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

[Voice_of_Reason]

Only Hartman if he shaved his head

He might have done that to get an NFL start.

 

[Conn]

I may have missed it, but what is your take on Bain? Fan or would rather pass on him?

Let’s put it this way, his favorite dinosaur is the T-Rex (but maybe the T-Rex wouldn’t be the best dino for us)

 

[Faithful Fan]

I keep feeling we’re going to get stuck with either Downs, Bain, or some other defensive player because the two offensive guys + Styles will be gone.

That’s my fear too. Love, Styles, and Tate will all be gone; and we will be stuck taking yet another middling D lineman (how many of those have we drafted in the first round in recent years?) or rolling the dice on an injured S who won’t workout for scouts.

I guess we should probably go Downs in that scenario, but at this point I would almost prefer to take Mansoor or whoever we think the next best WR is.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

That’s my fear too. Love, Styles, and Tate will all be gone; and we will be stuck taking yet another middling D lineman (how many of those have we drafted in the first round in recent years?) or rolling the dice on an injured S who won’t workout for scouts.

I guess we should probably go Downs in that scenario, but at this point I would almost prefer to take Mansoor or whoever we think the next best WR is.

I’m not abjectly opposed to a defensive player. But I feel like we’re going to get the last pick of the top tier players.

Oh well.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I’m not abjectly opposed to a defensive player. But I feel like we’re going to get the last pick of the top tier players.

Oh well.

Maybe Bain or whoever is good, but I can’t get over the fact that we’ve spent high picks on Newton, Young, Sweat, Allen, and Payne. I realize it’s been a few years since we wasted a premium pick on Chase Young, but it just feels like we go DL all the time.

I was actually excited about Downs before he skipped the combine and news about his knee issues came out.

I really hope a better option is still there.

 

[RWJ]

Yep, which according to the most recent mocks would leave Bailey, Styles, and Downs. I had Bailey ahead of Styles by 1a and 1b but I would be happy with Styles as I think he can be a force as an EDGE but better as a run defender than Bailey.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Maybe Bain or whoever is good, but I can’t get over the fact that we’ve spent high picks on Newton, Young, Sweat, Allen, and Payne. I realize it’s been a few years since we wasted a premium pick on Chase Young, but it just feels like we go DL all the time.

I was actually excited about Downs before he skipped the combine and news about his knee issues came out.

I really hope a better option is still there.

I do think somebody is going to be there who can help.

And history is not an indicator of future performance. The player we pick is not going to be saddled with the failures of the past.

And we need another DE. We really only have one under contract next year. So it’s not like it makes no sense.

I would prefer an offensive playmaker.

There is at least a reasonable chance Love is there.

I think there is less of a chance Tate is there because of position value and he’s the best WR in the draft.

But if we’re stuck with a top DE or safety, eh, could be worse.

I just want an offensive playmaker.

But you can’t always get what you want. The Rolling Stones taught me that.

 

[Dlts20]

Yep, which according to the most recent mocks would leave Bailey, Styles, and Downs. I had Bailey ahead of Styles by 1a and 1b but I would be happy with Styles as I think he can be a force as an EDGE but better as a run defender than Bailey.

So who are Arz, Tenn, and NUG supposed to be picking?

 

[UK Skins]

That’s my fear too. Love, Styles, and Tate will all be gone; and we will be stuck taking yet another middling D lineman (how many of those have we drafted in the first round in recent years?) or rolling the dice on an injured S who won’t workout for scouts.

I guess we should probably go Downs in that scenario, but at this point I would almost prefer to take Mansoor or whoever we think the next best WR is.

Not aimed at FF (although I totally agree), mods can we have a 100% emoji or similar? Please?!

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

So who are Arz, Tenn, and NUG supposed to be picking?

It’s impossible to say. Arizona has been linked with tackle, Tenn a DE/Edge, and NYG, not entirely clear because they’ve been linked to everybody at some point.

 

[RWJ]

So who are Arz, Tenn, and NUG supposed to be picking?

Personally, I'd rather we go with those I mentioned than Delane. That's just me though due to his slight frame and injury history.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Not aimed at FF (although I totally agree), mods can we have a 100% emoji or similar? Please?!

You mean like a reaction similar to the thumbs up or thumbs down?

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

View attachment 14553

That’s one mock. There is no telling if it’s true and latest speculation is Tennessee would take a DE.

Peters even said he has no idea who’s going to do what.

 

[RWJ]

That’s one mock. There is no telling if it’s true and latest speculation is Tennessee would take a DE.

Peters even said he has no idea who’s going to do what.

That's several current mocks, VOR. Not saying I agree with those that mocked them in whatever order but based on a conglomerate of all of them, this was the result.

 

[Chris]

I keep reading post after post here about Downs injury concerns. All born out of a report from March 3rd from a (at best) questionable Twitterer. A report that has not been confirmed by a single legitimate source in either the media or from even anonymous ‘league/team sources.

I get that he didn’t test and that that is unusually unusual. The interview I saw with him by Rich Eisen at the combine struck me a guy who marches to a different beat as compared to others. Maybe he is confident and comfortable with what he has put on tape and stands by that along with the opinions of his coaches. He stated in that interview that he would test at his pro day. He did not, though he did participate in field drills, moved well, and appeared healthy to me.

I just find it weird and suspect that there appears to be no legs to that original report. Don’t teams that are potentially going to pay him millions have access to his medicals? Can’t interested teams have him evaluated by their medical professionals?

And ftr I am team Love & Styles so I have no dog in the fight. But, I wouldn’t pass on him without investigating any issue…on any player.

 

[Dlts20]

View attachment 14553

Personally, I'd rather we go with those I mentioned than Delane. That's just me though due to his slight frame and injury history.

OK I just thought you meant that all 3 of them would be available if the Browns take Tate and I found that hard to believe but I see Downs was of the board in the mock

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

That's several current mocks, VOR. Not saying I agree with those that mocked them in whatever order but based on a conglomerate of all of them, this was the result.

Yeah and none are more than guesses.

I’d have to go back and see if there are analytics on it but my feeling is most mocks are less than 50% accurate after the first few picks, and even less accurate if the first few picks aren’t quarterbacks.

 

[burgold]

It will be really hard to erase all the good players.

Mendoza is at 1.

After that, there is Reese, Bailey, Maligula, Styles, Love, Tate, Downs, and Bain who are probably in that first tier. That means with six players before we pick there are at least eight good players. If you want to swap Bain for Delane that's okay with me, too.

So, we can get a top player if we want to stick. It's mathematically impossible not to. We just don't get our first choice of top picks. Now, if your heart is set on Love that is out of our hands, but a potentially great player will be there for us. I also just have a hard time seeing no offensive lineman being picked before 7.

 

[RWJ]

OK I just thought you meant that all 3 of them would be available if the Browns take Tate and I found that hard to believe but I see Downs was of the board in the mock

Yes. My hope is Love gets past everyone to us at #7 and we take him. Next, it's a toss-up between Bailey and Styles.

 

[UK Skins]

You mean like a reaction similar to the thumbs up or thumbs down?

No. Thumbs up (or down) is traditionally linked to like (or dislike). Totally different to 100% agree.