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

I brought up Scott when they announced his top 30 visits. Dude is a perfect fit if he was to reach 71. It however never looked like he'd make it out of the mid 2nd round.

He is a play maker and really good blitzer!

EDIT added - He is smaller and older than you'd like, but you can get over that. The hole in his play is he is not the best tackler
 
Last edited:
skinsinparadise said:
Good characterization of the Rivera era version of it. Not the best correlation with 30 day visits to who they drafted.

But with this FO, the magic connections so far have been 30 days visits or combine, but especially powerful if both -- and that top golf event in particular.

I've learned to ignore proday visits-senior bowl visits -- they don't seem to be that meaningful with this regime.
Click to expand...

I still haven't figured out how to interpret the top golf event. We drafted the guy that complained about the event.
 
Been watching Caleb Downs, its been awhile for me to watch him. I am warming back up to him.

As far as this defense goes, he seems so tailor made.

He is everything lol that Quan Martin is not. That is, his instincts are so off the charts. But the main reason for me is the ripple effect that he would likely have on this team.

He can cover TEs. He's good as a post safety. He's good in the box. He's a QB on the field. He's a chess piece.

He's not my top want. But zero issue taking him at 7. Among all the possibilities on defense, he's probably the best win now addition to the 2026 team.

This team having poor safety play is a sneaky reason why this defense has sucked IMO.
 
KDawg said:
Why is Styles a risk?

I have some things that make me a bit nervous about him, but I don’t think he’s more of a risk than anyone not named Love (or Tate, who despite not having high end WR1 markings might be one of the safest bets in the draft)
Click to expand...
I've just heard too many reports of him being more of a great athlete than a great player right now. I'm also concerned his combine has vaulted him up boards and we've seen how that can backfire. I was all about Styles, fell for the hype, but they can't miss on this pick.
 


I wasn’t aware of the character concern mentioned here. Briefly looked it up and seems he approached a professional field photographer, grabbed him by the neck/shoulders, and was pissed about something. A police report was filed but seems it went nowhere. Reddit comments from fans mention another aggressive incident apparently but I can’t find details without digging super deep.
 
Conn said:


I wasn’t aware of the character concern mentioned here. Briefly looked it up and seems he approached a professional field photographer, grabbed him by the neck/shoulders, and was pissed about something. A police report was filed but seems it went nowhere. Reddit comments from fans mention another aggressive incident apparently but I can’t find details without digging super deep.
Click to expand...


The camera thing has been out there early in the process. But otherwise, supposedly a good dude, who interviewed well. The McGinn scout reportes dive into players with any character issues, zero mention of any issue with Bailey.

 
KDawg said:
I’ve been quiet on Keionte… mostly because I don’t think there is a slowball’s chance in hell he’s there at our 3rd.

But yes. He is an instinctive, aggressive, slot safety (not corner, safety).

Fits perfect.

Still don’t think there’s a shot in hell he’s there.
Click to expand...

Interesting you think safety not corner. That mirrors what Cory and James from DaftonDraft say. Great player, but better when the play is in front and he can play downhill. When he covering routes behind him like a corner or playing man, he is not as dynamic of a player. Therefore they also thought he had more potential at safety.

The conversation reminded me a little of Mike Sainristil.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
I've just heard too many reports of him being more of a great athlete than a great player right now. I'm also concerned his combine has vaulted him up boards and we've seen how that can backfire. I was all about Styles, fell for the hype, but they can't miss on this pick.
Click to expand...

I think Styles had a great season. Just a one season sample size and in pretty ideal circumstances, but his play was excellent. He was rising up boards even before the combine.
 
How was Styles play as a safety?
 
Conn said:


I wasn’t aware of the character concern mentioned here. Briefly looked it up and seems he approached a professional field photographer, grabbed him by the neck/shoulders, and was pissed about something. A police report was filed but seems it went nowhere. Reddit comments from fans mention another aggressive incident apparently but I can’t find details without digging super deep.
Click to expand...

This feels like part of "lying season" to me. It feels like the kind of questions some are trying to float to help push a guy down.
 
burgold said:
How was Styles play as a safety?
Click to expand...

I am assuming you are talking about Sonny and not his brother Lorenzo who is a safety and is a draft prospect likely to get drafted on day 3. In 2023 as a safety, Sonny had a 76 PFF grade playing around 550 snaps as a safety. So he played well there.
 
burgold said:
This feels like part of "lying season" to me. It feels like the kind of questions some are trying to float to help push a guy down.
Click to expand...
Could be… but I’m not sure Brugler is part of that whole thing. But maybe.
 
philibusters said:
I am assuming you are talking about Sonny and not his brother Lorenzo who is a safety and is a draft prospect likely to get drafted on day 3. In 2023 as a safety, Sonny had a 76 PFF grade playing around 550 snaps as a safety. So he played well there.
Click to expand...
Yes. Thanks.

I was thinking about the Sonny talk of him only having one year of success. I think looking at his work in college at safety therefore holds some merit. Especially as an off the ball linebacker I think it counts and could translate. IOW, if he was a good safety and a great linebacker then he's not a one year wonder and his onfield success at two positions bodes well for his prospects.
 
My concerns with Styles are how unexplosively he plays the LB position on contact and how high he plays as a tackler. Just no pop when he hits people.

Everything else is prototypical for a modern linebacker.
 
burgold said:
Yes. Thanks.

I was thinking about the Sonny talk of him only having one year of success. I think looking at his work in college at safety therefore holds some merit. Especially as an off the ball linebacker I think it counts and could translate. IOW, if he was a good safety and a great linebacker then he's not a one year wonder and his onfield success at two positions bodes well for his prospects.
Click to expand...

Some scouts in the McGinn reports thought Styles was better the previous season at LB than last season. Doesn't though lol sound right considering he was almost flawless as to missed tackles last season but had a bunch the season before. But the number of tackles was about the same, he also had 6 sacks the previous season.

I was listening to the Ohio State LB coach on a Keim podcast and he said that he believes Styles can do the same things that Reese can do as a blitzer -- that was interesting for me to hear considering that's seem to be what happened the previous season, but last season they put Reese in that role.

For me for Styles my optimism is that Indiana game, he was flying everywhere. Read and react.
 
KDawg said:
My concerns with Styles are how unexplosively he plays the LB position on contact and how high he plays as a tackler. Just no pop when he hits people.

Everything else is prototypical for a modern linebacker.
Click to expand...
Is that something that can be addressed? Are DBs taught to tackle differently than linebackers? I imagine for a safety the big hit is a little less important than making sure you get the guy on the ground since you are the last line of defense.
 
burgold said:
Is that something that can be addressed? Are DBs taught to tackle differently than linebackers? I imagine for a safety the big hit is a little less important than making sure you get the guy on the ground since you are the last line of defense.
Click to expand...
People are taught to tackle regardless.

He is a very sure tackler. Hes just not violent.

I’d set him up with a rugby tackling coach and call it a day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 6, Members: 0, Guests: 6)

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.

    You haven't joined any rooms.
    Top