2026 NFL Combine Thread: 2.26.26 - 3.1.26

[firefox1234]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Hard to say right now, but good thinking.  I look at this as the info we need for free agency.  Looks like we are going to free up about $10m so far; watch to see if any contracts (Moehrig, Horn, Brown, etc) are reworked the first week of March.  Then after free agency, we will have a pretty good idea.

Right now, to be fair to your question because I am sure you are aware of its timing:

In free agency, I see us adding an OT of some sort and drafting one at some point.  It all depends on how they view Ickey, Nijman, and maybe BC.  That OT could be Nijman.  I do not see the future OT--just a stop gap.

I see the Panthers signing a free-agent center.  I think the market is strong.  I see Fortner from the Saints as a prime candidate and his salary is estimated at $6m by Spotrac.  the Saints are $42m over the cap, so I doubt they are able to re-sign many of their own.  He will be 28.  I also expect them to re-sign Corbett (depth) at a vet min ($1.5m) deal.

I also see free agency as a strong area to get a free safety who can play and is under age 30.  Hawkins, Cook, and Bryant are all around age 27-28, play at a high level, and should be had for about $15m per.

EDGE: Arnold Ebiketie is a good value because he gets pressure at a high percentage.  He had 2 sacks and Atlanta just drafted 2 pass rushers last year.   He has a 70+ PFF rating and will (Spotrac) demand about $9m.  While he is not the answer, he is a great third down option with Princely and he would allow for Jones, Scourton, and Princely to develop.

So if we could sign a S, C, and Edge, and maybe even an ILB, we could be set to take BPA.  

I like the FS and C markets--not elated about an edge--and I love the ILBs in the draft.

If I could sign a S, C, and Edge:

1. OT

2. ILB

3. WR

OR 

1. WR

2. OT

3. ILB (so deep)

I would not hate if we went Dillon Thieneman S, Rodriguez ILB, and Dani Dennis Sutton Edge. But maybe after the combine it may not be possible to get the last two in the second and third round without moving up or getting another second round pick.

[firefox1234]

 

 

[firefox1234]

 

[Dilla]

I would be down with Carolina drafting Taylen Green in day 3 and using him for sneaks and power packages.

[LinvilleGorge]

33 minutes ago, Dilla said:

I would be down with Carolina drafting Taylen Green in day 3 and using him for sneaks and power packages.

And hail Mary's 

[Soul Rebel]

Excited for tomorrow’s OL group. I see us taking at least two between tackle and center, probably three by the time draft day is done. 
 

 

[chbright]

this year's underwear Olympic champ is Jeff Caldwell. that was a top tier performance of all damn time

[toldozer]

3 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

And hail Mary's 

And general quarterbacking 

[45catfan]

13 hours ago, Jon Snow said:

He's not generational.  He's just athletic. He was good in college but so we're others.

We shall see.  

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, chbright said:

this year's underwear Olympic champ is Jeff Caldwell. that was a top tier performance of all damn time

look at Kyle Louis (LB Pitt)--he was near the top of every drill. Quietly strong.

[MHS831]

Tomorrow: The arm length for tackles will tell the story as much as anything.  

In the NFL Draft, 33 inches is considered the minimum acceptable arm length for an offensive tackle to effectively handle pass rushers, with 34+ inches being ideal. Tackles with arms shorter than 33 inches are often moved to guard, as shorter arms make it difficult to manage the edge

[Aussie Tank]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

look at Kyle Louis (LB Pitt)--he was near the top of every drill. Quietly strong.

A bit undersized but can cover 

[chbright]

37 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

look at Kyle Louis (LB Pitt)--he was near the top of every drill. Quietly strong.

Not in same league. Caldwell just hit a 10.00 on the RAS. 2nd out of 3830 from 1987 onward. 

https://x.com/MathBomb/status/2027885023387349047

Yeah I mean Louis had a sub 9.00 RAS. Still very very good, no doubt. Louis is small, no 2 ways about it. He is likely a sub package lb in nickel packages or specialized WLB. Be fine ST gunner to start for sure. 6 foot flat and 220lb is pushing it for a starting LB. At 10 to 20lbs less than the other LBs he'd better be closer to the top in most timed drills. He's gonna be challenged when some of the wrs in the class can matchup bigger stronger faster, much less TE in the run game.  Yeah instinct matter and he has them, but that size is a massive red flag compared to many of the other LBS in this class. 

 

Rodriguez is the LB that really climbed this week from a pure grit guy to great flash with athleticism people wrote off cause he was a QB at first at UVA. 18.4mph in the backpedal. Production the last 2 years were great. I'd be thrilled with him as the future mike.

 

Hill likely moved out of 51 and into the top 45 picks ( Ravens at 45 I can't imagine don't bite if he makes it there). Honestly Hill imo is a 1st rounder and I'd be ok with him as he fits the MLB we have missed the last few years. People would crow it's a reach but he's top 30 all-time I'm RAS for a LB at 9.9+ . Plus he was big time in big games when he was healthy. And that br a big check: meds. 

[strato]

18.4 mph back pedaling seems awful fast. 
 

We need to get him to show Bryce how to speed that crap up. 

Edited 1 hour ago by strato