The Athletic's Final 2026 consensus Board

[Hawkeye0202]

This may explain why a few top 10 teams wanna trade down. Only four offensive players in the top 10 ( QB, RB, OT and WR).

 

[LouBrown]

Among others, three things have happened in the top 10 in this class.

One is that there is a low number of legitimate top 10 prospects, and two is that the gap between top players and guys you can get 20 picks later is very small. Third is that a good portion top 10 prospects that do exist are at non-premium positions (LB, S, RB).

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Third is that a good portion top 10 prospects that do exist are at non-premium positions (LB, S, RB).

This is huge IMO........good point

 

[gtb1943]

2 of those none premium pay positions we need.
Looks like the accident thing is not hurting Bain here.

I would love to Get two of the three Reese, Styles and Downs but if we could get two of them, I would be worth it as long as one of them is Downs.

 

[Kwyn]

Im on board with team trade down

Only pick I love at twelve that even has a chance of being there is Baine.

I don’t want to move up for Downs or Styles and I think there may actually be some teams moving into the top ten and I don’t want to overpay.

none of the guys at 20 are ones I’d take that high

 

[CWR]

Im on board with team trade down

Only pick I love at twelve that even has a chance of being there is Baine.

I don’t want to move up for Downs or Styles and I think there may actually be some teams moving into the top ten and I don’t want to overpay.

none of the guys at 20 are ones I’d take that high

Not over paying nets you NO premium players.

When the guy we get 20 is similar to the guy we get at 40 I dont consider it over paying to flip 12 and 20 for 6 and 39. Idc if its not a premium position either. Its a position of need and a superior player.

One thing I really would hope to avoid is taking lesser talent because of positional value. It just seems like a recipe for a bad draft.

 

[BobSacamano]

Im on board with team trade down

Only pick I love at twelve that even has a chance of being there is Baine.

I don’t want to move up for Downs or Styles and I think there may actually be some teams moving into the top ten and I don’t want to overpay.

none of the guys at 20 are ones I’d take that high

I could see Dallas trying to get a pick or 2 in next years draft.

 

[Kwyn]

Not over paying nets you NO premium players.

When the guy we get 20 is similar to the guy we get at 40 I dont consider it over paying to flip 12 and 20 for 6 and 39. Idc if its not a premium position either. Its a position of need and a superior player.

One thing I really would hope to avoid is taking lesser talent because of positional value. It just seems like a recipe for a bad draft.

The talent at the top end is, at this point, famously thin.

I don’t think we were disagreeing

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Does anyone actually think Mendoza is truly a top 2 or 3 player in this draft. Where do you think he would have been drafted last year or the year before? He doesn't seem like a premium QB. I get he is the best available, but these rankings that have him top 2 or 3 in the draft make no sense to me.