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

[NoCalSkins]

Let's also not forget that we've spent the last 4 months fantasizing about these players and we may have lost focus on the fact that this is widely considered a weak draft for top talent.

Yeah that is what I am thinking, if the team is on the clock for their #7 pick and they aren't convinced there is a top tier talent on the board to draft, why not trade back to collect more assets? Understanding there are no guarantees when it comes to the draft, I still think the seventh pick in the draft in most years would have the GM/Coaches feeling pretty good they got an elite talent, regardless of the position they take, so if in this year's draft they aren't sure about that when it is their turn to pick, why even force a pick rather than trade back?

 

[Dah-Dee]

Seems like trading back in what is widely perceived as a weak draft will not net much in the way of picks. If we're sitting there on the clock at 7 and thinking, not very exciting options here, really want to move back, what makes us think any other team would see this draft so differently they want to give us a nice pick package to take somebody there? Would we trade back to 16 for a 2027 5th rather than take Delane or Downs, hoping McCoy or Thieneman would still be available?

 

[Faithful Fan]

To some extent, I think forcing it is a big, big, big mistake. But on another… I get it.

But if they don’t get a receiver, they are going to be in that veteran market along with us, Buffalo, Miami, etc. . . .
There is no guarantee we are getting any of the vets.

And while Aiyuk SEEMS close to a lock - it’s not one and when can he even join us? If it’s August/September is the juice worth the squeeze at that point for THIS season? Maybe. But he’s going to be way behind.

Maybe this is part of the disconnect for me, I’m confident we can bring in a veteran WR to help out. We are the favorites to land Aiyuk, and Deebo is probably ours if we want him, which we should. Also keep in mind Stefan Diggs, Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, Juaun Jennings, and Deandre Hopkins are all available. There should be enough vet free agents to go around for teams that need them to plug a hole in their roster.

I also have high hopes for some of our young guys, LMC was starting to contribute before getting hurt, Dyami and Jayden were clicking in the 2024 postseason, Burks has shown some promise, and Lane has the speed to take the top off the defense. I wouldn’t bet on all of them, but I think odds are good at least one steps up to take advantage of the opportunity.

So while it is true we need WR help, I think people pretending we aren’t supporting Jayden or advocating passing on the BPA to fill this need are overstating it.

 

[KDawg]

Maybe this is part of the disconnect for me, I’m confident we can bring in a veteran WR to help out. We are the favorites to land Aiyuk, and Deebo is probably ours if we want him, which we should. Also keep in mind Stefan Diggs, Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, Juaun Jennings, and Deandre Hopkins are all available. There should be enough vet free agents to go around for teams that need them to plug a hole in their roster.

I also have high hopes for some of our young guys, LMC was starting to contribute before getting hurt, Dyami and Jayden were clicking in the 2024 postseason, Burks has shown some promise, and Lane has the speed to take the top off the defense. I wouldn’t bet on all of them, but I think odds are good at least one steps up to take advantage of the opportunity.

So while it is true we need WR help, I think people pretending we aren’t supporting Jayden or advocating passing on the BPA to fill this need are overstating it.

I don’t trust the FO enough to fall in the same camp.

But I’m also not fully advocating to pass on Delane for Tate. It’s just questionable for me.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I don’t trust the FO enough to fall in the same camp.

But I’m also not fully advocating to pass on Delane for Tate. It’s just questionable for me.

I hear what you're saying, but I think they're going to do SOMETHING at WR if they don't select a clear starting WR in the draft.

The question is going to be, if they pick a guy at 71, do they think that solves the problem with the guys they currently have? I don't know. I hope not.

Nobody has really reported this definitively, but I think round whatever it is of FA which takes place after the draft is going to net us one or two receivers unless we pick what they think is a sure fire starter.

They also lived through practice squad players at WR last year. They acknowledged they need a lot of help there by going after Pierce and Doubs. The fact they didn't land them doesn't mean they still don't know there is a need.

I don't think they would say that out loud, because why would they, that's insulting to the players on the team and tips their hand, but I'm pretty sure they know the need still exists. But they are playing it cool (which I like) and not panicking for a "meh" solution to the problem.

As far as Tate vs. Delane, I dunno. I'm not qualified to make the judgement of who a better prospect at their position. Because it's not just what the player can do this year, it's what they can develop into. If they think Delane can be a better CB than Tate can be a WR, then they absolutely have to take Delane.

If they think Tate can be a better WR than Delane will be a CB, then they absolutely have to take Tate.

There is also the possibility neither are there, which seems unlikely, but it wouldn't shock me if the WR1 and CB1 are both off the board in the first 6 picks of any draft. There's a world where both are available, or one of them is available. All of those exist as possibilities.

 

[washington football]

Is it easier to fill cb or wr in fa at this point?

I would think WR, the only fa CB I can think of is Travon Diggs. We probably draft CB at 7.

 

[KDawg]

I hear what you're saying, but I think they're going to do SOMETHING at WR if they don't select a clear starting WR in the draft.

The question is going to be, if they pick a guy at 71, do they think that solves the problem with the guys they currently have? I don't know. I hope not.

Nobody has really reported this definitively, but I think round whatever it is of FA which takes place after the draft is going to net us one or two receivers unless we pick what they think is a sure fire starter.

They also lived through practice squad players at WR last year. They acknowledged they need a lot of help there by going after Pierce and Doubs. The fact they didn't land them doesn't mean they still don't know there is a need.

I don't think they would say that out loud, because why would they, that's insulting to the players on the team and tips their hand, but I'm pretty sure they know the need still exists. But they are playing it cool (which I like) and not panicking for a "meh" solution to the problem.

As far as Tate vs. Delane, I dunno. I'm not qualified to make the judgement of who a better prospect at their position. Because it's not just what the player can do this year, it's what they can develop into. If they think Delane can be a better CB than Tate can be a WR, then they absolutely have to take Delane.

If they think Tate can be a better WR than Delane will be a CB, then they absolutely have to take Tate.

There is also the possibility neither are there, which seems unlikely, but it wouldn't shock me if the WR1 and CB1 are both off the board in the first 6 picks of any draft. There's a world where both are available, or one of them is available. All of those exist as possibilities.

Something isn’t enough and the damage isn’t just this offseason. It’s three. They have turned me around a bit on the defensive side but nothing we’ve done offensively has inspired confidence in me.

 

[ES1974]

Giants should trade up from #10 and take Styles and Downs.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Giants should trade up from #10 and take Styles and Downs.

I'm not so sure they even have to trade up for that; couple of OTs, WR, CB go, boink there's Downs at 10.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Giants could land both Styles and Downs, that would be tough. Or they could end up with a backfield of Love and Skattebo, also tough. Or they might end up with a WR duo of Nabers and Tate, also tough. Plus they have the best coach in the division now. I’m worried about them.

I do think they’re a worse team without Dexter Lawrence though, so at least there’s some small comfort in that. Still, it looks the Giants are going to be a problem in the coming years, no sense denying it.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah.

Let me do a car comparison to emphasize the point:

Daron Payne: A fully loaded Lexus ES. Luxury car, certainly better than a lot of other cars. Comfortable, drives well. Anybody who would be disappointed with a fully loaded Lexus ES is a snob. You can get one new for ~$65,000.
Dexter Laurence: Mercedes Maybach S680 4-Matic. Retails for ~$220k, and it is a significant leap up from the Lexus. It's the next level of luxury and performance. For those that can afford this car, you would never want to go back to the Lexus.
(For comparison purposes) Aaron Donald: Rated by Car and Driver as a 10/10, best super luxury car for 2026, the Bentley Flying Spur Plug in Hybrid is basically the best you can get in the luxury car domain. And for the bargain price of $~$450k, it can be yours.

You would not confuse a Lexus ES with a Mercedes Maybach S680.

You should not confuse Daron Payne with Dexter Lawrence.

I like using cars as a comp. But to me Payne isnt a fully loaded Lexus. More like a Honda Accord IMO.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

If Keim is right, I'm extremely happy with Styles at #7.

Looks like he was referencing what he thinks the Giants will do

 

[Skinfanjon]

If Keim is right, I'm extremely happy with Styles at #7.

In that tweet, Keim is saying Styles to the Giants at 5.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Campbell is hit and miss but the Delane part tracks

 

[KDawg]

Campbell is hit and miss but the Delane part tracks

Trading down and getting Delane would be a huge win. But we’ll see. Not sure how far back they can go to accomplish that.

 

[washington football]

NO and KC needs CB. KC really needs one as both starters are gone from last year. So trade down if we want the CB may not work.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I like using cars as a comp. But to me Payne isnt a fully loaded Lexus. More like a Honda Accord IMO.

Oh, I think that's being a little unfair. Payne has a lot of strong assets. The first of which is he's remarkably durable. He's an above replacement level player. He's a clear starter at DT in the league.

Most teams would like to have Payne on their team, just not as a projected "star" or blue chip player.

I did pick the base model of the Lexus. I think he's better than a Toyota.

Or to use your brand, better than a Honda, so I'd make him a well appointed Acura. Or an Audi vs. VW. Or an Infiniti vs. Nissan.

He's good. He's just not great.

He's not a Bentley. Or a Mercedes Maybach 680.

** I really wanted to make him a Ford F250. I think that's a really apt comparison. Solid, dependable, available, and can get the job done. But I know literally squat all about pickup trucks. So I don't know what the Mercedes or Bentley of pickup trucks is....

EDIT: Post edited because I screwed up the luxury brands of Honda and Nissan.

 

[ES1974]

Trade down. Trade Payne.

Come on AP, that’s the way forward.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Campbell is hit and miss but the Delane part tracks

My concern with trading down is that the team we trade down with might just pick Delane, if that's the target. I guess they could draft Tyson or Lemon if they wanted to (assuming they were available). But I think you get out of that top tier of player.

Now, flip side, if they don't think there is a top tier of player, that's somewhat different. I feel like the top guy in each position group is a cut above the rest, and you want to stay at 7 to get one.

But eh, who knows.

I also think this is lying season so who knows how accurate the report is, or what the source of it is. Somebody could be trying to talk it into existence.