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

[burgold]

Agree but I am betting that the plan in him and a WR at 71

I do too. It's a pretty risky roll of the dice. Then again, it seems to have been a pretty bad year to roll the dice on any free agent wide receiver. I mean Pierce was the superstar.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Guys like Bernard and Antonio Williams are good at getting open and I think Jayden needs that considering even Terry arguably isn't the best seperator and Jayden seems to be a timing based QB who thrives with Wrs who are where they are supposed to be. I am ok with the theory of go for a deep threat. Dyami is arguably that. Hurst and Lance are faster than him.

Yeah, my preference is prioritize the route runner/separator over the deep threat, even if I want both. Tate is sort of the exception for me, because while the deep game is his superpower, he’s also got route running chops.

And I'll let the whole movie play out at WR before feeling that down on the state of the position. But they haven't earned my trust as to buying into what new rationale they have about how they can make do at WR.

On the bright side, they had the same issue at DE last year and (seemingly) course corrected, but I’m with you.

My main concern is that their ambition might not be what we hope. I talked about this in other posts when Quinn explained in detail how this current WR corp could work, by sort of having a committee approach -- different WRs with different strengths who can be called on at different times. That to me sounded like a rationalization within the building about how if they don't make another big move they will be fine. Keim also hit the WR by committee without per se a true #2 in his podcast -- but also kept the flame about them signing Aiyuk.

I can totally understand taking Quinn’s words in that way… I’m hopeful it was just about cross-training for depth purposes.

And if you add Keim's scoop that he doesn't think they take Tate at 7 and they'd take him or another WR in a trade down but this team doesn't expect trade down offers -- all together it comes off like they made the conclusion that they unlikely end up with a WR in the first. And they likely take one in the third but recognize that a third round WR is unlikely to make an instant impact.

Again, I could see them taking a deep threat, more boom-bust prospect in the 3rd (especially given early interviews when they talked about adding explosive playmakers) and then supplementing with a FA addition, but perhaps they recognize they’re already ‘saddled’ with developmental guys in McCaffrey and Lane and instead go with a more polished route runner at 71?

 

[washington football]

With the lack of draft picks this season and the holes on this team this looks like it could be a tough season.

Cowboys and gmen will be improved. Eagles will be down a little bit but still good.The bad drafts from the Rivera year may finally be catching up with us. This team just does not have enough top flight talent.

 

[KDawg]

My fear is they are overvaluing what is on the roster and don’t make any major moves at receiver, corner, safety, left guard, running back - aside from draft picks.

And I really don’t think they are looking at Tate - but man I hope that is a smoke screen so NO doesn’t trade up. Passing on him will be tough to swallow.

And based on kernels from draft media I’m not sure many teams are all that high on Downs, but they still all seem to think he’s going to go 10 at the latest.

I think the tea leaves are saying it’s Delane right now.

I’m good with Delane.

I think he’s the best defensive prospect and a better overall player than Tate. I just think Tate’s impact on our future would be much higher

 

[skinsinparadise]

On the bright side, they had the same issue at DE last year and (seemingly) course corrected, but I’m with you.

They course corrected an off season later. They aren't getting a pass from me, if its three years in a row of this at WR.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I’m getting to the point where I don’t care anymore who we draft, as long as the Giants don’t take Love. Zero interest in defending against him the next 5+ years.

No kidding, a backfield of Love and Skattebo would be nasty, Love as the primary and passing down back, Skattebo as the change of pace short yardage bruiser. It could happen too, as much as they like Skat, he is coming off injury, and they regret letting Saquon go.

On the other hand, they could go Tate, and then you have to defend him and Nabers, so the Giants will get better regardless.

 

[KDawg]

No kidding, a backfield of Love and Skattebo would be nasty, Love as the primary and passing down back, Skattebo as the change of pace short yardage bruiser. It could happen too, as much as they like Skat, he is coming off injury, and they regret letting Saquon go.

On the other hand, they could go Tate, and then you have to defend him and Nabers, so the Giants will get better regardless.

I think Love and Styles are gone by 5.

No reason, really. But I think someone is going to leapfrog them to get whichever of the two Tennessee doesn’t take.

 

[Faithful Fan]

My fear is they are overvaluing what is on the roster and don’t make any major moves at receiver, corner, safety, left guard, running back - aside from draft picks.

And I really don’t think they are looking at Tate - but man I hope that is a smoke screen so NO doesn’t trade up. Passing on him will be tough to swallow.

And based on kernels from draft media I’m not sure many teams are all that high on Downs, but they still all seem to think he’s going to go 10 at the latest.

I think the tea leaves are saying it’s Delane right now.

I’m good with Delane.

I think he’s the best defensive prospect and a better overall player than Tate. I just think Tate’s impact on our future would be much higher

I like the idea of Delane, a local kid and great athlete, and a blue chip corner who matches up well with top wideouts can be a real difference maker.

I get needing a receiver, and I would be happy with Tate or whoever we like at the position, but I think you’re right about Delane being high on our board and with good reason.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I do too. It's a pretty risky roll of the dice. Then again, it seems to have been a pretty bad year to roll the dice on any free agent wide receiver. I mean Pierce was the superstar.

Doubs would have been good. A legit #2. Saheed. If they are looking at deep threats, they had a FA (Saheed) who majored in it avaiilable. Jennings is still out there,

I think it was Conn who said this, they might regret now not shopping in that next bin of WRs like Nailor. I agree, I mentioned Nailor in the FA thread as sort of a worse case scenario, but nothing exciting. But lol now I'd kill for Nailor.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

It's tough, they have needs at both CB and WR.

I've said this a whole bunch, I think whatever of those two positions they don't pick at 7, they pick the other at 71.

I'd personally prefer to go WR first, then DB at 71.

Keep this in mind about Tate, and I've mentioned this before also: He wasn't the #1 WR on his own team. Jeramiah Smith was the #1 WR at Ohio State. He's not draft eligible. It's VERY possible that even though Tate is the best WR in this class, Peters and company don't thing he's really the best prospect for that position and doesn't grade out as a WR who could replace Terry as a #1. If that's the case, and they think another player could be the "star" at their position, this is the very concept of Best Player Available.

Now, I have no idea who they have rated higher. Keim indicates that it's Delane. The only way we know that for sure is if Tate and Delane are both available and they pick Delane. Which might happen. Though, I'm not sure, I actually think there's a reasonable chance Tate is gone before 7. Otherwise, we won't know.

I wouldn't be mad at picking Delane. But in that case, I think they're going to have to suck it up and overpay for Jennings, and probably add Aiyuk when he's available, and draft a guy at 71 just to get to the season with something resembling a reasonable WR room.

I will also say, it must be pretty frustrating for Peters this year that he identified a need at WR, threw really good money at the top 2 WR prospects, landed neither, and then might feel that the WR they can pick in the draft isn't worth the pick they have.

There's also the possibility this is all a smokescreen, and Tate is there, and they pick him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It's tough, they have needs at both CB and WR.

I've said this a whole bunch, I think whatever of those two positions they don't pick at 7, they pick the other at 71.

I'd personally prefer to go WR first, then DB at 71.

Keep this in mind about Tate, and I've mentioned this before also: He wasn't the #1 WR on his own team. Jeramiah Smith was the #1 WR at Ohio State. He's not draft eligible. It's VERY possible that even though Tate is the best WR in this class, Peters and company don't thing he's really the best prospect for that position and doesn't grade out as a WR who could replace Terry as a #1. If that's the case, and they think another player could be the "star" at their position, this is the very concept of Best Player Available.

Now, I have no idea who they have rated higher. Keim indicates that it's Delane. The only way we know that for sure is if Tate and Delane are both available and they pick Delane. Which might happen. Though, I'm not sure, I actually think there's a reasonable chance Tate is gone before 7. Otherwise, we won't know.

I wouldn't be mad at picking Delane. But in that case, I think they're going to have to suck it up and overpay for Jennings, and probably add Aiyuk when he's available, and draft a guy at 71 just to get to the season with something resembling a reasonable WR room.

I will also say, it must be pretty frustrating for Peters this year that he identified a need at WR, threw really good money at the top 2 WR prospects, landed neither, and then might feel that the WR they can pick in the draft isn't worth the pick they have.

There's also the possibility this is all a smokescreen, and Tate is there, and they pick him.

Anything is possiblle. But right now for reasons I expressed, I bet they only take a WR in a trade down and if not at 71.

As for Peters being frustrated that he identified the problem and potentially might not resolve it.

The problem could be identified by name that three year old fan of the team, so while I am glad Peters sees it too (I am not saying you are saying otherwise), its not enough for me if the upshot ends up he gave it a try and missed. Especially considering they had options to pivot to in FA but didn't take them -- similar to last year ironically.

I am guessing what happens is they sign Aiyuk. Probably SF doesn't release him until sometime in August. And they go with their new McCaffrey-Lane 3rd round project type. And hope for the best.

 

[KDawg]

It's tough, they have needs at both CB and WR.

I've said this a whole bunch, I think whatever of those two positions they don't pick at 7, they pick the other at 71.

I'd personally prefer to go WR first, then DB at 71.

Keep this in mind about Tate, and I've mentioned this before also: He wasn't the #1 WR on his own team. Jeramiah Smith was the #1 WR at Ohio State. He's not draft eligible. It's VERY possible that even though Tate is the best WR in this class, Peters and company don't thing he's really the best prospect for that position and doesn't grade out as a WR who could replace Terry as a #1. If that's the case, and they think another player could be the "star" at their position, this is the very concept of Best Player Available.

Now, I have no idea who they have rated higher. Keim indicates that it's Delane. The only way we know that for sure is if Tate and Delane are both available and they pick Delane. Which might happen. Though, I'm not sure, I actually think there's a reasonable chance Tate is gone before 7. Otherwise, we won't know.

I wouldn't be mad at picking Delane. But in that case, I think they're going to have to suck it up and overpay for Jennings, and probably add Aiyuk when he's available, and draft a guy at 71 just to get to the season with something resembling a reasonable WR room.

I will also say, it must be pretty frustrating for Peters this year that he identified a need at WR, threw really good money at the top 2 WR prospects, landed neither, and then might feel that the WR they can pick in the draft isn't worth the pick they have.

There's also the possibility this is all a smokescreen, and Tate is there, and they pick him.

I’m not sure why Tate not being the one matters. I do agree that he may wind up being a career 2, and using pick 7 on that isn’t appealing. But we have another shot at receiver potentially in next year’s class to add to Tate.

If Tate isn’t here and we don’t go WR in a trade back… who are we adding a receiver to?

everyone in college would be a #2 to Jeremiah Smith (I’m in on some convos with high end HS prospects and big time D1 schools…) and a lot of guys don’t want to go there with he and Chris Henry Jr on the roster at the moment.

I do think Tate is Terry in many ways, including that he can be a 1 but he’d flourish with someone across from him taking the top corners attention.

But wouldn’t let that stop me from picking him. Even if my intent is to go receiver in ‘27.

As far as Delane goes - I love it. He’s a ballhawk, aggressive player that reads well from zone and will get downhill and tackle in run support. He’s Witherspoon-esque.

So I won’t be mad. But man, last off-season is still killing us

 

[skinsinparadise]

Said differently, in FA according to some reports they couldn't get some of their targets so for example at edge they pivoted to Oweh and Chaisson.

At WR, after losing out on Pierce and Doubs, the pivots didn't happen. Considering I heard they might have had interest in Shaheed -- they likely waited on Doubs and in that time Shaheed went back to Seattle.

I recall there was some talk that Aiyuk was going to be released at the end of the first week in FA. It didn't happen. Then Jennings according to some they had interest in, was another idea for the spot but he ended up wanting too much money for now.

So Peters it looks like (granted we don't know for sure) lost out on the chess game at WR at least so far -- and yeah some of it was unlucky but some of it looks like some bad guessing on his end as to how it would all play out.

Thje problem for Peters is he can't afford to lose out on the chess game at WR because he made his bed on this. He still has time to fix it.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Also adding to the WR stuff, as I like to mentioned Jayden is a good dude and doesn't complain but I am gathering its eating at him considering how the other QBs from that class have it so much better.

You got Jayden's mom liking a social media post about how the WRs last year has the worst seperation scores in the NFL. You got his BFF, Malik Nabers liking a social media post about how Jayden didn't have good WRs last year. And now we got Jayden liking posts from Tate -- suggesting he'd really like him on this team.

If this ends up a crap Wr room round 3 -- i would assume it would at least enter Jayden's mind that he wishes he was drafted elsewhere, and I wouldn't blame him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[KDawg]

Also adding to the WR stuff, as I like to mentioned Jayden is a good dude and doesn't complain but I am gathering its eating at him considering how the other QBs from that class have it so much better.

You got Jayden's mom liking a social media post about how the WRs last year has the worst seperation scores in the NFL. You got his BFF, Malik Nabers liking a social media post about how Jayden didn't have good WRs last year. And now we got Jayden liking posts from Tate -- suggesting he'd really like him on this team.

If this ends up a crap Wr room round 3 -- i would assume it would at least enter Jayden's mind that he wishes he was drafted elsewhere, and I wouldn't blame him.

I truly have no idea what we’re doing as a whole offensively. It’s kind of a disaster.

Defense? Yeah. I’m on board so far.

 

[Commander Wraith]

With the lack of draft picks this season and the holes on this team this looks like it could be a tough season.

Cowboys and gmen will be improved. Eagles will be down a little bit but still good.The bad drafts from the Rivera year may finally be catching up with us. This team just does not have enough top flight talent.

Definitely could be. I do think the FA cycle, while not complete (both in terms of needs addressed, but also the post-draft wave), helped our team a good bit. Some good players - Oweh, Okonkwo, Chenal, Cross, White, and then some halfway decent players in the form of Chaisson, Settle, Robertson, and Dyami, Ford and Omenihu.

My fear is they are overvaluing what is on the roster and don’t make any major moves at receiver, corner, safety, left guard, running back - aside from draft picks.

I’m not sure about overvaluing their roster given the receivers they chased, being in on Woolen, and adding Cross, but I hear you in general. I’m willing to give them some leeway because 1) they legit addressed the front 7, and 2) they at least added Okonkwo/White as pass-catchers, re-signed Paul, and filled out the rb room with capable guys, but man… they really need a quality receiver and corner in the fold.

And I really don’t think they are looking at Tate - but man I hope that is a smoke screen so NO doesn’t trade up. Passing on him will be tough to swallow.

And based on kernels from draft media I’m not sure many teams are all that high on Downs, but they still all seem to think he’s going to go 10 at the latest.

I think the tea leaves are saying it’s Delane right now.

I’m good with Delane.

I think he’s the best defensive prospect and a better overall player than Tate. I just think Tate’s impact on our future would be much higher

Totally with you here.

They course corrected an off season later. They aren't getting a pass from me, if it’s three years in a row of this at WR.

Well, I meant they had major issues at both DE and WR last year and have suitably addressed DE this year, so there’s still hope they are able to do the same for WR, albeit options are dwindling. If it’s not until next year, yeah, I wouldn’t be giving them a pass either.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I truly have no idea what we’re doing as a whole offensively. It’s kind of a disaster.

Defense? Yeah. I’m on board so far.

Will see after this draft but for the moment it feels meh at best on offense.

Looks like best case scenario is we got to hope Aiyuk who hasn't played in a year, coming of major surgery, and they might not even have access to him until right before the season but he ends up the solution. Keim mentioned in one of his podcast this team was counting among others on Gallup last season. Yeah Gallup like Aiyuk was out the season before but never regained his form.

The draft at the moment feels like FA as to WR (this is if Keim's takes ends up correct). That is, they cast a wide net but darn the board just didn't go their way -- they got no trade down offers but if they did, they had like 5 Wrs that they were targeting.

 

[Riggo44]

There's lying season, then there's making shit up as we go along season...

 

[UK Skins]

GUARD??!! At #7?! Morons.