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

[skinsinparadise]

My list is much shorter and getting shorter every day.

1. Love
2. Styles
3. Tate/Delane

Reese… I like. I’m just not convinced we’d use him correctly.

Bailey… I’m all set there. Not a fan, his lack of hand usage bothers me. Losing as many reps as he did to the better tackles makes me uneasy. But I haven’t seen anything on character concerns for him. I think Bailey is a mid to late first film guy, high first traits guy that is also benefitting from positional value.

All spot on except for the Bailey part.

But I've written off Bailey seems like too much buzz he's going top 4, but will see.

Not to jinx it but I think there is a better than 50-50 chance Love or Styles drops to 7.

 

[The Rook]

All spot on except for the Bailey part.

But I've written off Bailey seems like too much buzz he's going top 4, but will see.

Not to jinx it but I think there is a better than 50-50 chance Love or Styles drops to 7.

From your mouth to God's ear.

The Rook

 

[ES1974]

By time you guys have finished they’ll be nobody remotely worth taking at #7. Might as well trade right out of the first at this rate 😂

 

[burgold]

By time you guys have finished they’ll be nobody remotely worth taking at #7. Might as well trade right out of the first at this rate 😂

Death by analysis is a very real thing.

 

[Anselmheifer]

All spot on except for the Bailey part.

But I've written off Bailey seems like too much buzz he's going top 4, but will see.

Not to jinx it but I think there is a better than 50-50 chance Love or Styles drops to 7.

What do we think the pla should be for offensive weapons if we draft Styles?

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’ve listened to a lot of Keim, and he’s leaned multiple times into the Commaders not passing on Love if he’s there. Not as an absolute, this is what’s going to happen statement, but there have been a lot of suggestions. And Keim doesn’t normally name drop for no reason.

He has but even by his standard he's been vague enough that it feels to me that maybe someone with the team told him that they really dig Love or answered yes in a hypothetical but its not anything hardcore yet where he feels strongly. That's lol my guess as Keim speak on it.

It reminds me a little of 2 years ago where he was dropping hints that they like Daniels > Maye. But he didn't really seemed convinced and thus didn't push it until the last 2 weeks or so. I recall that well because from lol my own version of decoding Keim speak, I didn't feel that confident it was Jayden until the last two weeks before that draft, then it felt very convincing and I shared it on the ES QB thread and it wasn't a very welcome thought -- and I had to respond to a range of Keim has lost his fast ball and is wrong with some people, to Jayden isn't the guy and it would be a big mistake with some others.

But clearly its much harder to guess when you are picking at #7, so many things are out of your control so difficult to lock in.

But yeah at a minimum I take Keim's hints that this FO would seriously consider Love and don't consider it a bad move at all like some of the detractors do.

 

[skinsinparadise]

What do we think the pla should be for offensive weapons if we draft Styles?

Aiyuk and a higher floor WR, could be Z or Y. If they are there, Anionio Williams, Sarratt, Bernard. I wouldn't want a project, I'd want a WR who can hit the ground running.

 

[Kalu44]

My list is much shorter and getting shorter every day.

1. Love
2. Styles
3. Tate/Delane

Reese… I like. I’m just not convinced we’d use him correctly.

Bailey… I’m all set there. Not a fan, his lack of hand usage bothers me. Losing as many reps as he did to the better tackles makes me uneasy. But I haven’t seen anything on character concerns for him. I think Bailey is a mid to late first film guy, high first traits guy that is also benefitting from positional value.

This is where I’m at too right now. I’ve been swayed to put Love over Styles the past week, but its very close. I don’t think Styles makes it past the Giants anyway. Harbaugh wants his enforcer in the middle (see Ray Lewis). Styles is a grown ass man. I’m going to hate being forced to follow his career on the Giants. By default, that leaves Love as the choice (if available) then Tate/Delane. Love would excite me, as he is a legit difference maker. Same cannot be said for Tate/Delane. If we truly are going to more under center play-action offense, then Love is head and shoulders the perfect fit.

 

[skinsinparadise]

This is where I’m at too right now. I’ve been swayed to put Love over Styles the past week, but its very close. I don’t think Styles makes it past the Giants anyway. Harbaugh wants his enforcer in the middle (see Ray Lewis). Styles is a grown ass man. I’m going to hate being forced to follow his career on the Giants. By default, that leaves Love as the choice (if available) then Tate/Delane. Love would excite me, as he is a legit difference maker. Same cannot be said for Tate/Delane. If we truly are going to more under center play-action offense, then Love is head and shoulders the perfect fit.

Agree, Styles seems NY bound.

Top NFL Execs & Agents Predict the 2026 Draft’s Top Five

As the NFL draft approaches, rumors are swirling about the top prospects and potential picks. While some names are already linked to certain teams, there could still be surprises in store. From QB Fernando Mendoza to DL Rueben Bain, Jr, the top of the draft remains uncertain. Stay tuned for more...

www.sportsboom.us

1. Sonny Styles, LB (Ohio State) – The Giants will have a host of Ohio State products to choose from here on both sides of the ball, and some will project them to go running back, but we keep hearing new head coach John Harbaugh has a thing for Styles, and rightfully so. He is a unique defensive weapon in this draft and while defensive might be more of a pressing need, the kids character and worth ethic and game film is too impactful to ignore.

 

[KDawg]

By time you guys have finished they’ll be nobody remotely worth taking at #7. Might as well trade right out of the first at this rate 😂

How so? I think there are at least 5-6 guys overall consensus on this forum worth taking at 7.

 

[HTTR]

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Bailey
4. Love
5. Styles
6. Tate

Worst case scenario 😱😱😱

Let’s say no takers on a trade down. Who are you taking???
Delane
Downs
Mauigoa?—maybe he can play center? 😁
Tyson?

 

[ES1974]

How so? I think there are at least 5-6 guys overall consensus on this forum worth taking at 7.

Not sure I see a consensus. Definitely 5-6 guys worthy of a top 7 selection, the point being about what might be left when we’re on the clock at #7.

That’s a very narrow field I’d say, based on forum opinion.

 

[KDawg]

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Bailey
4. Love
5. Styles
6. Tate

Worst case scenario 😱😱😱

Let’s say no takers on a trade down. Who are you taking???
Delane
Downs
Mauigoa?—maybe he can play center? 😁
Tyson?

I have Delane and Downs rated close. Delane slightly higher. So Delane for me there.

 

[KDawg]

Not sure I see a consensus. Definitely 5-6 guys worthy of a top 7 selection, the point being about what might be left when we’re on the clock at #7.

That’s a very narrow field I’d say, based on forum opinion.

I don’t see that as that outlandish. We aren’t in the QB or LT convo at the minute.

Ioane is a stud, for instance. As is Saadiq. But those are likely trade back targets.

I don’t think the forum is that off…

And I don’t like Bailey. And I like Bain. But the consensus says otherwise.

 

[skinsinparadise]

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Bailey
4. Love
5. Styles
6. Tate

Worst case scenario 😱😱😱

Let’s say no takers on a trade down. Who are you taking???
Delane
Downs
Mauigoa?—maybe he can play center? 😁
Tyson?

Tight for me between Downs-Delane. I got to watch Delane.

i haven't wathed Mauigoa but read really good things -- feels redundant. Among the top tackles-guards the one who some think can play center is Fano not the others.

No way I am taking Tyson there.

 

[ES1974]

I don’t see that as that outlandish. We aren’t in the QB or LT convo at the minute.

Ioane is a stud, for instance. As is Saadiq. But those are likely trade back targets.

I don’t think the forum is that off…

And I don’t like Bailey. And I like Bain. But the consensus says otherwise.

Aside from Love I’d say opinion was quite divided, not in a negative way as it’s broadly looks a wash across several players. It was a slightly light hearted initial comment too…

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Commander Wraith]

That’s 11 players over, what, 20 years? I hear you, and you were more comprehensive than I was, and I’ll take Bob Sanders out because of his injury stuff. But, over a 20 year period, how many CB’s and edges do you think we could say had as much impact? I’d guess more than 11 each. And a lot of the guys you mention were elite coverage deep high safety type talents, or had elite physical tools. And Downs is really neither of those. I like him, and won’t cry myself to sleep if we choose him, but he’s not in my top 5 for pick 7. And there is some buzz that he is more of a pick 10-20 guy. And maybe that doesn’t mean anything after the Hamilton fall.

To be clear, my point had nothing to do with Downs. I had him as a nice consolation prize for us, but now I’m not sure if I even believe that anymore. I’m not trying to crap on Downs, it’s just a little concerning - specifically for the 7th pick - that (arguably) his top traits are of the ‘rarely out of position’, ‘smart’ and ‘driven’ variety. I do think he can help the team though.

I was just opining that safeties can indeed be ‘scary’ for defensive coordinators and players (and Bob Sanders was absolutely one of those, even if availability was a major problem). I wasn’t trying to argue they’re more important than corners or edge rushers.

 

[Skinfanjon]

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Bailey
4. Love
5. Styles
6. Tate

Worst case scenario 😱😱😱

Let’s say no takers on a trade down. Who are you taking???
Delane
Downs
Mauigoa?—maybe he can play center? 😁
Tyson?

If the disaster scenario unfolds, I’m closing my eyes and taking Lemon.

 

[Chris]

Aside from Love I’d say opinion was quite divided, not in a negative way as it’s broadly looks a wash across several players. It was a slightly light hearted initial comment too…

I took it the way you meant it. Fwiw