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

[skinsinparadise]

I'll explain Boston in a different way, I've touted Tate but not as a special WR but someone who is very good. Tate is tall but lanky, has soft hands, stems routes well, and tracks the deep ball better IMO than anyone in this class. But he doesn't have Boston's physicality. He's more fluid than Boston but I'd trust Boston over Tate in the red zone and in contested catch situations where the CB is draped over them, also Tate is a good blocker, but Boston is a better blocker. If Tate had Boston's physicality he would be IMO special. I still like Tate over Boston but they are different flavors.

 

[Bulldog]

I think the bottom line here for Peters is that he needs to get more playmakers for Daniels and he can't let that slide to 2027. We can't go into the opener with Dyami Brown as the #2 receiver.

So, with the anticipated but not yet final signing of Stefon Diggs and Jauan Jennings elsewhere in the NFL, it comes down to the draft to provide that plus player for Daniels to grow with.

To me I would trade down if possible and take one of the wide receivers in the teens and pick up a #2 pick this year and another pick in 2027 and use that additional selection in 2026 on a BPA player that falls out of the first round.

Then use #71 in likewise fashion.

We could then look to sign a veteran free agent WR after the draft that may be released in May/June.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It wouldn't surprise me if they sign Aiyuk eventually. And at 7, I don't think Tate is a given to be there or that they even take him if he does but I suspect they might depending on who falls to that spot.

Trading down probably won't be easy in this draft.

So i think there is a decent chance that their solution is Aiyuk and a WR in the third? Is that enough? I don't think so but it wouldn't be as bad as 2025. If they took Love and a WR in the third, that I think could work well.

 

[KDawg]

It still seems lost on people that Jeremiyah Love could be the best weapon / asset possible this offseason to give JD5

 

[D’Pablo]

Just out of curiosity- what do folks think of Jeff Burks (*edit- Jeff Caldwell)? I've never seen the guy play, but his measurable are Moss/Megatron like. If we decide against a WR in the first, would this guy be worth targeting in the 3rd?

 

[skinsinparadise]

It still seems lost on people that Jeremiyah Love could be the best weapon / asset possible this offseason to give JD5

Absolutely. Not to jinx it but my gut is they take him if he falls to 7.

 

[HTTR]

It still seems lost on people that Jeremiyah Love could be the best weapon / asset possible this offseason to give JD5

To which I say great! Other teams like the Titans are having similar discussions, and the more negativity about the idea of drafting Love that’s out there, the better the chances he falls to us.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Just out of curiosity- what do folks think of Jeff Burks? I've never seen the guy play, but his measurable are Moss/Megatron like. If we decide against a WR in the first, would this guy be worth targeting in the 3rd?

Deion Burks? Jeff Caldwell? Assume you mean Caldwell based on your description.

 

[heisenberg]

It still seems lost on people that Jeremiyah Love could be the best weapon / asset possible this offseason to give JD5

A few yes, but i think the majority want love at 7.

Ive been in that group since it was fighting to sign barkley or draft bijan if it could be done and we were in the minority then.

 

[skinsinparadise]

To which I say great! Other teams like the Titans are having similar discussions, and the more negativity about the idea of drafting Love that’s out there, the better the chances he falls to us.

I am guessing these teams don't care about negativity from fans, etc as to their pick.

But specifically to the Titans -- hoping a pass rusher they like falls to them because that's supposedly high on their want list. I hope they see Bain like KDawg and some others do.

The Giants I keep hearing the links to Styles and Tate.

Those two teams seem to be the key.

 

[KDawg]

A few yes, but i think the majority want love at 7.

Ive been in that group since it was fighting to sign barkley or draft bijan if it could be done and we were in the minority then.

People are saying we HAVE to go receiver because we can’t have Dyami Brown start. And I agree we need to address receiver and if Brown is WR2 on day 1 we have some significant issues, but I think Love is better than adding a receiver because of all he offers. In combination with Ford and White we can get real creative in the backfield. And that allows Bill to do what he does best - get opportunities to break one instead of having to churn the chains.

I wanted Gibbs so bad - he went before us. But I find comfort in the knowledge that we likely wouldn’t have drafted him anyways. Because it what makes me sleep at night.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Delane getting his share of buzz,

I am probaly going to do one long post on the TE class, I've been slowly going through them -- lack of high end studs, but in that 4th-5th round range an unusual deep crop: Bentley, Roush, Raridon, Delp, etc

RB is meh, starting to warm up some to Kytron Allen, but thinking the team passes because if they don't dig Rodriguez, to me he's similar. I can see them doubling down with a late round flier, and my candidate would be Jaydn Ott, good athlete, can catch, and sort of has that Croskey-Merritt drill where you can buy him low because he basically missed last season.

DT has a ton of nose types that I gather fits the 3-4 so wonder if they indulge. McDonald, Keenan, Hunter, Orange, Corleone

WR -- is IMO insanely deep. I am usually not that high on 3rd round type WRs but so many in this group. And the flavors of these guys are so different that's its the eye of the beholder type of thing. Though a lot of boom-busts types IMO where you can see how it works easily for said player in the pros and then also easily see how it couldn't. As to IMO the higher floor 3rd round types with less bust in them: Sarratt, A. Williams, Bernard.

Boom-bust late 2nd to early 4th: Hurst, Fields, Lane, Branch, Burks, Bell. I got to watch more of them to them to land on hard takes but they all have intriguing traits but are flawed, too IMO.

Even in that 5th round range some intriguing to me: Stribling, Eric Rivers, McAllistor.

And i am only really half way through the receivers.

Interesting question as to whether going after more of a boom/bust receiver is better for this team than a safer one. Might be a moot point if (some of) the safer ones go before 71.

Also interesting lining up our (arguably) top needs to the strength of positions in that 3rd/5th round range - safety, receiver, ILB, center. Corner might be the one outlier in terms of need?

 

[heisenberg]

People are saying we HAVE to go receiver because we can’t have Dyami Brown start. And I agree we need to address receiver and if Brown is WR2 on day 1 we have some significant issues, but I think Love is better than adding a receiver because of all he offers. In combination with Ford and White we can get real creative in the backfield. And that allows Bill to do what he does best - get opportunities to break one instead of having to churn the chains.

I wanted Gibbs so bad - he went before us. But I find comfort in the knowledge that we likely wouldn’t have drafted him anyways. Because it what makes me sleep at night.

There's a faction no doubt but the poll of who to take at 7 still has love leading by a wide margin at 56 percent.

Tate is the only receiver with a vote at 7 percent.

I agree receiver is a problem at the moment but id rather take love and throw a bandaid on receiver for another year after the draft concludes than pass on an elite talent to plug a hole.

Assuming we're picking in our usual spot next year somewhere between 15 and 20 I see only one guy in this draft who's talent equivalency wont be available next year and thats love.

Gotta get him now while we have the chance.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Peters read this thread and now bam

 

[Anselmheifer]

It still seems lost on people that Jeremiyah Love could be the best weapon / asset possible this offseason to give JD5

By a mile. Both in the running and passing game. I actually think Terry, Okonkwo, and Love are a pretty elite core of weapons and adding Aiyuk and just half decent backup outside WR completes it.

Peters read this thread and now bam

How do you feel about Boston’s ability to separate?

 

[Riggo44]

People are saying we HAVE to go receiver because we can’t have Dyami Brown start. And I agree we need to address receiver and if Brown is WR2 on day 1 we have some significant issues

I've seen this repeated here and on X, and it makes my eye twitch. Brown is WR 6 right now: McLaurin, Burks, Lane, LMC, Jefferson are all ahead of him on the chart. Side note: I kinda have a hunch Burks has a 45-50 catch, 600 yrd type season. Nothing special, but will be a red zone, possession type receiver.

That said, my top two right now are Love and Tate--it's the need BPA tie breaker for me. We need to add a weapon for Daniels.

 

[D’Pablo]

Deion Burks? Jeff Caldwell? Assume you mean Caldwell based on your description.

Yup, Caldwell- intermingled names looking through various lists

 

[KDawg]

I've seen this repeated here and on X, and it makes my eye twitch. Brown is WR 6 right now: McLaurin, Burks, Lane, LMC, Jefferson are all ahead of him on the chart. Side note: I kinda have a hunch Burks has a 45-50 catch, 600 yrd type season. Nothing special, but will be a red zone, possession type receiver.

That said, my top two right now are Love and Tate--it's the need BPA tie breaker for me. We need to add a weapon for Daniels.

I think it’s Terry and then… everyone else.

Jefferson, Burks, Brown, McCaffrey, Lane are all kind of grouped together, imo.

But yes, I do think as of this moment it is probably Burks.

 

[RexTomb]

Peters read this thread and now bam

Mike Evans?

We don't need no stinkin' Mike Evans!

 

[Anselmheifer]

I don’t put much stock into this guy, or any of the Chat Sports guys, but I agree with this idea.

If we don’t get Love, I think Delane is my preference. I want Jayden to have weapons, but we can always sign both Aiyuk and Jennings and I think we are fine there. Getting a potential true shit down CB would be a major coup, and I don’t think any of the WR’s are as good as Delane.