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

[ES1974]

These posts about Styles aren’t selling him that well to me now. Plays a bit safe, plays a bit soft? Not great traits.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Oh yes. I recall seeing an interview where he was excited to be in Washington with Jayden and company and looked forward to the opportunity. There was also interviews with others mixed in with his explaining how hard he was working and how committed he was, That all has little to do with one catch or what he was handed in Tenn. He is loaded with potential, size, speed and there's reason why he was drafted so early. No one has the expectations that were initially put on him when entering the NFL butt it isn't off the mark tho think he could turn into a legit WR3/4

So because he says he is committed, is working hard and wants to play with Jayden that means he can become a legit WR3? Doesn't every player claim they are working hard? Multiple good college players loaded with potential picked in the first round bust in every single draft.

 

[DWinzit]

So because he says he is committed, is working hard and wants to play with Jayden that means he can become a legit WR3? Doesn't every player claim they are working hard? Multiple good college players loaded with potential picked in the first round bust in every single draft.

I am pleased the team felt good enough about him to bring him back and give him a shot to earn a position on this roster. I am quite certain they wouldn't have done that based on one catch. I see more potential with him than some of the others on the roster. If he doesn't work out, he gets cut or perhaps the PS. If he does workout, I can also see a world where he could move ahead of Lane, Luke, Van and/or Dyami. I am hoping he proves himself like I believe he can.

 

[philibusters]

These posts about Styles aren’t selling him that well to me now. Plays a bit safe, plays a bit soft? Not great traits.

He is a very good prospect.

Elite athleticism.

He is a physical player. Comparing him to Arvell Reese, Josiah Trotter, Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, and Anthony Hill. I would probably rank him third in physciality behind Reese and Trotter and ahead of Rodriguez, Golday, and Hill. For me when I measuring physciality in offball LBers its probably 70% ability to deconstruct blocks, 15% set an edge, and 15% thump on the tackle. Styles is fine at the first two and while not a thumper as a tackler, he rarely misses tackles so if he became more of a thumper you would probably get more missed tackles, but less tackles where they can fall forward. The number 1 thing when evaluating an offball LB physicality to me is can they get off blocks and make a Tackle as they will see a lot of climbing TE's and Guards and Styles at 245 and decent punch in his hand and long arms does that pretty well. To say he plays soft because he is not a hard hitting tackler is wrong to me, that is like 15% of the physicality evaluation.

Plays a bit safe is another way of saying he plays very assignment sound. In Ohio St's system that worked well because the defense had enough talent that if you did your assignment you could trust the defense would get off the field. In the NFL where the talent gap is a lot smaller, his new team may need him to make more plays. But I would rather start off with a guy who is assignment sound and tell him to take some risks, then start off with a guy who tries to be a hero way too much.

He is pretty good in coverage. As a safety he understands routes combos at a slightly deeper level than I think most college LB'ers do.

 

[prodigy]

I know lol you hate this because as far as you are concerned Keim doesn't know anymore than you do or name that random fan about what they want to do. But knowing his style -- I'd put money that someone in that building told him that's what they see as best case scenario, he's hinted the same in some of his podcasts.

But if so, its basically them wanting to have their cake and eat it too -- dropping just a few spots and nailing one of their top guys, anyway, sounds great but what are the odds it happens?

But intutively it makes sense, lets say they drop down to 9 and still get Delane or Downs, etc, awesome, but I doubt that will manifest.

until you provide evidence that you are not, in fact, john keim, i still think you are john keim

 

[Primus Porcus]

until you provide evidence that you are not, in fact, john keim, i still think you are john keim

SIP may or may not have participated in the BGO Blind Pig Podcast within the last week or so, so there is video evidence, but we all know how sophisticated Deep Fakes have gotten.....

 

[burgold]

SIP may or may not have participated in the BGO Blind Pig Podcast within the last week or so, so there is video evidence, but we all know how sophisticated Deep Fakes have gotten.....

Remember that cat filter zoom from a few years ago when the lawyer forgot to unmask himself and went through the entire client briefing as a cat?

Same thing. SIP has a "human" mask to fool people, but I think you are on the wrong trail. SIP is not Kiem. SIP is (drum roll) Diana Russini!

 

[HTTR]

These posts about Styles aren’t selling him that well to me now. Plays a bit safe, plays a bit soft? Not great traits.

Was thinking that too as I read. The criticisms were all about his tackling style (not being aggressive enough, etc) but then I get to the bottom and it says, “Never misses a tackle”. So he gets the job done every time, just with great technique rather than try to take their head off every time. I can live with that, but yeah ideally there are situations where a huge hit can inspire the team and change momentum. Certainly seems like he has the physical tools to play more nasty, so we’ll see. He’s still my pick if Love and Tate are both gone.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Remember that cat filter zoom from a few years ago when the lawyer forgot to unmask himself and went through the entire client briefing as a cat?

Same thing. SIP has a "human" mask to fool people, but I think you are on the wrong trail. SIP is not Kiem. SIP is (drum roll) Diana Russini!

OH SHOTS FIRED

 

[KDawg]

Was thinking that too as I read. The criticisms were all about his tackling style (not being aggressive enough, etc) but then I get to the bottom and it says, “Never misses a tackle”. So he gets the job done every time, just with great technique rather than try to take their head off every time. I can live with that, but yeah ideally there are situations where a huge hit can inspire the team and change momentum. Certainly seems like he has the physical tools to play more nasty, so we’ll see. He’s still my pick if Love and Tate are both gone.

It’s preference.

If I can choose a type, I want a green dot intimidating people.

That said, I still love him as a prospect. It’s just where do I slot him? With Tate, Delane, Downs all around him I’m not sure if he’s second or fourth.

I have the same conversation with myself with Tate, Delane, Downs and even Bain.

I think for the time being it’s still Love, Styles/Tate, Delane, Downs, Bain.

 

[Primus Porcus]

It’s preference.

If I can choose a type, I want a green dot intimidating people.

That said, I still love him as a prospect. It’s just where do I slot him? With Tate, Delane, Downs all around him I’m not sure if he’s second or fourth.

I have the same conversation with myself with Tate, Delane, Downs and even Bain.

I think for the time being it’s still Love, Styles/Tate, Delane, Downs, Bain.

I don't think it's just about the Green dot, intimidation, I think it's a real conversation regarding a player that you even have an inkling of a concern with his intensity, and using the 7th pick on him. That's a massive part of whether or not players make it in the league, their intensity level. Of course we're just watching film, so it's only a portion of that conclusion, but if he's got a passive mentality in interviews.. thats a harder path to success than the guy that commands the room. Not to say it's a deal breaker, or that its impossible, but it has to be considered when looking at the level of risk / reward within the cost of a top 10 pick.

 

[burgold]

I don't know that the green dot needs to intimidate people. Maybe I've seen too many towards the end of their careers, but I don'[t remember London Fletcher being intimidating nor Bobby Wagner with us. They were both very cerebral, in the right place, able to diagnosis the play and were prolific tacklers.

 

[KDawg]

I don't know that the green dot needs to intimidate people. Maybe I've seen too many towards the end of their careers, but I don'[t remember London Fletcher being intimidating nor Bobby Wagner with us. They were both very cerebral, in the right place, able to diagnosis the play and were prolific tacklers.

London Fletcher was an absolute menace. He hit, tackled, shed and covered, even at an old age. Bobby Wagner absolutely brings the wood. Less so now, but younger Wags could bring it.

London was the prototypical linebacker whose only knock was that he was short.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I don't know that the green dot needs to intimidate people. Maybe I've seen too many towards the end of their careers, but I don'[t remember London Fletcher being intimidating nor Bobby Wagner with us. They were both very cerebral, in the right place, able to diagnosis the play and were prolific tacklers.

Fletcher was a sneaky hard ass hitter




That's where it differs with Styles (i think). Fletcher wasn't a Ray Lewis type that was loud, boisterous, and a larger than life personality. That's not the knock, but when the chin strap was snapped, Fletcher was intense as hell, and I think we've heard a bit of the opposite with Styles, despite the physicality and freakish talent.

 

[Dlts20]

Man Idc much about thumping. Sometimes that actually makes you an injury risk or takes years of your career. Also a lot of thumper just thump. One of my biggest pet peeves about pros is lack of fundamental arm tsckles. This guy's just want to pop with their shoulder half of the time and hope that you fall.

Styles wraps up literally every single time. That's what I want out of every single player on my defense but unfortunately it's rare a lot of times. If you wrap up, you are going to take him down 99 percent of the time.

His tackling, speed, athleticism, and recognition are advanced imo. Comparing him to what we saw out of Wagner last year could just completely change our defense. His upside may be the best in the draft if he reaches his potential. Having him in the center of everything could disrupt a whole offense, Fred Warner style.

 

[Anselmheifer]

London Fletcher was an absolute menace. He hit, tackled, shed and covered, even at an old age. Bobby Wagner absolutely brings the wood. Less so now, but younger Wags could bring it.

London was the prototypical linebacker whose only knock was that he was short.

Didn’t Megatron say that the hardest he’d ever been hit was London Fletcher?



I’d prefer a big hitter, because if nothing else, they are fun to watch, and this is entertainment. But I think I’ve overvalued striking ability. Loved Rey Maualuga for instance.

In today’s NFL, coverage ability is much more important than being a hit stick. And Styles has the potential to be a beast in coverage. He can take on blocks. Is awesome sideline to sideline.


On a separate note, Jeremy Greene was on Grant and Danny and was saying that Love was the best case scenario for us. Not exactly a hot take, but was also SUPER high on Mansoor Delane. I second this. I’d be pretty thrilled with Delane.

 

[KDawg]

Didn’t Megatron say that the hardest he’d ever been hit was London Fletcher?



I’d prefer a big hitter, because if nothing else, they are fun to watch, and this is entertainment. But I think I’ve overvalued striking ability. Loved Rey Maualuga for instance.

In today’s NFL, coverage ability is much more important than being a hit stick. And Styles has the potential to be a beast in coverage. He can take on blocks. Is awesome sideline to sideline.


On a separate note, Jeremy Greene was on Grant and Danny and was saying that Love was the best case scenario for us. Not exactly a hot take, but was also SUPER high on Mansoor Delane. I second this. I’d be pretty thrilled with Delane.

Striking ability without the other skills is an overvalue. Striking ability with coverage, block destruction, football IQ is a green dot.

 

[DWinzit]

I don't know about coverage ability or green dot guy but your Trotter is the hardest hitter in the draft, he blows sh*t up

The other big green dot guy is Rodriguez who is a more complete MLB but not the giant hitter

 

[KDawg]

Man Idc much about thumping. Sometimes that actually makes you an injury risk or takes years of your career. Also a lot of thumper just thump. One of my biggest pet peeves about pros is lack of fundamental arm tsckles. This guy's just want to pop with their shoulder half of the time and hope that you fall.

Styles wraps up literally every single time. That's what I want out of every single player on my defense but unfortunately it's rare a lot of times. If you wrap up, you are going to take him down 99 percent of the time.

His tackling, speed, athleticism, and recognition are advanced imo. Comparing him to what we saw out of Wagner last year could just completely change our defense. His upside may be the best in the draft if he reaches his potential. Having him in the center of everything could disrupt a whole offense, Fred Warner style.

Wrapping up does not create a tackle.

Leverage, with technique and active feet creates tackles.

Styles is a damn good tackler. I love him as a prospect. But he doesn’t strike. He catches. In the NFL, ball carriers are going to run through that contact. While he likely tackles them in most cases, they will fall forward more often than they did in college.

This play stands out against Miami, which I watched live and cheered as Fletch bowled him over.



This shit matters. You can’t poo poo it away.

Now…

Can he fix it? Yes. If it’s a technique issue, fixing this shouldn’t be an issue. Bobby Okereke just hired a rugby tackling coach to help correct his form and his videos they’ve posted make it look so much more clean and technical. We’ll see if there is carry over.

If it’s “will” that is harder to clean up. I’m not sure it is, though. So I think he’ll be a prototype green dot in 2-3 seasons, with a solid rookie year.

 

[KDawg]

I don't know about coverage ability or green dot guy but your Trotter is the hardest hitter in the draft, he blows sh*t up

The other big green dot guy is Rodriguez who is a more complete MLB but not the giant hitter

Trotter can’t cover for shit but I love him 😆