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

[burgold]

I see the value in the Top Golf event for the team. But it isn’t free agency it’s the draft, impressing the players is of no consequence.

I think the value may be trying to gain insight into what the player might be like as a teammate. You get a sense of their personality and what it would be like to work with them day in and day out. It's still artificial because it's part of a job interview, but you put them into a social/competitive environment and see how they act.

Again, for me, something like this might matter on the margins. It's a tie breaker bit of information. It also could backfire and lead to false impressions.

 

[Chris]

I think the value may be trying to gain insight into what the player might be like as a teammate. You get a sense of their personality and what it would be like to work with them day in and day out. It's still artificial because it's part of a job interview, but you put them into a social/competitive environment and see how they act.

Again, for me, something like this might matter on the margins. It's a tie breaker bit of information. It also could backfire and lead to false impressions.

Exactly what I said- I see the value from an organizational perspective. But I have read more than one post referencing value from how the players will view the team. Again, it’s not free agency, it’s the draft. How the players feel is wholly irrelevant.

 

[Dlts20]

I see the value in the Top Golf event for the team. But it isn’t free agency it’s the draft, impressing the players is of no consequence.

I really don't think that it's necessarily for show. I'm surprised every team doesn't do this. Honestly it's hard to visit with 30 separate individuals on separate days. Just seems like overkill and draining. I'd rather get as many together as possible and knock most of them out in one single day, just like this.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Got a good chance of getting into the top 4 using those 2 picks and maybe a bit of change.

Tennessee might do this.

I absolutely wouldn’t do this if I weee the Jets or cards.

But Tenn at 5? I’d think about it. I probably wouldn’t do it in the end. I’d probably pick the best DE on the board and move on.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Seems like when you take the 2026 NFL topgolf class that AP and DQ gathered together and what they are looking for in a personality, competitiveness, and interpersonal skills and where we pick, Downs is the pick. I was high on him and wouldn't be upset with him at #7 but it'd sure be nice to come away with Love or Styles. I'm still not sold on Tate like many others are in the top 7 let alone top 10. Over the last 20 years about 6 WR in the top 10 picks have gone onto have a good to excellent career.

Based on reputuation as for personality -- a bunch of these guys would shine: Tate, Delane, Downs, Styles.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Scott has gotten a lot of attention from this team. At least according to the McGinn scouts, decent chance he's there at 71, part of that he's about to turn 25.

 

[DWinzit]

Scott has gotten a lot of attention from this team. At least according to the McGinn scouts, decent chance he's there at 71, part of that he's about to turn 25.

Scott sure does bring a physical, aggressive, versatile, play making, blitzer DQ and the Flores system likes. In the 3rd he'd be a good add assuming we don't go DB in the 1st round

The only knock on him is his tackling. He needs to wrap more when he hits.

 

[skinsinparadise]

New Kiper mock


Dallas trades to 6 to get Styles. Downs at 5. Love at 4. Bailey, Reese go 1, 2. Of the bigger prospects its only Tate and Delane left at 7.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/48478995/2026-nfl-mock-draft-mel-kiper-two-rounds-64-picks-final-predictions

7. Washington Commanders​

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Commanders need defensive help, and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. would have to get a look. But they also have their pick of the receiver class. Tate is currently my No. 2 receiver behind Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, but he's atop a lot of receiver boards around the league and doesn't come with the same injury questions that Tyson does.

Paired with another Ohio State product in Terry McLaurin, Tate would bring clean route running, reliability and some big-play ability. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch last season en route to 875 yards and nine trips to the end zone. Considering the Commanders would be relying on Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown behind McLaurin, this makes sense.

 

[philibusters]

Scott sure does bring a physical, aggressive, versatile, play making, blitzer DQ and the Flores system likes. In the 3rd he'd be a good add assuming we don't go DB in the 1st round

The only knock on him is his tackling. He needs to wrap more when he hits.

The other knock on Scott is he has to turn and run he can feel more like a safety in man to man than corner. When the play is in front of him and he is triggering downhill he is great in coverage. Miami got a lot of pass rush so they were able to run a lot of coverages where he got to do what he is good at. I think that is the plan with Jones. I feel like Mikey Sainristil is like that too. If Mikey has his eyes on the QB and can trigger downhill he is pretty in good in coverage. When he has to turn and run from the slot he can give up separation.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The other knock on Scott is he has to turn and run he can feel more like a safety in man to man than corner. When the play is in front of him and he is triggering downhill he is great in coverage. Miami got a lot of pass rush so they were able to run a lot of coverages where he got to do what he is good at. I think that is the plan with Jones. I feel like Mikey Sainristil is like that too. If Mikey has his eyes on the QB and can trigger downhill he is pretty in good in coverage. When he has to turn and run from the slot he can give up separation.

Yeah he's better closer to the line of srimmage, as for tackling he has some of the shortest arms in this class, sub 30 inches. He's a fun player, baller, 5 sacks. I used to think no way he makes it to the early third. But factoring some of his limitations and his age and where scouts project him, I do think decent shot he's there at 71

 

[burgold]

The other knock on Scott is he has to turn and run he can feel more like a safety in man to man than corner. When the play is in front of him and he is triggering downhill he is great in coverage. Miami got a lot of pass rush so they were able to run a lot of coverages where he got to do what he is good at. I think that is the plan with Jones. I feel like Mikey Sainristil is like that too. If Mikey has his eyes on the QB and can trigger downhill he is pretty in good in coverage. When he has to turn and run from the slot he can give up separation.

That's an interesting assessment of Mikey. Was it the difference between 2024 Mike and 2025 Mike as much as the outside/nickel thing? I've been curious why Mike seems so much better on the outside than in space or in the nickel role.

 

[Canuck]

Brugler did a 7 rounder, we took Love over Tate.

Downs went to NYG, Styles to DAL at 6 (trade up w CLE).

I would prefer Tate, but would be happy with Love.

Had us taking Hurst at 71

 

[KDawg]

Scott is a slot safety / box SS. He is not a nickel corner.

There difference is coverage ability and what he is asked to do on a regular basis.

If we took Scott at 71, we’d need to use him more like a safety than a nickel corner.

 

[burgold]

Brugler did a 7 rounder, we took Love over Tate.

Downs went to NYG, Styles to DAL at 6 (trade up w CLE).

I would prefer Tate, but would be happy with Love.

Had us taking Hurst at 71

How weird would it be if after the 2025 we had we picked third in the division?

 

[philibusters]

That's an interesting assessment of Mikey. Was it the difference between 2024 Mike and 2025 Mike as much as the outside/nickel thing? I've been curious why Mike seems so much better on the outside than in space or in the nickel role.

He is not sticky in man so having a the sideline as a defender I think my help him outside. I think he is best when his eyes are on the QB because he has good ball skills. He was better last year outside than in the nickel role but they made that move at about the same time Quinn took over calling the defense and they started playing more zone. So I think having the sideline as a defender and getting more coverage calls where he could just read the QB are why he started playing better down the stretch

 

[skinsinparadise]

Watched some draft takes from insider types, including one from an ex-Titans GM who knows the people in that building and Saleh well. Long story short, Titans might take Styles. If not the Giants might. Dallas supposedly interested in trading up for him.

Adding to all, doubtful Styles lands at 7. Having said that just listened to a Keim podcast, and at this stage of the game he typically can make a good guess at a minimum ballpark some things. So today he did a podcast on defense. He strongly hinted on that side of the ball, he believes they like Sonny Styles and Mansoor Delane the most. If so Delane likely is the default pick. I am guessing tomorrow he does the offensive players.

He also hinted they likely see Delane > Downs.

 

[KDawg]

Watched some draft takes from insider types, including one from an ex-Titans GM who knows the people in that building and Saleh well. Long story short, Titans might take Styles. If not the Giants might. Dallas supposedly interested in trading up for him.

Adding to all, doubtful Styles lands at 7. Having said that just listened to a Keim podcast, and at this stage of the game he typically can make a good guess at a minimum ballpark some things. So today he did a podcast on defense. He strongly hinted on that side of the ball, he believes they like Sonny Styles and Mansoor Delane the most. If so Delane likely is the default pick. I am guessing tomorrow he does the offensive players.

He also hinted they likely see Delane > Downs.

Doesn’t shock me at all.

I think the order for the team is:

Love
Tate
Styles
Delane
Downs

Maybe swap Styles & Tate

 

[skinsinparadise]

Doesn’t shock me at all.

I think the order for the team is:

Love
Tate
Styles
Delane
Downs

Maybe swap Styles & Tate

Could be. Keim when he gets this specific, its meaningful. Some here like to say he's just piecing info together like any fan could and guessing accordingly and nothing more than that. But over the years I've come to appreciate Cooley's comments about Keim once which is the dude is almost never wrong because he waits to hear if 7 people repeat the info -- versus just 1-2 people like most do.

Keim has hinted, as someone else here pointed out, that he believes this team likes Love. And heck Tate himself said lol that Washington loves him. But I'll wait to his podcast on offense to judge.

So it can defintely be that order.

Them really digging Styles and Delane in that range to me is telling for this reason. Feels like as the draft gets closer, Styles might not be there. So on defense it makes Delane the pick by default assuming he doesn't go earlier.

 

[skinsinparadise]

McShay new mock. Before 7: Reese, Bailey, Love, Styles. Downs-Delane go 10 and 11

Washington trades with the Jets, gets a 2nd and 4th and drafts Omar Cooper.