2026/2027 Season NFL Thread

[Thomkal]

Cards take a QB with Miami's Carson Beck--->looks at comments about him almost all bad. Go Cards?

[Atocep]

I had the Bears considering Zavion Thomas later in the draft but 4.28 speed, return guy, gadget player. I get why Ben Johnson wanted him.

[dubb93]

Did the 49ers accidentally draft the wrong Indiana running back? How was Black RB3 in this draft? This means that 2 of the first 3 RBs off the board in this draft didn’t even start for their college team.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Cards take a QB with Miami's Carson Beck--->looks at comments about him almost all bad. Go Cards?

He's great....till his brain breaks and he starts throwing to the other team.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

He's great....till his brain breaks and he starts throwing to the other team.

Yeah that seemed to be the consensus

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Did the 49ers accidentally draft the wrong Indiana running back? How was Black RB3 in this draft? This means that 2 of the first 3 RBs off the board in this draft didn’t even start for their college team.

I actually felt like Black was the harder runner of our top 2 backs.

[Atocep]

I really like what the Dolphins have done.

[QuikSand]

I wanted to get some analysis and coverage of the later rounds, went to YouTube and found the bleacher report live stream. I recognize Trey, late of PFF, never one of my favorites to be honest, and then there’s another guy who… appears to be eleven years old. Great. Young Sheldon breaking down guard play from Eastern Michigan.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Atocep

I really like what the Dolphins have done.

I’m a longtime fan, have mostly positive vibes from this cycle. I don’t know if this is just confirmation bias, but it feels like a more mature and reasoned approach than the last regime. The wide receiver they took in round three seemed like a massive reach compared to consensus, but I do believe them as they say they believed the blocking tight and they took later in the third was that jeopardy of going soon if they didn’t use the relatively early pick on him.

Anyway, if you’re a fan of this franchise, you’re thinking of this as a two or three year run up to being competitive, and this draft class needs to be a foundation for that, and there are several pieces that should be giving us some real optimism.

[CrimsonFox]

Our next door neighbor's grandson is in the draft. He's from Miami of Ohio.
He hopes to be drafted tonight for a practice team. Named Jackson something

[JPhillips]

It's rounds six and seven, but I'm happy with the guys the Bengals got. They got three guys with good athletic profiles. They overpicked a couple of times, but most of the picks are solid throughout the draft. Nobody is going to start, but good depth on both defense and the o-line.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

It's rounds six and seven, but I'm happy with the guys the Bengals got. They got three guys with good athletic profiles. They overpicked a couple of times, but most of the picks are solid throughout the draft. Nobody is going to start, but good depth on both defense and the o-line.

uhhhhhhh.... isn't that a probleM? I mean they DESPERATELY need defense. altho i did hear they picked up a D by trade for their first rounder.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Our next door neighbor's grandson is in the draft. He's from Miami of Ohio.
He hopes to be drafted tonight for a practice team. Named Jackson something

Jackson Kuwatch went in the 7th round, 11th pick to the Panthers as a LB. Good for him and his family!

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

uhhhhhhh.... isn't that a probleM? I mean they DESPERATELY need defense. altho i did hear they picked up a D by trade for their first rounder.

They have four new defensive starters from FA and trades. The LBs are still weak, but the line and safety are improved.

[Thomkal]

Other than the surprise pick in the first round, my Cards filled the holes they needed, but they didn't trade back at all to get more picks, so GM fail there.

[Danny]

A for the Raiders from me. Also fairly weak drafts from the Broncos and Chargers

[albionmoonlight]

“The biggest losers of this draft are the future CarMax customers who are going to have to listen to Diego Pavia complain that the NFL teams were all out to get him.”

[Ghost Econ]

It's actually kinda insane how the Heisman winner and runner up are the polar opposite in almost any category you can think of: height, intelligence, maturity, future....

[Honolulu_Blue]

Pretty pleased with the Lions draft.

Tackle was the biggest area of need. The offense, primarily Goff, can’t operate behind even an average line.

They then addressed every level of the defense with the next three picks - DE, LB, and CB.

With their first four picks they drafted the position I was hoping they would in that order.

They didn’t necessarily draft the players I wanted at tackle, edge or linebacker, but I’ll have to trust Brad Holmes and his staff over my amateur opinion. Holmes’ last two drafts have been pretty underwhelming which has really hurt the Lions depth. Between that and injuries (especially at safety) the Lions have a number of holes on their roster.

[JPhillips]

I don't expect anything from an UDFA, but Eric Gentry is intriguing. I've never seen a 6'7" 220 lb linebacker before. That's basically Kawhi Leonard.

[Thomkal]

Fun(?) story with the Cards first round pick. They knew who they were going to pick but were given the wrong contact number-given the pranks from last year's draft. They did receive some offers to trade down but they seemed pretty certain on Love for a while.

[RainMaker]

I don't follow college football close enough but why does everyone seem to hate Diego Pavia? I get he isn't going to fit in the NFL but he was a fun college QB.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I don't follow college football close enough but why does everyone seem to hate Diego Pavia? I get he isn't going to fit in the NFL but he was a fun college QB.

Have you seen any of his interviews or his comments after losing the Heisman?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Have you seen any of his interviews or his comments after losing the Heisman?

No, I will look them up.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I’m a longtime fan, have mostly positive vibes from this cycle. I don’t know if this is just confirmation bias, but it feels like a more mature and reasoned approach than the last regime. The wide receiver they took in round three seemed like a massive reach compared to consensus, but I do believe them as they say they believed the blocking tight and they took later in the third was that jeopardy of going soon if they didn’t use the relatively early pick on him.

Anyway, if you’re a fan of this franchise, you’re thinking of this as a two or three year run up to being competitive, and this draft class needs to be a foundation for that, and there are several pieces that should be giving us some real optimism.

Sounds like they drafted a lot of character guys: hard working players to provide a base for culture change

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Pretty pleased with the Lions draft.

Tackle was the biggest area of need. The offense, primarily Goff, can’t operate behind even an average line.

They then addressed every level of the defense with the next three picks - DE, LB, and CB.

With their first four picks they drafted the position I was hoping they would in that order.

They didn’t necessarily draft the players I wanted at tackle, edge or linebacker, but I’ll have to trust Brad Holmes and his staff over my amateur opinion. Holmes’ last two drafts have been pretty underwhelming which has really hurt the Lions depth. Between that and injuries (especially at safety) the Lions have a number of holes on their roster.

It felt like a 180 shift from typical Lion's BPA strategy. I don't think it was. I think that player happened to line up with needs and they just picked a fit.

1. Wasn't expecting Blake Miller and hadn't heard a lot of buzz about him but I like the pick after reading up on him. Loved getting someone to solidify the line.

2. I like getting an Edge but I hate getting Michigan guys (tOSU grad). Oh, well. I hope he's great as a pro. TheBeast had Moore down farther on their list. I do like that it's a pretty clear case of having to move up to get the guy you want. Baltimore at the next pick needed DE, has multiple ties to U of M, and indeed took a DE with the next pick. People complain that our GM's maneuvering isn't needed but it's as clear as can be that it was here.

4. I like getting an LB but I hate getting Michigan guys. Oh, well. I hope he's great as a pro. I'm hearing he's not great in coverage but I get that the Lions prioritize the run. Rodrigo replacement maybe.

5a. Abney sounds like a steal. Excited about this one.

5b. An intriguing WR/KR kind of guy. Was hoping for maybe a safety instead considering Branch and Kerby are Iffy (get it?).

6 and 7. Interesting rolls of the dice. Fine with it.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I’m a longtime fan, have mostly positive vibes from this cycle. I don’t know if this is just confirmation bias, but it feels like a more mature and reasoned approach than the last regime. The wide receiver they took in round three seemed like a massive reach compared to consensus, but I do believe them as they say they believed the blocking tight and they took later in the third was that jeopardy of going soon if they didn’t use the relatively early pick on him.

Anyway, if you’re a fan of this franchise, you’re thinking of this as a two or three year run up to being competitive, and this draft class needs to be a foundation for that, and there are several pieces that should be giving us some real optimism.

Blocking tight ends are weirdly becoming expensive. I was a little upset when the Bears took one in the 3rd because they already have 2 tight ends. But they run a lot of 3 tight end looks and someone who is genuinely good as your blocking tight end is about $8 million a year in free agency.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I don't expect anything from an UDFA, but Eric Gentry is intriguing. I've never seen a 6'7" 220 lb linebacker before. That's basically Kawhi Leonard.

He's a good athlete but way too soft and skinny to play LB in a major conference, let alone the NFL. And the previous geniuses in charge of the USC defense had him playing MLB for a while.

He needs to put on at least 20-30lb and he'll be a very intriguing option off the edge, but USC fans have been waiting for that for years. And I suspect he's probably going to play closer to 200-205 than his current "weight" because that's all he managed to keep on during the season in college.

[Ghost Econ]

Mike Vrabel was back at work yesterday. Fully healed by just missing the least important day of the draft.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Mike Vrabel was back at work yesterday. Fully healed by just missing the least important day of the draft.

After apparently jetting to Vegas to buy his wife a present.

[JPhillips]

I'm very confident that the Bengals are better than the 23rd ranked team as the Athletic has them currently.

[dubb93]

Ty Simpson had to cost himself some money by agreeing to keep his meetings with the Rams secret, right? Am I crazy thinking someone jumps up and grabs him if they know he's going to the Rams there?

[Danny]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Ty Simpson had to cost himself some money by agreeing to keep his meetings with the Rams secret, right? Am I crazy thinking someone jumps up and grabs him if they know he's going to the Rams there?

Maybe on his 1st contract. His besr chance of success is sitting behind Stafford and learning from him and McKay for at least two years. He'd likely fail if he went to a team in which he was pressured to start quickly

[Thomkal]

This one hit close to home. Former Cardinal DE Josh Mauro dies at age 35.


MSN

[albionmoonlight]

So the fact that he met with McVay for hours undercuts the idea that McVay was not on board with drafting him.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

So the fact that he met with McVay for hours undercuts the idea that McVay was not on board with drafting him.

Unless McVay wasn't impressed with what he heard. I'd love it after, say, five years of non-disclosure, we could hear a lot of these behind the scenes stories. It would be very interesting.

[Sweed]

The idea being spread by pundits that McVay didn't know or support the pick is just plain dumb other than said pundits trying to get clicks or viewers.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Ty Simpson had to cost himself some money by agreeing to keep his meetings with the Rams secret, right? Am I crazy thinking someone jumps up and grabs him if they know he's going to the Rams there?

To me it's another reason to think the Rams got this right. Simpson could have had his agent leaking information that could get him up to #2 and the Jets and those extra dollars. Instead he kept something private that he was asked to keep private with the idea that the Rams would take him if he was on the board.

From the McVay/Snead checklist.. Does Ty make good decisions? Check.

The jumping up and grabbing scenario is why I think the Rams never tried to trade down and still get Simpson. My bet is they knew or had suspicions that someone was going to take him soon. The teams ahead of LA wanted the guys they got. The teams behind were probably a bit afraid to trade up (Tre Lance anyone?) to get Ty. But would take him if he fell to them.

The only way I would see this pick as a bad move by the Rams is if they had traded up to do it. Say this year's 13th overall and their first pick next year? Ah... no.

As a Rams fan the only concern I have is having just 15 starts. History says that I should be concerned. Shanahan failed with Lance. We'll find out soon enough if McVay the quarterback whisperer can make it work with Simpson.

Originally Posted by Danny

Maybe on his 1st contract. His besr chance of success is sitting behind Stafford and learning from him and McKay for at least two years. He'd likely fail if he went to a team in which he was pressured to start quickly

I agree. If his agent leaks and he goes to the Jets or Cardinals I think his only hope would be how he did when he got a second or third chace like Darnold. While keeping in mind Darnold (I think) is the exception to the rule. Usually when these guys fail they are just done.

[albionmoonlight]

[Kodos]

[JPhillips]

Bengals get AFC and NFC South next year. That should help.

[albionmoonlight]

The Rusinni story started as a pretty typical "coaches and female reporters hook up a lot" or "Rusinni is willing to sleep around to get sources" story.

But it is turing into a "Russini and Vrable have been deeply in love for years" story, and I did not see that coming.

[Ghost Econ]

Don't forget the, they probably have a child some other guy has been raising.

[Ksyrup]

Eh, it's nothing that taking day 3 of the draft off to jet to Vegas and buy his wife a present can't fix!

[flere-imsaho]

I mean, if that's the case, maybe we should Vrabel in charge of world peace or something.

[Thomkal]

So my beloved Cards couldn't even get out of last place in the schedule making video "contest" Athletic ranked them last with a video about (and generated by) AI. Yeah Cards?

[Ghost Econ]

Jaxson Dart decimating his fanbase so quickly is definitely a thing to do.

[JPhillips]

The Eagles are trading Pro-Bowl WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick

Not sure I like this for the Eagles. Getting nothing this year and only a fifth next year is tough to accept. But good for the Patriots.

[Sweed]

Myles Garret to the Rams. Cleveland gets Verse, '27 1st, '28 2nd, '29 3rd.

I think both teams could end up winning with this trade.

[RainMaker]

I thought the Eagles were suppoesed to get that LT the Patriots drafted? Wasn't that the rumor?