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

[Bulldog]

In my mind we have traded enough draft capital from this team.

It's time to maximize the picks we have and take the selections where they are slotted and have the GM show he can come up with the talent necessary to win with.

I am all in favor of trading a basket of picks to draft a generational quarterback because the position is just that important and hard to find, but not for a DL.

Peters can and should be able to assemble a front four with his slotted picks and the use of all of the salary cap space this team has.

MacDonald didn't have to have Schneider go out and trade for Maxx Crosby or trade up to the #1 pick for the Seahawks to field a very good defense.

 

[Riggo44]

I would probably take that deal.

 

[Dlts20]

I see that Hendrickson is a free agent, free and clear. Let's play "Would you rather..."

Pick 7 is up, Bain, Styles, and Love are there. Cincinnati comes calling: 1st this year, 3rd this year, 1st next to move up to take Bain. You're Adam Peters, what do you do (and, no, firing Quinn is not one of the choices)?

I'd take that in a heartbeat. Cincy would never though

 

[philibusters]

You take that deal in a second. You move down from 7 to 10, but pick up an extra third in this years draft, and a first in next year's draft which will likely be a significantly better first round than this year's first round. That is an instant no brainer for me as that is a pretty lopsided trade. A harder one would be 7 for 10 and we get back a 3 and 4th this year while giving them the lower of sixth rounders and them giving us a third rounder next year. That would be the situation where I would think long and hard about it and maybe not take it. But if a team is willing to pay true premium to move up, I am all for it.

 

[KDawg]

I see that Hendrickson is a free agent, free and clear. Let's play "Would you rather..."

Pick 7 is up, Bain, Styles, and Love are there. Cincinnati comes calling: 1st this year, 3rd this year, 1st next to move up to take Bain. You're Adam Peters, what do you do (and, no, firing Quinn is not one of the choices)?

I wouldn’t.

Great chance we get stuck with someone we don’t love at 10 and all of the real difference makers are off the board. At this point I don’t know that I trade back. At all.

If NO offers 3 firsts for a 1 pick swap I’d do it. But otherwise I just don’t see a scenario where I’d rather have Faulk than Love. Or something similar.

But if the draft unfolds in a way we don’t see and there are more high end guys available at 10? Now I think about it.

People are correctly concerned with next year - but if we don’t find success THIS year we are restarting next year with Jayden coming up on his big contract.

We need to be successful this year and we need to give Jayden the tools to do it.

 

[Riggo44]

Cincy would never though

Yeah...I wouldn't say what Cincy would never do though...

 

[philibusters]

I wouldn’t.

Great chance we get stuck with someone we don’t love at 10 and all of the real difference makers are off the board. At this point I don’t know that I trade back. At all.

If NO offers 3 firsts for a 1 pick swap I’d do it. But otherwise I just don’t see a scenario where I’d rather have Faulk than Love. Or something similar.

But if the draft unfolds in a way we don’t see and there are more high end guys available at 10? Now I think about it.

If we trade back we could potentially get an elite guard in Fano or Ioane, a dynamic TE in Saddiq, Jordan Tyson or Lemon, a solid corner in Delane or McCoy, maybe an elite safety if Downs is on the board. We have other needs that we could still fill well at 10. To me turning down a future 1 and a 3rd this year to move down 3 stops makes no sense. Somebody is offering you a lopisided trade. Take it.

 

[KDawg]

If we trade back we could potentially get an elite guard in Fano or Ioane, a dynamic TE in Saddiq, Jordan Tyson or Lemon, a solid corner in Delane or McCoy, maybe an elite safety if Downs is on the board. We have other needs that we could still fill well at 10. To me turning down a future 1 and a 3rd this year to move down 3 stops makes no sense. Somebody is offering you a lopisided trade. Take it.

I’m not high on Tyson or Lemon. I don’t feel drafting a guard is enough help and I think Saddiq is a quality player but I’d rather get FA tight ends.

None of the players you just said intrigue me. Not for this team. I love Ioane, but if we wind up with Ioane this year instead of a weapon for Jayden (pending FA moves) I think we are hitting reset next year and Jayden is coming up on his contract.

Take the difference maker. For once.

I have a feeling we will move back. Not sure why, just do. But the haul will be for much less than this hypothetical.

 

[philibusters]

I’m not high on Tyson or Lemon. I don’t feel drafting a guard is enough help and I think Saddiq is a quality player but I’d rather get FA tight ends.

None of the players you just said intrigue me. Not for this team. I love Ioane, but if we wind up with Ioane this year instead of a weapon for Jayden (pending FA moves) I think we are hitting reset next year and Jayden is coming up on his contract.

Take the difference maker. For once.

I have a feeling we will move back. Not sure why, just do. But the haul will be for much less than this hypothetical.

I do agree we are very unlikely to get that haul for moving back that amount. To me that haul would be more realistic if say the Bills or Patriots who are picking late in the first round 26th and 31st wanted to move up. They would probably need to give us something like a 3rd rounder plus a first rounder for next year. And to be honest, I would probably take that deal. At same 26 I could probably get Daron Paynes future replacement in one of Kayden McDonald, Chrisstian Miller, Caleb Banks, Lee Hunter or Peter Woods, a solid edge player in a Cashius Howell, R Mason Thomas, Kendric Faulk, Akeem Mesisor, TJ Parker, or a good WR compliment like an Omar Cooper, KC Concepcion, or Denzel Boston, possibly a safety like Dillion Thiennman (though after his combine he is likely gone by 26), possibly a corner like Terrell or Hood (though Terrell is probably gone by then). With the extra third round pick I could probably get a good safety, linebacker, or receiver. And though its early next years first round class looks strong (stronger than the past couple classes have looked at this point) so that should be a good pick. I could see a team like the Bills moving up just cause they won't be in a position to draft a Carnell Tate as they will always be drafting at the end of the first round. Teams like the Patriots and Bears (likely regression candidates for next year) or tempting trade partners because when they make the trade with you they are assuming next year's first rounder is a late first rounders, but there is a reasonably chance its more middle of the first round.

 

[HTTR]

Pass pro too? This kid seemingly has no weaknesses! With all the hype though I worried he won’t fall to us now. 😞

I see that Hendrickson is a free agent, free and clear. Let's play "Would you rather..."

Pick 7 is up, Bain, Styles, and Love are there. Cincinnati comes calling: 1st this year, 3rd this year, 1st next to move up to take Bain. You're Adam Peters, what do you do (and, no, firing Quinn is not one of the choices)?

Sounds like a good deal but I’ve already run the Love pick up to the podium before Cincy can finish dialing. 😎

 

[Canuck]

I see that Hendrickson is a free agent, free and clear. Let's play "Would you rather..."

Pick 7 is up, Bain, Styles, and Love are there. Cincinnati comes calling: 1st this year, 3rd this year, 1st next to move up to take Bain. You're Adam Peters, what do you do (and, no, firing Quinn is not one of the choices)?

I'd take it, next year is supoosed to be a stronger draft.

As discussed multiple times, the best players in this draft play non premium positions

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I'm not for trading back, I want to utilize this pick. But Hell yeah you just have to take that deal but I don't see them making that offer. Cincy's next year's first? Sign me up for that and they can still land an impact player at 10. Hell it could be Love.

 

[NoCalSkins]

The way AP is clearing cap space & clutter from the roster, considering they already had a healthy amount of cap space available suggests to me they are going to stand pat in the draft (unless an out of this world offer showed up on the table from a team desperate to get into the 7 spot) and draft a difference maker with the first pick, and then be super aggressive signing free agents.

 

[DogofWar1]

(This is a fake tweet I made fyi)

 

[clskinsfan]

Charles Davis latest mock is an absolute worst case scenario for us. No OL go and we are left with Bain. I would seriously take scraps and trade down if the draft went this way. '

Pick
1

Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza
Indiana · QB · Junior (RS)
Never has a player who sat out a workout at the combine been so warmly received by the fans in attendance. I still believe the "Potentate of Hoosier Land" is headed to Tom Brady's Raiders.
Pick
2

New York Jets

David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
In the battle to be the first edge rusher off the board, Bailey gets the nod, with his work at the combine helping him secure a spot with Gang Green.
Pick
3

Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior
The Cardinals have many needs, but adding arguably the best player in the draft is a terrific starting point.
Pick
4

Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese
Ohio State · LB/Edge · Junior
The Ohio State lads were highly impressive as a group at the combine. Reese heads to the Music City as the first Buckeye to hear his name called by the commissioner.

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Pick
5

New York Giants

Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior
Styles’ tape is outstanding. His combine performance was off the charts. The Giants cannot pass on his talent.
Pick
6

Cleveland Browns

Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior
After Tate's 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the combine, Bills GM Brandon Beane joked on the NFL Network broadcast that teams probably shouldn’t “take him early.” The Browns laugh at the thought, and they keep Tate in-state.
Pick
7

Washington Commanders

 

[Bulldog]

Maxx Crosby was a 4th round draft pick. Hendrickson was taken in the 3rd round.

Chris Jones was taken in the 2nd round.

You don't need a bevy of top 10-15 selections to get the personnel equation right if you have the right scouts and talent evaluators.

Anyone can sit at the top of the draft at #1 and select Caleb Williams.

That doesn't impress me too much.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Charles Davis latest mock is an absolute worst case scenario for us. No OL go and we are left with Bain. I would seriously take scraps and trade down if the draft went this way. '

Pick
1

Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza
Indiana · QB · Junior (RS)
Never has a player who sat out a workout at the combine been so warmly received by the fans in attendance. I still believe the "Potentate of Hoosier Land" is headed to Tom Brady's Raiders.
Pick
2

New York Jets

David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
In the battle to be the first edge rusher off the board, Bailey gets the nod, with his work at the combine helping him secure a spot with Gang Green.
Pick
3

Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior
The Cardinals have many needs, but adding arguably the best player in the draft is a terrific starting point.
Pick
4

Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese
Ohio State · LB/Edge · Junior
The Ohio State lads were highly impressive as a group at the combine. Reese heads to the Music City as the first Buckeye to hear his name called by the commissioner.

ERROR CODE: 110
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Pick
5

New York Giants

Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior
Styles’ tape is outstanding. His combine performance was off the charts. The Giants cannot pass on his talent.
Pick
6

Cleveland Browns

Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior
After Tate's 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the combine, Bills GM Brandon Beane joked on the NFL Network broadcast that teams probably shouldn’t “take him early.” The Browns laugh at the thought, and they keep Tate in-state.
Pick
7

Washington Commanders

It would be peak stupidity of the Cardinals to take a RB, with no QB, and probably an entire rookie contract away from being relevant.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

So his knee is perfectly fine? Wasn't he supposed to do stuff at the combine but then didn't and decided to wait for the Pro Day? Could have sworn I read somewhere he was going to participate and it was a bit of a surprise he suddenly didn't.

I don't know what's going on, feels like random tidbits I hear/read are just making stuff up with Downs. Ohio State doesn't have a Pro Day date yet. It's just later in March sometime.

I'll hopefully just stay patient and ignore Downs news until then.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Charles Davis latest mock is an absolute worst case scenario for us. No OL go and we are left with Bain. I would seriously take scraps and trade down if the draft went this way. '

Pick
1

Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza
Indiana · QB · Junior (RS)
Never has a player who sat out a workout at the combine been so warmly received by the fans in attendance. I still believe the "Potentate of Hoosier Land" is headed to Tom Brady's Raiders.
Pick
2

New York Jets

David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
In the battle to be the first edge rusher off the board, Bailey gets the nod, with his work at the combine helping him secure a spot with Gang Green.
Pick
3

Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior
The Cardinals have many needs, but adding arguably the best player in the draft is a terrific starting point.
Pick
4

Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese
Ohio State · LB/Edge · Junior
The Ohio State lads were highly impressive as a group at the combine. Reese heads to the Music City as the first Buckeye to hear his name called by the commissioner.

ERROR CODE: 110
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Please turn off your ad blocker and refresh the page to view content.

Pick
5

New York Giants

Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior
Styles’ tape is outstanding. His combine performance was off the charts. The Giants cannot pass on his talent.
Pick
6

Cleveland Browns

Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior
After Tate's 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the combine, Bills GM Brandon Beane joked on the NFL Network broadcast that teams probably shouldn’t “take him early.” The Browns laugh at the thought, and they keep Tate in-state.
Pick
7

Washington Commanders

Nightmare scenario. Might even be the only way I would trade down at that point.