The difficulties In Hitting Our Two biggest Needs: EDGE and RT

[mayoclinic]

Not sure how that got in here. I must have clicked on wrong thread. My bad.

 

[mayoclinic]

Eric Edholm's ideal first 2 picks for each team:

2026 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team

Urgency + force = violence.

And no, I am not Eric Edholm.

 

[mgteich]

We seem to almost have a censensus already.

It seems that almost all would be happy with
1) Miller or Iheanchor
2) trade up for the best EDGE rusher we can get
3) best TE available

 

[mayoclinic]

That works.

I would also be happy with:

1) Miller or Iheanachor
2) Treydan Stukes
3) Trade up for best EDGE rusher we can get
4) Bedt TE available

 

[manxman2601]

We seem to almost have a censensus already.

It seems that almost all would be happy with
1) Miller or Iheanchor
2) trade up for the best EDGE rusher we can get
3) best TE available

Not quite.

 

[OldEngland]

Not quite.

BPA the whole way for me. Must be Patriots type players with the value of positon factored in. QB1 is the only position that can be completely ignored.

There are no critical needs that absolutely must be filled by the draft for 2026. But there are multiple potential holes and cap casulties for 2027.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

BPA the whole way for me. Must be Patriots type players with the value of positon factored in. QB1 is the only position that can be completely ignored.

There are no critical needs that absolutely must be filled by the draft for 2026. But there are multiple potential holes and cap casulties for 2027.

I’m pretty much with you except add LT and C to the QB1. Eg if both RT’s are gone, maybe go Edge then LB, or possibly take LB Rodriguez at 31 if we like him the best.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

After doing a bunch of mocks, we have no idea who’ll be gone and who’ll be left at 31 and 63.

 

[mayoclinic]

Manx has already referenced this from Ernie Adams elsewhere, but worth repeating:

Adams' favorite selection came in 2005 when the team stayed in its No. 32 slot and tabbed Fresno State offensive lineman Logan Mankins.

"He was clear and away the best player on our board. We knew he would come in and play for us," he recalled.

That comes back to the foundation of what Adams believes gives a team the best chance to hit on a late first-round pick -- grade every player honestly and don't reach for need.

"Whoever you take there is going to be on your team, you're married to it unless it's a disaster. So we're trying to answer the question, 'Who has the best chance to help us win football games?' Which comes down to best player there," he said.

"You might say, 'We need a linebacker in the worst way' and there's an OK linebacker but a big-time offensive lineman. Then when you draft him, what you have is an average linebacker and you just passed up a really good player. Two years from now, nobody is going to think, 'Did they fill a need?' They'll say, 'Wow, they got a really good player.'"

Mankins went on to play nine seasons in New England and is a four-time finalist for the team's Hall of Fame.

Former Belichick aide brings insight to Patriots' No. 31 pick

Ernie Adams and the Belichick-led Patriots picked at bottom of Round 1 many times. Adams shares the strategy.

www.espn.com

 

[mayoclinic]

We could come out of yhe draft without addressing EITHER OT or EDGE, and still have a great draft.

Imagine:

31. Caleb Banks, Kayden McDonald, Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, or Keylan Rutledge

63. Any of the above, plus Chris Bell, Treydan Stukes. Keionte Scott

95. Ted Hurst, Eli Stowers, Kyle Louis, Oscar Delp

125. Sam Roush, Devin Moore, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Will Kacmarek

We could address a lot of talent with some of those guys.

If we end up with Rodriguez-Stukes-Hurst-Roush, I will be both disappointed on who we missed and elated about who we got.

 

[mayoclinic]

Another good piece from Rob Staton which goes into need vs. value:

Thoughts on what Josiah Trotter visiting the Seahawks could mean – Seahawks Draft Blog

seahawksdraftblog.com

Of note:

The Seahawks can't resort to drafting for need, just for the sake of replacing lost talent. It’s absolutely critical they just keep adding the best possible players.

Kayden McDonald isn’t a big need but would present tremendous value at #32. [Josiah] Trotter isn’t a big need but would be a very solid pick at #64. If they’re the highest graded players on your board, well above the players at positions considered bigger needs, they should be considered.

I think we should be very open-minded about the positions the Seahawks target in this draft. The only position they didn’t add to in free agency was pass-rush — and it seems fairly likely they will draft an EDGE rusher at some point. Aside from that, the board should always do the work. They don’t need to force anything here.

I’ll also add — this team won with physicality and by beating opponents up with great defense and winning in the trenches. Players who bring even more quality and physicality to the defensive front seven and the offensive line — to me — feel like the best opportunity to continue building the team you want to be.

I think a lot of this applies to the Pats as well. Whatever the positions, draft players who will help you be the bully in the sandlot. I think that is the kind of team Mike Vrabel wants.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We could come out of yhe draft without addressing EITHER OT or EDGE, and still have a great draft.

Imagine:

31. Caleb Banks, Kayden McDonald, Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, or Keylan Rutledge

63. Any of the above, plus Chris Bell, Treydan Stukes. Keionte Scott

95. Ted Hurst, Eli Stowers, Kyle Louis, Oscar Delp

125. Sam Roush, Devin Moore, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Will Kacmarek

We could address a lot of talent with some of those guys.

If we end up with Rodriguez-Stukes-Hurst-Roush, I will be both disappointed on who we missed and elated about who we got.

Yup. 2nd and 3rd level on the defense, and TE and WR. But need to fill out the trenches.

 

[captain stone]

Eric Edholm's ideal first 2 picks for each team:

2026 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team

Urgency + force = violence.

And no, I am not Eric Edholm.

Does he have Blake Miller taken already? Because I don't want Imananchor at 31.

 

[captain stone]

We seem to almost have a censensus already.

It seems that almost all would be happy with
1) Miller or Iheanchor
2) trade up for the best EDGE rusher we can get
3) best TE available

31: Miller or best available DE; not as enamored of Imananchor at 31 as most here seem to be.

63: If Miller at 31 then best available DE here; if DE at 31 then a Weppun here (Eli Stowers anyone?)

95: If Miller & DE then best available Weppun here; If DE & Weppun then best available OT here.

 

[manxman2601]

Max Iheanachor is really becoming a touch and go situation.

At NFL Mock Draft Database you can see at a glance where a player is being mocked in each individual mock they have from outside sources. Here is where Iheanachor has gone in the last 10 mocks.

27-27-28-29-31-28-17-23-23-23 (most recent first).

Blake Miller is even more problematic:

19-24-24-24-22-17-28-31-17-21

 

[captain stone]

Manx has already referenced this from Ernie Adams elsewhere, but worth repeating:

Former Belichick aide brings insight to Patriots' No. 31 pick

Ernie Adams and the Belichick-led Patriots picked at bottom of Round 1 many times. Adams shares the strategy.

www.espn.com

Wasn't it rumored that they were looking OL at 32 anyway...?

 

[Zuma]

Max Iheanachor is really becoming a touch and go situation.

At NFL Mock Draft Database you can see at a glance where a player is being mocked in each individual mock they have from outside sources. Here is where Iheanachor has gone in the last 10 mocks.

27-27-28-29-31-28-17-23-23-23 (most recent first).

Blake Miller is even more problematic:

19-24-24-24-22-17-28-31-17-21

Yep...in recent days both have moved up. Consensus Big Board from same site still has Max within reach. Maybe that won't last for long..

 

[mayoclinic]

Move up if needed.

 

[manxman2601]

Move up if needed.

If it's just two or three spots, absolutely. I'd be much less happy giving up a 2nd rounder.

 

[manxman2601]

This depends on Iheanachor being their for the Pats but I am starting to think Mayo might have nailed this draft and we end up going Iheanachor-DDS. It fits their MO from last year of going with athleticism with their first four picks and it probably doesn't need a big trade up from 63 like a Jacas would for example. Maybe Crawford would be a possibility instead of DDS, but they'd certainly be drafting athleticism and upside with Iheanachor and DDS.