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

[DWinzit]

Early granted.

But if feels right now that we got Mendoza and Reese going in the top 3 picks. Moore would be the other if he declares.

Who do you think are slam dunk top 5? That's the thing for me right now that top 10 seems wide open, more so than usual.

Yes it is too early, not quite like most other years. I think Love, Tyson or Tate (depending on workouts) I also see Bailey going earlier than is shown right now.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Going back to Love and underrated part of NE's resurgence has been Henderson. He's averaging 5.4 yard per carry. Love IMO is even more explosive.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yes it is too early, not quite like most other years. I think Love, Tyson or Tate (depending on workouts) I also see Bailey going earlier than is shown right now.

I'd be surprised if Love goes top 5 as much as I love the player. Tate or Tyson maybe. I agree Bailey could go earlier but don't see yet slam dunk top 5.

 

[DWinzit]

I'd be surprised if Love goes top 5 as much as I love the player. Tate or Tyson maybe. I agree Bailey could go earlier but don't see yet slam dunk top 5.

The workout results and early FA decisions are going to be bigger than normal factors in the way the top 5 of this draft play out

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Going back to Love and underrated part of NE's resurgence has been Henderson. He's averaging 5.4 yard per carry. Love IMO is even more explosive.

Extremely underrated, but also usage/timing matters. Kliff doesn't utilize RB the way Josh does - especially not this year. Josh's timing and unpredictability is way off the charts by comparison.

I would be really worried that any early round RB becomes a wasted pick due to that. Anytime an OC says "sometimes I forget to call runs" - it doesn't scream early-round RB draft pick to me. I get these dudes can catch well and move in space really well, and that matters and is great, but I just wonder if we get more impact positionally elsewhere. I don't know, I believe in BPA but if they are keeping Kliff around it could be problematic or I'm overthinking.

 

[Chris]

Season to date NE has run the ball 401 times for 1714 yds (4.3 yds per). Ex QB runs 311/1348/4.33

WAS 401/1919/4.8. Ex QB 294/1343/4.56

Ex QB runs- NE 22.2 per game, WAS 21.0 per game.

The difference in receiving talent and being behind in games often by multiple scores should to be taken into consideration.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

Going back to Love and underrated part of NE's resurgence has been Henderson. He's averaging 5.4 yard per carry. Love IMO is even more explosive.

And my RB#1 from last year. It feels good to be right about 30 percent of the time baby!

 

[Conn]

Season to date NE has run the ball 401 times for 1714 yds (4.3 yds per). Ex QB runs 311/1348/4.33

WAS 401/1919/4.8. Ex QB 294/1343/4.56

Ex QB runs- NE 22.2 per game, WAS 21.0 per game.

The difference in receiving talent and being behind in games often by multiple scores should to be taken into consideration.

To be fair NE barely used Henderson the first six weeks, and he’s transformed their running game since they started leaning on him more heavily. People were making fun of them actually for how little they were using an obviously explosive guy early on (he was probably learning the pass protection assignments to their liking). But hey, their guy also might not hit the rookie wall because of that so who knows

 

[Chris]

To be fair NE barely used Henderson the first six weeks, and he’s transformed their running game since they started leaning on him more heavily. People were making fun of them actually for how little they were using an obviously explosive guy early on (he was probably learning the pass protection assignments to their liking). But hey, their guy also might not hit the rookie wall because of that so who knows

I’m not at all debating Henderson and his abilities. I’m simply pointing out that the argument that NE’s use of the run game is not a great example to use as an indictment of Kingsbury’s use of the run game.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I'm not drafting an undersized slot WR that needs help with his releases off the line and runs poor routes vs man coverage in the Top 10. That's madness. I don't care if he's a 'dog' and fights for contested catches and always falls forward when getting tackled.

If you can't beat press, then you aren't a 1st round WR let alone Top 10.

Maybe there's tape of a game for Lemon where he shows he can do it, but in the two I saw, he couldn't. He feasted on manufactured releases, pick plays, screens, and soft zone coverages he was adept at finding soft spots for. That's great, but it's still missing the main part of the package needed in the NFL.

P.S. If Denzel Boston is actually 6'4 then his current draft projections are more justified. If he's more like 6'2 theeeennnn... I'm extremely cautious.
P.P.S Every now and then Senior Bowl is less excitement about prospects and more trying to waylay fears. I worry this year is the latter. Too many guys need to "prove it" there.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

I'm not drafting an undersized slot WR that needs help with his releases off the line and runs poor routes vs man coverage in the Top 10. That's madness. I don't care if he's a 'dog' and fights for contested catches and always falls forward when getting tackled.

Thanks for the input I've not looked at Lemon yet. I am liking Ja'Kobi Lane USC WR quite a bit though. WR and RB look pretty decent to my eyes thus far though it's way early.

 

[Discobob]

Going back to Love and underrated part of NE's resurgence has been Henderson. He's averaging 5.4 yard per carry. Love IMO is even more explosive.

I'm not against getting a stud RB... but if we could get a guy like Breece Hall in FA (probably not likely).... I'd love to be able to allocate our 1st to another position.

I'm in favor of overpaying for Offensive weapons in FA this year, so we can use our draft pick to shore up the defense.

 

[clskinsfan]

Yes it is too early, not quite like most other years. I think Love, Tyson or Tate (depending on workouts) I also see Bailey going earlier than is shown right now.

What's wild to me is a few of the top picks are most likely going to be sticking with their current QB's. And this draft is really weak at that position imo. Which will limit trade down opportunities. The Raiders and Titans need one. And can most likely stay put and get one.

 

[Conn]

I’m not at all debating Henderson and his abilities. I’m simply pointing out that the argument that NE’s use of the run game is not a great example to use as an indictment of Kingsbury’s use of the run game.

Oh, yeah. That’s fair. My issue with Kliff is more about sequencing. Not arguing I could do it better 🤣 but my issue is usually when, how, and who when he’s calling run plays. The overall stats usually end up looking like we’re a solid run team with a solid respect for it but when watching the games, I’m rarely happy with the situational play-calling and the way he stacks runs and passes throughout drives and over quarters/halves. It makes it harder to explain the issue with him bc the stats look basically fine

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Oh, yeah. That’s fair. My issue with Kliff is more about sequencing. Not arguing I could do it better 🤣 but my issue is usually when, how, and who when he’s calling run plays. The overall stats usually end up looking like we’re a solid run team with a solid respect for it but when watching the games, I’m rarely happy with the situational play-calling and the way he stacks runs and passes throughout drives and over quarters/halves. It makes it harder to explain the issue with him bc the stats look basically fine

That is the same thing I said and have been saying.

It has been mentioned by various analysts including Paulsen which means he must really believe it (he is so hesitant to critique the offensive coaching typically).

Predictability is awkwardly high in how Kliff calls runs at certain times, and it leads to bad places.

The other huge difference in NE and WAS is in defense.

Kliff has been asked about the run game and has parroted the same stats- while admitting in a roundabout way that he and DQ are not eye to eye on the playcalling. This has been the case both seasons. Nothing new.

 

[Chris]

The two biggest differences between New England and Washington this season are schedule and injuries.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

The two biggest differences between New England and Washington this season are schedule and injuries.

You don't see their defenses as very different? I am not an expert on NE Defense, but I am pretty sure this is just not true.

Even last year, the Commanders defense wasn't so great. It was generally mediocre at best, and made timely stops. NE does more than that - a lot more.

The defense is quite a big difference, with or without injuries.

 

[Chris]

The defense is quite a big difference, with or without injuries.

With or without injuries is not really fair.

Would the WAS defense have been better playing LV, Pitt, Car, NO, Tenn, Cle, NYJ and Cinn without Burrow?

 

[clskinsfan]

With or without injuries is not really fair.

Would the WAS defense have been better playing LV, Pitt, Car, NO, Tenn, Cle, NYJ and Cinn without Burrow?

I doubt it. And you cant excuse injuries when you choose to build your team with old free agents.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

With or without injuries is not really fair.

Would the WAS defense have been better playing LV, Pitt, Car, NO, Tenn, Cle, NYJ and Cinn without Burrow?

I agree that it's not as big of a difference without injuries (obviously) but I would be nervous about our defensive play even if they were injury-free. They were still getting destroyed by TEs.

The GB game - there weren't tons of injuries at that time I think. A lot of plays were left on the field by GB that day. They had our Defense figured out in big ways. Minnesota scored 3 TDs with TEs. Had our defense figured out in big ways. This had less to do with injuries than you seem to be thinking, it had to do with significant personnel issues at LB/CB, where these teams were moving guys around to get specific matchups, and burning us with those matchups.

Have you watched NEP play BUF? Or what excuse needs to be rolled out for those games? Do you think our defense, when healthy, with our coordinators and how they have performed this year - do you think they would do as well as NEP did in those 2 games?

I'm not saying NEP Defense is some kind of powerhouse. I think NEP will lose early in the playoffs - and yes, for a lot of the reasons you are saying, they are playing too easy of a schedule. Most people would still think their defense is better than WAS, though.

I find this conversation a little strange, because I don't think there is a ton of debate on NEP's defense being better than WAS, especially given the injuries, but yes, even without. I mean, for goodness sake, didn't we replace our DC? That alone is probably a little telling? Didn't we let up 31 points to a QB who had stunk up the joint before? Didn't we -- do I need to continue?