. Williams.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I might be the biggest Giants hater on this board. They're two behind the Eagles in annoyance. Cowboys fans have started to recede into the same We'll-Never-Win-Under-Jones resignation that we were under Snyder.

I'd much rather them have Tate than Love, I think. I hope they go Mauigoa. Dart is a better-armed Taylor Heinicke. Their defense is three really good pass-rushers and hot crap every where else. There's a reason we gashed them for 200 yards on the ground--with CRod and Brian Robinson leading the way--just about every time we play them. Until proven otherwise, they're New-York-Mets-of-the-NFL hype. They lost Robinson and Flott, and didn't really replace them. Thomas will miss approximately half the season. If the Cardinals had the same roster, no one would give a shit.

Right now, I like our RBs way better. Tell me why Tyrone Tracy is better than Rachaad White. I don't see it. The longest play in Tracy's career is a 45 yarder (probably against us), Skattebo is just 24. Whereas all of our RBs have longer plays, more explosive plays. JCM adds any kind of pass threat, that makes him far better than their JAG RBs.

I love Nabers, but he is coming off a serious injury. I saw some reports of his rehab not going so well (could be complete bullshit too, I never dove into it). But minus Robinson, their depth might actually be worst than ours: Slayton, Hyatt, Calvin Austin?

Harbaugh is a rich-man's Ron Rivera, with an extra layer of douchebag.

The Giants are also 0-5 all time against Quinn as an HC.

Dexter Lawrence is probably top 5 in the league at DT, but coming off a down year. But yeah sort of like how a NE reporter described Chaisson to a local podcast -- twitchy, active speed rusher but teams will run right at him successfully. Oweh with a bit of a mixed rep on the same issue. Giants have the same issue with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. Their secondary like ours has been suspect even though they've thrown resources at it. Thinking about it, while I'd like them to take Caleb Downs because of what it might mean for this team at 7 -- Downs might be what they need, someone to glue together that back unit. So not sure who I want them to have?

I suspect they end up with Tate or Styles.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I've used the same comp and got hit here for using it. they are different players stylistically but the overlap to me is they are both ballers, they both play to me with a similar verve.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Did the PFF simulator, this to me is worst case scenario and big time so. For those lets trade down people, I'd entertain it if it broke down like this

 

[Riggo44]

Dexter Lawrence is probably top 5 in the league at DT,

He's one of a handful that would definitely start here: him, Carter, Burns on defense; Nabers on offense. Any one else? Fully healthy, one could make an argument Thomas over Tunsil because he's younger--but he hasn't played a full season in 3 years, and even then, Tunsil is still a stud, top 5 at his position.

Also, Blough might be a dud, but I'd rather roll the dice with him than Adam Gase.

 

[skinsinparadise]

He's one of a handful that would definitely start here: him, Carter, Burns on defense; Nabers on offense. Any one else? Fully healthy, one could make an argument Thomas over Tunsil because he's younger--but he hasn't played a full season in 3 years, and even then, Tunsil is still a stud, top 5 at his position.

Also, Blough might be a dud, but I'd rather roll the dice with him than Adam Gase.

If I recall you disagree but I'd take Skattebo over Croskey-Merritt. Pass catching/hands IMO matter. He's a better pass catcher and pass blocker than him. I was listening to Smoot the other day talk about why this team should consider Love at 7 considering as a defender, from his experience it makes it a lot more difficult defending a back who is a duo threat.

I'd take both of their edges over ours, Lawrence easily over name that Washington DT.

Safeties -- Holland, not sure what happened to him? He used to be very good, I'd still take him over Quan.

Nabers when healthy over Terry. Schmitz over Allegretti at center.

I think the two rosters are comparable though now. Pre FA, I think the Giants had the clear better roster.

But I do think Jayden is the X factor as to why Washington is better even though Vegas sees them oddly as the same team right now if you are placing bets.

 

[HoggLife]

Did the PFF simulator, this to me is worst case scenario and big time so. For those lets trade down people, I'd entertain it if it broke down like this

View attachment 14447

This is worse case senerio. Where we would probably have to pick Downs or small trade down then get top CB or Lemon.

 

[RWJ]

Did the PFF simulator, this to me is worst case scenario and big time so. For those lets trade down people, I'd entertain it if it broke down like this

View attachment 14447

Agreed but for our needs I think you have to draft Downs. He's at the lower end but still a need and this draft is loaded with depth at S. If a trade down is done, then would really like to deal with LA Rams. They get our #7 and we get their #13, #61 (2nd) and #93 (3rd).

 

[skinsinparadise]

This is worse case senerio. Where we would probably have to pick Downs or small trade down then get top CB or Lemon.

I like Downs. And if they take him, I'd be happy with it. But he's my least favorite of the options that could fall to 7.

His pro day to me is key. If its pedestrian or meh, I wonder if he falls out of the top 10 as some draftniks suspect could happen based on conversions with NFL insider types.

 

[HoggLife]

I like Downs. And if they take him, I'd be happy with it. But he's my least favorite of the options that could fall to 7.

His pro day to me is key. If its pedestrian or meh, I wonder if he falls out of the top 10 as some draftniks suspect could happen based on conversions with NFL insider types.

Hard to tell cause "NFL insiders" also blow a lot of smoke around this time to get players they want to drop. But I agree I know Downs would be good for our D. I dont hate him. But I think Love, Tate or Styles makes a way bigger impact. If we cant get one of those 3 then really only other 2 I would be happy with is Downs or Delane CB LSU. If anyone but one of those 5 players then ill feel like im getting flash backs to Ron Rivera drafts.

 

[RWJ]

Hard to tell cause "NFL insiders" also blow a lot of smoke around this time to get players they want to drop. But I agree I know Downs would be good for our D. I dont hate him. But I think Love, Tate or Styles makes a way bigger impact. If we cant get one of those 3 then really only other 2 I would be happy with is Downs or Delane CB LSU. If anyone but one of those 5 players then ill feel like im getting flash backs to Ron Rivera drafts.

I'm a little more hesitant on Delane. I'd move down a few spots in the 1st and then take him rather than at #7.

 

[HoggLife]

I'm a little more hesitant on Delane. I'd move down a few spots in the 1st and then take him rather than at #7.

Oh ya not at #7. Only like Delane in a trade down.

 

[Faithful Fan]

It’s the last 35 years. Casserly wasn’t even very good at drafting. A few hits here and there but from him on, it’s been a total debacle.

Casserly was on some podcast and said if he wasn’t fired, they were about to go on a run.

Uh. Anything is possible. But I put that likelihood into the “running into Sydney Sweeny at her grocery store of choice wearing white flip flops” on my grocery store probability scale. It could happen. She probably goes shopping from time to time and wears white flip flops from time to time. But not really bloody likely you’ll run into that exact scenario.

Charley Casserly lived off of what Beathard had assembled in 1987 and 1988 with the signing of Wilber Marshall and the trade for Jim Lachey.

When he got the opportunity to draft after Gibbs retired it was a mess. Tom Carter. Heath Shuler, etc.

The signing of Dana Stubblefield to a then record contract for a DT was a disaster from the get go.

Agreed, they had to deal with the beginning of the salary cap in 1994.

Gibbs left behind an ancient roster that was miles over the cap.

Don't forget that stupid Desmond Howard trade

This take on Casserly doesn’t sound right to me. He was a high-ranking scout or manager for all three Super Bowl Championships including the GM of the 1991 team.

Casserly was fired by Snyder in the summer of 1999, but not before he built a solid roster. He was the one who drafted Stephen Davis in the fourth round, brought in Brad Johnson, and managed to draft Champ Bailey after a trade down. That 1999 team was easily one of the top few Redskins teams of the past three decades (only the 2005, 2012, and 2024 teams came close to that level of success). So, maybe he had a point about the team he built going on a run.

As for Casserly not being good at drafting, he drafted the following players as a GM: Brian Mitchell, Keenan McCardell, Frank Wycheck, Stephen Davis, Champ Bailey, Demeco Ryans, and Andre Johnson. And before that, he was part of a scouting and management group that assembled the hogs, the replacement teams, etc.

Sure he also oversaw some bad times from 1993 to 1998 (e.g. Heath Shuler), and he made some mistakes in Houston (e.g. Phillip Buchanon), but maybe he was better than you remember.

As for the Desmond Howard thing, it is true he never lived up to the hype, but I like to remind people he was a Super Bowl MVP.