The chase for the 2026 first overall pick

[The Gr8est]

There are a number of good QB prospects - not on the Maye level, but good: Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore. LaNorris Sellers not ready yet but with physical traits. Those who like Baker Mayfield will love John Mateer. Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck all with promise.

Chicago-Washington-NE picked 1-2-3 in 2024. All have escaped the NFL cellar, Washington Kade it all the way to the NFCCG, and the Patriots look like a playoff team. Hitting on and developing a franchise QB is the surest recipe for success in the NFL. Teams will be desperate.

What?

No love for Caleb Williams?



Imagine that the Bears drafted Maye.

Ben Johnson would be coaching him and who would Vrabel be coaching?

 

[stelfans]

Safety and interior OL are big needs but I think Edge rusher is the biggest by far. Josh Allen was able to throw from clean pockets far too often to those TEs.

Completely agree Manx but the problem is..who? Its still early but seems rushers will be in short supply.

As for the QBs, even if some of these prospects arent ready, they will still be picked. Happens every year. Every year there a few teams desperate to get a QB, and some of them will over draft guys just so they can say they got "their guy". This year in particular there seems to be a lot of prospects ready to cash in on that desperation.

 

[manxman2601]

Completely agree Manx but the problem is..who? Its still early but seems rushers will be in short supply.

As for the QBs, even if some of these prospects arent ready, they will still be picked. Happens every year. Every year there a few teams desperate to get a QB, and some of them will over draft guys just so they can say they got "their guy". This year in particular there seems to be a lot of prospects ready to cash in on that desperation.

I’ve got my eyes on David Bailey of Texas Tech. Arguably the best pure pass rusher in CFB right now. He’s a DPR for now, but has some Nik Bonito to his game.

 

[mayoclinic]

Just don't ask Bailey to set an edge.

 

[Steve102]

He's just not ready. He's been pretty awful for Texas and needs at least one more year. The QBs to look out fr this year are Dante Moore (Oregon), Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana).

People here were anointing him the overall #1 pick before he played a snap. IMO he has not looked good at all. As a sophomore, he needs a lot of seasoning and experience. I've been disappointed watching Longhorn Football this year with him at the helm.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

He's also out of contract at the end of the year. I also don't think he's the real deal. He's not really one to get quick one on one wins, but benefits from the pressure won by the interior.

He's strong-explosive-quick, I like what I've seen from him and there's a reason he's starting.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd personally rather keep Chaisson if possible, and add a bigger power-rushing EDGE to complement Landry and Chaisson, and to upgrade from Keion White, who hasn't made the leap. Quincy Rhodes day 1-2 or Akheem Mesidor day 3.

 

[jmt57]

Jete?

Just like any national news, three weeks ago may as well be three centuries ago.

 

[jmt57]

This is aging like milk

Like milk left out on the counter while gone on vacation for a week in the summer.

 

[State]

Like milk left out on the counter while gone on vacation for a week in the summer.

This is nothing.

Once a bank denied me a loan for a motorcycle that I thought would impress a girl, a sexy girl. It was enough to make me want to burn the place down.

I did an even worse deed.

I bought a safety deposit box and loaded it up with salmon fillets. Locked it. And walked away.

Forever.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It doesn’t matter who the Jets pick, they won’t play decently until they move on to their next team and make the Jets look even worse.

 

[Toofy]

From frontrunners of being the first pick for 2026 draft at end of week 3 to where we are now after 8 weeks - afc seed 2. What a difference in 5 weeks

 

[sb1]

Guess we're not doing so well in this race...

 

[TheRainMaker]

I'll allow a Mayo walk back on this one.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

We’d be Picking 29th if the draft was today

 

[ctpatsfan77]

From frontrunners of being the first pick for 2026 draft at end of week 3 to where we are now after 8 weeks - afc seed 2. What a difference in 5 weeks

TBF, I haven't gone back to the beginning of this thread, but I'm hoping most of us didn't expect that to actually come to pass. . . .

 

[TommyD4207]

TBF, I haven't gone back to the beginning of this thread, but I'm hoping most of us didn't expect that to actually come to pass. . . .

Just the usual suspects.

 

[mayoclinic]

Guess we're not doing so well in this race...

My plans for Arvell Reese on hold.

 

[manxman2601]

Just the usual suspects.

Had to quickly go back to page one of the thread just to make sure I wasn't one of the usual suspects. Phew! I wasn't.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

To borrow from a YouTuber, Drake Maye's present to Patriots fans this year is a thoroughly mangled tank job.