Top 5 draft targets for positions of need

[flagfootballcoach28]

8 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

We've still fuged up in the past going "BPA". We drafted Butler at DT and Shaq at LB when DT and LB were some of our biggest strengths of the roster. Butler was a flat out bust and Shaq was basically a JAG starter at LB. I know that triggers some folks, but sorry that's just the truth. We overdrafted him then doubled down on that and overpaid him.

 

Obviously BPA is not 100% bulletproof. Even professional card counters still lose at times. Over a long duration though, it’ll give you better draft classes.  Butler was only Gettleman’s BPA. Noone else had him rated that high. 

[LinvilleGorge]

15 minutes ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

Obviously BPA is not 100% bulletproof. Even professional card counters still lose at times. Over a long duration though, it’ll give you better draft classes.  Butler was only Gettleman’s BPA. Noone else had him rated that high. 

He was pretty highly touted that year by all the draftniks. But he's one of those small school guys who you do have to pay attention to his workout numbers since he was playing against lower level competition. All his draft hype was about his great athleticism and potential, then he went to the Combine and posted very pedestrian measurable. 5.33 40 time, 29.5" vertical, 26 reps on the bench. Overall he had the 19th ranked athleticism score among DTs that year. No one would've been complaining in hindsight about drafting a DT had we drafted Chris Jones who was picked 8 spots after we drafted Butler.

[strato]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

He was pretty highly touted that year by all the draftniks. But he's one of those small school guys who you do have to pay attention to his workout numbers since he was playing against lower level competition. All his draft hype was about his great athleticism and potential, then he went to the Combine and posted very pedestrian measurable. 5.33 40 time, 29.5" vertical, 26 reps on the bench. Overall he had the 19th ranked athleticism score among DTs that year. No one would've been complaining in hindsight about drafting a DT had we drafted Chris Jones who was picked 8 spots after we drafted Butler.

I think it is safest just to stay away from small school guys the first two days of the draft. Rashard Anderson. Butler. 
(there are others, just too lazy to document)
 

I know, Jerry Rice. A bunch of guys back in the day from Grambling.  Still, take them later. Not early. 

Edited 10 hours ago by strato

[Htarnation4.0]

23 hours ago, 45catfan said:

I'm consistently mocking OT, ILB, Edge, CB, and WR-(s).  Either a S or second Edge/ILB regularly. I'm starting to a C consistently to the mix now.

Depending on who is left at #19, I wouldn't mind moving back to get a another late 3rd or 4th rounder.

I'm not going to be upset with a move down either. We need assets. 

[NorthTryon]

On 1/26/2026 at 9:13 AM, 45catfan said:

He's basically Thomas Davis, but bigger.  But yeah, he's closer to Luvu than Kuechly.  I would say he would be better as a OLB.  It won't matter because Dallas is zeroing in on him to replace Parsons. Unless he gets injured or tests out horribly, he ain't lasting to #19.  I've stopped mocking him because it's fool's gold to think we can land him at our draft slot.

And Dallas can have him. Something about Miami just running straight at him over and over to a victory doesn't sit well with me. It reminds me of the Minnesota vs. Dallas game last year where Minnesota ran downhill at Parsons the whole game effectively taking him out of the game. We need another ILB leader and I believe that is CJ Allen out of Georgia. I would look to take one of the Miami OLBs who were coached by a HOF OLB in Taylor at 19 and get Allen in the 2nd.

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, NorthTryon said:

And Dallas can have him. Something about Miami just running straight at him over and over to a victory doesn't sit well with me. It reminds me of the Minnesota vs. Dallas game last year where Minnesota ran downhill at Parsons the whole game effectively taking him out of the game. We need another ILB leader and I believe that is CJ Allen out of Georgia. I would look to take one of the Miami OLBs who were coached by a HOF OLB in Taylor at 19 and get Allen in the 2nd.

Yeah man you watched someone else.  Styles is an excellent tackler and only missed like 1 or 2 tackles all year.  He is a freak athlete that can cover as well.  He is who I desperately want but no way will he be there at 19.

 

As to this draft there are only a handful of uber talent players (Styles, Reece for sure) so I would love to trade out of 19 if the opportunity is there.  Pick up a 1rst for next year.  I think its a fairly deep draft, especially on the defensive side but not a lot of "holy poo this guy is a game changer" players.  And for some reason I watched a lot more college football this year than I should have. 

[mrcompletely11]

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sonny-styles-2026-nfl-draft-221140860.html

Sonny Styles essentially never misses a tackle, missing just one on nearly 700 defensive snaps in 2025. There hasn't been a tackler this consistent and disciplined in several NFL Draft classes.

basically every draft profile says the same thing

[NorthTryon]

5 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Yeah man you watched someone else.  Styles is an excellent tackler and only missed like 1 or 2 tackles all year.  He is a freak athlete that can cover as well.  He is who I desperately want but no way will he be there at 19.

 

As to this draft there are only a handful of uber talent players (Styles, Reece for sure) so I would love to trade out of 19 if the opportunity is there.  Pick up a 1rst for next year.  I think its a fairly deep draft, especially on the defensive side but not a lot of "holy poo this guy is a game changer" players.  And for some reason I watched a lot more college football this year than I should have. 

No, go back and watch the OSU Miami game. And as a football fan, you do know getting blocked completely out of the play means you don't get a chance to miss a tackle right? He is a freak athlete, but doesn't do well in sifting through blocking and stopping the run. Maybe he can get better at that. Yes I have seen him wreak havoc sideline to sideline, blitz well on passing downs, come up and tackle in coverage, but getting off blocks in the hole is a weakness. Early in the 2nd quarter he had his hands on his hips and it was downhill from there. I tuned into the game to watch him and Reese on defense. 

[NorthTryon]

12 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sonny-styles-2026-nfl-draft-221140860.html

Sonny Styles essentially never misses a tackle, missing just one on nearly 700 defensive snaps in 2025. There hasn't been a tackler this consistent and disciplined in several NFL Draft classes.

basically every draft profile says the same thing

His stat line was 2 TOT, 1 solo. And they gave up 153yds rushing. Yeah, I was watching the right guy.