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

[skinsinparadise]

We better not draft a WR in the first round. That’s what free agency is for. This team needs PLAYMAKERS on defense. Not trying to become the Bengals.

To me it depends. If they go to town in FA, lets say sign Hendrickson, Lloyd, Hawkins -- I am good with them drafting a WR.

FA to me at the moment, things can change, look better to me on defense than WR. I keep hearing Alec Pierce will be back with the Colts. If so is it Doubs or bust? I like Wandle Robinson but he's not a stud. Maybe Evans albiet he's old. Shaheed?

 

[method man]

We better not draft a WR in the first round. That’s what free agency is for. This team needs PLAYMAKERS on defense. Not trying to become the Bengals.

I really hate this line of thinking. Nothing is stopping us from using free agency to grab playmakers on defense. Look at what the Patriots did with Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Spillane, Landry and Chiasson

 

[method man]

Most draftniks agree Tyson is the best WR in the drat but few prospects have his injury history. I don’t want to take a guy who plays 10 games a year at #7.

Logan, who is also a personal trainer, called him duck footed and the way his feet and legs are built makes him more susceptible to injuries

 

[Phantvm]

Most draftniks agree Tyson is the best WR in the drat but few prospects have his injury history. I don’t want to take a guy who plays 10 games a year at #7.

Logan, who is also a personal trainer, called him duck footed and the way his feet and legs are built makes him more susceptible to injuries

I agree that if he continues to battle injuries it wouldn’t be the best pick. There’s just no way to predict these things. That’s part of what makes the process so hard.

 

[method man]

I agree that if he continues to battle injuries it wouldn’t be the best pick. There’s just no way to predict these things. That’s part of what makes the process so hard.

There absolutely is sports science out there like Dexa scans and other technology that helps you better forecast who will be more injury prone

 

[HTTR]

Not Styles?

I don’t want to take a guy because he’s a perceived scheme fit. We may not be running the exact same defense as the Vikings, and even if we do, we may have to change it up within a year or two if it doesn’t work with our players. Hell, we might even be getting a whole new coaching staff if this year goes south. So give me Downs or Love because they will be studs regardless of what system we are running.

 

[Dlts20]

Most draftniks agree Tyson is the best WR in the drat but few prospects have his injury history. I don’t want to take a guy who plays 10 games a year at #7.

Logan, who is also a personal trainer, called him duck footed and the way his feet and legs are built makes him more susceptible to injuries

Logan is pretty brilliant with his insight

 

[skinsinparadise]

Most draftniks agree Tyson is the best WR in the drat but few prospects have his injury history. I don’t want to take a guy who plays 10 games a year at #7.

Logan, who is also a personal trainer, called him duck footed and the way his feet and legs are built makes him more susceptible to injuries

I print a zillion mocks, and look at them from time to time. From going over them and did so last night, I don't find most draftnik agree that Tyson is the best WR in the draft.

I've seen more Tate ahead of Tyson in mocks. lol, at least the ones I've looked at. So maybe we are looking at different ones. PFF has been one of the exceptions and even they changed. And in their writes up, they aren't saying that they like Tyson better but are propping Tate because of injuries with an exception or two.

I agree with the point that some discount Tyson some because of injury concerns but they are plenty who think Tate is a slightly better player.

And there are some who think Tyson is better. And some even think its Lemon. At least according to one of the PFF guys I've listened to they don't factor injuries in their big board. But I'd say at a minimum more draftniks have Tate higher. We can assume they don't mean it and are factoring injuries but their write ups mostly don't push that point as to why Tate. Feels more like the cherry on top than the point driving it.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Kiper I just saw has new rankings

Kiper's position rankings​

Wide receivers​

1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
2. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
3. Makai Lemon, USC
4. Denzel Boston, Washington
5. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
6. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
7. Zachariah Branch, Georgia
8. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
9. Germie Bernard, Alabama
10. Chris Bell, Louisville

Defensive ends​

1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
2. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
3. Zion Young, Missouri
4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
5. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
6. Caden Curry, Ohio State
7. LT Overton, Alabama
8. Jack Pyburn, LSU
9. Max Llewellyn, Iowa
10. Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke

Off-ball linebackers​

1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State
2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
3. CJ Allen, Georgia
4. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
5. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
6. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
7. Josiah Trotter, Missouri
8. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
9. Taurean York, Texas A&M
10. Justin Jefferson, Alabama

Outside linebackers​

1. David Bailey, Texas Tech
2. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
3. T.J. Parker, Clemson
4. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
5. Derrick Moore, Michigan
6. Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
7. Gabe Jacas, Illinois
8. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
9. Romello Height, Texas Tech
10. Malachi Lawrence, UCF

2026 NFL draft Big Board rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects

Mel Kiper Jr. is stacking the top 25 players in the NFL draft class, starting with Fernando Mendoza. Who rose at the combine?

www.espn.com

 

[Canuck]

Yeah if we go Tate over Tyson I personally wouldnt be happy at all.

Tate has that the benefit of the OSU WR legacy, probably the safer of the 2, but would hope if Tate was the target that a trade down would be in play.

 

[Canuck]

IMO, you go best defensive player (thats a scheme fit) on the board at 7.

 

[method man]

I print a zillion mocks, and look at them from time to time. From going over them and did so last night, I don't find most draftnik agree that Tyson is the best WR in the draft.

I've seen more Tate ahead of Tyson in mocks. lol, at least the ones I've looked at. So maybe we are looking at different ones. PFF has been one of the exceptions and even they changed. And in their writes up, they aren't saying that they like Tyson better but are propping Tate because of injuries with an exception or two.

I agree with the point that some discount Tyson some because of injury concerns but they are plenty who think Tate is a slightly better player.

And there are some who think Tyson is better. And some even think its Lemon. At least according to one of the PFF guys I've listened to they don't factor injuries in their big board. But I'd say at a minimum more draftniks have Tate higher. We can assume they don't mean it and are factoring injuries but their write ups mostly don't push that point as to why Tate. Feels more like the cherry on top than the point driving it.

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Fair. Last time I did a major sweep of WR rankings was a few weeks ago.

I’d personally be happy if they took Tate or Lemon at #7. Even if both end up high end WR2s like Devonta Smith, that’s still more surplus value than Downs, Love or another non premium position guy.

 

[philibusters]

Things that stick out to me from Kipers Rankings:

WR: I am lower on Zachariah Branch and higher on Chris Bell. I get in both cases. With Branch he is electric with the ball in his hands and hence he could be a dynamic gadget guy. But I don't value guys who are not good receivers and he is a poor route runner and not particularly great at the the catch point. The most dynamic receiver after the catch in this class, but I would pass in the first three rounds for him. With Bell he tore his ACL and won't be ready to play until closer to the end of his rookie year so I get that downgrades him, but in terms of pure receivers I think he is the fourth best behind Lemon, Tate, and Tyson.

Offball Linebackers: I am higher on Trotter and lower on Hill than him. Hill reminds me a bit of a Quay Walker, nice size athleticism combo but he is going to come in needing development and will likely be a weakness for a defense if he is starting year 1. I think Trotter on the other hand is a solid player in run defense from day 1 though he needs development in coverage. Kyle Louis absence on the offball linebacker list also strikes me. I'd probably have Louis as 7th

 

[KDawg]

Right now, I don’t know which side of the ball we should address in the draft because, while I believe in BPA, I do think when you have holes you have to weight need a bit.

For me, right now, this minute these are the guys on want… in order… on both sides of the ball (keep in mind this list is dynamic)

Defense:
1. Rueben Bain - I’m his biggest backer here and I’m going to lean into it
2. Sonny Styles
3. Caleb Downs
4. Arvelle Reese
5. Mansoor Delane

Offense:
1. Jerimiyah Love
2. Mauignoa/Fano (Tunsil situation)
3. Carnell Tate
4. Jordyn Tyson (high ceiling, low floor, drop issues and injury history)
5. Makai Lemon

 

[Solitary Man]

Can I call dibs on Gracen Halton DL Oklahoma with one of our day 3 picks?

 

[BayouBrave86]

I really hate this line of thinking. Nothing is stopping us from using free agency to grab playmakers on defense. Look at what the Patriots did with Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Spillane, Landry and Chiasson

I think we end up trading for Aiyuk personally. This free agency class and draft are pretty weak overall too unfortunately which is why we need to make the draft really count. We are set at WR for now. Next year’s draft will have better WR talent coming out if we want to go that direction. But we don’t need to bring along another young WR right now as there are no truly elite WRs in this draft imo. Take a flyer on one in the later rounds. With RBs, Love is elite RB but outside of that, the “top end” talent on offense is very underwhelming. Don’t even get me started on this pedestrian QB class. Defense on the other hand is pretty stacked in the first round.

 

[DWinzit]

Can I call dibs on Gracen Halton DL Oklahoma with one of our day 3 picks?

Oh yeah he is little small for what I think they would like but he'd be a nice rotational pick rotational in like the 5th or 6th especially on passing downs. He is like a heavier slower Bain that isn't as good versus the run.

 

[DWinzit]

I don’t want to take a guy because he’s a perceived scheme fit. We may not be running the exact same defense as the Vikings, and even if we do, we may have to change it up within a year or two if it doesn’t work with our players. Hell, we might even be getting a whole new coaching staff if this year goes south. So give me Downs or Love because they will be studs regardless of what system we are running.

I don't see Styles as only fitting in the Minny scheme. I doubt many DC's would not want him on their team, he is a really talented LB that is taller and more athletic than most. He is an excellent tackler and in coverage. He should be able to play overhang, the middle, will or even at nickel

 

[method man]

I think we end up trading for Aiyuk personally. This free agency class and draft are pretty weak overall too unfortunately which is why we need to make the draft really count. We are set at WR for now. Next year’s draft will have better WR talent coming out if we want to go that direction. But we don’t need to bring along another young WR right now as there are no truly elite WRs in this draft imo. Take a flyer on one in the later rounds. With RBs, Love is elite RB but outside of that, the “top end” talent on offense is very underwhelming. Don’t even get me started on this pedestrian QB class. Defense on the other hand is pretty stacked in the first round.

I don’t think there has been a bigger proponent than me of Aiyuk coming here. That being said, we won’t have to give up any assets for him and he is getting only a 1 year deal from me.

So, you’d have 31 year old Terry and Aiyuk on a 1 year deal next year with a 32 year old Terry in 2027. Odds are both guys are not back in 2027. So that absolutely does not preclude me from taking a WR at #7

I pointed this out a few weeks ago but, with his route running ability, Aiyuk has graded well as both an outside receiver and slot receiver.

Would give us the ability to take whoever we want to take at WR at #7

 

[BayouBrave86]

that’s the thing though, I don’t think there is any WR that is worth the 7th overall pick this draft. We also have Lane and Luke. We absolutely need a TE via trade or free agency too.