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

[skinsinparadise]

I’m just now thinking about the draft, so I’m sorry if this has been covered, but how are we feeling about Jeremiyah Love?

I know running backs are no longer valued like they once were, but I think a truly great one can be worth it. Look at Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffery’s careers, what Saquon Barkley did for Philly last year, what Jahmyr Gibbs brings to Detroit, etc.

Putting aside whether or not RB is the best play from a need-value perspective, could Love be in that elite tier? If so, I would at least consider it.

I've talked a ton about him. Yeah IMO elite category -- special. Power, speed, great hands, can pass block, high intangibles.

If not for him being a RB, he'd be by a mile my #1 want in this draft.

To your point about McCaffrey. SF is the closest team to this team as to injuries. SF had them last year, too with McCaffrey among them -- that season SF fell off a cliff. This season with McCaffrey they haven't fallen off a cliff.

 

[method man]

on the Take Command pod postgame, Grant asked Kedric Golston what his number one would need for the D would be and he mentioned hybrid safety/linebacker given how this team has gotten killed by elite RBs and all TEs this year.

Points to Downs

I disagree but Kedric is a high school HC running a successful program so I respect his opinion

 

[skinsinparadise]

on the Take Command pod postgame, Grant asked Kedric Golston what his number one would need for the D would be and he mentioned hybrid safety/linebacker given how this team has gotten killed by elite RBs and all TEs this year.

Points to Downs

I disagree but Kedric is a high school HC running a successful program so I respect his opinion

Yeah Downs would be my 2nd favorite player after Love if again I didn't account for position.

He's such a smart player. We are so used to blaming the LBs for example for not having sideline to sideline speed to stop screens, outside zone runs -- and we don't even factor the safeties in those conversations because we are so used to having jags at that spot. But Downs would add another layer to setting that edge.

Hail Raiser and I especially used to talk safeties a lot in the ES draft thread. Going way back I was obsessed with Derwin James and M. Fitzpatrick in that draft. I loved Kyle Hamilton when some on ES were oddly down on him. Loved Brian Branch. Loved Mckinley. On and on. I like watching safeties. lol, one of my misses is looking to be ironically Quan Martin but i liked him, didn't love him.

Been the same with TEs and I said 2 off season ago, Brock Bowers is the best TE I ever watched and I've watched a ton of them. And I don't think it was hard to see.

Am saying all of this to make the point that Downs read-reaction skills are the best I've seen from any safety I watched. He isn't the athletic freak that Derwin James is, or has the cover skills of Fitzpatrick, or is a LB size wise playing safety like Hamilton. But in the context of being around the ball and in the mix of the action -- I've not seen anyone better than him.

Even though he doesn't have the size of a LB, he has the instincts of a London Fletcher-Wagner type where he's like a scud missile flying around to the action.

If I had to bet on one dude being a superstar in this draft where I'd bet on it in Vegas, it would be him.

His instincts as a box safety is out of this world. He's a good FS type too but not as special IMO as he is when playing in the box. I actually like him as a prospect better than any safety I've watched -- but lol its not be as big of a margin as what I felt for Bowers.

 

[clskinsfan]

If draft day unfolds anything like this, I wouldn't want to trade outside of pick 11. And lol, if they do trade down, I expect them to lose the trade, its been a tradition here for about two decades. Doesn't matter the GM.

It appears Brugler likes Faulks upside more than Bains as well. I would not hate that pick though. We must get an impact front 7 player from this draft.

 

[clskinsfan]

*Guy who thinks way too much about how Chase Young didn't work out*

"Getting a lot of Chase Young vibes from this Bain guy"

It's me. I'm guy.

Bain is a high motor guy. Chase was known for taking plays off. Even in college.

 

[clskinsfan]

on the Take Command pod postgame, Grant asked Kedric Golston what his number one would need for the D would be and he mentioned hybrid safety/linebacker given how this team has gotten killed by elite RBs and all TEs this year.

Points to Downs

I disagree but Kedric is a high school HC running a successful program so I respect his opinion

I would be fine with Downs. He is a true impact safety. I think we need a front 7 player more. But I would not be upset at all if they picked Downs.

 

[method man]

Yeah Downs would be my 2nd favorite player after Love if again I didn't account for position.

He's such a smart player. We are so used to blaming the LBs for example for not having sideline to sideline speed to stop screens, outside zone runs -- and we don't even factor the safeties in those conversations because we are so used to having jags at that spot. But Downs would add another layer to setting that edge.

Hail Raiser and I especially used to talk safeties a lot in the ES draft thread. Going way back I was obsessed with Derwin James and M. Fitzpatrick in that draft. I loved Kyle Hamilton when some on ES were oddly down on him. Loved Brian Branch. Loved Mckinley. On and on. I like watching safeties. lol, one of my misses is looking to be ironically Quan Martin but i liked him, didn't love him.

Been the same with TEs and I said 2 off season ago, Brock Bowers is the best TE I ever watched and I've watched a ton of them. And I don't think it was hard to see.

Am saying all of this to make the point that Downs read-reaction skills are the best I've seen from any safety I watched. He isn't the athletic freak that Derwin James is, or has the cover skills of Fitzpatrick, or is a LB size wise playing safety like Hamilton. But in the context of being around the ball and in the mix of the action -- I've not seen anyone better than him.

Even though he doesn't have the size of a LB, he has the instincts of a London Fletcher-Wagner type where he's like a scud missile flying around to the action.

If I had to bet on one dude being a superstar in this draft where I'd bet on it in Vegas, it would be him.

His instincts as a box safety is out of this world. He's a good FS type too but not as special IMO as he is when playing in the box. I actually like him as a prospect better than any safety I've watched -- but lol its not be as big of a margin as what I felt for Bowers.

Best shot at this is AP aggressively upgrading WR and EDGE in FA at which point he feels he can make a BPA pick.

Given he doesn’t have special size, I don’t see Downs going top 5. Low end of top 10 to early teens feels most likely so maybe a guy you go for after a trade down.

Although LBs usually wear the green dot, he could wear it in a year or two

 

[skinsinparadise]

Best shot at this is AP aggressively upgrading WR and EDGE in FA at which point he feels he can make a BPA pick.

Given he doesn’t have special size, I don’t see Downs going top 5. Low end of top 10 to early teens feels most likely so maybe a guy you go for after a trade down.

Although LBs usually wear the green dot, he could wear it in a year or two

Agree with all of this.

 

[clskinsfan]

USA Todays most recent mock has Reese, Downs, Bain and Faulk going 1-4. That is a nightmare scenario for us.

2026 NFL mock draft: QB catastrophe could unfold in first round

Dante Moore and Ty Simpson have altered the QB outlook in 2026 NFL mock drafts. But if neither declares, things might start to look grim.

www.usatoday.com

 

[skinsinparadise]

It appears Brugler likes Faulks upside more than Bains as well. I would not hate that pick though. We must get an impact front 7 player from this draft.

I think the idea with Faulk is upside ala a Shemar Stewart and flex to play him inside-outside -- 3 technique-5, etc. Good against the run. Really strong.

With Bain, for a dude his size he has good bend IMO and a good motor with good pass rushing moves. Also good against the run. But does that lack of length translate to the NFL?

Bailey to me is more the protoype edge in today's NFL. Speed-power, fast get off.

Bailey is a race car. To a less extent ironically so is his teammate Height. Faulk is like well built jeep. Bain somewhere in between the two.

 

[skinsinparadise]

USA Todays most recent mock has Reese, Downs, Bain and Faulk going 1-4. That is a nightmare scenario for us.

2026 NFL mock draft: QB catastrophe could unfold in first round

Dante Moore and Ty Simpson have altered the QB outlook in 2026 NFL mock drafts. But if neither declares, things might start to look grim.

www.usatoday.com

Not for me. I'd do cartwheels to get Carnell Tate.

I saw a mock today, forgetting from whom, who said they expect Bailey to be the #1 pass rusher in most mocks by the time we get to April. Will see. But that feels intuitive to me.

Bain and Faulk both seem risky to me for different reasons.

I think Faulk's floor is high enough where I can see him being solid. Bain feels more boom-bust to me - he's a much more fun watch for me than Faulk but those small arms bother the heck out of me.

Bailey just feels easy to project to the NFL -- he looks to me like an NFL pass rusher.

 

[DWinzit]

This is not a draft where I am going to fall in love with one or two of the top players.

There are a bunch of pretty solid WR's and Edge/Ends which are our two biggest weaknesses. (Yes Love might be more special than many of them but do they really take a RB early knowing they can't fill a roster holes until the third round?).

One good thing about virtually all of these pass rushers (and a few others) is they have relentless motors and they are good against the run. You gotta love that and you definitely can't compare them to Kinda Chase Young.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

WR class looks strong thus far. Quite a few could go in the 1st round.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Demarcus, not Dexter (I call Derrick Henry "Travis" all the time), before someone starts spouting off that we could have had Dexter Lawrence. But yes, your point stands--it was a dumb trade down, as was the Olave pass (or pretty much anything else Rivera did in the draft for that matter). However, there are several successful trade backs. I am not for it or against it--like you said--has to be the right situation. I am hoping for a perennial loser to trade up for Ty Simpson or Moore if they should fall for us.

Another hypothetical: If we're picking 6th; and Downs, Tate, Reese are all gone--do we stay and take Love or take a trade back to 16 with the Panthers and add a ton of picks--including a likely top-5 pick next year too, because we think the Panthers are going to be bad--they always are. I'd make that trade.

I am good with trading back where they get a #1 for 2027 but am not expecting that offer for two reasons.

1. 2027 draft is supposed to be historic and that's not a well kept secret. I don't think teams will easily give that up.

2. I don't think there are many prospects thaty warrant a trade like that as to trading up

 

[RedWolf]

I don't know about you guys but I'm really disappointed. I feel like "God damn how did we land in this shit hole again?" I know it takes a while to rebuild, especially after RR, but I did not expect to be this terrible this year. I can't believe in the middle of the Season (thread is over a month old) and we're already talking about the 2026 draft and possibly a top five draft pick. And a weaker draft class to boot.

It's frustrating and infuriating

 

[skinsinparadise]

WR class looks strong thus far. Quite a few could go in the 1st round.

Agree, That's what all the draftniks are saying. Loaded at edge, Wr, LB. TE, S good, too.

Tate, Lemon, Tyson, Boston, Concepcion.

Early 2nd: Bell, Brazell

Late 2nd-early third: Lane, Sarratt, Strong, Bernard

I've watched a lot of the perceived top 5 and a small amount of Lane, Bell, Brazell. Sarratt.

I am wanting to love Concepcion and I borderline do but his hands bother me some. But he's a lot of fun -- YAC, great punt returner, can take the top off. If they trade down he's on my radar.

Bell, Brazell, Boston -- i think the combine would be big. Physical, good size WRs, if they test freakish then I think they rise.

 

[Washington Mud Hog]

I’m just now thinking about the draft, so I’m sorry if this has been covered, but how are we feeling about Jeremiyah Love?

I know running backs are no longer valued like they once were, but I think a truly great one can be worth it. Look at Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffery’s careers, what Saquon Barkley did for Philly last year, what Jahmyr Gibbs brings to Detroit, etc.

Putting aside whether or not RB is the best play from a need-value perspective, could Love be in that elite tier? If so, I would at least consider it.

I love Love as a prospect. As much as I would root for him on our team and expect him to put up big numbers, I firmly believe EDGE (or pass rusher) is the position we need to upgrade to have the biggest effect on the whole team's ability as a whole to win. Re: Henry, McCaffery, and Saquon, their original teams that acquired them through the draft remained in mediocrity after rostering them. The J Gibbs situation was different and not applicable to us; Lions already had Goff, St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Swift, Hockenson and Hutchinson before getting him. We're still multiple pieces away from stocking up our core of the future.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

Agree, That's what all the draftniks are saying. Loaded at edge, Wr, LB. TE, S good, too.

Tate, Lemon, Tyson, Boston, Concepcion.

Early 2nd: Bell, Brazell

Late 2nd-early third: Lane, Sarratt, Strong, Bernard

I've watched a lot of the perceived top 5 and a small amount of Lane, Bell, Brazell. Sarratt.

I am wanting to love Concepcion and I borderline do but his hands bother me some. But he's a lot of fun -- YAC, great punt returner, can take the top off. If they trade down he's on my radar.

Bell, Brazell, Boston -- i think the combine would be big. Physical, good size WRs, if they test freakish then I think they rise.

Not watched Concepcion yet but look forward to it ditto with Lemon. Tyson I sort of remember from last years go round and liked him but need to watch again. Thus far Bell and Tate are my top choices but am impressed with Boston too. Ja'Kobi Lane is growing on me too.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

I love Love as a prospect.

LOL, I am easily amused

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't know about you guys but I'm really disappointed. I feel like "God damn how did we land in this shit hole again?" I know it takes a while to rebuild, especially after RR, but I did not expect to be this terrible this year. I can't believe in the middle of the Season (thread is over a month old) and we're already talking about the 2026 draft and possibly a top five draft pick. And a weaker draft class to boot.

It's frustrating and infuriating

The draft and to a lesser extent FA is set up perfectly to this team weaknesses.

I had concerns leading into the season and it went south more than I expected albiet those concerns mostly alas were borne out.

I don't think this is a hard fix. I know it sounds basic but I do think its a big deal that Peters and Quinn likely get why it went off the rails and will work to fix it. Some of the best regimes I felt were more delusional after a lost season.

Watched this press conference from Quinn this afternoon. And he comes off as dude who really really understands what needs to be addressed this off season.