2026 NFL Draft General Discussion

[rossihunter2]

Yep. If you go down the list, most of the guys have switched schools at least once. I get chasing the NIL bag but development is being seriously stunted twofold - both guys moving schools on their own accord and other guys coming in when some of these younger guys would be getting a chance in the pre-NIL era.

Not totally exclusive to QBs either.

the problem is...
if you want a talented guy, you have to pay him
if you're paying him you have to play him - so no sitting as a freshman
but if he sucks then you're fired

and then the QB transfers somewhere else anyway

rinse and repeat

no one develops

and im not saying guys shouldnt be getting paid - because you cant rely on an NFL career to make money - take the money you can get right now for sure - but it's definitely taking money away from some of these guys long-term

 

[Simba]

the problem is...
if you want a talented guy, you have to pay him
if you're paying him you have to play him - so no sitting as a freshman
but if he sucks then you're fired

and then the QB transfers somewhere else anyway

rinse and repeat

no one develops

and im not saying guys shouldnt be getting paid - because you cant rely on an NFL career to make money - take the money you can get right now for sure - but it's definitely taking money away from some of these guys long-term

Yep exactly. Props to those guys for getting their money while they can, because not everyone is going to make it to the league, even if you're highly touted. Doesn't mean some haven't left huge sums of future money on the table though.

 

[UKRaven1827]

As high as the 12th pick then.

EDC probably draft Mansoor Delane.

 

[rossihunter2]

As high as the 12th pick then.

EDC probably draft Mansoor Delane.

i think technically we could get as high as the 9th pick but it would need a fair few upsets and a lot of other results to go our way

 

[Jacquouille]

Francis Mauigoa for me

 

[rossihunter2]

having got through initial watches on some of these guys - this class does not look like it's got a ton of premier talent at the top
which would make 2 classes in a row

now 2 classes does not make a trend

but i do worry that this could become the trend because of the introduction of NIL and the lack of development going on in college

 

[UPennChem]

Football at the college and professional level is at a very low quality overall

 

[rossihunter2]

Football at the college and professional level is at a very low quality overall

people will never admit it who support college football teams

but college football has always been low quality

before NIL, it felt like we'd get one good game a year - normally either georgia/alabama vs each other or ohio state or clemson

and now it feels like we're not even necessarily guaranteed that anymore

the NFL just feels like it's in a bit of a fallow year - the big guns in the AFC are all finally bearing the fruit of not having large amounts of draft capital to use for years and there's not been many megastar QBs entering the league recently to shake things up - if the NFL feels down again next year then we may be seeing the start of a new trend, but right now, to me, it just feels like this is a natural consequence of years of the same 3 teams dominating the AFC and running out of horses to keep it going

 

[Simba]

people will never admit it who support college football teams

but college football has always been low quality

before NIL, it felt like we'd get one good game a year - normally either georgia/alabama vs each other or ohio state or clemson

and now it feels like we're not even necessarily guaranteed that anymore

the NFL just feels like it's in a bit of a fallow year - the big guns in the AFC are all finally bearing the fruit of not having large amounts of draft capital to use for years and there's not been many megastar QBs entering the league recently to shake things up - if the NFL feels down again next year then we may be seeing the start of a new trend, but right now, to me, it just feels like this is a natural consequence of years of the same 3 teams dominating the AFC and running out of horses to keep it going

College vibes are immaculate, but the talent disparity is clear. Even the best teams that have a multitude of 1st round picks also have a bunch of guys starting that are never going to make it to the league.

 

[rossihunter2]

having done a first run through of quite a few guys now

i'd say it's highly possible (maybe even likely) that the top 3 guys in the draft class for me are all gonna be ohio state guys

caleb downs, sonny styles and arvell reese

 

[JoeyFlex5]

having done a first run through of quite a few guys now

i'd say it's highly possible (maybe even likely) that the top 3 guys in the draft class for me are all gonna be ohio state guys

caleb downs, sonny styles and arvell reese

Love arvell Reese. Would need to watch more of Sonny styles to form an opinion, my first watch didn’t really grab my attention in any special way, haven’t watched downs.

I think Reese is a legitimate edge rusher and if he was played there in college he would be the consensus #1 prospect but now everyone is forced to project him at one low value position or one high value position. closest thing I’ve seen to Micah parsons.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Francis Mauigoa for me

Am a fan. Have you watched Spencer fano? I think he’s my OL1, he’s listed as a OT but I really like him as a guard, he’s got real tackle athleticism but he has all the power, leverage, drive, lateral agility, and in particular the FINISH you want from a guard. Putting a big highlight on his finishing, he is a true mauler and punisher in the run game, might not be an overpowering kinda guy but he certainly has enough power to complement all else that he does well, he wants to kick the shit out of you and it’s more apparent on his film than any other OL I’ve watched this year.

 

[Dom McRaven]

Am a fan. Have you watched Spencer fano? I think he’s my OL1, he’s listed as a OT but I really like him as a guard, he’s got real tackle athleticism but he has all the power, leverage, drive, lateral agility, and in particular the FINISH you want from a guard. Putting a big highlight on his finishing, he is a true mauler and punisher in the run game, might not be an overpowering kinda guy but he certainly has enough power to complement all else that he does well, he wants to kick the shit out of you and it’s more apparent on his film than any other OL I’ve watched this year.

Already a fan. Brother @JAAM , looks like we got an early #SIIE candidate.

 

[Jacquouille]

Am a fan. Have you watched Spencer fano? I think he’s my OL1, he’s listed as a OT but I really like him as a guard, he’s got real tackle athleticism but he has all the power, leverage, drive, lateral agility, and in particular the FINISH you want from a guard. Putting a big highlight on his finishing, he is a true mauler and punisher in the run game, might not be an overpowering kinda guy but he certainly has enough power to complement all else that he does well, he wants to kick the shit out of you and it’s more apparent on his film than any other OL I’ve watched this year.

Haven't watched, will do !

 

[rossihunter2]

Love arvell Reese. Would need to watch more of Sonny styles to form an opinion, my first watch didn’t really grab my attention in any special way, haven’t watched downs.

I think Reese is a legitimate edge rusher and if he was played there in college he would be the consensus #1 prospect but now everyone is forced to project him at one low value position or one high value position. closest thing I’ve seen to Micah parsons.

i dont think that's what will happen
think it's fairly likely he ends up as the 1st non-QB on a lot of people's boards

 

[rossihunter2]

Am a fan. Have you watched Spencer fano? I think he’s my OL1, he’s listed as a OT but I really like him as a guard, he’s got real tackle athleticism but he has all the power, leverage, drive, lateral agility, and in particular the FINISH you want from a guard. Putting a big highlight on his finishing, he is a true mauler and punisher in the run game, might not be an overpowering kinda guy but he certainly has enough power to complement all else that he does well, he wants to kick the shit out of you and it’s more apparent on his film than any other OL I’ve watched this year.

i think Fano's the clear top OL in the class as of right now

 

[JoeyFlex5]

My early top 3 guards

1. Spencer Fano
2. Francis mauigoa
3. Emmanuel pregnon

I think Vega ioane is being overrated. I’m not really a fan of his film, seems to lack consistency and looks lost often and doesn’t finish

 

[JoeyFlex5]

i think Fano's the clear top OL in the class as of right now

Same. He’s exactly what I look for in an OL. His tape reminds me A LOT of Armand membou who was my OL1 by a long shot and he’s been stellar for the jets as a rookie. Just so clean and precise, intentional with every movement, athletic, strong, and a bully mentality.

 

[rossihunter2]

My early top 3 guards

1. Spencer Fano
2. Francis mauigoa
3. Emmanuel pregnon

I think Vega ioane is being overrated. I’m not really a fan of his film, seems to lack consistency and looks lost often and doesn’t finish

i think Fano's a tackle for sure - can probably slide inside
i think mauigoa is probably best suited to guard
pregnon is a guard through and through

those are also my top 3 OL though - i've just got mauigoa and pregnon the other way round (but the same preliminary grade so we're just splitting hairs this early)

agree on olaivavega - like how flexible he is in his lower half but i also see too many lost reps and not enough dominant ones to make up for it

 

[rossihunter2]

Same. He’s exactly what I look for in an OL. His tape reminds me A LOT of Armand membou who was my OL1 by a long shot and he’s been stellar for the jets as a rookie. Just so clean and precise, intentional with every movement, athletic, strong, and a bully mentality.

on first look don't think that's a bad comp
he actually reminded me a bit of charles cross and christian darrisaw (albeit obviously on the other side)