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

[DWinzit]

Yeah I definitely not a best player available by that standard. If we are set at Tackle I am usually going to pass at Tackle unless its like a Penai Sewell level prospect where they are so highly rated that I would consider bumping somebody like Conerly in. But more realistically I would just trade back. With a bluechip tackle somebody will be willing to pay a premium to comeup.

But Mauigoa is interesting because a lot like Will Campbell last year he projects as a solid above average Tackle or an elite Guard prospect. I have Sonny Styles, Jermiah Love, and Caleb Downs as kind of my tier 1. Then I have Arvell Reese and Muaigoa as players with that same level of talent but where its more situational---Reese has to go to a defensive system that can utilize his versatility as an onball/offball linebacker and Mauigoa would have to be drafted as a Guard to be in that range. So no, I don't think Mauigoa as a Tackle prospect would be in that range even if he made it to 7, but as a Guard prospect he could be BPA. Spencer Fano is interesting too. In a Shanahan offense where you don't have a ton of true pass sets and you have a lot of outside zone he could be an all pro level player, but his pass rush anchor is solid, but nothing special at the NFL level and some power rushers will give him issues so in a gap run system that doesn't take advantage of his zone blocking and had a lot of true 1 on 1's in pass pro on the edge where power rushers could take advantage of him, Fano feels like a late 1st rounder. He'd be a nice pick for the 49'ers.

Understood for sure. Based on our resurrect roster, I would not take an OL at 7 this year. Our OL is the most solid group (ASSuming AP gets Tunsil extended) and we just have too many other upgrade needs and holes in general with over 30 free agents

 

[Dlts20]

They spoke of being more Leary of bringing in players with injury history. It stems from some of the many players who were injured last year already had injury concerns and history. They wish to avoid at all cost what occurred to the team last season.

Good. I'm a Tyson fan but I completely agree with this

 

[skinsinparadise]

Im not sure about that. I posted on here last week that it was all over NY radio that Harbaugh is in love with Downs which makes sense after him having Reed and Hamilton

I am the one that started the posts here with the actual quote from Harbaugh so I am aware. But it doesn't mean he's drafting him. If we had a coach tell the world who he really really wants to draft at #5 or name that pick aside from #1, Harbaugh would be the first. I can't think of a precedent. Let alone doing it before the combine-pro day, interviews, etc.

So as someone posted, might be true, might be a smoke screen. I don't know.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Now if Tate’s gone… that’s where I think it gets interesting, including potentially opening the door to a trade back (maybe with either NO or KC to come up for Love), putting us in the territory for the TE (forgot his name), McCoy/Delane, Boston, Styles, or perhaps a dropping Downs or Reese, etc.

If we are talking purely WR.

If Tate is gone, i don't like WR at 7. If they trade down out of the top 10, then its back on the table.

And liking Tate #1, puts me from what I can tell with the majortity of draftniks.

But #2 at WR, I might lean Boston. I do dig Lemon. I like Tyson, too but I think he's 4th for me. But I do think there is a drop off after those 4. Concepcion to me is dynamic but too inconsistent.

 

[Commander Wraith]

If we are talking purely WR.

If Tate is gone, i don't like WR at 7. If they trade down out of the top 10, then its back on the table.

And liking Tate #1, puts me from what I can tell with the majortity of draftniks.

But #2 at WR, I might lean Boston. I do dig Lemon. I like Tyson, too but I think he's 4th for me. But I do think there is a drop off after those 4. Concepcion to me is dynamic but too inconsistent.

Yeah, I only mentioned Boston (in terms of trading down) for a reason - I left off Tyson due to injury and while I’d love to have Lemon, I’m not sure it’s the smartest in terms of resource allocation… unless they think Lemon could play outside some in a pinch?

 

[burgold]

Put me in the modified BPA category. For instance, if the best player available in round 3 is a QB then I don't know that I want a QB. Now, I could be argued into thinking we need to develop a long term backup so I wouldn't hate it, but that pick would frustrate me. Likewise, I sort of buy into the idea of positional value. So, if the best player available in round one is a safety that safety must not only be the best player available, but the best player available by a wide margin for me to want him. In other words, if the best edges or wide receivers in this class are graded a 90.5, but you have a safety who scored 91.2 then I would choose the edge or wide receiver. However, if the WR and E are a 89.5 and the safety is an 95 then I would go for the safety.

 

[Dlts20]

From a couple of hours ago. .

Me personally, I'm not against trading down also for the right price.

 

[36ST21]

If we had a coach tell the world who he really really wants to draft at #5 or name that pick aside from #1, Harbaugh would be the first. I can't think of a precedent.

Ron Rivera called. Wants to speak with you about "Turnover machine" AKA Emmanuel Forbes...

 

[bowhunter]

From a couple of hours ago

In Kipers scenario where both Downs and Tate are gone, I could def get on board with Styles

 

[KDawg]

I’m spending a lot of time on receivers lately. Been watching pods, listening to others, looking at draft sites and putting my own notes with theirs to see where I stand vs them and where they saw things I didn’t and I think I see things they don’t.

I’m going to try to keep my analysis to a sentence. Can expand later if anyone cares.

Honorable Mentions: Skyler Bell(UConn), Chris Brazzell (Tennessee - injuries, lack of press coverage, Tennessee receiver)

10. KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) - electric, major player underneath, slot with significant special teams value but 19 drops in 3 years.

9. Elijah Sarratt (Indiana) - can do it all, plays very Garçon like, isn’t afraid of contact and reliably open without major separator speed due to coverage recognition.

8. Ted Hurst (Georgia State)- unheralded, waiting for an opportunity

7. Germie Bernard (Alabama) - wiggle, underneath guy, quality hands YAC machine.

6. Chris Bell (Louisville) - injury hurting ranking, can do it all with great hands, attacking and can carry defenders.

5. Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) - my first controversial rating. Big, strong, dominant, great hands, produced at Virginia, great route runner.

4. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) - was almost fifth. May still be. Injuries are a concern, not as strong as other guys, you can tell the hamstring bothered him. If he’s healthy, he’s top 2. Great receiver, high contested catch rating, explosive athlete. His injury evaluation will either drop him or move him up.

3. Denzel Boston (Washington) - center fielder with size and an angry athlete and has great hands. Limited YAC. May fall after combine if some receivers have a good week and injury Evals pan out.

2. Makai Lemon (USC) - slot dominant, ridiculous hands, out jumps bigger players, finds vacant space, NFL sideline awareness, high effort blocker.

1. Carnell Tate (Ohio State) - he’s not Megatron, or even Jeremiah Smith. Ball tracking high end, deep ball threat, great release package, extremely reliable, traffic catcher.

 

[HTTR]

From a couple of hours ago

Caleb Downs at 2???? NOOOOOOOOOO

We are so not getting him

 

[Dlts20]

Caleb Downs at 2???? NOOOOOOOOOO

We are so not getting him

Honestly, I could see Glenn falling in love with him. He embodies everything that Glenn is about. Then NY radio is saying that Harbaugh loves him. Might be hard to see him getting out of NY but it's still a long time until the draft. This mock has already been completely flipped in its head from how it started. Downs moving way up and Bains moving way down.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah, I only mentioned Boston (in terms of trading down) for a reason - I left off Tyson due to injury and while I’d love to have Lemon, I’m not sure it’s the smartest in terms of resource allocation… unless they think Lemon could play outside some in a pinch?

Lemon is a baller but yeah not sure about drafting a slot WR top 10. I am really curious about Boston's combine.

Ron Rivera called. Wants to speak with you about "Turnover machine" AKA Emmanuel Forbes...

lol, yeah but even that came out AFTER the draft. Leaks about a week before the draft. Harbaugh declaring who he's taking at #5 two months out would take the cake.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Caleb Downs at 2???? NOOOOOOOOOO

We are so not getting him

I like Styles but the more I digest the idea, I am starting to hate the idea of taking him at 7. It's not just that LB isn't a premium position but also its that its become a slow developing spot so in other words its doubtful he will be big time helpful this season or even next.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’m spending a lot of time on receivers lately. Been watching pods, listening to others, looking at draft sites and putting my own notes with theirs to see where I stand vs them and where they saw things I didn’t and I think I see things they don’t.

I’m going to try to keep my analysis to a sentence. Can expand later if anyone cares.

Honorable Mentions: Skyler Bell(UConn), Chris Brazzell (Tennessee - injuries, lack of press coverage, Tennessee receiver)

10. KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) - electric, major player underneath, slot with significant special teams value but 19 drops in 3 years.

9. Elijah Sarratt (Indiana) - can do it all, plays very Garçon like, isn’t afraid of contact and reliably open without major separator speed due to coverage recognition.

8. Ted Hurst (Georgia State)- unheralded, waiting for an opportunity

7. Germie Bernard (Alabama) - wiggle, underneath guy, quality hands YAC machine.

6. Chris Bell (Louisville) - injury hurting ranking, can do it all with great hands, attacking and can carry defenders.

5. Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) - my first controversial rating. Big, strong, dominant, great hands, produced at Virginia, great route runner.

4. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) - was almost fifth. May still be. Injuries are a concern, not as strong as other guys, you can tell the hamstring bothered him. If he’s healthy, he’s top 2. Great receiver, high contested catch rating, explosive athlete. His injury evaluation will either drop him or move him up.

3. Denzel Boston (Washington) - center fielder with size and an angry athlete and has great hands. Limited YAC. May fall after combine if some receivers have a good week and injury Evals pan out.

2. Makai Lemon (USC) - slot dominant, ridiculous hands, out jumps bigger players, finds vacant space, NFL sideline awareness, high effort blocker.

1. Carnell Tate (Ohio State) - he’s not Megatron, or even Jeremiah Smith. Ball tracking high end, deep ball threat, great release package, extremely reliable, traffic catcher.

I haven't watched all of those, and watched some you haven't. But of the ones WRs both watched, we are very in line.

 

[Riggo44]

In Kipers scenario where both Downs and Tate are gone, I could def get on board with Styles

I've heard a few podcasts lately that talked about how super smart Styles (also fights his guts out). I heard one person call him smarter than Reese. I'm very much warming up to that pick

 

[skinsinparadise]

As we know shifts in media mocks generally don't mean much at this stage. First time, we will start to see shifts in mocks that are meaningful will be post combine.

Post combine: the athletic scores, medicals, interviews move the needle -- and people talk, rumors, etc. The challenge is some of the talk and rumors are designed to mislead.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I've heard a few podcasts lately that talked about how super smart Styles (also fights his guts out). I heard one person call him smarter than Reese. I'm very much warming up to that pick

He's the mike lb so he'd of course be directing the defense not Reese. Hence I presume hence the comments about smarts.

I am somewhat in the J. Love crowd. I love the player. I am not though in the we have to take him crowd. But if its between Styles and Love, I think its Love by a mile.

 

[Riggo44]

He's the mike lb so he'd of course be directing the defense not Reese. Hence I presume hence the comments about smarts.

I am somewhat in the J. Love crowd. I love the player. I am not though in the we have to take him crowd. But if its between Styles and Love, I think its Love by a mile.

I would hope Styles would come with a trade down. But yes, Love would be the preference between the two.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I would hope Styles would come with a trade down. But yes, Love would be the preference between the two.

Trade is fine, he was my top trade down targets months ago.

But the more I digest it, 7 feels too rich.

And while RB like LB aren't premium positions -- good running backs make big contributions right away, LBs often take years to develop before they hit their prime.