Draft Rumours 2026

[Username]

Someone always slips. It's just a matter of who and are the red flags been justified as to why they fell?

I still think there's a significant chance Jermod McCoy drops because of the knee issue. Apparently it's degenerative and a number of teams have taken him off their board. Talent wise, he's probably up there with the best prospects over the past few years, but a high draft pick on a CB with a degenerative knee issue that will require managing is a scary prospect, and he very well could drop

 

[manxman2601]

Bear in mind that when pundits hear about what individual teams are doing, it’s not usually from the teams themselves, but other teams making judgements.

1. I can see Iheanachor and EMW. They’re betting on upside.

2. I struggle to see how Brown, Doubs and Concepcion fit on the same offense. However, if no Brown, I can see Doubs continuing his role as X and Concepcion as Z and slot.

3. If one of the guards, I can only think they’re attracted to freeing up Onwenu’s contract for Brown.

4. If any of the above, I still think they’ve screwed up at EDGE this off-season.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

IF we get AJ. Brown and get either one of Ted Hurst - Chris Bell - Stribling - Fields or Caldwell. I'll never ask for a WR again...maybe.

Come on Zebra, you know that isn't true

 

[Rdforty2]

1. I can see Iheanachor and EMW. They’re betting on upside.

2. I struggle to see how Brown, Doubs and Concepcion fit on the same offense. However, if no Brown, I can see Doubs continuing his role as X and Concepcion as Z and slot.

3. If one of the guards, I can only think they’re attracted to freeing up Onwenu’s contract for Brown.

4. If any of the above, I still think they’ve screwed up at EDGE this off-season.

I would assume if the pick at 31 is a WR, it means no Brown. Hard to put that much capital(signing of Doubs, 1st rd selection AND a 30mill contract plus '27 pick compensation) into WR in one off season.

Not going edge with the 1st pick, whether at 31 or slight trade down, does concern me. While I like Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, there have been mocks where theyre the only ones left at 63. What if the staff doesn't like them? If you then pass again for BPA, and ignore edge, it is definitely concerning. I dont necessarily want to be 100% locked in at edge in case someone falls, but I do think there will certainly be value on the board at 31 at the edge position. A move up from 63 is possible if a non edge is taken at 31.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I would assume if the pick at 31 is a WR, it means no Brown. Hard to put that much capital(signing of Doubs, 1st rd selection AND a 30mill contract plus '27 pick compensation) into WR in one off season.

Not going edge with the 1st pick, whether at 31 or slight trade down, does concern me. While I like Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, there have been mocks where theyre the only ones left at 63. What if the staff doesn't like them? If you then pass again for BPA, and ignore edge, it is definitely concerning. I dont necessarily want to be 100% locked in at edge in case someone falls, but I do think there will certainly be value on the board at 31 at the edge position. A move up from 63 is possible if a non edge is taken at 31.

I will be disappointed if we exit the first 2 without an Edge.
If that takes a slight trade-up in rd 2, then I am on-board.
We do have needs at several positions, so we better have a fallback plan if we can't land a good Edge.
I still like Clowney on a one year deal. Good in both phases of the game and was very productive rushing the passer in limited games/snaps last year.

 

[mayoclinic]

Miscellaneous rumors:

Redirect Notice

 

[mgteich]

I am assuming Iheanachor, Miller and Mesidor all off the board at 31, unless the Pats trade up.

Rutledge, Stukes/McNeil-Warren, and Rodriguez/Golday are BPA options for me.

no love for McDonald?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I still think there's a significant chance Jermod McCoy drops because of the knee issue. Apparently it's degenerative and a number of teams have taken him off their board. Talent wise, he's probably up there with the best prospects over the past few years, but a high draft pick on a CB with a degenerative knee issue that will require managing is a scary prospect, and he very well could drop

Justifiable. That's not the kind of player who should have a first-round value IMO.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I still like Clowney on a one year deal. Good in both phases of the game and was very productive rushing the passer in limited games/snaps last year.

I still like Clowney as well. Spotrac has Clowney's potential contract at $5.5M, which seems OK to me.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I still like Clowney as well. Spotrac has Clowney's potential contract at $5.5M, which seems OK to me.

Very reasonable.
8.5 sacks in 13 games last year and limited snaps.
That is extreme value.
If for some reason we wait on Edge and get a developmental prospect, I would be calling Clowney's agent 5 mins after the draft.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Very reasonable.
8.5 sacks in 13 games last year and limited snaps.
That is extreme value.
If for some reason we wait on Edge and get a developmental prospect, I would be calling Clowney's agent 5 mins after the draft.

I would be calling Clowney's agent today. I assume the Pats have already called. Clowney might like the chance of playing in the SB - we might be able to start signing vets because of the upside with Drake. Clowney should be one of those vets.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I would be calling Clowney's agent today. I assume the Pats have already called. Clowney might like the chance of playing in the SB - we might be able to start signing vets because of the upside with Drake. Clowney should be one of those vets.

I read an article weeks ago and Clowney has nothing but praise for Vrabs.
Question is if Vrabs feels the same way.

 

[zimmy]

The guard interest might just be that they are the best players left at 31 and they want to move off Onwenu after this year. But Is there any chance they would move Onwenu back to RT? Or at least be the backup tackle this year. People have maybe forgotten now but he was origin given his massive contract by Mayo and Wolf as a RT but then got moved inside after a few games.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The guard interest might just be that they are the best players left at 31 and they want to move off Onwenu after this year. But Is there any chance they would move Onwenu back to RT? Or at least be the backup tackle this year. People have maybe forgotten now but he was origin given his massive contract by Mayo and Wolf as a RT but then got moved inside after a few games.

He was serviceable at RT, but he is a far better OG.
So is it possible....
Well let's say Rutledge is BPA at 31 and we take him, only way I could see Owenu at RT is if Moses abruptly retired in camp.

 

[zimmy]

Anyway, assuming the OTs are off the board, my short list for 31 is McDonald, Concepcion, EMW, Lawrence. Otherwise I’d be looking to trade down.

 

[bakes781]

Watching Mel's mock lol he is very WR heavy early yet he argues that they shouldn't go that high. I could easily see Tyson fall out of the top 15.

 

[gobesmug]

1. I can see Iheanachor and EMW. They’re betting on upside.

2. I struggle to see how Brown, Doubs and Concepcion fit on the same offense. However, if no Brown, I can see Doubs continuing his role as X and Concepcion as Z and slot.

3. If one of the guards, I can only think they’re attracted to freeing up Onwenu’s contract for Brown.

4. If any of the above, I still think they’ve screwed up at EDGE this off-season.

I think you are being a tad dramatic on point #4.

They signed an Edge, have another edge getting Healthy, have a promising UDFA from last year and have your Binky from last year.

This draft is also viewed as being deep on the dline so even if they dont draft am edge in the first 2 rounds doesnt mean they cant take a guy on day 3 that could contribute.

Plus there are still Vet options in FA that could be a decent 1 year stop gap.

On a side note, why have you given up on your binky from last year, Swinson?

 

[Rdforty2]

I think you are being a tad dramatic on point #4.

They signed an Edge, have another edge getting Healthy, have a promising UDFA from last year and have your Binky from last year.

This draft is also viewed as being deep on the dline so even if they dont draft am edge in the first 2 rounds doesnt mean they cant take a guy on day 3 that could contribute.

Plus there are still Vet options in FA that could be a decent 1 year stop gap.

On a side note, why have you given up on your binky from last year, Swinson?

I liked Swinson a lot too. But, its hard to count on him for anything. He was cut in camp. He spent half the year on the PS. At the end of the year when we were dying for pass rush help, the team did not even attempt to throw him out there.

He can still develop, but i dont think you can count on him as anything but an edge 5 at this point. We really only have 3 above him, one of then a udfa from last year.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think you are being a tad dramatic on point #4.

They signed an Edge, have another edge getting Healthy, have a promising UDFA from last year and have your Binky from last year.

This draft is also viewed as being deep on the dline so even if they dont draft am edge in the first 2 rounds doesnt mean they cant take a guy on day 3 that could contribute.

Plus there are still Vet options in FA that could be a decent 1 year stop gap.

On a side note, why have you given up on your binky from last year, Swinson?

Landry getting healthy, but is he?
Even before his injury he dramatically slowed down and looked ineffective.
He's not the player he once was, he simply isn't.
Yes we signed Jones who has 37.5 sacks in his 108 game career, that's 6 sacks over a 17 game season.
Ponder shows promise, but people are making it out like he's just magically going to turn into a double digit sack guy.
We need major help at Edge, which requires major investment.
I don't see how anyone can't see that.

 

[manxman2601]

I haven't given up on Swinson but I do need to see something from him before guaranteeing him a firm spot on the roster. hopefully it happens but there wasn't a lot of evidence last year.

As for being dramatic, we have two average starters at edge, neither of whom got more than 9 sacks last year. Beyond that we have a UDFA who showed some promise and a 5th rounder who sadly didn't. I just don't feel good about that going into '27.

As for day 3 pass rushers, how many day 3 prospects show starter, or even top quality rotational/backup potential in year one? The Craig Woodson's of this world are the exemptions, not the rule.

Maybe the plan becomes clear on Thu/Fri (I doubt it does if we have to wait until Sat), but for now, the prospects for next year are pretty bleak in terms of generating pressure and very Williams/Barmore reliant.