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

[skinsinparadise]

This was posted here by @Dits20 . This is some of the Paulsen explanation.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Tate not very high on that list. Maybe he falls?

We are probably not getting Love 😞

Top 10 tied for 8 so high enough. But that's McShay's takes not an NFL team. The executives put Tate top 4.

But the more I read from Keim and others and think about it some, and will see if its executed in FA -- WR, RB is likely addressed especially WR. Edge likely addressed but of course you never have enough.

So it feels like Syles (if he falls) or Downs if they are going with a need approach.

 

[HTTR]

Top 10 tied for 8 so high enough. But that's McShay's takes not an NFL team. The executives put Tate top 4.

But the more I read from Keim and others and think about it some, and will see if its executed in FA -- WR, RB is likely addressed especially WR. Edge likely addressed but of course you never have enough.

So it feels like Syles (if he falls) or Downs if they are going with a need approach.

Agreed. Love, Downs, Styles, Tate is still my list but any of them will make me happy. I had lost hope for Downs falling to us, but now it looks like he will. Love is the opposite. Edge and WR are the most likely positions to be addressed in free agency, they have to be. Cannot afford to go into the draft still searching for a starter at either of those spots.

 

[Kalu44]

McShay

View attachment 14274

If those 6 players are gone by pick 7, I can definitely see trading back a few spots if the FO is not in love with Bain. I think the targets then would be Delane, Faulk, Tate and maybe even Tyson.

 

[HTTR]

Trading back for more picks would be ok with me I guess, but I think it’s a total longshot. I just don’t see who teams would be so eager to move up for. And if there was such a player, wouldn’t we be wanting to take him ourselves?

 

[Anselmheifer]

Top 10 tied for 8 so high enough. But that's McShay's takes not an NFL team. The executives put Tate top 4.

But the more I read from Keim and others and think about it some, and will see if its executed in FA -- WR, RB is likely addressed especially WR. Edge likely addressed but of course you never have enough.

So it feels like Syles (if he falls) or Downs if they are going with a need approach.

I could definitely see them doubling on edge even if they sign 2, if, Bailey or Reese look like BPA

 

[Kalu44]

Trading back for more picks would be ok with me I guess, but I think it’s a total longshot. I just don’t see who teams would be so eager to move up for. And if there was such a player, wouldn’t we be wanting to take him ourselves?

Fair point. I guess the argument is if the FO has the same grade on 4 or so players and one team has a big need at one specific position (lets call it WR) and that team trades up, I guess it’s worth adding a day two pick.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Trading back for more picks would be ok with me I guess, but I think it’s a total longshot. I just don’t see who teams would be so eager to move up for. And if there was such a player, wouldn’t we be wanting to take him ourselves?

Yep. I suppose it’s possible that a team falls for a certain player, our FA leaves us flexible in terms of targets and AP has a number of prospects he’d be happy with, but I’m skeptical.

On a separate note, one guy that hasn’t been talked about much for us that I’m intrigued by is Ioane. Presuming we address WR/DE/Corner in FA, I’d think LG then moves up a bit in terms of team needs. Not saying he’d be my guy or anything, and it wouldn’t be a sexy pick, but I think he’d be in the mix?

 

[philibusters]

Yep. I suppose it’s possible that a team falls for a certain player, our FA leaves us flexible in terms of targets and AP has a number of prospects he’d be happy with, but I’m skeptical.

On a separate note, one guy that hasn’t been talked about much for us that I’m intrigued by is Ioane. Presuming we address WR/DE/Corner in FA, I’d think LG then moves up a bit in terms of team needs. Not saying he’d be my guy or anything, and it wouldn’t be a sexy pick, but I think he’d be in the mix?

Mauigoa and Fano, while listed as Tackles, are also excellent Guard prospects. They are probably better Guard prospects than Tackle prospects.

 

[SkinDeep]

Top 10 tied for 8 so high enough. But that's McShay's takes not an NFL team. The executives put Tate top 4.

But the more I read from Keim and others and think about it some, and will see if its executed in FA -- WR, RB is likely addressed especially WR. Edge likely addressed but of course you never have enough.

So it feels like Syles (if he falls) or Downs if they are going with a need approach.

I'm starting to feel like there's a better chance that Bailey falls to us than Styles. I think enough NFL GMs may feel like Kdawg does about Bailey that he might make it to us.

 

[Dlts20]

They’re gonna need a QB to get them the ball. Dart isn’t going to survive. Him and Skatt might both be out of the league in 2-3 years with the way they play. Dart had to go into concussion protocol in at least half of his games last season. That’s insane and not sustainable. I also don’t think he’s that great of a QB either. He shrunk in big moments in college. Let’s hope it takes another 2-3 years for the Giants to realize that.

This is how I felt but Harbaugh is a good coach so I am sure that he will try to get a grasp on that

 

[Dlts20]

Nope, he was very specific about it. He said he relies on his elbows-shoulder power to swat and watching his hands specfically he didn't think he was hot with them. And he didn't think the elbow-shoulder power drill would work on more powerful NFL tackles.

But Bain was just coached by one of the great hands guys in Jason Taylor who thinks that Bain is that guy. Hard to say

 

[Dlts20]

What are you guys feelings on Bailey? Seems like he has slid down the list for some guys. I had Bain number 1 on my list of the guys I think will be there because I don't think that Bailey will be but if he is there then I think that we would pick him over anyone on the whole board

 

[Chris]

No doubt that JT’s coaching is a benefit but at 6’6 with 34 5/8” arm length it’s not quite apples to apples.

 

[Dlts20]

No doubt that JT’s coaching is a benefit but at 6’6 with 34 5/8” arm length it’s not quite apples to apples.

Definitely not but teaching is teaching, even if Bain can't apply it as well. Just like him or whoever we get, being able to go head to head vs Tunsil in drills every day has to make it easier for most tackles they will go up against.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I watched Makai Lemon’s 2024 games against Notre Dame and Texas A&M. In both games he was essentially a slot-only receiver and was off the field for stretches, but when he was on the field he was very good. He’s a polished route runner with a thoughtful release package. He showed multiple releases, including inside and outside releases on slot fades, and one where he really stepped on the corner’s toes to threaten leverage. He can handswipe through contact and the stem of his routes has a lot of intention. He consistently attacks a defensive back’s leverage and at the top of the route he has violent hip sink — probably the best hip sink I’ve seen from the five or so receivers I’ve evaluated so far.

His route tree in these games was fairly thin, but the detail with which he ran those routes suggests it could easily be expanded. The technical foundation is there. He’s not perfect though. Physical contact can reroute him a bit. On a couple reps he successfully handswiped through contact, including on a nice slant where he was actually defensively held (the flag was not thrown, though the QB’s throw sailed high and it was intercepted, but it was a nice handswipe by Lemon). When he couldn’t fully clear contact, it did alter his path slightly. He also had an occasional false step, though nothing that looked like a major issue. There were two mesh routes where he ran them too deep, making it easier for defenders to avoid getting picked at the mesh point. He may also have misread one option route where he should have sat down but instead kept running and took a big hit from a linebacker. Overall though, the route running was very good.

Vertically, he’s dangerous but not a true burner. I’d describe his speed as having about two and a half gears. He clearly has a second gear and then a mild third gear, but that top gear isn’t blazing. I’d guess somewhere in the 4.45–4.50 range. It’s enough to gain a step on defensive backs, though usually just a step. He caught three deep balls across the two games. One showed excellent ball tracking and late hands where he caught the ball over his shoulder and throttled down early enough to catch it over his shoulder but never give the db any clue on what was happening. On the other two he turned around for the ball, which telegraphed the catch point to the DB and exposed his hands and chest, though it felt partly situational because he was tight to the sideline. On one of those he showed excellent body control to secure the catch in bounds.

After the catch he has real make-you-miss ability. I counted roughly four or five forced missed tackles. He doesn’t break tackles much, but he can make defenders whiff. His ability to throttle up and down helps him squeeze out extra yards even though his long speed isn’t elite. In the run game he was a sometimes feisty blocker — not consistently high effort, but enough reps with real fight to show he’s willing. In zone coverage he also appeared to have a good feel for finding green grass. It’s sometimes hard to tell whether that’s route adjustment or simply the play design, but he seemed to read defenders and subtly settle into open space. Overall he looked very good. Whether he’s worth the 7th overall pick is debatable given the slot-heavy usage and lack of elite long speed, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken if Washington took him. In a trade down scenario — say around pick 14 — he could end up being very good value.

I know I've butted heads with others on Lemon's tape. But I thought his Notre Dame game exposed a huge weakness and was a red flag. I charted every snap he and Moore went up against each other. (Link Here)

It took a few reps including one big YAC play by Lemon, but after that Moore had Lemon's releases completely figured out and it got really ugly for Lemon.

Put it this way, Lemon could never play Gunner on Special Teams. He can't do vertical routes against any corner that likes to handfight and get into the body of the receiver, he gets completely rerouted. Against off-coverage and zones, yeah, he's capable of getting to open space all over the field. But against press? I have such strong worries based on that Notre Dame tape that my grade for Lemon is significantly different than most others.

 

[Chris]

Definitely not but teaching is teaching, even if Bain can't apply it as well. Just like him or whoever we get, being able to go head to head vs Tunsil in drills every day has to make it easier for most tackles they will go up against.

I don’t disagree mainly. I just picture Ali teaching Frazier the jab. Doubt he could effectively teach transferable skills. But what the hell do I know.

 

[Dlts20]

New mock from 45min ago that y'all will probably like. Starts at 10:30 for us.

 

[RWJ]

Ya know, you can score 24 points a game but your D needs to hold the other team to 23 or below. This O needs refinement but our D needs to be rebuilt. It is horrid, IMO. Teams can run and pass at will against our D. Hopefully, the new OC and DC bring it and both rebound but as of now, we need to rehaul our D and sprinkle some talented players on O. Not taking anything away from Love as he is an excellent RB.

 

[DogofWar1]

Yeah but if we score 40 the defense only needs to hold them to 39.