What are our biggest needs in the 2026 Draft

[captain stone]

DEFENSE!!!!!

Chaisson has been a non factor in this game and aside from a blitz and a Landry stunt, Allen has had loads of time.

Also I don't know how they fix red zone defense but fix it they must.

Yep.

Besides QB-Killers which have already been mentioned, add Real ****ing Run-Stuffing DTs - not this ****ing lame-ass Corey ****ing Durden//lil' Jerry Pharma/Lenny Taylor/Josh Farmer ****ing 3-Tech trash - to the growing list of obvious needs... Stouter ILBs than "doctor Gibby", the ****ing Sloppy ****ing Jalopy et al would also be nice... And Safeties are back on the Naughty List again...

 

[captain stone]

I think they did an incredible job containing Alle in the first half.

They were without Williams and Spillane. And were completely gassed in the second half half. Barmore and Tonga could barely move in the final 6 minutes. Gibbens I thought had a game all things considered but was completely out of place in the second half, just not a MLB starter.
EDGE is a need but we already knew that, I don’t think we learned nothing we didn’t know already.

I don't know, some people might've thought that we didn't need another Run-Stuffing DT, that light-weights such as Durden, Farmer, Pharma & Taylor are all we need, like that moronic ****ing quote from Diggs about We all we have; we all we need ****ing ********... Some people also might've thought that "doctor Gibby", the Sloppy ****ing Jalopy, and even Mickey Spillane are all that's needed at MLB too; and that Hawkins & Woodson are a Safety tandem that can win PO games...

 

[captain stone]

...I'm not trashing what has been an awesome season based upon just one game but our defense does need to improve both in getting pressure and takeaways.

...And stopping the run too.

 

[captain stone]

I agree - same needs.
Need a safety that can cover a TE...

Yep. Hawkins/Woodson are NOT starting-caliber talents on a team that's, in the words of Rick Pitino, championship-driven.

Need a LB...

A OLB that can cover RBs & TEs AND an ILB to stuff the run.

Need an EDGE...

TWO of them.

Need to keep rebuilding the OL.

I want an ENTIRELY ****ING NEW G-C-G starting combo for next season.

 

[manxman2601]

A WR who can get open quickly? Maye is having to double clutch quite a bit tonight. Diggs and Hollins are playing well but plays are still taking a bit too long to develop. It's not need #1 but it has been a bit of an issue the last few weeks.

 

[manxman2601]

A WR who can get open quickly? Maye is having to double clutch quite a bit tonight. Diggs and Hollins are playing well but plays are still taking a bit too long to develop. It's not need #1 but it has been a bit of an issue the last few weeks.

The receivers certainly came to play in the 4th Q with help from the MVP.

 

[manxman2601]

Assume we don't re-sign Tonga. Where would NT fit into your view of needs? Would you go for someone like Kayden Mcdonald or try to fill, what isn't an every down position, later in the draft?

 

[manxman2601]

The team pretty much gave up on the run when Henderson went down against Baltimore.

There are four fixes we must accomplish this off-season whether in FA or the draft.

1. More pass rush.
2. Better red zone defense
3. Defending TEs better
4. Running between the tackles.

 

[stelfans]

Assume we don't re-sign Tonga. Where would NT fit into your view of needs? Would you go for someone like Kayden Mcdonald or try to fill, what isn't an every down position, later in the draft?

What makes you think we wont re sign him?
Whether is Tonga or someone else, that's a position i think we fill through FA.

 

[stelfans]

The team pretty much gave up on the run when Henderson went down against Baltimore.

There are four fixes we must accomplish this off-season whether in FA or the draft.

1. More pass rush.
2. Better red zone defense
3. Defending TEs better
4. Running between the tackles.

How do yoou feel about #4, do you think is a RB issue or a OL issue? Or both?
The OL was banged up as well so im not sure we should read too much into it.

 

[manxman2601]

What makes you think we wont re sign him?
Whether is Tonga or someone else, that's a position i think we fill through FA.

I don't have a reason to think that, I'm just covering all the bases and wondering about Kayden McDonald who I really like but question the value.

 

[manxman2601]

How do yoou feel about #4, do you think is a RB issue or a OL issue? Or both?
The OL was banged up as well so im not sure we should read too much into it.

Running to the inside has been a problem all year. I think it's an OL issue although I do think both Treveyon (running with power) and Rhamondre (running with speed and explosiveness) have limitations. However, it's the OL that needs to be improved, not the RBs yet. Hopefully they find a more balanced runner to replace Rhamondre in '27.

 

[captain stone]

Assume we don't re-sign Tonga. Where would NT fit into your view of needs? Would you go for someone like Kayden Mcdonald or try to fill, what isn't an every down position, later in the draft?

Definitely at least one via pre-draft free agency AND at least one via the post-draft UDFA frenzy... Then, depending on their FA success, maybe with one of those 6th-rounders, especially if somebody they really like falls in that range... And I don't mean some relative light-weight 3-Tech like Farmer either; I mean an honest-to-goodness Wide Body, EXACTLY like Tonga. Gregory's the Only one we have currently who's even close to him

 

[captain stone]

The team pretty much gave up on the run when Henderson went down against Baltimore.

There are four fixes we must accomplish this off-season whether in FA or the draft.

1. More pass rush.

Easily the most ex-pensive of our needs. We need to use Both big free agent bucks And top-100 draft capital on the position(s).

2. Better red zone defense

= Better DTs And better DEs than what we currently have.

3. Defending TEs better

= Better LBs And Safeties than what we currently have.

4. Running between the tackles.

= a Better Big Back than The Fumbler AND a Completely New G-C-G combo.

 

[captain stone]

How do yoou feel about #4, do you think is a RB issue or a OL issue? Or both?
The OL was banged up as well so im not sure we should read too much into it.

Both.

 

[mayoclinic]

We all want HOF caliber talents at every spot for minimum contracts. But a little realism has to be interjected:

1. We are a 12-3 team with the crappy roster we have, shot by injuries. So perhaps our talent and depth aren't as bad as some make it out to be. Overall, our roster is above average.

2. The salary cap and FA make it impossible to build a team like the 1970's Steelers.

3. We are in a very favorable situation compared to most teams, both in terms of starting roster, draft capital, and available cap space. Our QB, HC, and team culture should put us in a generally favorable situation for re-signing/extending players and for attracting outside FAs.

But our resources are not limited, and we will not likely fill every need in 2026. We need to be selective.

Would I like an upgrade to Garrett Bradbury at OC? Sure. I'd love to go after Tyler Linderbaum in FA. But realistically, it may have to wait until 2027.

Would a like an upgrade to Rhamondre Stevenson? Sure. But realistically, it may have to wait until 2027.

We will have $60-80M in cap space, and 11 draft picks (rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 and 7).

We will have a better, stronger, and deeper roster next year. And with good coaching, I expect us to be a contender again, and for the foreseeable future.

But we will not be able to upgrade everything, everywhere, all at once.

 

[mayoclinic]

From Huckleberry1, from an Idle Thoughts thread:

Along the line of developing players I just happened across an interview with Matt Light from the beginning of the Mayo era, and he said that the biggest issue in the league is developing players, and that the last deal with the players union introduced practice rules that made it impossible for coaches to develop players. And if anyone understands this it's Vrabel and Co. I have heard Vrabel say repeatedly throughout this season that developing players is their priority, and I believe they will use every tool at their disposal to achieve that goal, and I think we will see great results from that when all of this years rookies hit the field next season. Ironically it was the one who went to the practice squad (Bradyn Swinson) who shed the most light on this. When he was elevated from the PS Swinson said that he had multiple opportunities to sign with other teams, which would have put him on an active roster, but decided to stay with the Patriots because he believed they would develop him into the best player he could be. Apparently they told him that he was doing everything wrong. From nutrition to working out etc... he said they were teaching him how to be a professional player, and he wants to stay in this program and become the best player he can be. Imo this is huge. I'm sure players hear variations of this all the time, but in the Patriots case Vrabel has made it clear that if they buy in and do the work there will be a place and a role for them, and he has proven to them that he will stand by them, stick with them, and give them the opportunities when they come. And while things like sticking with Stevenson during his fumbling issues make fans crazy, they demonstrate to the players that Vrabel has their backs, and, as it turned out, sticking with Rham ended up paying off big time for them. Vrabel has these players believing in him, and the result is the team buying in and believing in themselves, and we get to see the benefits from that. Regardless of what happens the rest of this season I think we are going to see these players buy into the off-season programs, and will return much better players than when this season started. They were favorites to really suck to start 2025, they will be favorites to contend for a Super Bowl in 26'.

This is really important, IMO. We've seen a number of examples already of faster-than-expected rookie development, and of veterans doing better than expected based on past performance, or getting better over the course of the season.

It's a great draft for getting solid players who can be coached up, well into day 3.

 

[manxman2601]

With both Boutte and Hollins out today, and Hollins out for the next four games, it should be a good test as to how we stand at WR. Can Williams and Chism be part of the future.

Also, if we struggle to move the sticks without Hollins, I might be bumping up Denzel Boston.

 

[mayoclinic]

Williams, without a doubt, regardless of whether he can carry the load today. That would be a bonus.

I have my doubts about Chism. Love everything about him, except that he is SLOWWW. Have not yet seen anything so far to give me confidence that he has enough to compete at the pro level.

I would live to snag a Zachariah Branch or Dion Burks in this draft, if the cost is reasonable.

 

[Clonamery]

Williams, without a doubt, regardless of whether he can carry the load today. That would be a bonus.

I have my doubts about Chism. Love everything about him, except that he is SLOWWW. Have not yet seen anything so far to give me confidence that he has enough to compete at the pro level.

I would live to snag a Zachariah Branch or Dion Burks in this draft, if the cost is reasonable.

Or drop a late pick on Stribling (sounds like a German Riesling) if no WR is drafted at that point.

re: Chism. Well, they easily could have cut him at this point with all the injuries, etc. 2 game tryout.