*** 2026 NFL Draft Thread ***
- Thread starter BigJCy
- Start date
Would really hate to see KC take two DBs with their two first round picks, if they are going to strengthened their back part of the defense then they would be better off taking Downs out of OSU. If Bain is there that is the pick, how do you make a weak spot like DBs better, put more pressure on the QB and force him to throw the ball quicker. Hope it's Bain at #9 and then either a WR or DB at #29.
Media Circus: Memories of the first televised NFL Draft on ESPN, 40 years ago
The first image you see is a Teletype machine. Six words appear — and then the Teletype freezes. “ESPN Presents: The 1980 NFL Draft.” The teletype dissolves into a dozen or so blurry still photographs of unidentified college football players, accompanied by what can only be described as...
www.nytimes.com
The NFL continues to amaze me, they take something as boring as picking players and make it an event. When that become too large for a ballroom, they get the idea to move it from city to city.
Tonight we will have a hundred thousand people show up in Pittsburgh to watch players getting picked by teams. Drinking, yelling, cheering and having a great time. The broadcast version will be the highest rated program tonight, even though it will be on both ESPN and the NFL channel, splitting the viewing numbers. Tonights ratings will outdraw NBA and NHL playoff games and not be close. Everything the league touches turns to gold and makes them more money. The draft will be the lead story starting today through Sunday, for all the sports networks and print journalism, ahead of playoff games in the NBA and NHL, and regular season MLB games.
Tonight we will have a hundred thousand people show up in Pittsburgh to watch players getting picked by teams. Drinking, yelling, cheering and having a great time. The broadcast version will be the highest rated program tonight, even though it will be on both ESPN and the NFL channel, splitting the viewing numbers. Tonights ratings will outdraw NBA and NHL playoff games and not be close. Everything the league touches turns to gold and makes them more money. The draft will be the lead story starting today through Sunday, for all the sports networks and print journalism, ahead of playoff games in the NBA and NHL, and regular season MLB games.
Big night for me: Nuggets, Avalanche, and NFL draft (unlikely there will be a Broncos pick today though)
Yeah, I don't get it. I like to see who gets drafted, but I don't know how on earth people sit there and watch it. Now, when I was a kid and there really weren't nearly as many viewing options, I'd tune in off and on to see who got picked, but man I think it's a ridiculous thing to watch live.
The most laughable thing always is when they get into the 4th round and beyond and talk about all these guys and how they are going to fit into the team's systems and their role. Most of those guys will not make the team, be backups or play special teams.
Hopefully people enjoy watching some awkward Fernando Mendoza "android learning to talk like a real person" interviews.
Maybe it's just me, but I find that dude to be an odd duck.
I enjoy it for a couple reasons:
From my NFL fandom perspective, rounds 1-3 my team should be getting players that will be impactful from day one. So it acts as free agency and future hope in that respect. I view it similarly to landing a big time recruit for CFB in that way. That’s always exciting
From my ISU fandom perspective, I like seeing our guys get drafted
From a football fan perspective it merges CFB and NFL. It was cool to see players you watched for 3-4 years go to the NFL. This portion has been greatly diminished for me with the transfer portal though, and my viewing habits. I really only watch ISU or the B12 anymore, so I don’t know most of the players getting drafted like I used to.
Might just be a smokescreen but it's interesting in some of the more recent mocks they have Bain dropping down to like more the 11-14th pick area.
I agree, but no further back than 14 or 15. They need a premium player here, if all three of the rush ends are gone, then you have to look at the WR position to see what is there. Looks like rush end is the deeper of the two positions, both have 3 very good players but the end group is deeper than the WR group.
Trading back to 13-17 probably could still land them Sadiq, and then grab a WR at 29. Would be a fantastic first round
I wonder what opportunities there will be to trade back this draft. From what I’ve seen, it seems like a lot of teams are trying to move back, more than normal.
You could get that deal right now, depending on what else you get in return. Sadiq is an interesting player in the fact he is not worth a top 10 to 12 pick, but worth it around 15. To move back from 9 to 13-17 you are going to have to get at least a 2nd round pick. Lot of talk about switching picks with Dallas you get there 12 and 20, give them 9 and 29. Doing that you could take Sadiq at 12, a little high, but then get a WR or second tier rush end at 20.
Not a bad thought there either. Sadiq would be solid, but i almost feel like you'd have a better shot at a high end corner at #20
Or make this trade, but snag Lemon or a high level WR at #12 then go corner at #20, and hope that Stowers from Vandy is still there at #40
Edit-I also think if you are making this trade with Dallas, #92 is on the table here as well
I listened to a podcast last night and they thought after the first 8 or 9 guys, the value really drops off fast and many of the players after that in most years would be second round talent. This is just not a deep draft at all, lot of good players with very few really great players. When was the last time we saw the 2nd QB come late in the first round or not at all? This year there are zero stud offensive tackles or defensive tackles, which is odd. There are three very good rush ends, one linebacker, one running back, one safety, a could of WRs and then its lower level talent that most years would be near the end of the first round to the 2nd, but this year they are going to be middle of the first.
Does not solve their most glaring need which is rush end. If you go WR at 12, then you have to get a rush end at either 20 or 40, which would be a 2nd tier player. What would get interesting would be if Love was still there at pick 9. All the rush ends are gone, would KC take him at that spot knowing it's not a pressing problem but he is one of the highest two or three players in the draft.
If Love is there @ 9, i think someone offers KC the farm. With what they paid walker, if they took Love there that would be a complete waste of a pick. If Bailey and Bain are gone @ 9, trade back and pick up more capital, and snag a Mesidor/Howell/Young in the late first early second
