Time to Start Roughing Out the '26 Draft--Needs and Pecking Order

[45catfan]

[ForJimmy]

11 hours ago, 45catfan said:

Reese AND Thieneman would make our defense so fun!  Love getting a C too and Robertson is solid (if nothing else he can be a decent backup in the league).  I'm thinking a later round QB to pair with a FA QB2 is the best route for this draft.  UConn's QB has 25 TDs and 0 INTs and has played like 6 years.  If Green drops to the late rounds, I'd love to take a flier on him.

[mrcompletely11]

I dont think Reese will make it to 16 and I also dont think we are picking 16.  When the dust settles we probably are a 6 win team hovering around the top 10

[rebelrouser]

3 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I dont think Reese will make it to 16 and I also dont think we are picking 16.  When the dust settles we probably are a 6 win team hovering around the top 10

I saw a mock recently with Reese no. 1.  That is an insane prediction for ILB but he seems to be moving up the boards.  

[mrcompletely11]

1 hour ago, rebelrouser said:

I saw a mock recently with Reese no. 1.  That is an insane prediction for ILB but he seems to be moving up the boards.  

I have watched 2 of his games in full and he just jumps off the screen, big and fast and seems to disrupt almost every play.  

[45catfan]

Since we backed into the playoffs and dropped about 5 draft spots, based on how Big Boards are shaping up, look for an OT, DL or CB.  The top Edge and LBs will be gone. 

[rebelrouser]

16 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

The top Edge and LBs will be gone.

Agree. And consider trading back to pick up the UGA or UT ILB's.  No use in reaching.  

[45catfan]

14 hours ago, rebelrouser said:

Agree. And consider trading back to pick up the UGA or UT ILB's.  No use in reaching.  

I swear if we draft Sadiq I will be so livid.  He's more of a freak athlete than a TE.  Think Kyle Pitts.  We have passed up legit TEs for years and the is a really weak TE draft, especially early on. The reason I bring him up is this is his projected target area where we are now.

[MHS831]

11 hours ago, 45catfan said:

I swear if we draft Sadiq I will be so livid.  He's more of a freak athlete than a TE.  Think Kyle Pitts.  We have passed up legit TEs for years and the is a really weak TE draft, especially early on. The reason I bring him up is this is his projected target area where we are now.

We are fairly secure at TE--void of a superstar--but the cupboard is pretty bare at ILB, C, (suddenly) WR, and Edge.  TE would be a luxury we cannot afford.  I think the pick will be ILB or Edge--

If we go after a TE, it makes more sense to do it in free agency to me.

based on the way the boards I follow look right now,  it sure looks as if trading back and getting an ILB and Edge later is a plan.  However, I do not rule out a third first-round pick at WR--for example, if Lemon falls to 19--the Panthers could pull the trigger.  Imagine a WR room with Tmac, lemon, Coker, Horn, XL--that would make Bryce better.  In round 2, an Edge (there is some value at Edge in round 2.

Sleeper Edge:  Caden Curry, Ohio St. (3rd round?)

If we wait until round 3 or later for ILB, I like Golday ( my crush right now--played OLB in college), Trotter, Rodriguez, Whitt and York.

 

Edited January 6 by MHS831

[45catfan]

34 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

We are fairly secure at TE--void of a superstar--but the cupboard is pretty bare at ILB, C, (suddenly) WR, and Edge.  TE would be a luxury we cannot afford.  I think the pick will be ILB or Edge--

If we go after a TE, it makes more sense to do it in free agency to me.

based on the way the boards I follow look right now,  it sure looks as if trading back and getting an ILB and Edge later is a plan.  However, I do not rule out a third first-round pick at WR--for example, if Lemon falls to 19--the Panthers could pull the trigger.  Imagine a WR room with Tmac, lemon, Coker, Horn, XL--that would make Bryce better.  In round 2, an Edge (there is some value at Edge in round 2.

Sleeper Edge:  Caden Curry, Ohio St. (3rd round?)

If we wait until round 3 or later for ILB, I like Golday ( my crush right now--played OLB in college), Trotter, Rodriguez, Whitt and York.

 

Point #1: Agreed FA TE is the way to go.  Sanders is a TE2 and Evans is a TE that can easily replace Tremble.

Point #2: This gratuitous playoff birth screwed us out of Bailey, for certain, and probably Styles too.  Howell and Hill are the next best ones at their positions based on how most Big Boards are stacking up right now, but a reach currently.  I really think one of the OTs will fall and/or a CB.  Mike Jack is decent, but we could use and upgrade. 

Point #3: KC Concepcion in the slot is really peaking my interest. 

Point#4: Off ball LB will likely be taken later, I agree. 

 

[Dilla]

On 1/5/2026 at 9:42 PM, 45catfan said:

 

Point #2: This gratuitous playoff birth screwed us out of Bailey, for certain, and probably Styles too.  Howell and Hill are the next best ones at their positions based on how most Big Boards are stacking up right now, but a reach currently.  I really think one of the OTs will fall and/or a CB.  Mike Jack is decent, but we could use and upgrade. 

 

CJ Allen is also in that gaggle of LBs after Styles.