The 2026 Draft Thread

[Gooseneck]

If we resign Payne, Tunsil and Samuel and cut Lattimore- we should have about 70,000,000 in cap space-. Needs, another shut down corner, Edge, Tight End (WR Mclaurin, Samuel, Lane, McCaffrey, Brooks,? ). With a decent pass catching TE- perhaps Yankoff, or someone in the draft we should be set on offense-. (maybe a back up center). The way I look at it we probably have 50,000,000 to fix the defense plus the draft. I took out 20,000,000 to resign Paul, etc.
We have:
Round 1
Round 2 (Traded to Houston Texans for LT Laremy Tunsil)
Round 3
Round 4 (Traded to Houston Texans for LT Laremy Tunsil)
Round 5I
Round 6 (Received from San Francisco 49ers for RB Brian Robinson)
Round 6
Round 7

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I think we have the resources to get a good defense next year.

Let us say we sign Hendrickson as edge- Jones again at CB- looking for a good CB in the draft. If one is not there, we have a default position. Igbinoghene , Sign Allgretti as a back up center who can move along the line. We should have at least 10,000,000 left.
In draft-look for CB at 1
Linebacker at 3
Tightend at 5
BPA after that- I think we are set-
Just a thought- when Merritt wins the rookie of the week this week, out of people outside Daniels, we are kicking ass on rookies of the week.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

If we resign Payne,

Payne is under contract for 2026. For just about the same amount against the cap as this year, ~$18m

 

[Gooseneck]

I know, but I figure; they will resign him to a 3 year contract

 

[Conn]

I know, but I figure; they will resign him to a 3 year contract

They could, but they’d probably get a better performance from him if they didn’t, assuming they want him to hit the cap for near that number at all. Lot of games left

 

[Gooseneck]

They could, but they’d probably get a better performance from him if they didn’t, assuming they want him to hit the cap for near that number at all. Lot of games left

It is a tough one. we save about 16,000,000, I believe if we cut him, Again, totally uninspiraring except in contract years. Maybe money is spent better elsewhere. Sure we would get a 3rd round pick, and Peters, has been kicking ass with his draft picks

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I know, but I figure; they will resign him to a 3 year contract

I don’t actually think they will.

I think they’re going to let him play it out. He’s good enough and that’s not a bad cap number for a player of his caliber. But I don’t know if they want to lock him up into his 30’s.

I think he either plays out his contract or gets released.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Give me Carnell Tate. Makes big plays and big moments. Can play Z which is what they need. Ball tracking skills. Great hands. Another Ohio State Wr star. And he might be available around where they pick, will see.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Give me Carnell Tate. Makes big plays and big moments. Can play Z which is what they need. Ball tracking skills. Great hands. Another Ohio State Wr star. And he might be available around where they pick, will see.

Haven't started watching anybody yet, but catching a college safety flat footed while you're clearly going for a down field route says more about the college opposition than him.

That said, he's an OSU WR so you know his skills are more refined. They've been such a good factory.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Haven't started watching anybody yet, but catching a college safety flat footed while you're clearly going for a down field route says more about the college opposition than him.

That said, he's an OSU WR so you know his skills are more refined. They've been such a good factory.

I've watched a lot of him. It's not about me pulling one highlight off X and saying I want that guy.

I was a big Devonte Smith (actually Terry too among others) guy before the draft. He reminds me of him in some ways. Thicker build than Devonte. But just big catch after big catch. Soft hands. Great ball tracking ability. Better YAC guy than Devonte. Might be a better seperator than him, too. But specially if you watch a bunch of games of a team, there can be certain players that jump out as being great in big moments when you need your best players to be that. I used to say that about Devonte even though he wasn't always heralded the same way as Ruggs and Jeudy but it was Devonte who was the super clutch one of the three. Now lol of course Ohio State has an even better WR. But I'd take Tate in a heartbeat. He can do everything but I love college players who play big in big moments -- he's one of those. Arguably on defense, Downs in another one like that for Ohio State, play maker at safety.

Back to Tate. Supposedly high intangibles guy -- a bit on the quiet side as to his personality.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I've watched a lot of him. It's not about me pulling one highlight off X and saying I want that guy.

I was a big Devonte Smith (actually Terry too among others) guy before the draft. He reminds me of him in some ways. Thicker build than Devonte. But just big catch after big catch. Soft hands. Great ball tracking ability. Better YAC guy than Devonte. Might be a better seperator than him, too. But specially if you watch a bunch of games of a team, there can be certain players that jump out as being great in big moments when you need your best players to be that. I used to say that about Devonte even though he wasn't always heralded the same way as Ruggs and Jeudy but it was Devonte who was the super clutch one of the three. Now lol of course Ohio State has an even better WR. But I'd take Tate in a heartbeat. He can do everything but I love college players who play big in big moments -- he's one of those. Arguably on defense, Downs in another one like that for Ohio State, play maker at safety.

Back to Tate. Supposedly high intangibles guy -- a bit on the quiet side as to his personality.

We could so desperately use this skillset. When I look at what Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Stafford, even Caleb Williams have, at the skill positions, we look like paupers.

If we want to maximize Jayden, we’ve built him an OL, and now we need to massively upgrade our weapons. We really, really, could a WR1 with length, that can separate vs man, and also get deep and track the deep ball. And an all around TE that is a legitimate receiver and can be a threat up the seam and a YAC threat would be huge.

I know we need a DE. And a CB. And a LB. And safety help. But, I feel like if we had a legitimately good DC, that we could cobble together enough in FA to be at least top 15 on D.

There are solid CB2’s and DE’s available in FA most years.

Carnell Tate looks a little like Tee Higgins, if Higgins could really run. Unless we keep losing though, I think he’s going higher than our pick.

Where is he getting mocked right now?

Edit:




Kiper currently has Tate at #11 on his big board.

 

[commva2]

He was supposed to go in early rounds last year before he decided against it.

 

[HOF44]

Carnell Tate listed S 4.6 to 4.72 40 times. I think I’d pass on that.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Well, the good news for the draftnicks on the board is it looks like we're going to have higher draft picks to deal with this year than we did last year.

Silver lining?

 

[skinsinparadise]

We could so desperately use this skillset. When I look at what Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Stafford, even Caleb Williams have, at the skill positions, we look like paupers.

If we want to maximize Jayden, we’ve built him an OL, and now we need to massively upgrade our weapons. We really, really, could a WR1 with length, that can separate vs man, and also get deep and track the deep ball. And an all around TE that is a legitimate receiver and can be a threat up the seam and a YAC threat would be huge.

I know we need a DE. And a CB. And a LB. And safety help. But, I feel like if we had a legitimately good DC, that we could cobble together enough in FA to be at least top 15 on D.

There are solid CB2’s and DE’s available in FA most years.

Carnell Tate looks a little like Tee Higgins, if Higgins could really run. Unless we keep losing though, I think he’s going higher than our pick.

Where is he getting mocked right now?

Edit:




Kiper currently has Tate at #11 on his big board.

Mocked right now mid to late routnd first.

But yeah if the idea is to fast forward this roster where they can overcome potentially weaknesses at other parts of the roster -- load Jayden up with weapons. He's yet to have that luxury.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Mocked right now mid to late routnd first.

But yeah if the idea is to fast forward this roster where they can overcome potentially weaknesses at other parts of the roster -- load Jayden up with weapons. He's yet to have that luxury.

I'm sorry, but what is the value of a mock draft in November?

This feels like the argument I had with that poster a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away where he kept on going on and on that you could predict what a draft was going to look like years in advance. I said it was hard to predict what a current draft was going to look like during the current draft.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Carnell Tate listed S 4.6 to 4.72 40 times. I think I’d pass on that.

Will see. I don't care about projections of it. For whatever odd reasons, they tend to be really bad for players who aren't projected as speedsters, and at the combine and pro day they do better than that by a decent margin.

Lets see what he actually runs. He looks to my naked eye in the 4.5-4.6 range. But will see. If he runs a 4.7, I am not intrigued. But if in the 4.5-4.6 range I am in and my guess is he will be.

I used to run track am not bad at guessing speed precombine. Tate has good acceleration. Some of the taller-longer legged WRs have less initial burst but once they had their stride their long speed is very good. So in turn better 100 versus 40 runners.

I am not a speed first guy when it comes to WR, or RB. Same argument I made last draft for Skattebo. Same when people were argument against me and others about Drake London years ago.

Jaylin Lane is a 4.34 guy but through he's not a deep threat.

Nacua ran around a 4.6. St. Brown ran a 4.51 -- lucky for us Ron nailed the faster Dyami Brown in the same draft and skipped St. Brown. Higgins 4.54. On and on. If he's in that range, and am guessing he will be, but will see, I am in.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm sorry, but what is the value of a mock draft in November?

This feels like the argument I had with that poster a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away where he kept on going on and on that you could predict what a draft was going to look like years in advance. I said it was hard to predict what a current draft was going to look like during the current draft.

Someone asked that question. I answered it. I could have ignored the question but I understand why it was asked.

It's not about a mock being super accurate or not but where is he generally viewed right now. The production coupled with being freaks are considered top 10 at this point by some and or premium position players. Some others aren't in that category so the perception is you have a shot at said player if they fall outside the top 10.

Tate is all over the place in mocks right now. Here's one where he's the third pick in the draft. Agree, there isn't a deep connection to any mock right now. But I get the spirit of the question.

2026 NFL mock draft: Steelers plan post-Rodgers, Cowboys add firepower

Cooper Petagna's first 2026 mock draft features early QB intrigue and elite line talent

www.cbssports.com

 

[Dlts20]

Honestly, we've failed Jayden. Last game he played without our top 3 WRs. He's played most of his other games without his 1st and 3rd wr. Luke got hurt on the opening kickoff. Now he's playing without 3 of his top 4 WRs. For most of this season we are playing with guys who have done nothing in the league and wouldn't play on any roster in the nfl. We are playing like, lane, more, Tay Martin, Burks, etc.

These guys have done nothing. Deebo is the only one and everyone in the offseason said that he's more of a gadget guy than a true wr. This is the biggest difference with Jayden. McLaurin is a true number one and guys like dyami and Zaccheaus are true WRs who will have major roles on other NFL teams like they are doing now. We literally have Deebo and no other accomplished receiver.

Ertz is old and he's thrown multiple passes to Bates, the blocking te. Even if the season is over, we have to get him some receivers at the deadline to continue his development. Lane is just as trash as our defense right now

 

[DieselPwr44]

Peters is going to waste the "rookie QB contract" that teams covet.
Mark it down.

 

[method man]

We may be bad enough this season where we may be in a position to draft Reuben Bain or David Bailey