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

[Gooseneck]

 

[KDawg]

I don’t disagree with this. He is an outstanding edge. He plays the run well, demands double teams and triple teams and has excellent bend.

He is not a high volume sack guy, as I’ve noted before. Bain is a guy that you draft if you want to shut down the run (and he could kick in to 3-tech) and get a middle of the road sack performance.

He is not going to be the best pass rusher.

If that’s what we are after, it’s Bailey.

If we’re after a guy that can move around the DL and help take away the run and demand attention, but won’t have a ton of sacks… Bain is the guy.

As far as fit goes… I actually am starting to think we need the pass rusher more than the all around edge. So I’m leaning Bailey.

It’s basically Bailey, Love or Downs for me if we stay put.

But I still love Bain. He’s just not what we need.

 

[Chris]

I suspect NFL.com is using strength of schedule through 16 whereas Tankathon is including week 17 opponents even though we haven't played them yet. We play 11-5 Philly and Cleveland plays the 6-10 Bengals.

Tankathon is the gold standard. It’s their primary focus unlike nfl.com

 

[clskinsfan]

Just wanted to post this link for film watchers in the thread. This site allows you to see high school tape on a lot of the prospects. I use it a lot because players will often play multiple positions in high school. And it gives you the ability to see their growth at the college level. It is also useful for players who were on bad college teams and simply didnt get the amount of chances for you to evaluate their college film. An example for me is Eli Raridon. I like him. And he had a decent year this year.. Just did not score any touchdowns. Watching his high school film lets me see just how dominant he was at that level of football. Just search a players name and enjoy!

Hudl • The leader in sports technology, video analysis & data

Hudl’s sports technology software, video capture and data insights helps athletes, coaches, teams and organizations win at every level.

www.hudl.com

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't think Lemon and McConkey play at all similarly. I was a huge McConkey guy in that draft.

Had him going mid-late 1st and WR4 (but in the same tier as Brian Thomas Jr). Instead he went as WR9 in the middle of a group of flawed or over hyped guys who have already busted.

It was so weird, cause I remember a lot of the professional draft analysts saying things about corners like "translate-able skills, played well against future NFL talent...except struggled vs McConkey". Yet for whatever weird reason everyone waved away his ability to separate against Man coverage and thought we can just teach Xavier Leggette and Ja'lynn Polk how to do that!
View attachment 13818

McConkey was my #1 guy, on my guys list that year. Goingcommando even joked with me about him being my guy here and there that draft. I was smitten. He hasn't lived up to my expectations this year but last year he was awesome. So my point I am likewise very immersed in McConkey.

If I thought he was purely McConkey i would have couched the point that way but I purposely said a cross between him and St. Brown.

I know at least in my mind who McConkey is, I watched him a ton. Who do you think Makai Lemon is?

 

[skinsinparadise]

The difference between Howell and Bain is Howell relies more on speed then Bain does, at least the games I've watched of him. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in that assessment.

It's correct, I've talked about Howell some, love his motor, speed rusher, but still want to see at least Micah sized arms

 

[DogofWar1]

Well probably RIP to our David Bailey dreams.

Mendoza/Moore hopefully 1/2. I hope Reese measures well and shoots back up boards and takes another spot, and hopefully someone goes OL in the top 6. Will at least push one of Bailey/Tate/Tyson down to us. If not, we're in Downs/Bain-land and as good as Downs will be he does not change the fortunes of this team like a Bailey or Tate/Tyson might. Someone glue a horn to Bain's head, since we need him to be a unicorn.

 

[Riggo44]

My thoughts exactly. That win cost us Bailey.

 

[DogofWar1]

My thoughts exactly. That win cost us Bailey.

Worse, he might go to the Giants. They're gonna get someone we really need. I hope they pick OL instead, which, in fairness, THEY SHOULD. They keep getting QBs killed bc their OL sucks year in year out. But they won't bc LT is locked up, so they'll take and edge or WR we want.

Just two more years before we can get Nabers in FA, just two more years...sigh...

 

[philibusters]

Worse, he might go to the Giants. They're gonna get someone we really need. I hope they pick OL instead, which, in fairness, THEY SHOULD. They keep getting QBs killed bc their OL sucks year in year out. But they won't bc LT is locked up, so they'll take and edge or WR we want.

Just two more years before we can get Nabers in FA, just two more years...sigh...

Don't think the Giants go after David Bailey. They are not short on edges with Burns, Carter, and Thibodeaux under contract next year. I think the Giants probably take Francis Mauigoa, Jordan Tyson, or Carnell Tate. Maybe they go corner and take a risk on Jermond McCoy.

 

[Riggo44]

Worse, he might go to the Giants. They're gonna get someone we really need. I hope they pick OL instead, which, in fairness, THEY SHOULD. They keep getting QBs killed bc their OL sucks year in year out. But they won't bc LT is locked up, so they'll take and edge or WR we want.

Just two more years before we can get Nabers in FA, just two more years...sigh...

I think there's 0% chance they go edge. I'm thinking OL or WR. I could see them taking Love.

 

[philibusters]

If the Giants had lost today they would have ended up with the number 1 pick. Instead they are picking 5.

 

[RedWolf]

I wish we were picking at 32 🫣

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Who do you think Makai Lemon is?

I've written specifically about him a few times in this thread. But to briefly sum up...he's an interesting gamer that's a Day 2 pick for me and not Day 1 because he's not as shifty as hyped, he struggles vs press coverage and needs his releases schemed open, and he struggles to separate vs man. He's good against zone, large catch radius, contorts body well with defenders on him, runs aggressive, forward lean, catches away from his body with feet on ground so YAC is more likely, but YAC is good but not quite elite in college. He's getting it more from volume creating more opportunities rather than sheer rare ability.

That's proven from his inability to handle physical tight coverage. The rest of his positives still make him enticing...but as WR3 that can be an X-Factor in a game. Hence a Day 2 pick and not Day 1.

 

[DWinzit]

Cleveland wins, the Giants win, Arizona putting up a fight how exciting knowing we were moving up a couple very valuable slots in the draft. Siting at 4 or 5 would give us a stud player or potentially in a great spot to field trade down options. That could lead to picking up extra draft picks yet still selecting real early.

Then, well of course, we win... A bit of an emotional roller coaster for may of us in this thread. I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. But hey, at least we beat the Eagles and screwed their playoffs up a bit.

I am sure as we approach draft day I will mention how much better we would be if we were selecting at 5...lol

 

[Riggo44]

Downs, if Bailey is gone.

 

[Riggo44]

And the effect of a good safety...

 

[skinsinparadise]

I've written specifically about him a few times in this thread. But to briefly sum up...he's an interesting gamer that's a Day 2 pick for me and not Day 1 because he's not as shifty as hyped, he struggles vs press coverage and needs his releases schemed open, and he struggles to separate vs man. He's good against zone, large catch radius, contorts body well with defenders on him, runs aggressive, forward lean, catches away from his body with feet on ground so YAC is more likely, but YAC is good but not quite elite in college. He's getting it more from volume creating more opportunities rather than sheer rare ability.

That's proven from his inability to handle physical tight coverage. The rest of his positives still make him enticing...but as WR3 that can be an X-Factor in a game. Hence a Day 2 pick and not Day 1.

Similarites to McConkey -- ballers, and physical toughness, they have that we won't be denied attitude, physical in spite of their size, both accelerate very fast off the line of scrimmage, both have short area quickness, both are good YAC guys, both decent run blockers in spite of their size. In short for dudes who aren't big, they play big. In short, Both natural slot receivers who ball and play bigger than their size.

Differences: I think McConkey is the better athlete, longer arms, Lemon the more prolific producer in college. Lemon the bigger menace against zone, slightly quicker seperator against zone because his short area quickness is his super power. Lemon played some outside but strikes me purely a slot WR. Lemon I think is quicker than McConkey, McConkey is faster. Lemon maybe the more physical when high pointing the ball, maybe slightly better hands.

I know your thing is man coverage, single coverage. Lemon mostly beat zone. He seems to have shortish arms so might struggle against phyicial press corners but I don't worry about that so much for slot Wrs/ Plus Lemon isn't soft, he will battle you with his releases. 81 PFF grade against Man. Seperation versus single coverage isn't bad either.

 

[skinsinparadise]

McShay's mock.

The 2 Qbs go first.
Love: #3
Then Reese
Giants: Tate
Then the Miami OT
Washington: Bailey at 7

Downs at 12.

 

[Riggo44]

PFF has us passing on Reese and Bailey to take Downs. I really don't like their mocks though--they're based on college grades more than what they'll do at the next level. They have Bain 4. I really don't want any part of Bain.