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

[skinsinparadise]

 

[KDawg]

I'd be really surprised if they went Love. They seem to worship Skateboo. Even in the Hard Knocks special, they were featuring him on the sidelines-locker room.

I am hoping they go Fano. And they might. Feels like their ammo is they will be the badass team in the NFC East. Harbaugh already saying playoffs next year, and SB soon. Skattebo, Dart said something similar. Thibodeaux echoing it the other day. If they can be graded on pure bravado talk, the Giants are already a dynasty to rival the last run from the Chiefs. But it feels they want to bully teams.

If they go Tate then IMO the whole division would have good 1A, !B Wrs except for Washington.

The more I think about it is my guess is they go Tate because they keep talking about how great Dart is so they'd want to make sure it actually works.

I sense some edginess from you about Peters with contract negotiations. I don't share it on that front. But my edginess with Peters is IMO no GM seemed to have less urgency than him as to making Jayden look good. Most other teams make it code red to do whatever they can to build the confidence of their young QBs. So with that in mind, I am buying Tate to NY.

I have a lot of reasons I’m edgy on Peters. You’ve named another. I don’t think he’s a bad football mind or a bad person to have in charge. I DO think he’s having some growing pains and is learning on the job. I am hopeful the lessons have caught up. But I’m not completely sold.

Fingers crossed.

 

[DWinzit]

I have a lot of reasons I’m edgy on Peters. You’ve named another. I don’t think he’s a bad football mind or a bad person to have in charge. I DO think he’s having some growing pains and is learning on the job. I am hopeful the lessons have caught up. But I’m not completely sold.

Fingers crossed.

Yes he has shown growing pains and if crossing fingers...here's to him learning from his mistakes and doesn't make any further blunders.

I wrote blunders then thought, a poster is going to call me out for the harsh words. I decided tough, it stays they were mistakes that cost the team.

 

[HTTR]

That’s fair. Give AP a chance. I’m old enough to remember when all the eagle fans wanted to get rid of Howie Roseman. Later, my buddy was crowing about Howie can do no wrong, so I called him out on that. And his response was “he learned from his mistakes”.

 

[KDawg]

That’s fair. Give AP a chance. I’m old enough to remember when all the eagle fans wanted to get rid of Howie Roseman. Later, my buddy was crowing about Howie can do no wrong, so I called him out on that. And his response was “he learned from his mistakes”.

I think the chance is us seeing how this plays out. I have my reservations about everything we’ve been doing, but he gets this year. He’s earned this year. And if things are improving, even marginally, he deserves to see this through.

 

[philibusters]

I think I tend to me more patient than most on this board. I was disappointed by last year and I think AP made some mistakes, he could have got more 7 or 8 million dollar number 3 type receiver to add depth to the receiver room for example (brought back OZ or Dyami), but I didn't think he made huge mistakes. I felt like the team was just really injured. When injuries happened you really feel your offseason mistakes in a way you don't if have good health. If Terry and Noah are healthy all year or say miss 2 and 3 games each respectively and Dorrence Armstorng plays in 16 games and Wise 13 and Amos doesn't get and Jayden plays in all 17 we could have gone 10-7 and been mildly disappointed. I guess long story short as long as we get back on trajectory this year I am willing to write off last season to injuries to some extent.

 

[skinsinparadise]

To me Peters:

2024 FA -- very good
2024 draft -- so so

2025 FA -- meh, good as to the actual signings but lacked ambition
2025 draft -- good

trades - mixed.

The contract negotiation with the Terry I thought he won. Terry IMO was beyond obnoxious with his demands and Peters didn't cave and won the negotiation.

Some said Peters won the negotiation but lost the war. But in his defense I don't know what he could have done beyond taking Terry on with the stare down contest versus caving or in effect losing Terry in FA. IMO it was Terry and his agent's selfishness that screwed that all up.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think I tend to me more patient than most on this board. I was disappointed by last year and I think AP made some mistakes, he could have got more 7 or 8 million dollar number 3 type receiver to add depth to the receiver room for example (brought back OZ or Dyami), but I didn't think he made huge mistakes. I felt like the team was just really injured. When injuries happened you really feel your offseason mistakes in a way you don't if have good health. If Terry and Noah are healthy all year or say miss 2 and 3 games each respectively and Dorrence Armstorng plays in 16 games and Wise 13 and Amos doesn't get and Jayden plays in all 17 we could have gone 10-7 and been mildly disappointed. I guess long story short as long as we get back on trajectory this year I am willing to write off last season to injuries to some extent.

Injuries most of the issue last year but IMO he made mistakes, too. I'll give him and Quinn a pass for having the typical upstart euphoria contributing to them losing their edge. I am giving them another off season-season to get it right.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I'm sure this was answered before but why did Reese semi disappear in his final few games? Was he being double-teamed, used differently or used a spy?

Usage changed. He got almost no pass rush snaps in the last few games but still looked like his normal self when doing them.

Essentially his role changed to cover a lot of the short horizontal coverages and Styles no longer did as much of that. So mirroring RB's, flat zones, QB spy, sometimes matching TE's when they're going shallow.

Felt like this let Styles be more aggressive with his reads, but I didn't go heavily into seeing if that was true.

I thought Reese still looked good and showed the same athletic/physical bonuses he brought earlier. It just wasn't a stat padding role.

I mean, the defense has possibly a trio of Top 10 picks, and some others that could be drafted day 1/2. It's a unique situation where they weren't trying to scheme up one player to get their defense to make plays... because they had so many of those guys. It wasn't necessary.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Listening to Mitch Tischler on with Sheehan and he is doing an interesting analysis on the last 48 WR's to change teams and sign big contracts. Only 6 actually had 1000 yd seasons with their new team. His theory leans go hard in FA on defense and maybe look at a WR with that first pick.

I don’t know that we need another 1,000 yard receiver and I don’t know that that is the goal in FA, although I’d certainly like one.

After consistently seeing Bailey and Bain go before our pick, I’m starting to feel like Love would be the best option for this team. Maybe not for the record this year if we can’t fix the defense. But, I think he is likely to be the most impactful long term option. He also seems likely to be the top rated player on the board at 7, and instantly gives us maybe the best running back in the division. Taking Love would help Jayden and the offense I immensely.

I think I’d sign Likely, and a WR and then just pour FA resources into the defense, and then draft Love.

 

[The Brotherhood]

I don’t know that we need another 1,000 yard receiver and I don’t know that that is the goal in FA, although I’d certainly like one.

After consistently seeing Bailey and Bain go before our pick, I’m starting to feel like Love would be the best option for this team. Maybe not for the record this year if we can’t fix the defense. But, I think he is likely to be the most impactful long term option. He also seems likely to be the top rated player on the board at 7, and instantly gives us maybe the best running back in the division. Taking Love would help Jayden and the offense I immensely.

I think I’d sign Likely, and a WR and then just pour FA resources into the defense, and then draft Love.

Although I really would love Downs at the Commanders, it's hard to not agree here & particularly with the new offensive coach's stated aims of enhancing JD's abilities- Love would help greatly with this - I wonder if they're happy enough with the running back room & feel the different scheme now will hone in on particular player strengths in this group, (maybe not THAT happy) but heck it would surely be so hard to not pick Love if he's there. I like your thought on "most impactful long term option" - it just makes Love a very good value pick as you mentioned.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don’t know that we need another 1,000 yard receiver and I don’t know that that is the goal in FA, although I’d certainly like one.

After consistently seeing Bailey and Bain go before our pick, I’m starting to feel like Love would be the best option for this team. Maybe not for the record this year if we can’t fix the defense. But, I think he is likely to be the most impactful long term option. He also seems likely to be the top rated player on the board at 7, and instantly gives us maybe the best running back in the division. Taking Love would help Jayden and the offense I immensely.

I think I’d sign Likely, and a WR and then just pour FA resources into the defense, and then draft Love.

Judging by media-fans, etc. There are mostly (not all) extremes on Love, with some that you really should take him, and some saying no way.

I can relate more to the you got to take him crowd then not.

But am sort of in the middle on this. To me it depends on what happens in FA and who is on the board when they pick.

I am so cool with multiple players who can land there: Love, Tate, Downs, Bailey. Bain I am unsure of but I'd get it. Even Styles. Probably Reese too, I have to watch him.

And I won't jump off a bridge if they took Tyson. Lemon, too but I don't love taking a slot Wr top 10.

 

[burgold]

To me Peters:

2024 FA -- very good
2024 draft -- so so

2025 FA -- meh, good as to the actual signings but lacked ambition
2025 draft -- good

trades - mixed.

The contract negotiation with the Terry I thought he won. Terry IMO was beyond obnoxious with his demands and Peters didn't cave and won the negotiation.

Some said Peters won the negotiation but lost the war. But in his defense I don't know what he could have done beyond taking Terry on with the stare down contest versus caving or in effect losing Terry in FA. IMO it was Terry and his agent's selfishness that screwed that all up.

I think the only thing he might have been able to do differently was do what Gibbs did with Lavernius Cole. "You don't want to be here? Fine. We're trading you to the Jets for Santana Moss."

What's funny was on the day of the trade, it looked lopsided in the Jets favor. Moss was an underachieving receiver and Coles was a disgruntled one who notched a thousand yards. Ultimately, we won that trade big time. One of the few that really worked out during the Snyder years.

Mind you trading Terry would have been a terrible move for multiple reasons, but I think that's the only thing he could have done differently.

 

[Bulldog]

Well, I would think Peters could have seen that Terry had agitated 3 years ago into getting a top 5 salary from Snyder even though his numbers were solid but not elite.

That was a tip off Terry was likely to gauge his value highly - focusing on the TDs from 2024 and ignoring the volume of catches, yards, etc. that typify a top WR in the NFL.

With that in the back of his mind and not wanting to be in the lurch in case Terry held out or there were any issues at WR, Peters to backstop the offense should have used the resources to get a legitimate outside receiver in FA who could have provided some stability in the latter stages of camp, preseason and the first few games when everything was out of sync due to Terry not being there and then being out of timing/shape and then getting dinged.

As a GM you never want to leave yourself totally at the mercy of a guy that you don't consider a candidate for a true franchise deal but know he very well may want what looks like that in the end result.

We had the $15-20M of additional space. We were caught short at WR because the ASSUMPTION was that Terry was going to 'play ball' on salary and be reasonable which again didn't ring true with how he handled his second contract with the team.

We were also caught short because the WR Peters DID go out and trade for was a complementary player in Deebo, a hybrid receiver/runner, that was not a down the field threat on the outside in the traditional sense.

Deebo in essence was a TE.

All of what I am saying is based on the train of thought of the team at the time - that the Commanders were 'going for it' in 2025 and wanted to win and go deep into the playoffs and make the moves to ensure that happened, a la Tunsil, etc.

The organization learned there are few hometown discounts in the NFL anymore unless a player is a 13-14 year vet and won a Super Bowl or two in town and has business interests outside of football there and wants to stay where he is.

We haven't won any Super Bowls lately and Tunsil just arrived in town.

So, lesson #1 for 2026 is GET YOUR CHECKBOOK OUT and don't offer him what Trent Williams was making 6-7 years ago.

That ain't gonna get it done.

And the last thing we need is a replay of 2025 except at left tackle.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Hey all, this is the draft thread....

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think the only thing he might have been able to do differently was do what Gibbs did with Lavernius Cole. "You don't want to be here? Fine. We're trading you to the Jets for Santana Moss."

What's funny was on the day of the trade, it looked lopsided in the Jets favor. Moss was an underachieving receiver and Coles was a disgruntled one who notched a thousand yards. Ultimately, we won that trade big time. One of the few that really worked out during the Snyder years.

Mind you trading Terry would have been a terrible move for multiple reasons, but I think that's the only thing he could have done differently.

The difference is would a team trade for a 30 year old WR who is demanding 40 million a season. There was some talk about it that summer and seemed like the local media thought Terry's demands sort of made him untradeable.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Still early. But If I am a betting mind. Tate will be gone before 7. I was watching Steve Smith's take on the WRs last night, he was his #1 guy, loved him.

It's fine with me but don't love him being in NY. I hope they take Fano instead.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Cbs

 

[skinsinparadise]

Kaleb Proctor has some sick numbers, mostly against inferior competition but did it versus LSU, too. Undersized, some idea as Newton. Could only find highlights, but for a big dude he has good twitch and motor and if they are playing 5 on the front, his size fits that profile.

 

[skinsinparadise]

McShay's top 30

1. RB (1) Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2. Edge (1) David Bailey, Texas Tech
3. LB (1) Arvell Reese, Ohio State
4. DS (1) Caleb Downs, Ohio State
5. QB (1) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
6. OT (1) Francis Mauigoa, Miami
7. Edge (2) Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
8. WR (1) Carnell Tate, Ohio State
9. WR (2) Makai Lemon, USC
10. OT (2) Spencer Fano, Utah
11. WR (3) Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
12. CB (1) Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
13. CB (2) Mansoor Delane, LSU
14. LB (2) Sonny Styles, Ohio State
15. Edge (3) Akheem Mesidor, Miami
16. OG (1) Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
17. DS (2) Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
18. Edge (4) T.J. Parker, Clemson
19. IDL (1) Peter Woods, Clemson
20. TE (1) Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
21. WR (4) Denzel Boston, Washington
22. Edge (5) Keldric Faulk, Auburn
23. DS (3) Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
24. OT (3) Monroe Freeling, Georgia
25. OT (4) Blake Miller, Clemson
26. OT (5) Caleb Lomu, Utah
27. WR (5) Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
28. QB (2) Ty Simpson, Alabama
29. WR (6) Zachariah Branch, Georgia
30. WR (7) KC Concepcion, Texas A&M