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

Keim podcast this morning, thinks they'd take Love if he's there, doesn't think he makes it there to 7. Then mentioned Styles as next.

In other podcasts, he's mentioned interest in Delane and that they'd take him over Downs.

So am guessing if Keim is on the money, and he usually is: their board might be

1. Love
2. Styles
3. Delane

Doesn’t think they take Tate.
 
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skinsinparadise said:
Keim podcast this morning, thinks they'd take Love if he's there, doesn't think he makes it there to 7. Then mentioned Styles as next.

In other podcasts, he's mentioned interest in Delane and that they'd take him over Downs.

So am guessing if Keim is on the money, and he usually is: their board might be

1. Love
2. Styles
3. Delane
Click to expand...
Keim has been fairly consistent with this as we've moved closer to Thursday.

I guess we can't be certain but would guess they'd take Reese or Bailey if they made it to 7 which is unlikely.

My only question would be Tate. Seems like Tate has been yo yo'd a bit on yes or no.

They must have a top 7 list though knowing they may not be able to move off 7. If so I'm guessing it's the 6 I mention plus the Mendoza slot of course.
 
KDawg said:
Prediction:

Mendoza, Bailey, Love, Mauigoa, Styles, Reese are off the board when we pick.

Leaving us with Delane, Downs and Tate.
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That's a nice group of 3 to select from.

Depending on who is grading they all fall into most top 7 to 10. Often there is at least one other OL and Bain included in other mostly plus Tyson and McCoy whose injury drops them
 
Listening to the podcast some more if they traded back Tate, Downs, Bain targets. But not at 7. If they traded back deeper some of the other Wrs. But probably no trade
 
I’m getting to the point where I don’t care anymore who we draft, as long as the Giants don’t take Love. Zero interest in defending against him the next 5+ years.
 
I see Love and Styles gone by 7. In that case I think that their preference (based on availability) in order is Tate (need), Downs, Delane. The draft cognoscenti seem to have dismissed Downs lately, I don’t think Washington has.

As Peters said- ‘impact now, impact down the road’.
 
Disagree that they don't have one glaring need


7. Washington Commanders​

AFC East area scout's pick: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Another pick, another scout preferring to trade out. That was the desire of the second AFC East area scout we enlisted for this exercise when given the Commanders.

"The Commanders don't have one glaring need, and in a draft light on blue-chip talent, it's tempting to trade back and get more capital instead of debating between a non-premium position or maybe drafting a third cornerback. But I have an idea," he sent back after some pushback on the no-trade rules.

"Dan Quinn knows the value of a linebacker with range and playmaking ability, it's why he signed Bobby Wagner. Styles has that athletic ability, but he's 6-foot-5, eliminates passing windows, and he's a capable blitzer, too."


Styles was everywhere in his three seasons as a starter, notching 235 tackles with nine sacks, nine passes defensed and an interception. He was the Buckeyes' team captain last season and earned first-team All-America honors while leading OSU in tackles with 82. Styles' upside is remarkable, with comparisons to Fred Warner often made when discussing him with NFL teams.
 
Even if Delane is technically a better player, I really think that AP is choosing to personally ratchet up the odds that Quinn & Co. get fired if he passes on Tate for any DB. (and if he’s lucky—meaning still employed—it’ll be him who has to fire them). That’s how scary the current offensive weapon situation is and how heavily weighted setting up the QB for success should be. And how meaningfully it could crush our season if they gamble and lose again in that regard. And that would be the majority of Daniels’ rookie contract gone, just like that, before we’ve built a damn thing.

It’s so glaring in fact that with the precarious situation they’re in, I find myself wondering if they’re finally weaponizing Keim’s reliability to downplay our interest in Tate in the final week before the draft, to help avoid a team feeling they must jump us for the top WR prospect. The Browns would love to skip back a bit from 6 and it’s the perfect spot to fuck us over if we’re transparent in our intentions.
 
If the concensus is right (hopefully they're not) my order of preference would be Delane, Tate, Bain, Downs. Downs refusing to test his speed or quickness in the traditional ways is really offputting to me. I have a feeling he's a 4.8 or even slower runner. As the last line of defense I want someone who can make up some ground. It's great that he's instinctual and really football smart, but sometimes you guess wrong or as a saftey you have to recover if someone else makes a mistake.
 
I mean, you can watch him play and plainly see that 4.8 isn’t the case. But 4.6, sure, very possible. He’s not a great athlete, it’s clear he and his agent didn’t think the testing would help him at all. I also find it off-putting in general. But 4.8 is exaggerating an already solid reservation.
 
SkinDeep said:
I hope Downs is still in play for us. I seem to be one of the few left who prefer him to Delane.
Click to expand...

I am a Downs over Delane person. But over the years, and I got made fun of for it from a few people but some I can tell also appreciate me taking the time to listen to his stuff and like me do trust his takes. I've learned to trust what Keim hears. He's not always right, but I'd say about 9 out of 10 he's right when he gets very specific. And he flat out said on a podcast that he believes they like Delane over Downs.

It's not really hard to piece together what he thinks based on what he's hearing. Does it mean its gospel. Nope. But I disagree with those who say he knows no more than the average fan. So for those who care, this is how I piece together his podcasts and the article he wrote a week or so ago about a small trade down.

Edge rushers expect to be gone.

Board is then:
1. Love
2. Styles
3. Delane.

If none of those three are there, they prefer a slight trade down but don't think they will get the offer but if they do, its

Downs, Tate, Bain. Maybe Lemon. I am not sure it what order. But I get the vibe they don't like their value at 7.

If they trade down further one of the WRs they've met with: Boston, Lemon, Tyson, Cooper

If they don't take a WR in the first round, Keim thinks its very likely at 71. But that's obvious.
 
burgold said:
If the concensus is right (hopefully they're not) my order of preference would be Delane, Tate, Bain, Downs. Downs refusing to test his speed or quickness in the traditional ways is really offputting to me. I have a feeling he's a 4.8 or even slower runner. As the last line of defense I want someone who can make up some ground. It's great that he's instinctual and really football smart, but sometimes you guess wrong or as a saftey you have to recover if someone else makes a mistake.
Click to expand...

I've been slamming Downs for not doing the testing but I still like him, to me no way he runs a 4.8 or even slower -- that's basically a dude who is slow for a LB let alone safety. I'd guess somewhere in the 4.55 range.
 
I was debating on writing 5. I think it is a shockingly bad number. 4.5 is merely okay. Look at how everyone said Tate's 4.5 is fine for a receiver of his size. I think it's a legitimately bad number. One where he tested and his agent and team barred the way like Gandalf and proclaimed, "YOU SHALL NOT RUN!"
 
Conn said:
Even if Delane is technically a better player, I really think that AP is choosing to personally ratchet up the odds that Quinn & Co. get fired if he passes on Tate for any DB. (and if he’s lucky—meaning still employed—it’ll be him who has to fire them). That’s how scary the current offensive weapon situation is and how heavily weighted setting up the QB for success should be. And how meaningfully it could crush our season if they gamble and lose again in that regard. And that would be the majority of Daniels’ rookie contract gone, just like that, before we’ve built a damn thing.

It’s so glaring in fact that with the precarious situation they’re in, I find myself wondering if they’re finally weaponizing Keim’s reliability to downplay our interest in Tate in the final week before the draft, to help avoid a team feeling they must jump us for the top WR prospect. The Browns would love to skip back a bit from 6 and it’s the perfect spot to fuck us over if we’re transparent in our intentions.
Click to expand...

It hasn't downplayed lol my interest in Tate. If I am piecing together Keim's take no WR early in the draft unless they trade down. And if they don't trade down almost a given they take one at 71.

The two name drops on his podcast in the third round, he didn't mention flat out interest but he rarely randomly drops names for no reason, one Primus Porcus would like is Lance. And Hurst he now has name dropped multiple times.

And don't get me wrong, I like the potential of both players, physical freaks with vertical ability. But both IMO some boom-bust. Raw route runners. I think Hurst has a higher floor than Lance.

It fits the narrative, which Keim mentions too in the podcast about a WR by a committee, with no true #2, but different WRs rotated based on strengths. All of that sounds nauseating to me.

Forgetting the win now narrative, which I think this team needs to do. As to Jayden, for now (it can change) Peters hasn't done squat for him compared to the other GMs from the 2024 QB class. No one has it worse IMO.

I know some might say trust the process and why can't Peters nail a third round WR? Yeah, maybe. But playing in the 3rd-4th round, shooting lower at that spot has been his speed so far. And he hasn't exactly knocked it out of the poar
 
skinsinparadise said:
It hasn't downplayed lol my interest in Tate. If I am piecing together Keim's take no WR early in the draft unless they trade down. And if they don't trade down almost a given they take one at 71.

The two name drops on his podcast in the third round, he didn't mention flat out interest but he rarely randomly drops names for no reason, one Primus Porcus would like is Lance. And Hurst he now has name dropped multiple times.

And don't get me wrong, I like the potential of both players, physical freaks with vertical ability. But both IMO some boom-bust. Raw route runners. I think Hurst has a higher floor than Lance.

It fits the narrative, which Keim mentions too in the podcast about a WR by a committee, with no true #2, but different WRs rotated based on strengths. All of that sounds nauseating to me.

Forgetting the win now narrative, which I think this team needs to do. As to Jayden, for now (it can change) Peters hasn't done squat for him compared to the other GMs from the 2024 QB class. No one has it worse IMO.

I know some might say trust the process and why can't Peters nail a third round WR? Yeah, maybe. But playing in the 3rd-4th round, shooting lower at that spot has been his speed so far. And he hasn't exactly knocked it out of the poar
Click to expand...


I'm actually softening on Lance. I love the potential there, but I don't know if I want to invest in that right now, when I think there could be a day 1 starter in the 3rd round at a different position. At a minimum, a possible game 8 starter at OG / C.
 
Primus Porcus said:
I'm actually softening on Lance. I love the potential there, but I don't know if I want to invest in that right now, when I think there could be a day 1 starter in the 3rd round at a different position. At a minimum, a possible game 8 starter at OG / C.
Click to expand...

I put Lance in the bucket of I just don't know. I don't mind though especially in the third on betting on freak athletes with upside and he's certainly that. But I don't like betting on someone like that as the ready solution.

But I agree with your overall point, not so much center on my end. But there are potentially players who can start who might fall there, with decent floors: Keionte Scott, Romello Height, Kyle Louis, Trotter, Sam Roush, Oscar Delp.

If its WR, I'd rather go high floor, dudes that can likely make a difference instantly with high floors over boom-busts projects: Antonio Williams, Sarratt, Bernard.

I don't mind them taking a center that early but to me its a non premium position and if they internally believe as some beat guys have said Allegreti if anything will be an improvement over Biadaz, I am not that worried. They could be wrong but until it fails I'll trust it.
 
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