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

[Voice_of_Reason]

I want Tate even if Love is there

I know why Tate would make sense over Love. Position value, we need a WR more than RB, etc.

I probably go the other way. Because I think Love is just better and would impact the game more. Both in the running and passing game.

But you could make an argument either way.

 

[burgold]

For me, the draft is about the future not the present especially in the first round. You can’t entirely discount need or the roster.

If the best player at 7 is an OT or QB you probably have to look a different direction. Hopefully, others agree and you can arrange a trade, but if you can’t you may just forgo talent.

In this draft, the choice seems like it will be between players of differing levels of need. In that case, the choice, for me, is less about who is the better player but who do you want to build your team around. Who do you see being core.

I see Styles and Live as players to build around. Bailey, too. I see Tate and Bain as solid long term contributors unless somehow Bain’s college production matches his pro production.

 

[Canuck]

Just caught up with a Take Command podcast. Logan thought Styles had the highest floor among the Ohio State players

Disagree w him, Downs has the highest floor and is likely the safest pick of the OSU 4.

I think Tate has a higher floro than Styles also.

Downs
Tate
Styles
Reese

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Disagree w him, Downs has the highest floor and is likely the safest pick of the OSU 4.

I think Tate has a higher floro than Styles also.

Downs
Tate
Styles
Reese

Styles: a dude that doesn't miss tackles, 2 missed tackles all year, good read and react skills, can cover. When they sent him after the passer more the season before he had 6 sacks.

He calls the plays -- the green dot guy. High character who killed his interviews. Known for his smarts. Athletic skills that are insane.

What's the big downside with Styles where you are fearful it's likely to fall apart? It seems like some think his athletic skills are what makes him feel boom-bust to some here -- he's such a freak and we've seen freaks bust?

I am probably the biggest Tate fan here. But yeah I do think he has more downside than Styles. In short, is he going to be able to seperate so seamlessly against better and faster corners in the pros like he did in college? I think so. But there is some mystery to it considering he's neither one of the stronger or faster WRs you see. And he needs to be able to do that function because considering he's not a YAC guy.

As for Downs. Can a dude who might be a below average athlete with below average length be able to go head on with the freaks of the NFL? I am thinking so, too. But there is some mystery to it. If he is drafted top 10, he might be the first non freakish athlete or known for ball production safety that I can recall.

Styles doesn't have the physical limitations of Tate or Downs, and has all the intangibles and smarts that those two players have. And he's not a project. He was freakishly productive, too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I know why Tate would make sense over Love. Position value, we need a WR more than RB, etc.

I probably go the other way. Because I think Love is just better and would impact the game more. Both in the running and passing game.

But you could make an argument either way.

I am Love over Tate, too. But I get the argument for Tate, it is not crazy.

Everything being equal I want the freak with upside. This team doesn't major in that to say they least. This isn't a team that does superstars.

Love to me is a superstar with little downside. Styles also likely a superstar with little downside.

Tate IMO is very good. I do think he likely becomes a Devonte Smith-Tee Higgins type. Not a superstar but very productive.

Downs is a harder call. I think like Tate he's very good. I don't know if he becomes a superstar with his lack of measurables but its possible.

Bain is a hard call for me, I can see it going either way but I am not interested in a mystery box at #7. I have a hard time evaluating corners, but on paper Delane looks intriguing and fits a big need.

 

[burgold]

I think one of the things it boils down to is which player scares the other side more. We just don't have enough players that scare our opponents.

I think Love, Bailey, and Bain might scare teams.
I think Tate and Downs will become players other teams respect.

I don't know about Styles. I'm on the fence whether he's a scary player or not. His physical attributes read scary, but every time I hear people talk about him I don't hear about scary, game changing plays. I hear sure tackler. I hear great knowledge of the game. I hear coverage ability. I'd love to hear more about his ability to create tackles for loss, sacks, and pick off the ball. That said, I really like the idea of someone who could neutralize the other guy's tight ends and get to the edge to stop sweeps. Those plays have killed us for too long. So, while Styles is in my top tier of wants I don't know if he's a scary player.

I think we need scary more players.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think one of the things it boils down to is which player scares the other side more. We just don't have enough players that scare our opponents.

I think Love, Bailey, and Bain might scare teams.
I think Tate and Downs will become players other teams respect.

I don't know about Styles. I'm on the fence whether he's a scary player or not. His physical attributes read scary, but every time I hear people talk about him I don't hear about scary, game changing plays. I hear sure tackler. I hear great knowledge of the game. I hear coverage ability. I'd love to hear more about his ability to create tackles for loss, sacks, and pick off the ball. That said, I really like the idea of someone who could neutralize the other guy's tight ends and get to the edge to stop sweeps. Those plays have killed us for too long. So, while Styles is in my top tier of wants I don't know if he's a scary player.

I think we need scary more players.

Middle linebackers don't typically "scare" opponents. If Barkley turns the corner headed for a 50 yard run because of missed tackles and lack of range from the linebackers and instead is stopped in his tracks, it wouldn't scare the Eagles but it works. Ditto tight ends not killing the defense -- might not be scary but its effective.

 

[burgold]

Middle linebackers don't typically "scare" opponents. If Barkley turns the corner headed for a 50 yard run because of missed tackles and lack of range from the linebackers and instead is stopped in his tracks, it wouldn't scare the Eagles but it works. Ditto tight ends not killing the defense -- might not be scary but its effective.

There are definitely some scary tight ends. Maybe it's just because we're so bad at covering them.

 

[skinsinparadise]

There are definitely some scary tight ends. Maybe it's just because we're so bad at covering them.

Sure. But you are talking about Styles not being a scary player. Linebackers unless they are pass rushing types aren't scary as to carrying their assignments.

 

[Chris]

skinsinparadise - Do you really see Downs as a below-average athlete?

 

[burgold]

Sure. But you are talking about Styles not being a scary player. Linebackers unless they are pass rushing types aren't scary as to carrying their assignments.

Yeah. And I really do think we need some scary players.

Right now, I'd say Daniels is scary and he may be the only scary guy currently on the team.

I think Bill has some scary potential, but I don't think he really scares anyone because he's only broken free and used that speed once.
I probably put Oweh on that respect level over feared status.
I think Terry (despite his nickname) has never scared defenses, but that they did respect him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

skinsinparadise - Do you really see Downs as a below-average athlete?

Average at best. He's not fast. His length and wingspan is below average for the spot.

I was open minded about it. But him not doing a single combine-pro day exercise raises the red flags some more for me. You got plenty of players that will just pick something because heck there is something they can do well enough. Just the vertical. Just the 40. Just the shuttle. Something. He chose nothing. So it at least leaves to the imagination that his agent thought none of these exercises would help his draft stock.

Mind you, the rap on him already was that he wasn't an above average athlete. So the bar wasn't high. Heck if he went and ran a 4.5, and did lets say an OK vertical if anything it might have been reassuring. So at least it leaves to my imagination, he might have a run a 4.6 for example.

But there was a reason why I said "might be" below average. But I'll definitely hardcore say not above average. It's not taking a leap of take on him, its part of the narrative about Downs.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah. And I really do think we need some scary players.

Right now, I'd say Daniels is scary and he may be the only scary guy currently on the team.

I think Bill has some scary potential, but I don't think he really scares anyone because he's only broken free and used that speed once.
I probably put Oweh on that respect level over feared status.
I think Terry (despite his nickname) has never scared defenses, but that they did respect him.

For me I don't care primarily about players who scare the opponent. I want great players. Reuben Bain wouild scare the opponent's QB of course more because he's going to be chasing the QB. But IMO Styles has a better shot to be a great player than Bain.

Ideally, I'd like to have players with freakish ability. That's Love. That's Styles.

Daron Payne is probably a scarier player than Derwin James. But James is a freak, great player. Payne is not.

 

[Chris]

I was also surprised and disappointed that he didn’t test at the pro day, though he did do some position drills (at least to show hip fluidity, if nothing else). He does come across to me as a bit of an odd duck toward testing that showed during a couple of his media interviews at the combine. Uber confident in his abilities, almost maniacally so. He may very well be average athletically but when I watch him below average would never enter my mind.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I am Love over Tate, too. But I get the argument for Tate, it is not crazy.

Everything being equal I want the freak with upside. This team doesn't major in that to say they least. This isn't a team that does superstars.

Love to me is a superstar with little downside. Styles also likely superstar with little downside.

Tate IMO is very good. I do think he likely becomes a Devonte Smith-Tee Higgins type. Not a superstar but very productive.

I agree. I think Love is an immediate star. I also think Love literally changes the whole offense. Having a super star RB in the backfield with Jayden is going to be beneficial to both Jayden and the RB in the running game. It gives Jayden a dump off that can take a. Swing pass 60 yards at any time. Love would improve our pass blocking, and you can’t have a light box and focus on coverage basically ever. The receivers and TE would eat.

You keep saying that Washington doesn’t major in stars. This gives us 3 elite blue chip players on offense. I honestly don’t think adding a Tee Higgins, who may well be better than Tate, makes nearly the same impact, other than giving us a succession plan with Terry.

I think one of the things it boils down to is which player scares the other side more. We just don't have enough players that scare our opponents.

I don’t know whether the math is that simple, but as a generality, I agree. We don’t have much that scares another team on offense or defense.

Middle linebackers don't typically "scare" opponents. If Barkley turns the corner headed for a 50 yard run because of missed tackles and lack of range from the linebackers and instead is stopped in his tracks, it wouldn't scare the Eagles but it works. Ditto tight ends not killing the defense -- might not be scary but its effective.

I think middle linebackers not scaring an offense, and the fact that you don’t need a high pick to find a reliable backer, are the reasons LB isn’t a value position. Ditto safety. Sure, there are Brian Dawkins, Ray Lewis outliers. But pass rushers and elite CB’s, those are the players that scare the other team, and that’s part of what makes them so valuable. I think it’s really rare to have to scheme around an offense ball LB or safety. Elite pass rushers and to a lesser degree CB’s change the offensive gameplan of the other team.

I agree about TE’s, partially because they are such a QB friendly weapon, and also, because it gets really hard to defend at every level when you have solid WR’s and a very good QB. It opens the field.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I was also surprised and disappointed that he didn’t test at the pro day, though he did do some position drills (at least to show hip fluidity, if nothing else). He does come across to me as a bit of an odd duck toward testing that showed during a couple of his media interviews at the combine. Uber confident in his abilities, almost maniacally so. He may very well be average athletically but when I watch him below average would never enter my mind.

Not a below average athlete in a vacuum. But for safety. That's a spot where you got so many freak athletes. And yeah when I watched safeties, this class included, Downs doesn't look as athletic as the typical safety to my eyes. And like I said, i am not exactly going out on a limb on this point -- its part of the narrative about him.

Nothing special as to speed, nothing special as to power. So many of the safeties who go early are one or the other or have showed freakish ball skills in college like Ed Reed. Downs fits none of this.

I was one of the first here glowing about Caleb months back saying I've never seen a safety with those type of read-react skills -- always around the ball. Fun watch. I still feel that way.

I was listening to for example Logan's draft podcast pre Ohio State pro day where he was going there is a wait and see aspect with Caleb as to his athletic measurabes including what he runs -- and not from the context of him going to kill it but from the aspect of reassuing. And in the end, Caleb chose not to do any of it.

 

[burgold]

Yeah, the narrative of the offseason was “A lot of holes but at least we figured out the o line.” Then, when we decided to let Biadazz go and let (blaming on name) test the market, we realized we were unsettled at oline too. Now, we are sort of back to equilibrium with four returning starters and Coleman for depth (unless he wins the job)

 

[KDawg]

As a guy who has coached linebackers in college and high school… and also been an OL coach, offensive and defensive coordinator (and a varsity head coach)… I can tell you that good linebackers scare the shit out of teams. Moreso than good corners, even. Good corners you just ignore throwing towards them. Or scheme ways to throw their way to occupy them.

Good linebackers are on every play and are annoying as shit.

 

[Anselmheifer]

As a guy who has coached linebackers in college and high school… and also been an OL coach, offensive and defensive coordinator (and a varsity head coach)… I can tell you that good linebackers scare the shit out of teams. Moreso than good corners, even. Good corners you just ignore throwing towards them. Or scheme ways to throw their way to occupy them.

Good linebackers are on every play and are annoying as shit.

How do you feel about Styles vs Delane?