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

Always Commander Never Captain said:
Just found out (some of you probably already knew this months ago) that Brian Hartline the key guy making Ohio State WR's so good is now gone. He's now the Head Coach at USF.
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Yep, he interviewed at WVU for HC back in 2024 before RR got the gig back. I was hoping he'd be the new HC here. Oh well.
 
Im usually out doing stuff during the draft but this year I am staying in, watching on TV, and will be on here. Does this board do way early spoilers? If so then I won't come on here. Also, what channel doesn't do spoilers? I want to be surprised on every pick in the first round. After that, I probably won't care
 
Dlts20 said:
Im usually out doing stuff during the draft but this year I am staying in, watching on TV, and will be on here. Does this board do way early spoilers? If so then I won't come on here. Also, what channel doesn't do spoilers? I want to be surprised on every pick in the first round. After that, I probably won't care
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That's a good question. I imagine the chat will have spoilers, the threads might? Honestly sometimes the official threads move too fast in the moment and then I pull back to a thread like this one to post/review takes.
 
Always Commander Never Captain said:
That's a good question. I imagine the chat will have spoilers, the threads might? Honestly sometimes the official threads move too fast in the moment and then I pull back to a thread like this one to post/review takes.
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I just remember ESPN or someone had Adam Schefter on there a few years ago and he told every pick, minutes before they went to the podium so I changed the channel. Guys in a lot of football and basketball chats do the same so I try to stay away from it. Idc about being the last to know. I rather have the shock and excitement.

Honestly, I don't even like when they show a player receiving a phone call, right before the pick. He's talking and smiling so you know he just got picked. The NFL should cut that out. It's still an exciting conversation after the fact.
 
Chris said:
There was also Art who thought he knew everything.
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Art was an odd Dan Snyder homer. Cerrato and Bruce homer too.

The odd experience for me is the enemies I made there were all from critizing that brass. Bruce in particular had granted a small but cult like following with some fans.
 
KDawg said:
1. Love
2. Tate
3. Downs/Delane
4. Styles
5. Bain

That’s where I am. Been watching Delane and Downs all day and give me either if we don’t get Tate. They are both difference makers.

I don’t want Bailey even if he falls, and honestly, I don’t want Reese if we’re looking at him as a full edge convert.

If Bailey or Reese were to be there, that’s where I am looking to trade out. We will have options.
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1. Love
2. Bailey
3. Tate
4. Styles
5. Downs
6. Delane

I love all 6 players so I wouldn't dislike any of those picks. Tate is my 6th player as to pure ability but need bumps him up.

If they trade down to 16, that's a tough one for me. Assuming then its WRs. I got Tyson, Lemon, Cooper, Boston all graded close.
 
skinsinparadise said:
1. Love
2. Bailey
3. Styles
4. Downs
5. Delane

I love all 5 players so I wouldn't dislike any of those picks.

If they trade down to 16, that's a tough one for me. Assuming then its WRs. I got Tyson, Lemon, Cooper, Boston all graded close.
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Tyson is not on my draft list.

If we had better receivers I’d be all about him. But he’s too risky for a team that can’t afford a risk.
 
KDawg said:
Tyson is not on my draft list.

If we had better receivers I’d be all about him. But he’s too risky for a team that can’t afford a risk.
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Yeah Tyson is not in my top 10 but if they trade down OK. But get the point about injuries.

I think he's the most overrated player in this draft. It's almost like celebrities that died young, it adds to their myth. With Tyson the injuries are so prominent that it adds this narrative wow if only he were healthy he'd be this Jamar Chase or whomever. The injuries oddly sort of elevate the narrative about him as if wow if only.

The thing is though:

A. For a guy who makes first level catches as his main thing -- usually guys like that are great or at least good YAC guys, he's actually a bad YAC guy

B. He's not a deep threat

C. Contested catch score is meh. And its part of the reason why some scouts don't think he's tough -- he looks squeamish at times catching balls in between the numbers

D. Had a drop problem until last season

E. Some questions have popped up about his maturity with even him admitting that his work ethic didn't become good until late in his college career

He's twitchy, he has those Beckham like movement skills. I like that about him, But some superstar if healthy? IMO that's ridiculous. I think he can be a good WR. But he has too many weaknesses to likely be a superstar but I do think oddly if only he were healthy stuff elevates the myth for him. Scouts rated him as the third best WR in the McGinn report and that wasn't about his health, some thought he was a 2nd round talent. They thought Tate was bettter, as do I, healthy or not. I do think its close though if he's healthy. Don't get me wrong, some especially in the draft media think Tyson is the best if healthy. And some don't. I get the debate either way. But for those who say slam dunk its Tyson if healthy, I don't see it.

McShay joked in one podcast that Tyson's agent is a great propaganda machine.
 
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7.​

John Keim's pick: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Commanders added plenty of help on defense in free agency, particularly in the front. But to help the pass rush, they need stronger corner play. Last season, they ranked 31st in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.6) as well as in opposing QBR (52.9). Delane's versatility -- he can play man or zone -- would allow new coordinator Daronte Jones to better disguise coverages.

 
I understand why Reese, Bailey, Styles and Bain are at the top of most lists for front 7 defenders.

They all offer athletic superpowers and in the right systems could become elite.

With his size, versatility, and motor, I can see a world where Faulk enjoys the best NFL career of all of them just without as much flash

I m not saying he should go top 5 but is Faulk being slept on?
 
Tate would be a solid, needs-based pick. I don’t think he’d excite me, but we do need legit starters at that position really bad.

Being a guy who falls for the Cinderella stories, I’d love to see Burls, Lane, or McCaffrey show up despite us doubling and dismissing them, but you can’t count on Cinderella emerging just like you can’t count on vets at the very end of their careers to rise up for one last moment.

There are still players I’d like more for the fiuture. Tate would be our pick for the present.

We’ll know in less than 49 hours.
 
Dlts20 said:
Im usually out doing stuff during the draft but this year I am staying in, watching on TV, and will be on here. Does this board do way early spoilers? If so then I won't come on here. Also, what channel doesn't do spoilers? I want to be surprised on every pick in the first round. After that, I probably won't care
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Depends on what network people are watching. I know in the past NFL Network was seconds faster than ESPN and ABC.....so board members would post their reaction while others were still waiting.
 
Schrager who some claim is the ultimate draft insider versus Keim. lol, will see who wins. This either adds to Keim's legend or bursts his bubble. Unlike what some here might think, I'd rather it bursts Keim's bubble and Schrager wins.

I do think Styles and Delane are better players than Tate. But Tate is such a screaming need and is close enough.

Keim on Tate isn't ruling him out but believes in a trade down not at 7. But Schrager is really pushing Tate hard. If I put money on this I'd bet on Keim but hope I'd lose that bet.


7. Washington Commanders​

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

There are a lot of good options on the board, including Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. But Washington has to help Jayden Daniels and get this offense back on track. The Commanders scored 20.1 points per game last season but didn't make many WR additions in free agency. The entire receiver class is available here. I think Washington could pair Tate with Terry McLaurin.


8. New Orleans Saints​

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

New Orleans needs a receiver, but it also lost a lot of talent on defense this offseason. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said on "The Schrager Hour" that Downs can be the face of a franchise and could immediately become the smartest player for an NFL defense. He had six INTs over the past three seasons and makes plays against the run. Brandon Staley got the most out of Derwin James Jr. in Los Angeles, and he can do the same for Downs in New Orleans.



Projected trade​

Chiefs get: No. 12 and No. 20
Cowboys get: No. 9 and No. 29


9. Dallas Cowboys (via projected trade with KC)​

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

OK, our first trade! I could see this happening. After allowing 377 yards per game and letting opponents convert on third down 47.3% of the time -- ranking among the worst in the NFL in both -- Dallas has to get one of the top defensive prospects. It's a necessity. But there's no guarantee any of them -- Downs, Delane, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. et al -- will still be there at No. 12. This is a chance to guarantee getting one of them and still have another first-round pick. Delane's coverage ability should help stop some of the big plays that doomed the Cowboys in 2025.
 
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