2026 NFL Draft

[odanny]

The Rams decision was the most interesting to me.

I understand that Stafford is old and they need to get his replacement, but the Rams were also basically the second best team in the league last year. The real Super Bowl was the NFC championship in my opinion.

They could have drafted someone to help them take down the Seahawks, and instead picked up someone who is unlikely to see any serious playing time this year.

Their decision is bold. I’ll give them that. It will be interesting to see how this strategy works out for them.

Most of these GM's get right less than half the time, it's way too early to see if Simpson works out, but they saw something, and what works for one team won't work for another, such as the Rams ability to get great, late round WR's, just like the last 2 great wide receivers they drafted, taken in the 3rd and the 5th rounds.

 

[odanny]

Dallas getting Downs at 11 is A+.

Commanders getting Styles is an A.

There are others. Honestly the NFC East all drafted well.

Most analysts talking about the NFC East are touting the first 2 picks from the Giants, a team that is really loaded. Defensively they should be dominant.

Downs and Styles are both tone setters and great players.

 

[Couchpotato]

Most of these GM's get right less than half the time, it's way too early to see if Simpson works out, but they saw something, and what works for one team won't work for another, such as the Rams ability to get great, late round WR's, just like the last 2 great wide receivers they drafted, taken in the 3rd and the 5th rounds.

What’s your definition of “getting it right”

 

[22lcidw]

Most analysts talking about the NFC East are touting the first 2 picks from the Giants, a team that is really loaded. Defensively they should be dominant.

Downs and Styles are both tone setters and great players.

The draft does not guarantee that players selected are going to be stars. The percentages can be higher early in the first round though and that is not a guarantee. If they were not drafted in the first round many are kept for a few years if not good due to embarrassment of the pick. However, if I am a fan of the Giants, I want them to be good.

 

[odanny]

What’s your definition of “getting it right”

Gettng it right = drafting well in the late rounds. Rams have done that. They can afford to wait on a 1st rounder to develop.

 

[odanny]

The draft does not guarantee that players selected are going to be stars. The percentages can be higher early in the first round though and that is not a guarantee. If they were not drafted in the first round many are kept for a few years if not good due to embarrassment of the pick. However, if I am a fan of the Giants, I want them to be good.

Yea, look at Abdul-Carter, top 3 pick last year I think, stunk it up on the field for the Giants last year, think he was even a healthy scratch in a game or two. He probably was not mentally prepared for the NFL, now what if he also develops for the Giants next year? They are loaded with studs on defense.

 

[Couchpotato]

Gettng it right = drafting well in the late rounds. Rams have done that. They can afford to wait on a 1st rounder to develop.

I think there is a wild misconception about how many actual open roster spots there are per team entering training camp and how many players are competing for those spots.

The reality is there are from 1-10 open spots on any given team any given year. Teams have all their draft pics, practice squad bubble players undrafted free agents, as well as players released from other teams competing.

Teams enter training camp with 90-man rosters, even assuming there are 10 spots open which is rare that's 47 players competing for 10 spots.

Everyone's 1st round pick gets a roster spot. So, we are 46 players competing for 9 now.

2nd and 3rd round picks get signed about 90-95% of the time. That's 44 guys competing for 7 spots

After the 3rd round the sign rate drops pretty significantly. 60-70 for 4th and about 10% per round after that. Undrafted free agents 15-20%. Obviously, this varies from year to year and team to team given draft strength and team needs.

I say all that to point out that there just aren't that many available spots for later round guys. Especially for teams who are by your definition "getting it right". At some point you've filled the holes but you still have to draft a player in those rounds every year unless you can trade them away.

I don't know that the Rams are any better than most good teams finding value in later rounds.

 

[EMH]

He's at the Rattler house outside holding a sign "Rattler MVP 2027"

"NO to NFC Championship" on other side.

You need Couchpotato

No, I work the early shift these days, had to go to sleep early.

 

[EMH]

Titans take Tate

I don’t think so
But we shall see

First really DUMB move of the Draft, taking a #2 WR who refused to run the 40 in the top 5. A top 5 WR should be a Calvin Johnson, TO Randy Moss caliber player, not a "possession receiver" who got single coverage because all the attention was on Smith. There are a dozen WRs in this draft better than Tate.

 

[odanny]

I don't know that the Rams are any better than most good teams finding value in later rounds.

You are forgetting that NFL practice squads can have up to 17 players under contract.

 

[odanny]

The Jets had 3 first round picks, all great selections, an edge rusher, a TE and a WR, all with huge seasons last year, and, being the Jets, they signed Geno Smith as QB.

It's always the same story with this team, they can get all the skill positions right and not have a capable QB.

 

[Treeshepherd]

7 offensive tackles taken in the 1st round... goes to show how much teams value an OT, for good reason. After QB, I think this is the most important position... keep your QB upright and unhurried, move the chains, goal line/short yardage offense, time of possession (rest the defense), etc.. If you can draft an OT who gives you 5 or 10 good years that's pure gold.

Raiders should have traded down to #5 and taken a tackle to block for Jeanty. Mendoza is a nice kid who wasn't a highly regarded talent when he started at Cal, but he worked hard and eventually won the Natty with Indiana. Great story but I don't see him thriving on a team that went 3-14 last season.

I wanted my Niners to take a tackle and the Lomu kid was there at their #27 spot that they traded out of. Niners resigned old Trent Williams and a journeyman tackle from NE, but those are not long term solutions. So, now SF has 2 2nd rounders. They will probably go Edge which is frustrating because they spent 4 picks on the DL last year. I'd like them to take WR Denzel Boston from Washington, but I wouldn't be mad if they took a CB (some good ones still available) or safety Emanuel McNeil-Warren who could start right away since Niner safeties aren't very good.

Kittle blew out his achilles and might be washed, I'd like to see SF get a TE in the 3rd round.

 

[odanny]

7 offensive tackles taken in the 1st round... goes to show how much teams value an OT, for good reason.

Were all of them Hawaiian or Samoan? (just kidding.....kind of)

Look at what Harbaugh is doing with Joe Alt in last years draft, as well as Slater getting the huge contract (injured in training camp) and you see how teams are built, starting with offensive lines. Same with the Chiefs strategy, protecting Mahomes, who might finally have a running game this year.

Look at Zeke Elliot tearing up the league as a rookie, he ran behind the best line in the NFL for his first three seasons.

 

[Couchpotato]

You are forgetting that NFL practice squads can have up to 17 players under contract.

And zero of them are part of the 53 man roster.

 

[XponentialChaos]

Most of these GM's get right less than half the time, it's way too early to see if Simpson works out, but they saw something, and what works for one team won't work for another, such as the Rams ability to get great, late round WR's, just like the last 2 great wide receivers they drafted, taken in the 3rd and the 5th rounds.

The GM is going to look like a genius or an idiot for this decision. Time will tell.

 

[Couchpotato]

The GM is going to look like a genius or an idiot for this decision. Time will tell.

Dont you think they could have gotten him later? I get drafting the next QB before the old one retires, but I dont think there were a bunch of teams lining up in the 1st round to draft Simpson. I think he's there in the 2nd and at worst they have to trade up a bit earlier in the 2nd to get him.

 

[XponentialChaos]

Dont you think they could have gotten him later? I get drafting the next QB before the old one retires, but I dont think there were a bunch of teams lining up in the 1st round to draft Simpson. I think he's there in the 2nd and at worst they have to trade up a bit earlier in the 2nd to get him.

Yea, it’s possible. But you know how much demand there is for a quarterback in this league. Seems like teams need to pay a big premium to go get their guy.

 

[Couchpotato]

Yea, it’s possible. But you know how much demand there is for a quarterback in this league. Seems like teams need to pay a big premium to go get their guy.

I’m glad they took him. Kept the Steelers from drafting him.

 

[Winco]

With the #33 pick, after thinking about it for 20 hours, the SF whiners reach big for a WR they could have gotten in the 3rd round.

San Francisco 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss – MILLEN Grade which is F-.
The 49ers had all day to trade down, and they should have done so because they wasted the No. 33 pick on a third-round prospect. De’Zhaun Stribling has some big-play ability, but he probably would have been available 20 picks later. Why not trade down and get some capital, even if it’s not at full value?

At least trade down and collect some more draft capital.

 

[XponentialChaos]

I’m glad they took him. Kept the Steelers from drafting him.

It’s still too early, but yea, I’m skeptical of how well he will do as well.