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

[skinsinparadise]

I think teams are lower on Cooper than draft media thinks. Higher on Concepcion. Higher in Deion Burks. Lower on Tyson. Equal on Lemon. Equal on Tate. Higher on Malik Benson.

Concepcion, I talked about a bit on the podcast we did, he's interesting. You can argue he has the highest upside of any of these WRs -- the most electric. Makes plays on all three levels. YAC. Great KR.

He's a bit weird in that he has some really bad drops at inopportune times and conversely some acrobatic catches. I've heard really high character.

Burks I've talked about some. I think he's a high floor slot-Z who had a killer combine.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I know someone yesterday shot down Keim's thought that they ideally would want to trade down but not far -- as just him offering his own opinion otherwise its just wild spitballing from him. If Dj is hearing this team wants to trade down and Breer, too. These guys aren't all clowns with no sources. Doesn't mean they will or not, you need to get the offer. If I had to guess by combining these narratives, I'd go with Keim that they'd want to trade down a litte but not big.

It was me.

and I’ll leave it at that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think that a lot of teams feel like there isn't much difference between the guys at 6-16 so I could definitely see us trading down for more picks, especially high picks in a round compared to late. Like I said, the Jets 2nd rounder at 33 is completely different from the the Rams 2nd rounder at 61

I think a lot of the draft media feels that way.

We have literally no idea what teams think.

Anything that has been put out there by teams has a 50/50 shot of being true. So it’s best to discard all of it and not really pay attention to it. It COUlD be true. And I’m sure some of it is.

But it also could be subterfuge.

And Since you can’t tell which is which, it’s best not to really count on any of it. Regardless of the source.

 

[KDawg]

Ranking based on scouts in McGinn's report

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I watched Steve Smith’s breakdown on Zach Branch today…

He was not kind about the Georgia offense or QB situation and… ya. It’s not good.

Branch averaged 3.x yards per route or some crazy number. They didn’t even give him a chance to succeed and increase his draft stock.

 

[DWinzit]

Ranking based on scouts in McGinn's report

View attachment 14634

I've noticed Boston slip on some boards recently which I don't understand.

I am surprised Germie is that low

The second round is the sweet spot for WR's. Yeah some will be there at 71 but your getting the scraps

 

[method man]

I don’t think they are neck and neck. I think McCoy’s knee is too large of a concern

The guy tore his ACL in January 2025, started doing individual drills in August 2025 and then had a good pro day (I understand he didn’t do agility drills). Maybe there is some concern about his knee beyond the standard ACL recovery but, if there is, we don’t know whether it’s real or fake worry

 

[KDawg]

The guy tore his ACL in January 2025, started doing individual drills in August 2025 and then had a good pro day (I understand he didn’t do agility drills). Maybe there is some concern about his knee beyond the standard ACL recovery but, if there is, we don’t know whether it’s real or fake worry

I did say, “I think”.

 

[prodigy]

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.

I dunno man...that video did not give me the feel goods. I get your point about form tackling vs "thumping", but that's not what I saw in the vast majority of that video. form tackle would be wrapping them up and driving into them and forcing them to the ground. what I saw was wrapping up with arms but riding their backs and hoping the weight would bring them down or doing a hip-dropish type tackle. some of them he was hanging on for dear life until his teammates got there. when he's up against the Derrick Henrys and Saquons of the league, this isn't gonna work. too strong, too fast, and too much contact balance in the league. wrapping up the upper body with no violence or force ain't gonna do shit.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[prodigy]

I dunno man...that video did not give me the feel goods. I get your point about form tackling vs "thumping", but that's not what I saw in the vast majority of that video. form tackle would be wrapping them up and driving into them and forcing them to the ground. what I saw was wrapping up with arms but riding their backs and hoping the weight would bring them down or doing a hip-dropish type tackle. some of them he was hanging on for dear life until his teammates got there. when he's up against the Derrick Henrys and Saquons of the league, this isn't gonna work. too strong, too fast, and too much contact balance in the league. wrapping up the upper body with no violence or force ain't gonna do shit.

watched it a couple more times to not be too knee-jerk. wasn't as bad as my first impression, but I wasn't overly enthused with his tackling, specifically. still too many hip-dropish tackles for my liking. too passive.

 

[DWinzit]

How is next year's draft at TE?

Very meh with no studs at this point. First one may go off the board in the 3rd round.

And this draft isn't graded very high either. However there is a lot of potential in the middle of the draft

EDIT - My bad, the question quoted was from the first page of this thread. I go lost I the way back machine....

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[DWinzit]

There has been talk on and off about who will wear the green helmet for our defense this year. Through the draft the only players that I recall discussed entered have been Downs, Styles, Rodriguez and Thieeman I believe.

Are there any others that any of you can think of that could step into this in 2026?

I mean Luvu has a little experience and McGee was talked up by the staff last year but are either of these going to always be on the field? Anyone else come to mid or should we focus on this more in the draft?

 

[KDawg]

watched it a couple more times to not be too knee-jerk. wasn't as bad as my first impression, but I wasn't overly enthused with his tackling, specifically. still too many hip-dropish tackles for my liking. too passive.

I think this is a very correctable issue, but it is an issue regardless. I don’t think it sours me on the prospect. But Styles and the coaching staff would need to get him immediate extra assistance with tackling (rugby coach!)

 

[KDawg]

There has been talk on and off about who will wear the green helmet for our defense this year. Through the draft the only players that I recall discussed entered have been Downs, Styles, Rodriguez and Thieeman I believe.

Are there any others that any of you can think of that could step into this in 2026?

I mean Luvu has a little experience and McGee was talked up by the staff last year but are either of these going to always be on the field? Anyone else come to mid or should we focus on this more in the draft?

Why do we keep talking about a safety wearing the green dot? The primary green dot in the ‘24 AND ‘25 seasons only had one total safety out of 64 possibilities, and that was Amani Hooker with the Titans in 2024.

The green dot is almost always a linebacker.

Yes, we could be the exception and not the rule in certain scenarios. But the green dot is by and large always a backer. They communicate to the front and the secondary.

It’s harder for a safety to communicate to the front. Not impossible. Just harder.

 

[DWinzit]

Why do we keep talking about a safety wearing the green dot? The primary green dot in the ‘24 AND ‘25 seasons only had one total safety out of 64 possibilities, and that was Amani Hooker with the Titans in 2024.

The green dot is almost always a linebacker.

Yes, we could be the exception and not the rule in certain scenarios. But the green dot is by and large always a backer. They communicate to the front and the secondary.

It’s harder for a safety to communicate to the front. Not impossible. Just harder.

I do get that but you must admit, I this thread and through this thread, Downs has been brought up many times about being the teams defensive QB

That is also why I only mentioned Luvu and McGee from our vets from last year.

 

[KDawg]

I do get that but you must admit, I this thread and through this thread, Downs has been brought up many times about being the teams defensive QB

I’ve seen that… and I’ve tried to ignore it because it’s just such a odd angle.

A safety can absolutely set the coverages and rolls and things of that nature. But they don’t need the green dot to do that.

 

[burgold]

The more I think about it I hope the pick winds up being an offensive player. Unfortunately, that really means two players to root to fall to us. Originally, I was feeling sketchy about Tate and I still do. I see Tate being good to very good but never amazing. Love, obviously, has the potential to be amazing. I won't be mad if we wind up with a really high potential defensive player, but the O needs a long term fixture.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I just don't want Love to go to the Giants. I can't stand this wait, draft can't come soon enough for me. I would be fine with any of the names we have discussed. They all seem like good prospects for different reasons.