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

[KDawg]

Yeah he has the same speed as J. Gibbs, a player I recall both you and I loved in that draft -- this is another shot at getting a player that good.

All the thoughts about how more dangerous Mahomes would be with Love, pertain even more so to Jayden IMO -- especiallly with an offense that's going to lean hard to play action, etc.

Unofficial 4.36 in his second 40. Holy shit.

 

[philibusters]

I think Mike Washington Jr. 40 time is the biggest surprise of the combine for me so far. I listen to Daft on Draft and there were saying 4.53 or so for him. 4.33 I think really raises his stock. He weighed in at 223. Has good power. He is a second rounder for me now.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Unofficial 4.36 in his second 40. Holy shit.

If they idea is draft a guarantee pro bowl player, he'd be the guy in the top 10 IMO. I am open to a few other players in that spot. But Love is definitely in the mix for me.

I'd add as a bonus, this team doesn't major in stars. And for a team desperate to get that next generation interested in this team again -- Jayden goes a long way but imagine him and Love?

 

[KDawg]

If they idea is draft a guarantee pro bowl player, he'd be the guy in the top 10 IMO. I am open to a few other players in that spot. But Love is definitely in the mix for me.

I'd add as a bonus, this team doesn't major in stars. And for a team desperate to get that next generation interested in this team again -- Jayden goes a long way but imagine him and Love?

I can’t think of anyone I’d prefer over him if we are looking to take the biggest difference maker for the franchise. Thats not to say I’d hate Styles, Reese, Tate… but I’ll be disappointed if it’s anyone but Love.

 

[philibusters]

Love's 40 time is awesome, but it doesn't change things that much for me because I figured he would be in the 4.38 to 4.42 range. I already baked into my opinion he was fast. I thought Kenyond Saddiq would be like 4.5 when he ended up being 4.39. I thought Mike Washington was be like 4.53 and he was 4.33. I thought Jacob Rodriguez would be like 4.68 and he was 4.57, those are the results that make me change my take more.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think Mike Washington Jr. 40 time is the biggest surprise of the combine for me so far. I listen to Daft on Draft and there were saying 4.53 or so for him. 4.33 I think really raises his stock. He weighed in at 223. Has good power. He is a second rounder for me now.

I liked how he got emotional about doing it, some did expect him to show well in the combine among the people I followed, late bloomer as far as a producer in college.

 

[KDawg]

Love's 40 time is awesome, but it doesn't change things that much for me because I figured he would be in the 4.38 to 4.42 range. I already baked into my opinion he was fast. I thought Kenyond Saddiq would be like 4.5 when he ended up being 4.39. I thought Mike Washington was be like 4.53 and he was 4.33. I thought Jacob Rodriguez would be like 4.68 and he was 4.57, those are the results that make me change my take more.

At this point it’s just bonus. For what it’s worth, Saddiq’s speed shows on film. They ran fly sweeps with him.

4.36 is fast.

I had him (Love) as my 1 anyways. The fact that he is Gibbs fast makes it even more of an obvious pick for me.

 

[HOF44]

4.37 for Love???? I’m all in if he’s still there.

 

[philibusters]

Mike Washington was the arguably the best running back at the senior bowl. He had good tape. He has to be in the conversation for RB 2 now and would be a decent option at 71 (albeit I may favor other positions with that pick--as others have said if you take a RB early it needs to be a difference maker, not just another good RB). That said I think he may go in the second round now.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I can’t think of anyone I’d prefer over him if we are looking to take the biggest difference maker for the franchise. Thats not to say I’d hate Styles, Reese, Tate… but I’ll be disappointed if it’s anyone but Love.

I am not quite at that point yet but not a mile off either, but I totally get anyone who feels that way.

I am guessing Styles is gone before 7 so I've written him off in my head.

I am guessing 1 of the 3 pass rushers, not sure whom but probably Bain, will be there at 7.

I am thinking Downs will be there.

My mind though is shifting to offense. Tate versus Love. Love is the better player. But I do value a big time WR over a RB.

I want to see what Tate runs. If its in the mid to lower 4'4s, I just think a home run hitting WR is tailor made for Jayden, too. He killed it with Brian Thomas, etc at LSU. Dealing with Terry and another WR that can kill a defense deep would be a handful for opponents.

But heck Love in the backfield with Jayden between play action, RPOs, RO, boots would really be a nightmare for defenses. So its close for me, so I am torn. If Tate runs in the 4'5s which I think is possible it makes it easier for me to favor Love.

 

[philibusters]

At this point it’s just bonus. For what it’s worth, Saddiq’s speed shows on film. They ran fly sweeps with him.

4.36 is fast.

I had him (Love) as my 1 anyways. The fact that he is Gibbs fast makes it even more of an obvious pick for me.

I think the betting over/under was 4.50 for Sadiq. Which is fast for a 241 pound player. He is the same weight exactly as Reese and two pounds lighter than Styles. We are gushing about the 4.46 and Sadiq at essentially the same size ran .07 seconds faster. We knew Sadiq was fast, but not that fast.

 

[philibusters]

I am still not in on Love. Just not enough surplus value. He would make about 9 million aav as the 7th pick, whereas the open market for a Gibbs is probably 17 million. A high end #2 receiver is worth 25 aav and a low end #1 WR is only 28 to 30. I would rather just pay the premium for Travis Etienne, give him 14 or 15 million a year and draft tate rather than pay Alec Pierce 24 million (a high end 2) and draft Love. We come out 10 million per year etter in taht second scenario.

 

[KDawg]

I am not quite at that point yet but not a mile off either, but I totally get anyone who feels that way.

I am guessing Styles is gone before 7 so I've written him off in my head.

I am guessing 1 of the 3 pass rushers, not sure whom but probably Bain, will be there at 7.

I am thinking Downs will be there.

My mind though is shifting to offense. Tate versus Love. Love is the better player. But I do value a big time WR over a RB.

I want to see what Tate runs. If its in the mid to lower 4'4s, I just think a home run hitting WR is tailor made for Jayden, too. He killed it with Brian Thomas, etc at LSU. Dealing with Terry and another WR that can kill a defense deep would be a handful for opponents.

But heck Love in the backfield with Jayden between play action, RPOs, RO, boots would really be a nightmare for defenses. So its close for me, so I am torn. If Tate runs in the 4'5s which I think is possible it makes it easier for me to favor Love.

The way I look at it is that I don't think Tate was the best receiver in college football. He wasn't the best on his team. That doesn't mean he isn't going to be awesome, I think he has a lot of traits that make it so he is probably going to be at least in that Terry McLaurin level of player. Which is... really good.

But I think Love is the best player in the draft and the biggest difference maker.

Now I shift my thought to: Okay - how would I feel if it was Jeremiah Smith vs. Jeremiyah Love.

That one I don't know. That is tricky. Given our current situation I think I'd basically say, "bring me one of them and I'll be amped".

But Tate vs. Love is Love all day for me. He's a better overall player and can directly take pressure off of Jayden.

That said, if Love is gone, which I'm getting nervous about now and we wind up with Tate I will do two things:

1) Be very upset with our win against Philadelphia.

2) Be thankful a high quality player like Tate is there still while still ruing the day we beat Philly.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Love's 40 time is awesome, but it doesn't change things that much for me because I figured he would be in the 4.38 to 4.42 range. I already baked into my opinion he was fast. I thought Kenyond Saddiq would be like 4.5 when he ended up being 4.39. I thought Mike Washington was be like 4.53 and he was 4.33. I thought Jacob Rodriguez would be like 4.68 and he was 4.57, those are the results that make me change my take more.

Saddiq #1 on Feldman's freaks list for the draft. Washington did great but it wasn't that out of the blue.

Which NFL Draft 2026 prospects will show off at the combine? Revisiting Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List

From Jeremiyah Love to David Bailey, Bruce Feldman revisits his famous Freaks List to determine who should stand out in Indianapolis.

www.nytimes.com

20. Mike Washington, running back, Arkansas: Jeremiyah Love isn’t the only top back who can fly. Washington’s a bigger back at 6-1, 227. I hear he should run the 40 in the 4.4s. Someone described Washington, who went from Buffalo to New Mexico State to the Razorbacks, this month as “super explosive” and will be in the running for pound-for-pound tester among the running backs.

 

[KDawg]

I am still not in on Love. Just not enough surplus value. He would make about 9 million aav as the 7th pick, whereas the open market for a Gibbs is probably 17 million. A high end #2 receiver is worth 25 aav and a low end #1 WR is only 28 to 30. I would rather just pay the premium for Travis Etienne, give him 14 or 15 million a year and draft tate rather than pay Alec Pierce 24 million (a high end 2) and draft Love. We come out 10 million per year etter in taht second scenario.

While I understand this perspective, I think it's a min/max approach that we aren't to yet. We don't even spend the cap money we have.

Get the best player. In a year or two... I'll probably be right there with you.

 

[philibusters]

Even if you thought he was going to run a 4.46, the fact that he ran a 4.33 is a pretty big difference. I don't think I realized how fast Washington was (like I said I was expecting a 4.53 and that may be I was under informed), but I think that 4.33 was shocking.

 

[KDawg]

Even if you thought he was going to run a 4.46, the fact that he ran a 4.33 is a pretty big difference. I don't think I realized how fast Washington was (like I said I was expecting a 4.53 and that may be I was under informed), but I think that 4.33 was shocking.

Here's the thing... if you are that surprised by the 40 time it means they didn't look that quick to you when you watched the film. Which means they don't play at that same speed they run a straight line 40 in.

I'm more impressed with guys who run fast 40s that look like they ran fast 40s on film.

I think Saddiq looked fast. Probably not as fast as he wound up running. But I would have not been surprised by low 4.4s.

I just don't let the underwear Olympics change my perspective unless severe flaws are revealed. But that's my philosophy. NFL GMs have been letting it influence them for years and they are getting paid millions. I'm paid some thousand to coach the game. Big difference between them and me. So I don't think letting the combine influence you is wrong. I think it does have to hold SOME weight.

To me, when guys perform better than expected it impresses me because it means they worked their ass off to get there. When they perform worse it means injury or they weren't taking enough pride in their profession. So that is where things stand out to me.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The way I look at it is that I don't think Tate was the best receiver in college football. He wasn't the best on his team. That doesn't mean he isn't going to be awesome, I think he has a lot of traits that make it so he is probably going to be at least in that Terry McLaurin level of player. Which is... really good.

But I think Love is the best player in the draft and the biggest difference maker.

Now I shift my thought to: Okay - how would I feel if it was Jeremiah Smith vs. Jeremiyah Love.

That one I don't know. That is tricky. Given our current situation I think I'd basically say, "bring me one of them and I'll be amped".

But Tate vs. Love is Love all day for me. He's a better overall player and can directly take pressure off of Jayden.

That said, if Love is gone, which I'm getting nervous about now and we wind up with Tate I will do two things:

1) Be very upset with our win against Philadelphia.

2) Be thankful a high quality player like Tate is there still while still ruing the day we beat Philly.

It doesn't bother me that he isn't as good as Jeremiah Smith, who might be the best WR prospect since megatron. Just like Terry wasn't even the 2nd best at Ohio State, he was their #3 guy.

I think he's a good player even if he runs in the 4'5s. But if he surprises and runs in the mid to lower 4's with those seperation skills, ball tracking skills, catch radius, and soft hands -- I think he likely ends up even better than Terry. And this is coming from one the only dudes who liked Terry on ES and had to spend like 10 hours lol defending that pick when it happened.

His speed is hard for me to gauge because he's a long legged glider.

 

[philibusters]

I have watched any film from Mike Washington. He got some call outs on the recruiting shows during the season and he was lauded as arguably the best running back at the senior bowl, but the impression I had of him was a north south runner with good physicality, decent pass catchesr out of backfield, but not special. Fast for his size (223 pounds, he was listed at 227 during the season), but not necessarily elite speed. I may try to watch some game tape of him, but just looking at his highlights (which can be very misleading) I am intrigued...

 

[KDawg]

It doesn't bother me that he isn't as good as Jeremiah Smith, who might be the best WR prospect since megatron. Just like Terry wasn't even the 2nd best at Ohio State, he was their #3 guy.

I think he's a good player even if he runs in the 4'5s. But if he surprises and runs in the mid to lower 4's with those seperation skills, ball tracking skills, catch radius, and soft hands -- I think he likely ends up even better than Terry. And this is coming from one the only dudes who liked Terry on ES and had to spend like 10 hours lol defending that pick when it happened.

His speed his hard for me to gaugue because he's a long legged glider.

It doesn't bother me that he wasn't the best receiver on his team, either. I like him.

But Love is a better player. And I am BIG time of the opinion that an RB helps us more than a WR.

I am also big time of the opinion that I don't like being in the position where we need both a RB and a WR and a TE.

If we somehow signed a high end FA RB, I'd be mildly disappointed because it would likely mean no Love - but if we wound up with Tate I don't view it as consolation. I just think that highly of Love.