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

[Riggo44]

The non-premiums are where the value is in this draft, it seems. I've been asking which is better: a mediocre DE or WR or a blue chip RB, S, or LB? Styles seems like that freak that OCs have to account for that is so very lacking on defense right now.

 

[KDawg]

The non-premiums are where the value is in this draft, it seems. I've been asking which is better: a mediocre DE or WR or a blue chip RB, S, or LB? Styles seems like that freak that OCs have to account for that is so very lacking on defense right now.

No brainer. Styles, Downs and Love are three of the top football players in this class. Mediocre edge is not what we need. We need high end talent.

 

[DWinzit]

There are a lot of decent LB's and Edges for day 2 and early day 3

 

[Canuck]

No brainer. Styles, Downs and Love are three of the top football players in this class. Mediocre edge is not what we need. We need high end talent.

Agreed, get the high end talent at 7, target 1-2 edges later in the draft.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Man the bad news just keeps piling up tonight.

I had Styles tied for my top want with Love in the draft. Downs third.

With all of this going on it looks like it’ll be Love or Downs.

Winning that game against Philly is a gift that keeps giving.

Downs is my number 1. And Love would be a home run too. I can’t get a good read on Bailey. Bain, no. Tate, no. Excited to see what comes though. Would be great with Styles too though.

And Harold Perkins sitting out the drills ..yikes. I really hope we stay away from him in the later rounds. He might be out of the league with the quickness.

 

[Conn]

That is not Bain.

Or maybe those are two separate thoughts crammed together

 

[clskinsfan]

Just noticed Anthony Hill ran a 4.51 yesterday. That is a great time for him. He is faster than I though he was. Hell of a player too.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Someone asked me awhile ago if Styles can play outside backer and I said “yes, but he’s raw.” I continue to stand by that. Sonny Styles, eventually, is what they tried to do with Luvu.

But that takes time to get to.

Downs could be Harrison Smith for us. But… that takes time to get to.

Tate could be… Terry McLaurin for us. That doesn’t take as much time to get to.

Love could be… one of the best backs we’ve ever had.

I’m good with any of these four at this point.

I have my preference order… (Love/Styles, Tate, Downs and then add Delane) but it’s not necessarily locked in stone and I like all four prospects a lot).

The only thing we can do to mess this up imo is to trade back, go too far back, and wind up with none of these guys.

I don’t mention Reese because I think he’s gone by our pick and Bain is on the board. Everyone knows how I feel as it pertains to Bain, but again, I just don’t see him as a guy Peters will draft.

I’m pretty comfortable at 7. I’d be really comfortable at 5.

You seem to have come up some on Tate? The one place I might slightly disagree, is that I think Downs’ instincts and football intelligence make him plug and play. Huge impact as a freshman. Transfers. Another huge first year impact. I don’t think he has the highest ceiling of these guys, but I d think he can step right in, and also has a good ceiling.

I can’t make myself not want love. I want Jayden, and an all pro running back. Sign likely and a WR and get Jayden back on track.

In the end, I think I’d be happy with Love, Downs, or Styles. I prefer Styles to Reese, not because of the combine, but because of cover ability, and I think he’s less of a projection.

I want to see Bain’s athletic numbers. He’s not off the board for me.

 

[Conn]

Thought this was good (whole thread is good but not all relevant):

 

[Dlts20]

I like seeing you added Delane to your preference list. I see him as a cleaner pick than many of the others discussed in the group the top like 12.

I also respect your take on Bailey although I have him higher.

It seems nuts to me that they have in a way removed to some degree Bain and Reese. It's a poor management practice to give away any true feelings around players you don't like or covet. It also goes against how good AP has been about not giving away much at all in personnel plans. They have kept mum on so many plans, just crazy I want teams to think I am a wild card and could pick any one.

The draft is full of stories of guys being picked by teams who didn't show much interest or didn't talk to them at all. It may just be some posturing from AP. I wouldn't take everything he says to heart right now. Yesterday when they said that we basically interviewed everyone except for Reese, I said that means he's the favorite... Lol

 

[KDawg]

You seem to have come up some on Tate? The one place I might slightly disagree, is that I think Downs’ instincts and football intelligence make him plug and play. Huge impact as a freshman. Transfers. Another huge first year impact. I don’t think he has the highest ceiling of these guys, but I d think he can step right in, and also has a good ceiling.

I can’t make myself not want love. I want Jayden, and an all pro running back. Sign likely and a WR and get Jayden back on track.

In the end, I think I’d be happy with Love, Downs, or Styles. I prefer Styles to Reese, not because of the combine, but because of cover ability, and I think he’s less of a projection.

I want to see Bain’s athletic numbers. He’s not off the board for me.

Tate is the best receiver in class. I’m not sure I’d take any of the others in the top 10, whereas I’d take Tate. Ideally closer to 10 than even 7 but top 10. But I don’t think he lasts long.

Bain is never off the board for me. But I’m guessing he’s off Peters board.

 

[DWinzit]

Just noticed Anthony Hill ran a 4.51 yesterday. That is a great time for him. He is faster than I though he was. Hell of a player too.

That's about where he was expected to run which is good. One of my favs at LB

 

[Anselmheifer]

The draft is full of stories of guys being picked by teams who didn't show much interest or didn't talk to them at all. It may just be some posturing from AP. I wouldn't take everything he says to heart right now. Yesterday when they said that we basically interviewed everyone except for Reese, I said that means he's the favorite... Lol

It’s hard to say. They didn’t have a lot of reason for obfuscation, but there were a lot more hints about Jayden than I wanted to acknowledge at the time, because I wanted Maye, just at the time.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Tate is the best receiver in class. I’m not sure I’d take any of the others in the top 10, whereas I’d take Tate. Ideally closer to 10 than even 7 but top 10. But I don’t think he lasts long.

Bain is never off the board for me. But I’m guessing he’s off Peters board.

I’m with you on Tate. I think he goes to the Titans as they’re in a similar boat to us in terms of wanting to give their young qb weapons and with FA not looking great in that regard.
That same logic is why I think he’s be a great pick for us (even more so given the talk of us wanting a downfield threat), even if I think others (Love/Styles/Downs) are somewhat better prospects.

I know you have a lot of concerns about the team’s offseason so far, but the Biadasz move makes me think Love is actually in play for us, which I wouldn’t have said as of yesterday. So there’s that, lol.

 

[KDawg]

I’m with you on Tate. I think he goes to the Titans as they’re in a similar boat to us in terms of wanting to give their young qb weapons and with FA not looking great in that regard.
That same logic is why I think he’s be a great pick for us (even more so given the talk of us wanting a downfield threat), even if I think others (Love/Styles/Downs) are somewhat better prospects.

I know you have a lot of concerns about the team’s offseason so far, but the Biadasz move makes me think Love is actually in play for us, which I wouldn’t have said as of yesterday. So there’s that, lol.

I think the opposite but that’s a time will tell situation.

 

[philibusters]

I am pretty happy with the way the Tunsil trade has worked out, but it would be nice to have that 2nd and 4th round pick this year. I would feel better about passing on Edge in round 1 knowing there will be decent options at 38 and positions like LB would be fillable in like the fourth round.

I am not a big Hill guy (at least in the second round) because I think he is a bit more on the developmental side, but its a moot point unless we trade down as I pretty sure he'll be gone by 71. His testing didn't surprise me because I have always thought of him as a good athlete. The Linebacker class is interesting. People are saying its deep. And its deep through 9 or 10 guys, but then it kind of drops off and by the time you are in the 6th and 7th round I don't think its deep anymore (albeit I don't a lot about the guys who would go in that range). Definitely a better LB class than last year, which had underwhelming depth.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I am pretty happy with the way the Tunsil trade has worked out, but it would be nice to have that 2nd and 4th round pick this year. I would feel better about passing on Edge in round 1 knowing there will be decent options at 38 and positions like LB would be fillable in like the fourth round.

I am not a big Hill guy (at least in the second round) because I think he is a bit more on the developmental side, but its a moot point unless we trade down as I pretty sure he'll be gone by 71. His testing didn't surprise me because I have always thought of him as a good athlete. The Linebacker class is interesting. People are saying its deep. And its deep through 9 or 10 guys, but then it kind of drops off and by the time you are in the 6th and 7th round I don't think its deep anymore (albeit I don't a lot about the guys who would go in that range). Definitely a better LB class than last year, which had underwhelming depth.

If they didn't make the Tunsil trade it was entirely possible that we go into this draft with LT as a huge need. Coleman was a third round pick and inconsistent, it would have been unrealistic to expect him to be a lock down player at the most important position. And that could have very well meant using the #7 on a tackle and not Caleb Downs or Sonny Stiles.

So when you look at it from that perspective I'm fine sacrificing these picks in a weak draft.

 

[philibusters]

Realistically not having the second and fourth rounders hurt, but the reality is the average result for a second rounder is an average starter and the average result for a fourth rounder is a good backup or rotational player. A top 5 LT is clearly worth more than that, so it was a good trade. Still its not fun to pay bills (in this case the payment is the 2nd and 4th rounders)

 

[Chris]

Styles, Downs, or Love would make my toes tingle. Any of the 3 would improve more than just their position.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I think the opposite but that’s a time will tell situation.

As in - beefing up the oline puts less onus on adding a high end back? If that’s what you mean, I could see it.

IMV (separate from what I think the FO does), I see our likely options as at least 2 of Styles/Love/Downs at 7.

I really dig Styles, but going linebacker that early, particularly when FA has some quality options (and it’s not a crazy expensive position), and given it’s a spot that often has a steep development curve… that’s not the direction I’d go. I will caveat that with the idea that I think there’s a chance Daronte can use him quite well, even early on.

So then it’s between Downs and Love (if they’re both there of course). If we are indeed trying to maximize our run game (in part to aid Jayden obviously) I’d err toward adding a blue chip guy on that side of the ball. Not sure they’ll see it that way though (maybe to your point?).