What are our biggest needs in the 2026 Draft

[mayoclinic]

Eli Raridon and Martin Klein are also possible Day 3 picks.

 

[mayoclinic]

WR looking good so far today.

 

[mayoclinic]

Lots of room to upgrade offense, and I know there are injuries on D, but defense really looks like the bigger area of need. S, LB, EDGE, and CB depth.

 

[manxman2601]

Lots of room to upgrade offense, and U know there are injuries on D, but defense really looks like the bigger area of need. S, LB, EDGE, and CB depth.

And OL. The run game is not good.

 

[Clonamery]

And OL. The run game is not good.

It seemed partly playcalling (no scheme, etc.).

 

[manxman2601]

It seemed partly playcalling (no scheme, etc.).

Last nights grades aren't up yet, but looking at the run blocking grades, Jared Wilson and Garrett Bradbury are below average run blockers this year. Bradbury has been solid in pass pro, but his run blocking has not been good.

Even if we address this problem in the draft, we're still looking at being a year and a half away from fixing it because you can't address it immediately with rookies. Having said that, I'm increasingly of the opinion that Wilson is a center and not a LG and that LG/RG should be our OL priorities in this upcoming off-season with RT slightly less of a priority.

 

[mayoclinic]

Assuming we re-sign/extend Jones, and Tonga, I think the biggest needs right now look like S, EDGE, LB, right side of OL, RB, and CB depth. Hopefully some of those will be addresses prior to the draft.

I'm not adverse to picking up a LG if the opportunity arises, but I would give Wilson more time.

 

[manxman2601]

Assuming we re-sign/extend Jones, and Tonga, I think the biggest needs right now look like S, EDGE, LB, right side of OL, RB, and CB depth. Hopefully some of those will be addresses prior to the draft.

I'm not adverse to picking up a LG if the opportunity arises, but I would give Wilson more time.

I would switch him back to center, his proper and original position. The experiment doesn't seem to be working out that well so far.

For me, primary needs are: EDGE, LG, RG, Safety

Secondary needs: LB, RT, RB (hopefully through FA)

Nice to haves: WR, TE, CB

 

[Clonamery]

Last nights grades aren't up yet, but looking at the run blocking grades, Jared Wilson and Garrett Bradbury are below average run blockers this year. Bradbury has been solid in pass pro, but his run blocking has not been good.

Even if we address this problem in the draft, we're still looking at being a year and a half away from fixing it because you can't address it immediately with rookies. Having said that, I'm increasingly of the opinion that Wilson is a center and not a LG and that LG/RG should be our OL priorities in this upcoming off-season with RT slightly less of a priority.

Pats did a lot of straight ahead runs on 1st & 10 in the 2nd half (9). I agree on Bradbury. Wilson, how much does the Bradbury effect, affect him?

 

[manxman2601]

Pats did a lot of straight ahead runs on 1st & 10 in the 2nd half (9). I agree on Bradbury. Wilson, how much does the Bradbury effect, affect him?

He's also learning a new position. Not ideal. Having said that, it may be necessary to convert a draft LT to LG so that issue doesn't go away. However, I still like the idea of pretty much drafting a whole new OL over the course of two years. It doesn't allow for an immediate fix, but it does mean the OL grows up together and hopefully becomes a better unit because of it.

For me, next year we should be looking at:

Campbell - drafted LG - Wilson - drafted RG - Moses/Bryant/drafted RT.

I would love a WR just because this class looks to be really good. I would like a TE. However, this draft should be defense and OL as priorities.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would switch him back to center, his proper and original position. The experiment doesn't seem to be working out that well so far.

I know you would, you said that a couple of posts above.

You are probably right (you usually are) in the long term, but I think we can get by for 2026 with Wilson at LG and Bradbury at C. There are bigger priorities elsewhere. That said, I think if the opportunity arises to find a LG we should jump on it.

One reason I like Cayden Green and Austin Siereveld is their versatility. We could plug them in at RG, RT or LG depending on where the immediate need is greatest.

 

[manxman2601]

After last night, it’s pretty clear Vrabel has got his contested catch receiver that he wanted. It’s sad to give up on this excellent WR class but I think that maybe where we are.

 

[mayoclinic]

I still would like to add a WR if the opportunity is there.

 

[stelfans]

It’s too bad but there are so many other areas of urgent need.

 

[manxman2601]

It’s too bad but there are so many other areas of urgent need.

True but sometimes you have to go with bpa. I’m not abandoning WR completely but the odds of drafting one in the first two round is lessening, particularly if Boutte continues playing as he’s been doing, Diggs shows no sign of decline and Williams starts getting more involved.

 

[manxman2601]

I think I'm changing my mind on moving Jared Wilson to C. Doing so and then drafting a LG and RG would disrupt three positions on the OL even if Wilson is reverting to his natural position. Keeping him at LG means you only need a C and RG, two positions it's usually possible to find later in the draft and it only disrupts two positions while keeping the left side familiarity.

Morgan Moses and the RT spot is an entirely separate discussion.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think I'm changing my mind on moving Jared Wilson to C. Doing so and then drafting a LG and RG would disrupt three positions on the OL even if Wilson is reverting to his natural position.

That has been exactly my line of thinking.

Wilson may be better at C, but keeping Wilson and Bradbury where they are for now let's you focus on fixing the right side.

I think Bradbury is serviceable for 1 more year, but if the opportunity arises I'm ok taking a C.

 

[manxman2601]

That has been exactly my line of thinking.

Wilson may be better at C, but keeping Wilson and Bradbury where they are for now let's you focus on fixing the right side.

I think Bradbury is serviceable for 1 more year, but if the opportunity arises I'm ok taking a C.

Bradbury has been a pleasant surprise in pass pro but I don't think he's been very effective in the run game. I'd at least like to draft his future replacement.

 

[mayoclinic]

Campbell is locked in at LT. I have reasonable confidence that Wilson will develop into a long-term starter at either LG or C. He's only 6 games into his career, giving him some leash for now.

That leaves RT, RG, and the other of C/LG, all of which lack long-term solutions right now, to address.

I'd like to draft 2 potential starting caliber OLs in the draft this year, hopefully the 3rd in 2027. A lot depends on which of the band-aids (Moses, Bradbury, Onwenu) you think will hold up the longest, and what the opportunities are.

 

[borisman]

Definitely yes on Delane.

Not sure Reese will come out, but definitely in the mix if he does. Joe Deleone compares him to a taller Javon Walker.



Reese, Sonny Styles, Anthony Hill and CJ Allen could be the best LB group in some time.

CJ Allen has great upside. Very gifted and versatile.