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

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

The universe is going to have Love drop to 7 and we’re going to take Downs or some such nonesense.

I swear.

I just have a feeling we’re not going to get the offensive play maker I covet.

I hope I’m wrong.

Come on Adam. I’m counting on you.

 

[KDawg]

The universe is going to have Love drop to 7 and we’re going to take Downs or some such nonesense.

I swear.

I just have a feeling we’re not going to get the offensive play maker I covet.

I hope I’m wrong.

Come on Adam. I’m counting on you.

Absolutely right. We don’t get fun things.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I might be the biggest fan of Tate on this thread. And IMO, he's better than good. He's better than a B. He's very good IMO. He's a B plus. He's in that IMO Devonte Smith, Drake London, Olave category and IMHO a hair better prospect than them. He's not elite though. And while I'd love to have him, I'd take Love over him.

Love is elite. But don't look at him as a pure RB in the old school sense. By the nature of the conversation about Croskey-Merritt it feels like some think that pass catching ability is sort of the cherry on the top for a good RB but not the main plotline when it comes to running backs. But IMHO, that's not true. It's about doing both.

Listen to for example Keim's podcast today with a SF reporter who talks about what makes McCaffrey special and that is you can try to stack the box to stop the run but then he will kill you in the passing game if you do so -- its the double threat which makes him special and that's what today's best backs are about.

Love helps the passing game and running game -- both.

I get the money side of the debate and I am not discounting it. It's a real debate. But if the idea is to win a SB within Jayden's rookie contract -- the next 1-2 years, Love IMO is the best bet.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The universe is going to have Love drop to 7 and we’re going to take Downs or some such nonesense.

I swear.

I just have a feeling we’re not going to get the offensive play maker I covet.

I hope I’m wrong.

Come on Adam. I’m counting on you.

If past is prologue. Love falls to 7. They trade the pick. Much of the draft media and some fans will celebrate the trade down just like they did for all the other trade downs over the years (that this team lost big ultimately but felt like wins at the time). And we watch Love kill it and get ranked like top 10 in next years 100 top players rankings and ends up All Pro -- while we get to watch 2 players who are "solid" and one bust among the players obtained from the deal.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[burgold]

The universe is going to have Love drop to 7 and we’re going to take Downs or some such nonesense.

I swear.

I just have a feeling we’re not going to get the offensive play maker I covet.

I hope I’m wrong.

Come on Adam. I’m counting on you.

I think you have to get over that PTSD or is that RTSD.

Peters is not Rivera and not Bruce Allen. Not all his draft choices work out but he is a smart drafter. Bruce, Rivera, and others basically forecast who they were going to draft or at least what position they wanted prior to the draft. Last year, from a need POV, Connerly was probably one of the most unlikely picks. We traded for Tunsil and Coleman had showed quite a bit of potential at tackle. Nonetheless, he went with his board. I think that's still likely the case.

You will be disappointed during the draft. You will be surprised. So will I. It won't be because Adam Peters went with a preordained plan and ignored the talent available. It won't be because he is just awful at his job and wants to prove he's smarter than everyone else in the room by picking a Forbes over a Gonzales.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think you have to get over that PTSD or is that RTSD.

Peters is not Rivera and not Bruce Allen. Not all his draft choices work out but he is a smart drafter. Bruce, Rivera, and others basically forecast who they were going to draft or at least what position they wanted prior to the draft. Last year, from a need POV, Connerly was probably one of the most unlikely picks. We traded for Tunsil and Coleman had showed quite a bit of potential at tackle. Nonetheless, he went with his board. I think that's still likely the case.

You will be disappointed during the draft. You will be surprised. So will I. It won't be because Adam Peters went with a preordained plan and ignored the talent available. It won't be because he is just awful at his job and wants to prove he's smarter than everyone else in the room by picking a Forbes over a Gonzales.

I’m not sure that’s really possible until good things happen with regularity.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

If past is prologue. Love falls to 7. They trade the pick. Much of the draft media and some fans will celebrate the trade down just like they did for all the other trade downs over the years (that this team lost big ultimately but felt like wins at the time). And we watch Love kill it and get ranked like top 10 in next years 100 top players rankings and ends up All Pro -- while we get to watch 2 players who are "solid" and one bust among the players obtained from the deal.

This seems like the scenario which we will live in.

 

[The Rook]

I'm concerned that some team who covets Love will trade down before Washington and BGO will melt down.

The Rook

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm concerned that some team who covets Love will trade down before Washington and BGO will melt down.

The Rook

I wouldn’t have a problem with that personally.

I would not trade up for a RB.

If somebody else does, good on them.

I will be miffed if we pick some random defensive player instead of an offensive weapon.

If Tate and Love are both available, I could see arguments for both. Love might be a higher end athlete, Tate plays at a position with higher value.

You could make an argument both ways and I could live with it.

If both guys are off the board by then, that’s fine.

I’m going to be miffed if we pick defense an ignore weapons again.

 

[burgold]

I’m not sure that’s really possible until good things happen with regularity.

In fairness, I type these as much for me as anyone. I suspect my RTSD is as high as anyone’s

 

[DWinzit]

With that Tyson news I don't think Tate reaches 7

There are teams that need a WR will be more inclined to move ahead of 7 to take Tate (if Tians don't take him) with Tyson moved down their boards

 

[RWJ]

Tyson has missed over a 1/3rd to almost 1/2 of his CFB career due to injuries. Hard pass on him on Day 1.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I can’t imagine Tyson can be a top 15 pick with his availability concerns and the fact he isn’t working out at his pro day.

I don’t think it changes much for Tate.

To me the question is how many Pats are going to go. For our purposes, the more the better.

And then it’s up to Adam to not get seduced by “defense wins championships” and pick the best offensive playmaker on the board. If that’s Tate or Love, fine.

I can see the logic of a DE. But I’m somewhat with skinsinparadise, if you have a top 5-10 QB, surround them with weapons to allow them to excel.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

In fairness, I type these as much for me as anyone. I suspect my RTSD is as high as anyone’s

It’s the last 35 years. Casserly wasn’t even very good at drafting. A few hits here and there but from him on, it’s been a total debacle.

Casserly was on some podcast and said if he wasn’t fired, they were about to go on a run.

Uh. Anything is possible. But I put that likelihood into the “running into Sydney Sweeny at her grocery store of choice wearing white flip flops” on my grocery store probability scale. It could happen. She probably goes shopping from time to time and wears white flip flops from time to time. But not really bloody likely you’ll run into that exact scenario.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I might be the biggest fan of Tate on this thread. And IMO, he's better than good. He's better than a B. He's very good IMO. He's a B plus. He's in that IMO Devonte Smith, Drake London, Olave category and IMHO a hair better prospect than them. He's not elite though. And while I'd love to have him, I'd take Love over him.

Love is elite. But don't look at him as a pure RB in the old school sense. By the nature of the conversation about Croskey-Merritt it feels like some think that pass catching ability is sort of the cherry on the top for a good RB but not the main plotline when it comes to running backs. But IMHO, that's not true. It's about doing both.

Listen to for example Keim's podcast today with a SF reporter who talks about what makes McCaffrey special and that is you can try to stack the box to stop the run but then he will kill you in the passing game if you do so -- its the double threat which makes him special and that's what today's best backs are about.

Love helps the passing game and running game -- both.

I get the money side of the debate and I am not discounting it. It's a real debate. But if the idea is to win a SB within Jayden's rookie contract -- the next 1-2 years, Love IMO is the best bet.

I listened to that podcast and one of the things discussed was exactly how much better McCaffrey makes them. In the year where McCaffrey is hurt and barely played, the niners sucked. In the year where they had a million other injuries, but McCaffrey was healthy, they won 12 games.

I think that’s exactly the kind of impact Love could have here. Love would make the offense just impossible to game plan for. How do you feasibly plan to stop Jayden, Terry, Aiyuk, Okonkwo, and Love? And our OL is filled with talent. I honestly think that’s an offense that could be considered as talented as the championship Eagles team. I also think it isn’t going to happen.

Tyson has missed over a 1/3rd to almost 1/2 of his CFB career due to injuries. Hard pass on him on Day 1.

I 100% would not touch Tyson. He would be off my board entirely. I wouldn’t even take him in the 2nd.

 

[RexTomb]

If we can get him with our third, I think it’s worthwhile. Or maybe he slides all the way to the 5th round?

 

[skinsinparadise]

With that Tyson news I don't think Tate reaches 7

There are teams that need a WR will be more inclined to move ahead of 7 to take Tate (if Tians don't take him) with Tyson moved down their boards

Good depth at WR though with or without Tyson.

My gut is Tate goes to the Giants. They seem obsessive about Jackson Dart with Harbaugh saying its a prime reason why he took the job,

Then you got Dart besties with Skattebo. And both Skattebo and Tracy are good pass catchers.

Maybe its wishful thinking on my end, but feels like Styles or Love might indeed drop to 7.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I low key hate the idea of the Giants adding weapons like Tate. I had been thinking of us as markedly improved with all of the FA additions we made, but even before this draft, I still think the Giants have the more talented roster. It’s really just QB and maybe OL where we are better.

2026 New York Giants Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

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2026 Washington Commanders Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com