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

I was not suggesting criticism was out of bounds. Emphasis was on the word ‘heap’.
 
Here's how I'd rank them right now we'll see how things go in a few months.

Top 25 Edge

1. Reuben Bain Miami
2. David Bailey Texas Tech
3. TJ Parker Clemson
4. Damon Wilson II Missouri
5. Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State
6. Romello Height Texas Tech
7. Cashius Howell Texas A&M
8. R. Mason Thomas Oklahoma
9. Anthony Smith Minnesota
10. Matayo Uiagalelei Oregon
11. Joshua Josephs Tennessee
12. Gabe Jacas Illinois
13. Akeem Mesidor Miami
14. Zion Young Missouri
15. Teitum Tuioti Oregon *Tremendous ceiling potential
16. Caden Curry Ohio State
17. Boubacar Traore Notre Dame
18. Kenyatta Jackson Ohio State *Tremendous ceiling potential
19. Derrick Moore Michigan *Underrated
20. Keyron Crawford Auburn
21. Clev Lubin Louisville
22. Mikail Kamara Indiana
23. Bryan Thomas Jr. South Carolina *Underrated explosive player
24. Malachi Lawrence UCF
25. Max Llewellyn Iowa * Tyreak Sapp Florida * Eric O’Neill Rutgers * Jack Pyburn LSU
 
Downs to me remains very intriguing. They get gashed in open field. Downs is everywhere. All around the field. And he's a leader who works with the rest of the secondary.

PFF in the video below end up taking Bailey, who I love, too. But they spend a lot of time on Downs who they feel is a good fit for this team.



 
Even with them having nothing to play for id be surprised if we beat the eagles next week, assuming we do lose I could see a scenario where we get up to 5 but not likely any higher, something crazy would have to happen to get higher than that.
The titans could beat the saints this week and the Cardinals could beat the bengals, if that happens we'd jump to 5.
Jets have almost no chance to win either of their two remaining and even if the browns win one of their last two they'll end up with the tiebreaker with a weaker schedule.
Hope for a Cardinals and titans win this week and we'll most likely draft number 5.
Last time we drafted 5th and there was a superstar cant miss safety coming out we did pretty good for ourselves. 😁

I hope Sirianni takes on Quinn's challenge of we will see them in two weeks and takes this game a little seriously.
 
Even with them having nothing to play for id be surprised if we beat the eagles next week, assuming we do lose I could see a scenario where we get up to 5 but not likely any higher, something crazy would have to happen to get higher than that.
The titans could beat the saints this week and the Cardinals could beat the bengals, if that happens we'd jump to 5.
Jets have almost no chance to win either of their two remaining and even if the browns win one of their last two they'll end up with the tiebreaker with a weaker schedule.
Hope for a Cardinals and titans win this week and we'll most likely draft number 5.
Last time we drafted 5th and there was a superstar cant miss safety coming out we did pretty good for ourselves. 😁
Realistically figuring 6 or 7 which is a good spot to be in.

Our last 5th was actually Bradon Scherff in 2015. Both he and ST were very good selections. I was really hoping we take Leonard Williams who I had as the best player in the draft.

Funny we ended out rostering 3 other top 9 from that draft - Mariota(2), Fowler (3) and Flowers (9)
 
As far as games this Sunday to me:

Titans-Saints -- we want the Titans to win. Although if the Saints win it pretty much locks them into pick 7. If the Titans win, they go up a spot.

Arizona-Cincy -- we want Arizona to win, we'd go up a spot in the draft. If Cincy wins it pretty much locks in that they won't pick later than 8.

The irony is there is some upside if both of those games don't go our way. If that happens it makes a win against the Eagles likely meaningless.

As far as SOS, the one team that its down to the wire with is NO, Washington with the stronger SOS but its close. Only matters if Cincy loses out or Washington beats the Eagles. But as to SOS difference, the easy way to look at is you want NFC East teams to lose and AFC East teams to win. They played the AFC East, Washington only played one team in the AFC East.

We got the tie breaker SOS over the Jets but hard for me to see them beating NE and Buffalo. The Browns have the tie breakers over us, so they likely have to win both games versus Cincy and the Steelers, not impossible but doubtful.
 
As far as games this Sunday to me:

Titans-Saints -- we want the Titans to win. Although if the Saints win it pretty much locks them into pick 7. If the Titans win, they go up a spot.

Arizona-Cincy -- we want Arizona to win, we'd go up a spot in the draft. If Cincy wins it pretty much locks in that they won't pick later than 8.

The irony is there is some upside if both of those games don't go our way. If that happens it makes a win against the Eagles likely meaningless.

As far as SOS, the one team that its down to the wire with is NO, Washington with the stronger SOS but its close. Only matters if Cincy loses out or Washington beats the Eagles. But as to SOS difference, the easy way to look at is you want NFC East teams to lose and AFC East teams to win. They played the AFC East, Washington only played one team in the AFC East.

We got the tie breaker SOS over the Jets but hard for me to see them beating NE and Buffalo. The Browns have the tie breakers over us, so they likely have to win both games versus Cincy and the Steelers, not impossible but doubtful.
A lot of variables as the rest of the regular season plays out. You rather not but I'd rather us trade down and get more picks using our high 1st, 3rds and 5ths. AP was brought in to draft up talent and he must do this job well in 2026 and the picks from 2024 and 2025 must improve. There are good players in this draft that he must find. DQ must bring at the very least a .500 record in 2026 and if not get the ax and AP must find the next HC to replace him.
 
A lot of variables as the rest of the regular season plays out. You rather not but I'd rather us trade down and get more picks using our high 1st, 3rds and 5ths. AP was brought in to draft up talent and he must do this job well in 2026 and the picks from 2024 and 2025 must improve. There are good players in this draft that he must find. DQ must bring at the very least a .500 record in 2026 and if not get the ax and AP must find the next HC to replace him.

It's not that I'd rather not, it's simply that its not a theortical conversation to me. Depends on the offer. Depends on who is on the board. Every trade down made in the last twenty years or so felt like big wins in real time but ended up big loses including some that many forget like go get your Demarcus Lawrence Dallas, you can have our pick because the joke in on you, we will get Trent Murphy AND Spencer Long.

Is there a team in the NFL who has drafted less elite players in the last 30 years or so than this one? the last one aside from Jayden would be Trent.

So in short I'd want a first rounder for 2027 to trade down. Otherwise if they feel the player they are skipping on is elite -- I am not skipping on them so we can get a 2nd round pick to get the next Trent Murphy, Ryan Anderson or heck even some of the sort of hits like Preston Smith, Mike Sainristil.
 
It's not that I'd rather not, it's simply that its not a theortical conversation to me. Depends on the offer. Depends on who is on the board. Every trade down made in the last twenty years or so felt like big wins in real time but ended up big loses including some that many forget like go get your Demarcus Lawrence Dallas, you can have our pick because the joke in on you, we will get Trent Murphy AND Spencer Long.

Is there a team in the NFL who has drafted less elite players in the last 30 years or so than this one? the last one aside from Jayden would be Trent.

So in short I'd want a first rounder for 2027 to trade down. Otherwise if they feel the player they are skipping on is elite -- I am not skipping on them so we can get a 2nd round pick to get the next Trent Murphy, Ryan Anderson or heck even some of the sort of hits like Preston Smith, Mike Sainristil.
Understand your theory and thoughts on this but this is where the GMs earn their worth. Look a Philly. Roseman is one of the best if not the best GMs. Most of the time he is trading out of the 1st or other various rounds to accumulate more picks. Respectfully, I think you have a better chance getting more talent by acquiring more picks than setting at your draft position in the selecting your player. Just my thoughts. I am doing simulation right now at what we could have if we traded out high 1st, 3rd and 5th rounders and added them vs. using what we currently have and putting them side by side to each other. I'll get back to you with what I come up with. (y)
 
It's not that I'd rather not, it's simply that its not a theortical conversation to me. Depends on the offer. Depends on who is on the board. Every trade down made in the last twenty years or so felt like big wins in real time but ended up big loses including some that many forget like go get your Demarcus Lawrence Dallas, you can have our pick because the joke in on you, we will get Trent Murphy AND Spencer Long.

Is there a team in the NFL who has drafted less elite players in the last 30 years or so than this one? the last one aside from Jayden would be Trent.

So in short I'd want a first rounder for 2027 to trade down. Otherwise if they feel the player they are skipping on is elite -- I am not skipping on them so we can get a 2nd round pick to get the next Trent Murphy, Ryan Anderson or heck even some of the sort of hits like Preston Smith, Mike Sainristil.
I am of a similar mindset.

If everything goes our way like two years ago and we miraculously end up with the second or 3rd pick and we got an offer too good to refuse, I'd pull the trigger, we need the draft capital but if we're sitting 5th to 7th and Caleb downs or another elite talent is sitting there id rather do that than move back 5 spots to pick up a mid second round pick and yet again pass up jj watt, demarcus Lawrence, Cooper dejean etc, we've done that way too many times, its time to get some guys that sell jerseys outside of the dmv area.
 
skinsinparadise Attached is the difference between trading and getting these players vs. using what we currently have.

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I am of a similar mindset.

If everything goes our way like two years ago and we miraculously end up with the second or 3rd pick and we got an offer too good to refuse, I'd pull the trigger, we need the draft capital but if we're sitting 5th to 7th and Caleb downs or another elite talent is sitting there id rather do that than move back 5 spots to pick up a mid second round pick and yet again pass up jj watt, demarcus Lawrence, Cooper dejean etc, we've done that way too many times, its time to get some guys that sell jerseys outside of the dmv area.
Respectfully, Roseman finds talent at whatever position even if the team he wants to trade with doesn't do it like when he wanted to trade with AP and AP bascially told him to pound sand. Look at what Jacksonville's new GM, James Gladstone did in just one year. He moved around got more selections and is steering his ship in the right direction. Yes, Gladstone moved up to get a player last year in his first year but he also moved down and acquired more selections in the draft and picked up more capital in this upcoming draft in 2026. This is what good GMs do. Just my thoughts.
 
Downs to me remains very intriguing. They get gashed in open field. Downs is everywhere. All around the field. And he's a leader who works with the rest of the secondary.

PFF in the video below end up taking Bailey, who I love, too. But they spend a lot of time on Downs who they feel is a good fit for this team.




Downs is an interesting conversation. I like him as a leader and sure tackler. But he is not huge or blindingly fast, and he is not quite the incredible natural athlete that Ed Reed was....so what is he? He is a very high floor player. I don't discount positional value of safety but I'm not sure that Downs himself has the ceiling of a player you draft in the top 7.

If the draft shook out like the start of that pff video does, I'd be ecstatic picking between Tate and Bailey. My choice would depend on how pre-draft testing shakes out.
 
Respectfully, Roseman finds talent at whatever position even if the team he wants to trade with doesn't do it like when he wanted to trade with AP and AP bascially told him to pound sand. Look at what Jacksonville's new GM, James Gladstone did in just one year. He moved around got more selections and is steering his ship in the right direction. Yes, Gladstone moved up to get a player last year in his first year but he also moved down and acquired more selections in the draft and picked up more capital in this upcoming draft in 2026. This is what good GMs do. Just my thoughts.
Yeah no doubt, there's more than one way to skin a cat and there will always be examples of both ways working and both ways failing.

Chase young would be a hell of an example of staying put and taking the cant miss guy failing spectacularly.

Either way I dont think any of us care what they do as long as we start acquiring real talent in bunches.
 
skinsinparadise Attached is the difference between trading and getting these players vs. using what we currently have.

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View attachment 13734


View attachment 13735
I've said for years I don't do any trade down in mock simuilators because it becomes insanely unrealistic. Yeah if its the fantasy version of trade downs, sign me up. I used to joke that if it went like those simulators I can rebuild any team in one off season.

If its the normal trade downs in the real world, I'd want a 2027 first rounder otherwise yawn unless they just trade down a pick or two. Trading down to 18, I'd gag unless there is a crazy haul including a 2027 first rounder.

Neither of those drafts you display as to the first two players though would excite me but to each their own.
 
Understand your theory and thoughts on this but this is where the GMs earn their worth. Look a Philly. Roseman is one of the best if not the best GMs. Most of the time he is trading out of the 1st or other various rounds to accumulate more picks. Respectfully, I think you have a better chance getting more talent by acquiring more picks than setting at your draft position in the selecting your player. Just my thoughts. I am doing simulation right now at what we could have if we traded out high 1st, 3rd and 5th rounders and added them vs. using what we currently have and putting them side by side to each other. I'll get back to you with what I come up with. (y)

Roseman actually seems to trade up much more than trades down.

Traded up with us to get Cooper Dejean. But lol the joke is on him since we got BOTH Sainristill and Sinnott.

He tried to trade up with Washington again last year. And ended up trading up with the Chiefs.

Traded up to get Jalen Carter.

Traded up to get Jordan Davis.

Traded up to get Dovonte Smith.

What do the Eagles excel at? it's chasing elite talent. Keim talks about that in recent podcasts -- Eagles don't get every pick or signing right but they do one thing this team struggles with -- that is, land elite talent.
 
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Downs is an interesting conversation. I like him as a leader and sure tackler. But he is not huge or blindingly fast, and he is not quite the incredible natural athlete that Ed Reed was....so what is he? He is a very high floor player. I don't discount positional value of safety but I'm not sure that Downs himself has the ceiling of a player you draft in the top 7.

If the draft shook out like the start of that pff video does, I'd be ecstatic picking between Tate and Bailey. My choice would depend on how pre-draft testing shakes out.

I've talked about this. Downs isn't an elite athlete, he's not a freak. For me at safety and LB, my key thing for both spots are anticipation skills. I want a dude who has a nose for the ball and is in the thick of the action and that's Downs big time.

What you are likely getting is this:

A. Elite anticipation skills. If you watch him play he's almost always in the thick of the action. It's like having another LB on the field on that front.

B. A rare safety who excels both in coverage and against the run.

C. A dude who studies defenses like an Ed Reed. that's part of the reason why his anticipation skills are so special

D. Like Ed Reed, he's a leader type who puts in the time to help the players in the secondary including directing them.

 
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Respectfully, Roseman finds talent at whatever position even if the team he wants to trade with doesn't do it like when he wanted to trade with AP and AP bascially told him to pound sand. Look at what Jacksonville's new GM, James Gladstone did in just one year. He moved around got more selections and is steering his ship in the right direction. Yes, Gladstone moved up to get a player last year in his first year but he also moved down and acquired more selections in the draft and picked up more capital in this upcoming draft in 2026. This is what good GMs do. Just my thoughts.
Why is Gladstone a good GM? Because the Jags are having a good year, in his first year? How is that any different than what we did last year with Peters and Quinn?
 

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