2026 Draft: Linebacker

mayoclinic · Mar 7, 2026

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Cincinnati LB Jake Golday

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free...

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manxman2601 · Mar 8, 2026

Justin Jefferson highlights. The tackle at 4:10 is a thing of beauty.

DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

@manxman2601 - Are you buying what Foster is selling that Rodriguez is a 4th round pick??

manxman2601 · Mar 12, 2026

DaBruinz said:
@manxman2601 - Are you buying what Foster is selling that Rodriguez is a 4th round pick??

Not at all! There are a number of prospects I disagree with him on, including Mesidor.

I doubt he makes it to 63, ad if he does we should snatch him up.

By the way, he's upgraded his board to run faster now. It's much snappier.

James Foster Draft Board | jfosterdraft

James Foster Draft Board with NFL prospect rankings, ratings, consensus boards, and advanced scouting tools.

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DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

manxman2601 said:
Not at all! There are a number of prospects I disagree with him on, including Mesidor.

I doubt he makes it to 63, ad if he does we should snatch him up.

By the way, he's upgraded his board to run faster now. It's much snappier.

James Foster Draft Board | jfosterdraft

James Foster Draft Board with NFL prospect rankings, ratings, consensus boards, and advanced scouting tools.

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I don't think Rodriguez makes it out of the 2nd round. In fact, I'm not sure he makes it to 50, let alone 63.. If he did, then I'd be running up to the podium to pick Rodriguez..

manxman2601 · Mar 12, 2026

DaBruinz said:
I don't think Rodriguez makes it out of the 2nd round. In fact, I'm not sure he makes it to 50, let alone 63.. If he did, then I'd be running up to the podium to pick Rodriguez..

Agreed. I wishfully picked him at 63 in my latest mock but I don't expect that to happen.

DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

manxman2601 said:
Agreed. I wishfully picked him at 63 in my latest mock but I don't expect that to happen.

I'm torn as to what to do at 31.. Still thinking they go BPA, but I think it will be between Edge and RT. LB may have slid back a smidge behind those two with the release of Jennings. I dont think that Britt and Luketa play into the considerations at all. I honestly am hoping for a LB that can come in and outplay Elliss from the Start..

manxman2601 · Mar 12, 2026

DaBruinz said:
I'm torn as to what to do at 31.. Still thinking they go BPA, but I think it will be between Edge and RT. LB may have slid back a smidge behind those two with the release of Jennings. I dont think that Britt and Luketa play into the considerations at all. I honestly am hoping for a LB that can come in and outplay Elliss from the Start..

I'm not. I'm 90% EDGE at 31. I wouldn't mind Miller or Iheanachor there but EDGE is the biggest hole on this team right now and there are plenty of options available at 31.

manxman2601 · Mar 15, 2026

The auto-correct on Jake Golday is Jake GODLY. Just sayin'.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

manxman2601 said:
I'm not. I'm 90% EDGE at 31. I wouldn't mind Miller or Iheanachor there but EDGE is the biggest hole on this team right now and there are plenty of options available at 31.

I'm 100% RT if one of the "big 4" (Freeling, Iheanachor, Lomu, Miller, probably in that order) is available. Would take them over Faulk, Mesidor, DDS, Parker, Lawrence, Jacas and Young (my preferred EDGE order after Reese, Bailey and Bain).

No idea what the team will do, but for me it's an easy choice. If the Pats have the opportunity to get one of those 4 guys and pass, I think we will regret it, and sooner than 2027.

manxman2601 · Mar 15, 2026

mayoclinic said:
I'm 100% RT if one of the "big 4" (Freeling, Iheanachor, Lomu, Miller, probably in that order) is available. Would take them over Faulk, Mesidor, DDS, Parker, Lawrence, Jacas and Young (my preferred EDGE order after Reese, Bailey and Bain).

No idea what the team will do, but for me it's an easy choice. If the Pats have the opportunity to get one of those 4 guys and pass, I think we will regret it, and sooner than 2027.

Then we are in polite disagreement.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

Absolutely. Disagreement is fine.

My rationale:

We didn't lose the SB because of our defense overall, or our pass rush. We lost it - and we struggled throught the playoffs - to protect Drake Maye.

If we lose Harold Landry or Dre'Mont Jones, our season isn't over. If we lose Will Campbell or Morgan Moses, it probably is, and if we lose Drake Maye because of it, it definitely is.

I also have my 4 OTs graded higher than any EDGE on my list above after Mesidor, and I highly doubt Faulk or Mesidor will be available.

I am prepared that they all may be off the board at 31, but if one or more is available and we pass, I think we will regret it.

manxman2601 · Mar 15, 2026

mayoclinic said:
Absolutely. Disagreement is fine.

My rationale:

We didn't lose the SB because of our defense overall, or our pass rush. We lost it - and we struggled throught the playoffs - to protect Drake Maye.

If we lose Harold Landry or Dre'Mont Jones, our season isn't over. If we lose Will Campbell or Morgan Moses, it probably is, and if we lose Drake Maye because of it, it definitely is.

I also have my 4 OTs graded higher than any EDGE on my list above after Mesidor, and I highly doubt Faulk or Mesidor will be available.

I am prepared that they all may be off the board at 31, but if one or more is available and we pass, I think we will regret it.

Last year Vrabel addressed every need bar one - the one we took in the first round. I think he's doing the same this year with EDGE and the pre draft contacts seem to be bearing that out. I also think you're overrating the OTs personally. I have Mesidor and Parker ahead of the 4 you mentioned, even Freeling who is being overrated generally. I think it's more of a wash when it comes to Lawrence, Young and Jacas but then need wins out anyway.

If we lose Harold Landry or Dre'Mont Jones, our season isn't over.

My argument is that if that's all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts. Ponder was OK last year with promise and I'd love Swinson to be better but there was no sign of that hapenning. We NEED a 3rd option at EDGE now. We can wait on RT for next year.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

We politely disagree.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

manxman2601 said:
Last year Vrabel addressed every need bar one - the one we took in the first round. I think he's doing the same this year with EDGE and the pre draft contacts seem to be bearing that out. I also think you're overrating the OTs personally. I have Mesidor and Parker ahead of the 4 you mentioned, even Freeling who is being overrated generally. I think it's more of a wash when it comes to Lawrence, Young and Jacas but then need wins out anyway.

Last year Vrabel was fine going into the season with Landry, Chaisson, White, Ponder and Swinson at EDGE. He could have addressed EDGE as priority #1 in the draft (the Pats took a hard look at Jaylon Walker, who I had graded higher than Will Campbell), but passed.

manxman2601 said:
My argument is that if that's all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts. Ponder was OK last year with promise and I'd love Swinson to be better but there was no sign of that hapenning. We NEED a 3rd option at EDGE now. We can wait on RT for next year.

Again, we went into last year with Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson and Ponder. White was a bust, and got traded. Landry was injured the second half of the season. We still made it to the SB, and our defense isn't why we lost, so I'd politely consider "if that's all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts" an ovdr-reaction.

Dre'Mont Jones will hopefully give us what we were all hoping for from Keion White. There were rumors the team was interested in him at the trade deadline last year, but Tennessee wouldn't play with us. They grabbed him early day 1 of FA suggesting he was a target. They apparently never made a gard run at the FA EDGE rushers. Ot is possible that they are optimistic about Landry, Ponder, and Swinson.

EDGE is definitely a need, and I hope we get one in the draft. But I don't agree it is as desperate as you make out. I don't expect Faulk or Mesidor to last, and I wouldn't reach for the others.

manxman2601 · Mar 15, 2026

mayoclinic said:
Last year Vrabel was fine going into the season with Landry, Chaisson, White, Ponder and Swinson at EDGE. He could have addressed EDGE as priority #1 in the draft (the Pats took a hard look at Jaylon Walker, who I had graded higher than Will Campbell), but passed.

Again, we went into last year with Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson and Ponder. White was a bust, and got traded. Landry was injured the second half of the season. We still made it to the SB, and our defense isn't why we lost, so I'd politely consider "if that's all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts" an ovdr-reaction.

Dre'Mont Jones will hopefully give us what we were all hoping for from Keion White. There were rumors the team was interested in him at the trade deadline last year, but Tennessee wouldn't play with us. They grabbed him early day 1 of FA suggesting he was a target. They apparently never made a gard run at the FA EDGE rushers. Ot is possible that they are optimistic about Landry, Ponder, and Swinson.

EDGE is definitely a need, and I hope we get one in the draft. But I don't agree it is as desperate as you make out. I don't expect Faulk or Mesidor to last, and I wouldn't reach for the others.

Vrabel was fine going into last season with Verdarian Lowe and Marcus Bryant as backup tackles. I don't think you're making the point you think you are.

And during the season we were clearly interested in upgrading at EDGE. At RT? Thayer Munford was enough.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

Because Will Campbell tore his knee (AFTER the trade deadline). He wasn't the same, it effectively crushed our SB hopes, and we don't know if he will be the same.

Because Mike Vrabel was more comfortable with a one-legged Will Campbell than with Lowe or Munford.

Because Morgan Moses is at most 1 season from retirement.

Because if Drake Maye goes down, then we will be picking Trevor Goosby in the top 10 next year.

DaBruinz · Mar 15, 2026

mayoclinic said:
Last year Vrabel was fine going into the season with Landry, Chaisson, White, Ponder and Swinson at EDGE. He could have addressed EDGE as priority #1 in the draft (the Pats took a hard look at Jaylon Walker, who I had graded higher than Will Campbell), but passed.

Pats went into last season with Landry, Chaisson, White, Jennings and Ponder on the pro roster. Swinson and Truman Jones on the Practice Squad. During the season, he added Caleb Murphy (October 20th), who didn't do jack during the 8 weeks he was on the team. White was traded on October 28th. They added Taylor in the Post-Season and he didn't do jack either.

mayoclinic said:
Again, we went into last year with Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson and Ponder. White was a bust, and got traded. Landry was injured the second half of the season. We still made it to the SB, and our defense isn't why we lost, so I'd politely consider "if that's all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts" an ovdr-reaction.

Dre'Mont Jones will hopefully give us what we were all hoping for from Keion White. There were rumors the team was interested in him at the trade deadline last year, but Tennessee wouldn't play with us. They grabbed him early day 1 of FA suggesting he was a target. They apparently never made a gard run at the FA EDGE rushers. Ot is possible that they are optimistic about Landry, Ponder, and Swinson.

EDGE is definitely a need, and I hope we get one in the draft. But I don't agree it is as desperate as you make out. I don't expect Faulk or Mesidor to last, and I wouldn't reach for the others.

This year, the Pats have Dre'Mont Jones, Ponder, Swinson and Landry. Landry is likely starting the season on the PUP. I agree with Manx that Edge is a high priority. With the draft as deep as it is, the Pats are likely to be able to get an EDGE player in the 2nd round. They aren't as likely to get a RT in the 2nd round. They may or may not be able to get a LB in the second round and LB is certainly a need as well.

If we go by last year, then the Pats need at least one more Edge player for the main roster and 2 for the PS.

mayoclinic · Mar 15, 2026

I completely agree that EDGE is a priority, just not greater than tackle, or at the expense of reaching in the 1st round.

Drake Maye is the most valuable property in the NFL. Protecting him has to be the #1 priority. Maye and Vrabel are the franchise, everyone else comes after.

Clonamery · Mar 15, 2026

mayoclinic said:
I completely agree that EDGE is a priority, just not greater than tackle, or at the expense of reaching in the 1st round.

Drake Maye is the most valuable property in the NFL. Protecting him has to be the #1 priority. Maye and Vrabel are the franchise, everyone else comes after.

Risk management 101 begins with identifying risks and prioritizing the risks then mitigating the risks. This isn't a black/white reduction to Talladega Nights where 'if you ain't first, you're last.' A dual solution would find 2 picks in each direction in the draft (or 1 OT in 1st and 2 EDGE afterwards). EDGE need quality players that can start or push starters, OT needs depth that can play when inevitable injuries occur. FA was unsatisfying thus far in mitigating the 2 highest risks to the team. Smaller priorities were addressed.

Both risks are fairly presented but I'd lean going OT 1st (if possible) because EDGE has a deeper positional group and the argument Mayo presents is the priority risk IMO (Maye's play and health).

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