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

[skinsinparadise]

I’m just obsessed with supporting Jayden. Don’t know what I’d do if Tate and Love were both there, but almost positive that won’t happen. Just give me one please.

The nightmare is Reese, Bailey, Styles, Love, Tate, are all gone. And it could easily happen. If so I’m desperately hoping for a trade back. And if not, Delane or Lemon in some undetermined order.

They definitely need to a lot more to help Jayden. Lemon at 7 feels rich to me.

I do think Tyson and Tate are close, but health issues favor Tate.

I might have Boston over Lemon right now. They both feel like mid first rounders to me.

I go back and forth on Concepcion -- if he lol actually could catch the ball more consistently, he'd be right there IMO with this group. Then Cooper.

 

[Dlts20]

So a combine meeting and a pro day visit -- that guarantees he's one of the hotter candidates for them. So far its Tate and Delane that has both the combine and a team visit I'd bet though Styles, Love, Downs will also get that team visit invite, too.

But yeah while this team doesn't leak-talk. Any player with both of these visits have been hot with them on draft day -- the kicker is the Top Golf invite.

I don't think that it means they want him over Love but I do think they really like him and WR being a premium position over RB is something they have some hesitation about

 

[KDawg]

I think what’s going totally overlooked is some of the guys in our pick range are probably going to outright bust or at least seriously disappoint. I’m listening to Grant and Danny right now and they’re saying, I like them all and we’re debating between super models. We’ll throw a party no matter who we end up with.

Which I’m sorry, that’s not how things typically play out AND this is widely considered a weak draft. I feel like there are active landmines just waiting to blow up in the top 10. In our range. And I read this thread everyday and it’s mostly the same. The only guy I see take consistent flak is Tyson for being injured and Bain for being a T-Rex, and there’s always a ton of pushback on Bain.

Don’t you guys think some of them are going to bust?

Yes. Yes I do.

 

[ES1974]

We’ve got no idea who they want, 4 more weeks of speculation.

 

[KDawg]

Another caveat with Downs. It's not just the size and athleticism that is lacking. It's that he doesn't make splash plays either. He does the right thing well. He knows what other people should be doing well. He helped Matt Patricia identify things to slow down opposing offenses in-game. But something is off in that he can't turn his ability to know what the defense will do to what the offense is doing, and then make plays off of it.

He's going to play in the league until he's 30, and then he's going to be a Defensive Coordinator by 40. That's awesome. But you aren't drafting him this high to be a wunderkind X's and O's scheme guy.

Downs is Kam Curl - but better.

I don't care that Downs didn't test, either. I had him as my lowest ranked guy for us that I'd want us to draft before considering a trade down, and he remains there. Whoever gets him is going to get one hell of a football player - but I don't believe he is the game changer we need at 7.

 

[BayouBrave86]

I think we are all in agreement that we’d Love, Love. He would do so much to unlock this offense.

 

[RWJ]

Another caveat with Downs. It's not just the size and athleticism that is lacking. It's that he doesn't make splash plays either. He does the right thing well. He knows what other people should be doing well. He helped Matt Patricia identify things to slow down opposing offenses in-game. But something is off in that he can't turn his ability to know what the defense will do to what the offense is doing, and then make plays off of it.

He's going to play in the league until he's 30, and then he's going to be a Defensive Coordinator by 40. That's awesome. But you aren't drafting him this high to be a wunderkind X's and O's scheme guy.

This draft is somewhat deep at S. It's Downs Pro Day and we still don't know anything more. He's going to fall in the draft if he doesn't make his medicals available or teams find out bad news before the draft.

 

[DWinzit]

Giants: Hi Sonny!

DWinzit:

Me - Hi Sonny

 

[Skinfanjon]

They definitely need to a lot more to help Jayden. Lemon at 7 feels rich to me.

I do think Tyson and Tate are close, but health issues favor Tate.

I might have Boston over Lemon right now. They both feel like mid first rounders to me.

I go back and forth on Concepcion -- if he lol actually could catch the ball more consistently, he'd be right there IMO with this group. Then Cooper.

Conn posted a damning graph on Boston and Conception earlier. Just abysmal YPRR against zone and the adjacent company was bust city. It was enough to cross them off entirely for me.

Agree Lemon at 7 is rich. If we’re really doing this Detroit offense style though, he’s a great fit for the ARSB role and we could get Terry’s replacement in the 1st or 2nd next year. WR is that code red to me. Still would rather trade back in that scenario, especially if we can net a 1st next year as part of the package.

 

[DWinzit]

I've become almost as obsessed as KDawg at getting Love at 7,

I think he backup plan if they don't get Love at 7 is - Noah Whittington, RB, Oregon (Team Pro Day) (Strong Interest) at 187 to go with the other RB's signed 😁

 

[skinsinparadise]

His inexperience at LB and him becoming another Simmons. Simmons was also incredibly lazy though to be fair.

Any player of course can bust. I can find a template bust for any player. With Simmons, haven't heard that he went at it 100 miles an hour in the pros. Also he seemed to embrace the idea that he doesn't play one spot, the swiss army knife drill. Styles isn't slated to play safety or edge or a little of everything, he just wants to play LB. There isn't any talk of him being just a defender without labeling a set position -- that was Simmons' gig. Off the field, Styles supposedly is off the charts, high character, workaholic, smart -- insane intangibles.

How Clemson's Isaiah Simmons became the linebacker of the future

The star linebacker was an athlete who didn't fit a traditional position. Then he started wreaking havoc. Now he is a top NFL draft pick.

www.espn.com

Simmons doesn't fit the mold. That's the whole point. He doesn't want a mold. He wants to be something new every day.

"I don't want to set myself back," Simmons said. "I don't ever want to be confined to being one thing."

AI
Isaiah Simmons has faced criticism regarding his effort and consistency, with some observers highlighting a perceived lack of intensity, such as during a 2023 preseason game where he was called out for not attempting a tackle, notes azcentral.com. While labeled versatile,

 

[SkinDeep]

I'm not a fan of Boston either. For me it's Tate, Lemon, Tyson, Cooper and then probably Chris Bell depending on the medical evaluation. Boston is kind of stiff and mechanical to me, Concepcion too much dropsies.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Conn posted a damning graph on Boston and Conception earlier. Just abysmal YPRR against zone and the adjacent company was bust city. It was enough to cross them off entirely for me.

Agree Lemon at 7 is rich. If we’re really doing this Detroit offense style though, he’s a great fit for the ARSB role and we could get Terry’s replacement in the 1st or 2nd next year. WR is that code red to me. Still would rather trade back in that scenario, especially if we can net a 1st next year as part of the package.

The YRRR -- PFF metric or is it a different one?

 

[BayouBrave86]

Any player of course can bust. I can find a template bust for any player. With Simmons, haven't heard that he went at it 100 miles an hour in the pros. Also he seemed to embrace the idea that he doesn't play one spot, the swiss army knife drill. Styles isn't slated to play safety or edge or a little of everything, he just wants to play LB. There isn't any talk of him being just a defender without labeling a set position -- that was Simmons' gig. Off the field, Styles supposedly is off the charts, high character, workaholic, smart -- insane intangibles.

How Clemson's Isaiah Simmons became the linebacker of the future

The star linebacker was an athlete who didn't fit a traditional position. Then he started wreaking havoc. Now he is a top NFL draft pick.

www.espn.com

Simmons doesn't fit the mold. That's the whole point. He doesn't want a mold. He wants to be something new every day.

"I don't want to set myself back," Simmons said. "I don't ever want to be confined to being one thing."

AI
Isaiah Simmons has faced criticism regarding his effort and consistency, with some observers highlighting a perceived lack of intensity, such as during a 2023 preseason game where he was called out for not attempting a tackle, notes azcentral.com. While labeled versatile,

Then why did you ask me what my concern of Styles is? 😂 You just like to argue to argue. I get it now. I already said that Simmons was lazy in my prior post too, you aren’t educating me on something here. Styles doesn’t have a lot of time at LB, it’s a warranted concern..but there isn’t anything else really to dislike about the guy. Has all the makings of an all pro.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I am torn on Concepcion, as I've mentioned on and off for months. Might be the best YAC guy in this group after Zachriah Branch -- makes some spectacular catches. And then makes too many drops. Really unpredictable player with high upside. I've read and heard he's a super good guy, high character so maybe he works his way though it. High upside. Big variance WR.

Boston, is IMO the opposite. High floor WR. Physical WR -- contested catches, red zone target, maybe the best blocker in this group, great hands. He's not a stiff athlete -- 37 plus verticals and one of the better shuttle times in this group -- actually returned kicks-punts including one for a touchdown.

He reminds me some of Drake London, not as good, and Pittman. I recall KDawg and I liked those WRs back in the day. And we seem to be one of the few that like Boston ironically, too. That means everyone else is wrong, and we are right.

 

[Skinfanjon]

The YRRR -- PFF metric or is it a different one?

View attachment 14468

Good info there. The one I saw him post was specific to zone. Just found it.

 

[Gooseneck]

Is BGO doing our own draft this year?

 

[KDawg]

I need to put together a “my guys” list. Maybe top 3ish at each position. A few years ago I was a crazy person and did a top 300.

I will not do a top 300.

 

[RedWolf]

I don't know I heard Johnny Walker is creeping up the boards and he can really knock people out

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Talk that trash
Expressions, editorials, explanations, exclamations, exaggerations
It's all talk
Elephant talk, elephant talk, elephant talk

🤣🤣🤣

 

[heisenberg]

We all have our favorites but unless Peter's crashes his car on the way to the draft and hits his head really hard it will be difficult for him to screw this up.
Tate isn't my first choice but if its him suddenly our receiver room goes from a huge weakness to a strength especially if we get aiyuk.
Delane isn't my first choice but if its him our cornerback room looks damn good.
Styles isn't my first choice but if its him we go from almost no speed and athleticism at linebacker to one of the most athletic linebacker rooms in the league.
Downs isn't my first choice but if its him our safety room goes from bad to outstanding.
Bailey , and Bain aren't my first choice but if its either of them our pass rush goes from abysmal to first class.

Bottom line is what peters did in free agency has set us up to be able to take any one of a half dozen guys who could be available and completely transform a room in one offseason from bad to great (at least on paper) and thats really what you're trying to accomplish with free agency.

The only way he can screw this up is if he channels his inner Rivera and takes the next Forbes or Davis.