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

[skinsinparadise]

Paulsen is one of the most "down" on Tate people I've heard. I'm not sure if he's right or not, but he's been consistently Mr. Debbie Downer on Tate for a while.

I haven't heard as strong criticism of Tate from anybody else. Acknowledgement that he's not Justin Jefferson, sure, but Paulsen has been much more critical of him than most people I've heard.

We'll see if he's right. I don't track this very closely, but I do know that he hasn't always been right. (And nobody every is.)

Carnell Tate just turned 21, and is already a polished route runner. He catches everything. He blocks well. I was watching Harmon who is a draft geek who specializes in WRs the other day and he was going on about how he was high on Mcmillian last year. I liked him too. But there were definitely some naysayers on him like there are on Tate -- yet Tate is the better prospect. I agree with him. And Tate is a high character guy.

I like Delane but am rooting against Keim's info on this where he was clear in a podcast that Delane is their #3 after Love and Styles. And also as I mentioned I've seen Keim shift with his takes the last week during previous draft seasons. And heck so many GMs in the past have said that they have changed their board this last week. So i am not setting in stone what was said last week.

I do get the more I think about it Delane over Downs and Tate. It's not crazy. The logic makes sense. But I slightly prefer Tate and also Downs over Delane.

But yeah I disagree with Paulsen about Tate. But if the argument is Delane is a better player than Tate, I agree. But WR is too big of a need for me to not a factor that with Tate IMO close enough of a prospect to Delane even though I agree not as good.

I think I agree (and have agreed) with you on this point for a while. I think the key difference is IF McLaurin stays healthy, he's a definite #1 WR, where there isn't a real definite #1 CB. That's a problem. Unless Amos is that guy, and maybe he is.

That said, what I keep hearing from everybody (and I believe to some extent) is that in the Flores system, you don't need lock down corners. I argued a little that if you had a lock down corner, that would benefit just about every defense ever schemed up.

I also think they are going to add a CB in this draft. Somewhere if it is not at 7.

The one thing I've heard over and over, from Keim, Standig, maybe even Bram, they're still really, really high on Sainristil. Maybe that's why they might think the room is just fine. I think they have more faith in Sainristil than fans do.

The two positions I said going into the draft where the biggest needs were WR and CB.

I think you could almost coin flip which is more dire. I DO think they might be able to scheme around the CB deficiency more using pressure and scheme. At WR, if you can't create separation, you're dead.

I don't doubt they can talk themselves into anything. And yes that's a shot at Quinn and Peters. I do like both. But IMO both suffer from a mild case of the Rivera flu. The Rivera flu is taking a position that looks like crap on paper and convincing yourself that every best hope you have on every player will turn out to be true -- and you'll have good health, too, no injuries, depth doesn't matter.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Paulsen is one of the most "down" on Tate people I've heard. I'm not sure if he's right or not, but he's been consistently Mr. Debbie Downer on Tate for a while.

I haven't heard as strong criticism of Tate from anybody else. Acknowledgement that he's not Justin Jefferson, sure, but Paulsen has been much more critical of him than most people I've heard.

We'll see if he's right. I don't track this very closely, but I do know that he hasn't always been right. (And nobody every is.)

Do you recall why he is critical (or have a clip you can link?)

He's inconsistent against physical coverage. Sometimes he releases well and gets into his routes fine (with a few quick wins) and sometimes the CB is in control of Tate. So that would be my guess, but it sounds like he's got other hangups about Tate besides that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think you could almost coin flip which is more dire. I DO think they might be able to scheme around the CB deficiency more using pressure and scheme. At WR, if you can't create separation, you're dead.

I've got into that for months as to the Flores' scheme but I've shifted my thinking on it some. With these thoughts

A. While the scheme doesn't demand great corners -- lol, its not like we can count on the current lineup to be even mediocre let alone good
B. The depth at corner is the worst of any spot on the team -- if they just get one injury to one starter its big trouble
C. The scheme is predicated on turnovers. And Delane is arguably better at it than Downs.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Do you recall why he is critical (or have a clip you can link?)

He's inconsistent against physical coverage. Sometimes he releases well and gets into his routes fine (with a few quick wins) and sometimes the CB is in control of Tate. So that would be my guess, but it sounds like he's got other hangups about Tate besides that.

I've listened to him on it. He's not sure about dealing with press as to his releases. And he's not explosive. That's the gist.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I've listened to him on it. He's not sure about dealing with press as to his releases. And he's not explosive. That's the gist.

That tracks. He's noticeably lacking quick explosion. But he's really good at doing moves to setup his route breaks without losing speed. This all goes back to him being a high quality WR2 prospect, which most balk at for #7 overall.

I think we're all realistic about Tate as a prospect, but we have a dire need there, and desperately need Jayden to not throw his body on the line.

 

[skinsinparadise]

That tracks. He's noticeably lacking quick explosion. But he's really good at doing moves to setup his route breaks without losing speed. This all goes back to him being a high quality WR2 prospect, which most balk at for #7 overall.

I think we're all realistic about Tate as a prospect, but we have a dire need there, and desperately need Jayden to not throw his body on the line.

As far as needs go, CB and WR are just as big this year as WR and DE was last year. Last year, they decided to let it ride on WR and DE, and hoped for the best, and that blew up in their face.

I am thinking they aren't making the same mistake again. I think CB is weaker than WR. But WR is more important to Jayden and by extension the team's future.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Do you recall why he is critical (or have a clip you can link?)

He's inconsistent against physical coverage. Sometimes he releases well and gets into his routes fine (with a few quick wins) and sometimes the CB is in control of Tate. So that would be my guess, but it sounds like he's got other hangups about Tate besides that.

The latest would be on the Keim podcast he was on yesterday I think?

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I've got into that for months as to the Flores' scheme but I've shifted my thinking on it some. With these thoughts

A. While the scheme doesn't demand great corners -- lol, its not like we can count on the current lineup to be even mediocre let alone good
B. The depth at corner is the worst of any spot on the team -- if they just get one injury to one starter its big trouble
C. The scheme is predicated on turnovers. And Delane is arguably better at it than Downs.

The team has clearly valued CB's highly as they have every year running spent good resources on it. This matches that. I do wonder if Daronte Jones is saying he wishes he had slightly better CB's in Minnesota. Or CB's that could do specific things better.

Vikings famously valued 1 corner, and then went bargain shopping for the others. The GM did just get fired, so perhaps he thought the pass rush scheme by Flores would simply let him spend some corner resources on other positions. Maybe that was a recurring gripe with Flores/Jones about the GM not adding more talent there.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The team has clearly valued CB's highly as they have every year running spent good resources on it. This matches that. I do wonder if Daronte Jones is saying he wishes he had slightly better CB's in Minnesota. Or CB's that could do specific things better.

Vikings famously valued 1 corner, and then went bargain shopping for the others. The GM did just get fired, so perhaps he thought the pass rush scheme by Flores would simply let him spend some corner resources on other positions. Maybe that was a recurring gripe with Flores/Jones about the GM not adding more talent there.

On deeper thought about this. No matter what the scheme, the corner is important.

Lets say because they play quarters and cover two a lot -- a lot of zone, they have a lot of safety help. OK. But creating havoc forces the QB to get rid of the ball fast and CBs with eyes on the QB who are good at creating turnovers (Delane with 8 carrer turnovers) are very helpful.

 

[ES1974]

Still think a might be getting another team to bite on a trade up. Maybe NO or KC for Delane. That said, I agree corner is a massive issue so if he’s got shutdown potential, I’d be fine with this pick.

Isn’t this a deep CB draft, much like WR ?

 

[washington football]

If they want the CB pick him at 7. Kc and No need CB and will take him, especially Kc

 

[RedWolf]

Bain feels like a guy who's gonna have a Daron Payne like career. That doesn't scare me.

Now if you're a Miami fan, I can understand not wanting to have to root against him.

Yes I am a Miami fan. And I highly disagree with you about your evaluation. I think he's going to do much better than people think

 

[HOF44]

I am thinking they aren't making the same mistake again. I think CB is weaker than WR. But WR is more important to Jayden and by extension the team's future.

I sooo hope this is true. If they roll him out there, and one injury leaves him with no viable receivers this year, I’ll be ready for them to be gone. Especially if it leads to him trying to be Superman and getting injured again.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

On deeper thought about this. No matter what the scheme, the corner is important.

Lets say because they play quarters and cover two a lot -- a lot of zone, they have a lot of safety help. OK. But creating havoc forces the QB to get rid of the ball fast and CBs with eyes on the QB who are good at creating turnovers (Delane with 8 carrer turnovers) are very helpful.

I know the conversation has move on but I have to give you some love for being the first person I saw promoting Love at 7 for the Commanders. At the time as you may recall I objected, thinking that was not a smart pick for several reasons. I've come around and now it looks like Love won't even be there at 7.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I know the conversation has move on but I have to give you some love for being the first person I saw promoting Love at 7 for the Commanders. At the time as you may recall I objected, thinking that was not a smart pick for several reasons. I've come around and now it looks like Love won't even be there at 7.

Thanks, I was early on him at 7 but I wasn't insistent on him at 7. KDawg was the it had to be Love guy. For me he was in play at 7 but it didn't have to be him. But KDawg kept beating the drum of it needs to be him, and I eventually agreed with him on that.

 

[KDawg]

Thanks, I was early on him at 7 but I wasn't insistent on him at 7. KDawg was the it had to be Love guy. For me he was in play at 7 but it didn't have to be him. But KDawg kept beating the drum of him by a mile, and I eventually agreed with him on that.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Thanks, I was early on him at 7 but I wasn't insistent on him at 7. KDawg was the it had to be Love guy. For me he was in play at 7 but it didn't have to be him. But KDawg kept beating the drum of it needs to be him, and I eventually agreed with him on that.

You and KDawg add so much to this board, I appreciate the efforts and info you both provide.

 

[KDawg]

You and

I saw the edit and I appreciate you. But there is such a wide array of Travolta GIFs in this flavor I need to keep using them 😆

 

[skinsinparadise]

If they want the CB pick him at 7. Kc and No need CB and will take him, especially Kc

Yeah it seems like Delane at NO at 8 is a hot one.

I listened to Schefter on this team he thinks Love, Delane, Tate, Downs, didn't really land on one for sure but added a how can they pass on Downs comment but that sounded like his thought versus what he's hearing.

I don't think he mentioned Styles unless I missed it. Maybe because he seems to think Styles has a good shot going to Tennesse. He doubled down on Klatt's point that the Giants could take Reese or Bailey if they fall.

The one guy actually who is good at guessing is Peter Schrager. He really works the phone but I don't think he does his last mock until the day of or before.

 

[clskinsfan]

Sometimes he releases well and gets into his routes fine (with a few quick wins) and sometimes the CB is in control of Tate.

Agree. Bigger corners can control him. And a lot of that is his frame to me. He is not that big. As far as muscle mass goes. And he is not that fast either. I also think he lacks quick twitch on his cuts. And I disagree with SIP about his run blocking ability. He missed A LOT on the tape I watched. I do think he can bulk up some. But his speed is what it is. I do love his wingspan and hands. They are elite.