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

[skinsinparadise]

In some ways, I feel like the Giants defense underachieved way more than our defense the past two years. Their defense was a little bit better but the talent was way way better. On the D-Line you Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibadouex, Bobby O. at LB, in the secondary Andru Phillips in the nickel, Javon Holland, Paulson Adebo, Tyler Nubin, and even a player like Deonte Banks is talented even if has been disappointing. I feel like with a good DC, that could easily be a top 8 defense next year. Adding Downs to that group is just adding a really good player to an already very talented defense so I hope not.

Yeah I know some think am a Giants homer because I keep saying for years their talent is better than people give it credit for. But I believe that. Their coaching has sucked. At a minimum, Harbaugh will add to the bravado of that team -- he's already talking about knocking the eagles off their throne.

But on defense that team is weird. Lawrence is one of the best Dts in the league. Their got three good pass rushers. Their LBs are good. Safeties OK. Corners the weak spot.

But lol I think next to the Eagles, Giants might have the most swagger now in the division between Harbaugh, Dart and Skattebo.

I know it doesn't matter but lol I hope Peters was listening when Sheehan interviewed if I recall it was Fowler from ESPN and asked what team does he think can go from the bottom to the top next season, he didn't say this team he said the Giants. Some other anayltics guy said something similar.

But yeah the Bears, Pats, Falcons, Denver, etc try to load up their young QB with weapons. Peters the only one so far disinterested in doing the same. But the thought is the Giants will do it.

I do think though Peters got the wakeup call so I expect it to change with Washington, too.

 

[Primus Porcus]

You know you are in trouble when the only position you don't go BPA is the QB. As it stands now there is not a single position that we don't need, so BPA for the team is easy as it gives us the best player available while filling a need.

I think you misread my post, that's not what I said. What I said was that (since we have our QB), take the elite talent at any position outside of LS / P / K / QB, even if its not the one with the biggest 'need.' I didn't say we had needs at all but QB, i said that position be damned, if there's a game changer out there, get them. I actually look at our position groups and see a lot of places that have pretty stable situations, but can be improved upon. That's vastly different than a roster without ability.

 

[philibusters]

I think you misread my post, that's not what I said. What I said was that (since we have our QB), take the elite talent at any position outside of LS / P / K / QB, even if its not the one with the biggest 'need.' I didn't say we had needs at all but QB, i said that position be damned, if there's a game changer out there, get them. I actually look at our position groups and see a lot of places that have pretty stable situations, but can be improved upon. That's vastly different than a roster without ability.

It would be interesting to try and tier the top talent. Not counting Mendoza. I might put Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Love, Sonny Styles, and Arvell Reese into a top category and then have a second tier with guys like the 3 WR's, Bain, Bailey, Mauigoa (though only had a guard, not tackle), McCoy (assuming the medical are good). And then maybe start a third tier after that, but I am not at all confident in those tiers, just an off the top of my head tiering. Within the first tier given team needs and positional value I would probably rank them Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, then Jeremiah Love. That is assuming we run a Vikings type defense where Reese is playing an Andrew Van Ginkel type role, which seems like a fairly valuable position. I actually think Sonny Styles is a better true off the ball linebacker.

 

[KDawg]

I still need to review players like Trotter. What is your take on Anthony Hill? I feel like he would be a good fit for us. He was the first player I took a liking to outside of Bailey and first I posted on in his thread.

Downhill linebacker that communicates, diagnoses well and understands coverage responsibilities. He can apex and be okay or playinside the box. I do see that he has a bit of a tendency to overpursue.

He plays with his eyes down at times and hyper focuses on his job and can miss a guy running right by him with the ball. But I do like him. He is one of my top 3 ILBs in this class so far, I think.

Him, Styles and Trotter for me so far. But I haven't deep dove many guys so far so this stuff is in flux.

This video does a real good job of showing Trotter's play off. Just the first three plays show his success as a blitzer, in block destruction and his instincts. He does this in game, too. He navigates traffic better than most guys I've watched the last few years. He's instinctive and a nasty downhill backer that reads his keys and uses lateral agility to his advantage. He's a really gtood tackler as well.




Watching him against Alabama he was a menace. They used him as a pass lane guy a few times. He doesn't have a ton of highlights in coverage, but he seems to understand his role there fine. And he isn't afraid of anyone or anything.

One thing I didn't love is that on goal line defense he lets himself get a few yards into the end zone, so anything caught in front of him is an easy touchdown. He needs to stop backing up when his feet meet the goal line and play with his eyes.

 

[philibusters]

The reputation of Trotter is he is a good run stopping LB. Plays well downhill, good tackler, violent hands to get off blocks (Daftondraft said his hands are like dynamite). Bad zone coverage, can trigger on routes well when reading the QB eyes and get a pass breakup, but too easily pulled out of his zone as he has a tendency to follow drag routes and things like that and open up the intermediate portion of the field for things like digs. Very undisciplined in zone coverage, but has shown playmaker flashes in coverage at the same time.

Anthony Hill has the reputation of a great athlete who plays LB. He is like 6'3 240 pounds with good athleticism. But the LB skills are still developing. If he was drafted early in the second round because some team loves his tools (the size athleticism combo) that would not be a surprise, but based solely on the tape he needs development. His size speed combo is on par with guys like Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, but the play isn't.

 

[KDawg]

Anthony Hill has the reputation of a great athlete who plays LB. He is like 6'3 240 pounds with good athleticism. But the LB skills are still developing. If he was drafted early in the second round because some team loves his tools (the size athleticism combo) that would not be a surprise, but based solely on the tape he needs development. His size speed combo is on par with guys like Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, but the play isn't.

Since when has that stopped someone from being coveted? Everyone loves David Bailey, and he needs a lot of work, too.

But yes, I agree. Hill is a prospect. But flashes.

 

[mcdonaldrw]

I think you misread my post, that's not what I said. What I said was that (since we have our QB), take the elite talent at any position outside of LS / P / K / QB, even if its not the one with the biggest 'need.' I didn't say we had needs at all but QB, i said that position be damned, if there's a game changer out there, get them. I actually look at our position groups and see a lot of places that have pretty stable situations, but can be improved upon. That's vastly different than a roster without ability.

Oh i get you Primus, and 100% agree the team needs to start taking the best player no matter what. If nothing else it builds up some depth at key positions.

 

[Dlts20]

 

[DWinzit]

Some tweets from X:

I am a big fan of Thienemann. He always popped in the Oregon games I watched. He is a bit different of a S than Downs as he is awesome in coverage. He will go in the late first round and be worth it.

 

[Dlts20]

In regards to Downs being mostly a downhill or box safety. Even if that is the case, am I the only one ok with that? He is clearly elite at that. A great coordinator can coach him to being elite with that. People do realize that we had the 30th ranked rush defense last season, right?

Having a heat seeking missile attacking downhill and attacking all of the underneath throws is vital in today's NFL. The yac always kills us. Jones also wants to blitz a lot and he would be great at blitzing or attacking underneath coverage when the QB is forced to get rid of it fast.

I still remember when we drafted Landry and he dominated the box in preseason. Opposing scouts said that no one would be able to run on Washington with Landry down there. Then the season started and Greg Williams immediately went to 2 deep safties until he realized that Taylor could dominate as the one deep. Sean died shortly after and we had to move Landry deep but if we had stuck with the preseason defense, Landry would have dominated the box.

 

[DWinzit]

Downhill linebacker that communicates, diagnoses well and understands coverage responsibilities. He can apex and be okay or playinside the box. I do see that he has a bit of a tendency to overpursue.

He plays with his eyes down at times and hyper focuses on his job and can miss a guy running right by him with the ball. But I do like him. He is one of my top 3 ILBs in this class so far, I think.

Him, Styles and Trotter for me so far. But I haven't deep dove many guys so far so this stuff is in flux.

This video does a real good job of showing Trotter's play off. Just the first three plays show his success as a blitzer, in block destruction and his instincts. He does this in game, too. He navigates traffic better than most guys I've watched the last few years. He's instinctive and a nasty downhill backer that reads his keys and uses lateral agility to his advantage. He's a really gtood tackler as well.




Watching him against Alabama he was a menace. They used him as a pass lane guy a few times. He doesn't have a ton of highlights in coverage, but he seems to understand his role there fine. And he isn't afraid of anyone or anything.

One thing I didn't love is that on goal line defense he lets himself get a few yards into the end zone, so anything caught in front of him is an easy touchdown. He needs to stop backing up when his feet meet the goal line and play with his eyes.

I feel similar regarding Hill, thanks for the response. I think mid second to top of third is where he goes.

You convinced me on Trotter. If either of those guys were to reach out 3rd rounder they'd be an awesome pickup.

 

[Canuck]

I realize I’m an outlier on most things so I’ll double down. 😉

If Downs is seen as a multi-dimensional talent (dare I say force multiplier 🫣) by the organization, then #7 is not too rich. I’ll worry about cap concerns for future contracts at other positions down the road. This defense is in dire need of difference making talent and he looks like exactly that to me.

Agreed, Downs or trade down

 

[philibusters]

I am a big fan of Thienemann. He always popped in the Oregon games I watched. He is a bit different of a S than Downs as he is awesome in coverage. He will go in the late first round and be worth it.

If we traded down into the 20's , I wouldn't mind taking a look at Thienemann. Him and Ramsey , but especially him are the most verstaile stafeties. Thienemann was a good post safety at Purdue and then he transferred to Oregon and was a good in the box safety. Ramsey did the same thing (he stayed on USC, but a new DC used him differently, though with Ramsey he was noticeable better as an in the box guy, but he can do both). I think the Flores scheme values safeties who can be in the box and deep safety.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

In regards to Downs being mostly a downhill or box safety. Even if that is the case, am I the only one ok with that? He is clearly elite at that. A great coordinator can coach him to being elite with that. People do realize that we had the 30th ranked rush defense last season, right?

Having a heat seeking missile attacking downhill and attacking all of the underneath throws is vital in today's NFL. The yac always kills us. Jones also wants to blitz a lot and he would be great at blitzing or attacking underneath coverage when the QB is forced to get rid of it fast.

I still remember when we drafted Landry and he dominated the box in preseason. Opposing scouts said that no one would be able to run on Washington with Landry down there. Then the season started and Greg Williams immediately went to 2 deep safties until he realized that Taylor could dominate as the one deep. Sean died shortly after and we had to move Landry deep but if we had stuck with the preseason defense, Landry would have dominated the box.

Whose the FS then in this Cover 3 scheme? Quan Martin can't do it. The Legion of Boom had All-Pro Earl Thomas. We don't have that. You mentioned Landry was great... because Sean Taylor was behind him...we don't have that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Downs with about a 90 PFF grade in coverage, 55 passer rating against him, played more deep than in the box in his career. He can do it all.

 

[Chris]

"There's a difference between 'love' and 'loves' — I loves this guy," Saban said on College GameDay's coverage of the Draft. "I mean, this guy may be the best football player, pound-for-pound in the draft.”

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I think everyone here wants Downs on the team, but trying to translate value and opportunity cost of not going for a more premier position. How good might he be in the NFL, what's his ceiling, etc. Does he top out as a true unanimous All-Pro (Blue Chip potential), or just a good safety that makes some pro-bowls? Finding the difference between those two is most of the Downs talk in this thread. It can come off at times as pessimistic or "we don't like him"...but we do, we're just not sure what his ceiling is.

Like, if the team gathers together and says, "You know what, there are almost no Blue Chips left at #7, we think Downs and Love are the last two, we've gotta go with them even if the position premium at S and RB is not there". I can fully respect and get behind just trying to find a Blue Chip.

There's another issue with Downs at play here...it's kind of a good Safety draft. Like normally a safety draft group feels weak, but this year is the opposite. Last year there was Xavier Watts drafted in the 3rd round by Atlanta. That was a big draft hit. Could we find a Xavier Watts caliber player in this years 3rd round too?

 

[Chris]

Perfect is the enemy of good. I hope whoever the team selects, that they don’t fall in the trap of overthinking it and get too cute by trying to game this draft. There doesn’t appear to be any consensus home runs in this draft with the possible exception of Love but there are several that will make this team immediately better.

 

[Gooseneck]

This front office is so lame. George Allen would trade our 2 later first round draft picks, that we don't have, and our 4 second round picks for the second pick overall and pick Bailey. Then we would have many options at 7.

 

[HTTR]

I think everyone here wants Downs on the team, but trying to translate value and opportunity cost of not going for a more premier position. How good might he be in the NFL, what's his ceiling, etc. Does he top out as a true unanimous All-Pro (Blue Chip potential), or just a good safety that makes some pro-bowls? Finding the difference between those two is most of the Downs talk in this thread. It can come off at times as pessimistic or "we don't like him"...but we do, we're just not sure what his ceiling is.

Like, if the team gathers together and says, "You know what, there are almost no Blue Chips left at #7, we think Downs and Love are the last two, we've gotta go with them even if the position premium at S and RB is not there". I can fully respect and get behind just trying to find a Blue Chip.

There's another issue with Downs at play here...it's kind of a good Safety draft. Like normally a safety draft group feels weak, but this year is the opposite. Last year there was Xavier Watts drafted in the 3rd round by Atlanta. That was a big draft hit. Could we find a Xavier Watts caliber player in this years 3rd round too?

I hear ya man. But everybody who pays close attention to this is well aware that safety is not a premium position. And yet Downs is ranked as high as he is anyway. So it seems to me, the experts think he does indeed have that kind of potential.

And I don’t think whatever may or may not be available in the later rounds should play into our thinking at number seven overall. Completely different class of players. There are still hidden gems at every position available later in the draft.