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

[skinsinparadise]

I won't disagree with the fact that they didn't work out, but...

- There's no guarantee the alternative would have worked out either

- What they did with the picks (poor drafting) doesn't invalidate the process... it was just bad player evaluation

I don't think it was just poor drafting. Picking higher in the draft increases your chances for success. And every GM we've had lost those trades -- Cerrato, Shanny, McCloughan, Bruce, Ron, Peters.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean the 7th time can't be the charm. But I've mostly celebrated those trade downs at the time but wow have they sucked.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I liked Bailey a lot and again someone who could be drafted if we traded down. If picked a good WR should be available

Not sure he will be a trade down candidate, he could go really high. Early right now as for these mocks. And it wouldn't surprise me post combine that Bailey ends up the top prospect. His profile fits the modern successful pass rusher more than Bain and Faulk.

 

[skinsinparadise]

what do you think of
T.J. Parker
EDGE | Clemson
6'3"
265 lbs

Haven't watched him yet. His stock was really high coming into the season but fallen after a meh season but I'll get to him.

 

[Gooseneck]

Not sure he will be a trade down candidate, he could go really high. Early right now as for these mocks. And it wouldn't surprise me post combine that Bailey ends up the top prospect. His profile fits the modern successful pass rusher more than Bain and Faulk.

I could see the Raiders, the Saints and Cleveland trading up with us and us still picking in the top 8 or so. Assuming, we keep playing like we are playing. Also the Jets. I hope Moore comes out.

 

[skinsinparadise]

To maximize Arvell, it would be as an EDGE in a 3-4 or 3-3-5 scheme. Our personnel may end up fitting it better anyway but that's a conversation for another day.

How much better is Arvell than Bailey and, heck, is he better for our needs?

Not sure yet. I think the combine will be big for both. They both seem to have good length, bend and athleticism. Both actually even though not being big are good against the run albiet more so Reese.

On first blush thinking about Reese, I think he'd actually fit very well in this defense. Like Parsons you can line him anywhere on the D line. He can also play LB. I don't mean 3-4 LB. I mean 4-2-5 LB. Ohio plays plenty of that just like Washington.

I recall some of the film review junkies saying the LB blitzes aren't working the same this year in part because teams assume its Luvu blitzing. You have Reese and Luvu playing LB at times together the double A blitz would be a terror.

Reese isn't some pass rusher who is a passable LB. He can play LB really well including going sideline to slideline to stop the run. He's a weapon on defense. And a unique one.

 

[method man]

If Quinn could figure out what to do with Parsons, you'd figure he can have a good time with the first dude that i can think of since that draft who is compared to death to Parsons deserved or not.


AI Overview


with some evaluators even calling him the closest thing to Parsons since Parsons himself, making him a strong contender to be a #1 overall pick

I was referring to Faulk where his body type seems to equal more of a 3-4 DE on the line

 

[skinsinparadise]

I could see the Raiders, the Saints and Cleveland trading up with us and us still picking in the top 8 or so. Assuming, we keep playing like we are playing. Also the Jets. I hope Moore comes out.

Don't get me wrong, in theory I get it. And in theory I've changed-evolved from almost always loving trading down to at best being unsure about it. It's a bit early as to the prospect evaluations. My mind will likely change 10 times about some of this between now and the draft.

 

[Discobob]

I don't think it was just poor drafting. Picking higher in the draft increases your chances for success. And every GM we've had lost those trades -- Cerrato, Shanny, McCloughan, Bruce, Ron, Peters.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean the 7th time can't be the charm. But I've mostly celebrated those trade downs at the time but wow have they sucked.

No doubt higher is better, but my basic argument would be that those previous "fake" GMs just didn't have a good track record of drafting in any situation, trade backs or not.

The 2008 draft could have been Desean Jackson, Calais Campbell, and Jamaal Charles... instead we ended up with three JAGs. That's on our front office for sucking, not the trade IMO.

 

[skinsinparadise]

No doubt higher is better, but my basic argument would be that those previous "fake" GMs just didn't have a good track record of drafting in any situation, trade backs or not.

The 2008 draft could have been Desean Jackson, Calais Campbell, and Jamaal Charles... instead we ended up with three JAGs. That's on our front office for sucking, not the trade IMO.

Sure. But they all did it. Heck if I had to pick the worst move from Peters here its by a mile that trade down with Philly. Cooper Dejean might end up All Pro. Sainristill is a decent player and Sinnott is just a guy.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Discobob]

Sure. But they all did it. Heck if I had to pick the worst move from Peters here its by a mile that trade down with Philly. Cooper Dejean might end up All Pro. Sainristill is a decent player and Sinnott is just a guy.

I guess we just see this differently. I have no reason to think we would have even drafted Dejean if we stayed put. Or alternatively, they clearly didn't think so highly of Dejean that they needed to stay put and take him.

So again, it's an indictment of our scouting, not the process.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Giants @ Raiders
Saints @ Titans
Jets @Saints

If we lose out (including against the Giants) we’re leapfrogging at least two, probably three teams.

Best case scenario is we lose out, Raiders beat Giants, Titans beat Saints, Saints beat Jets…we’d pick 2nd unless Cleveland manages an upset win. Then we’d pick 1st.

I really doubt we win another game.

 

[Skinfanjon]

I guess we just see this differently. I have no reason to think we would have even drafted Dejean if we stayed put. Or alternatively, they clearly didn't think so highly of Dejean that they needed to stay put and take him.

So again, it's an indictment of our scouting, not the process.

You don’t see how we’d have taken a CB if we hadn’t traded down to take a CB? Ok.

 

[Faithful Fan]

While I am not rooting for loses i do like the upside of them and on that point next week is big

Maybe we really are losing on purpose? Better that than this was the best we could do.

 

[Discobob]

You don’t see how we’d have taken a CB if we hadn’t traded down to take a CB? Ok.

Has there been any indication that we liked Dejean? A very plausible case was that Philly told us who they wanted, and we willingly traded back because we preferred Sainraistl.

The issue I have is shooting down the idea of trading back based on the hindsight of "what we could have done." It's an unfalsifiable argument. We don't know what they would have done had they not moved the pick, but to credit them with the best possible outcome assures that you are skewing the results.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Has there been any indication that we liked Dejean? A very plausible case was that Philly told us who they wanted, and we willingly traded back because we preferred Sainraistl.

The issue I have is shooting down the idea of trading back based on the hindsight of "what we could have done." It's an unfalsifiable argument. We don't know what they would have done had they not moved the pick, but to credit them with the best possible outcome assures that you are skewing the results.

Fair enough, that’s well said. Dejean was the clear cut top ranked corner on the board though. Very much like the Olave/Dotson trade down IMO. Maybe we just didn’t like him.

 

[method man]

Not sure yet. I think the combine will be big for both. They both seem to have good length, bend and athleticism. Both actually even though not being big are good against the run albiet more so Reese.

On first blush thinking about Reese, I think he'd actually fit very well in this defense. Like Parsons you can line him anywhere on the D line. He can also play LB. I don't mean 3-4 LB. I mean 4-2-5 LB. Ohio plays plenty of that just like Washington.

I recall some of the film review junkies saying the LB blitzes aren't working the same this year in part because teams assume its Luvu blitzing. You have Reese and Luvu playing LB at times together the double A blitz would be a terror.

Reese isn't some pass rusher who is a passable LB. He can play LB really well including going sideline to slideline to stop the run. He's a weapon on defense. And a unique one.

I think both guys crush the combine. Agree with your other post that Bailey is a riser as this process moves along. Out of the two, Bailey is the safer pick given the experience, the more finely grained skillset and the clear role. There is always a risk with hybrid players as you need the right DC to unlock their skillset

 

[DWinzit]

Reese does look like he could become a real stud Edge if used properly.

I have not been able to really fall in like with any one of thee edge players so far.

It will be interesting to see if we name a new DC and what scheme do they run with.

 

[method man]

Reese does look like he could become a real stud Edge if used properly.

I have not been able to really fall in like with any one of thee edge players so far.

It will be interesting to see if we name a new DC and what scheme do they run with.

SIP has mentioned that Reese has been getting a lot of Jalon Walker comps, in addition to Parsons comps. DQ obviously mastered how to use Parsons in Dallas. Well, DQ's buddy and longtime former colleague Ulbrich has really used Walker well this year. If he is the guy they are targeting, that is a feather in Ulbrich's cap to come here.

 

[DWinzit]

SIP has mentioned that Reese has been getting a lot of Jalon Walker comps, in addition to Parsons comps. DQ obviously mastered how to use Parsons in Dallas. Well, DQ's buddy and longtime former colleague Ulbrich has really used Walker well this year. If he is the guy they are targeting, that is a feather in Ulbrich's cap to come here.

That is a great point. The only thing would be if Ulbrich signed here he could still not end out with Reese so there would need to be backup plans in place.

The other thing I think about with AP and DQ was how much they like the larger edge/end guys and why they really liked Hendrickson and Bosa. Would they be looking at the larger players or go the root of a Reese or Baily type.

Also if they decide the best thing for the team is to take a slight trade down to add more pieces, could they look to a Styles type?