2026 Draft Superthread And Draft Prospect Discussion

[YAC]

There's some talk that the Jets may be releasing Mazi Smith? Maybe the Chargers could take a chance with him and get his weight back up

The Cowboys tried him at a heavier weight, and a reduced one. He failed completely in both cases.

He's had three years to develop and he hasn't at all. Only even made the game-day roster 8 times last season.

The Chargers are set at NT, IMO, with Tart and Caldwell, so I don't think they are even looking for that profile of player.

[YAC]

Chargers are lacking a 5th round pick, not a 3rd round pick, in the upcoming draft.

Good catch. I'm surprised I had that wrong. They are lacking 5th and 7th round selections. Thanks!

Yet another reminder you have to double-check what AI tells you! (I've had a lot of such reminders, but still can forget)

[DerwinBosa]

I'll take it, especially if we get the white pants with the navy jersey.

[beachcomber]

OL draft….

1) Pregnon, Iheanachor
2) Rutledge, Lew, Bisontis, Gennings Dunker
3) Slaughter, Brailsford, Hecht
4) Parker, Logan Jones, DJ Campbell, Trey Zuhn

[beachcomber]

front 7 draft….

1) Kayden McDonald, Cashius Howell, Mesidor, CJ Allen
2) Joshua Josephs
3) Derrick Moore, Dontay Corleone, Jacob Rodriguez

[Boltnut]

Huh! i just saw TJ Parker well into the 30s for someone's top 50 list.
Woods, Banks, ....? easily comparable or superior in terms of Chaincrushers consensus crowd.

2nd round picks as in 2nd round evaluation grades .... but, if you want to argue based on the consensus ... sure, lets go with Woods or Banks, most draftniks having them go higher

Bleacher Report has Caleb Banks as their 49th ranked prospect.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25289844-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-florida-dl-caleb-banks

I watch Peter Woods tape... and I just don't get it. Even his "highlight tape" sucks. Is he getting extra credit for his TD runs...?
PFF has him ranked @#17. But they give him a 72.2 score... WTF.

I am rooting for the Chaincrusher Consensus Crowd... I hope they both go before #22.

[YAC]

Purely from an economics-maximization principle:

-There is an abundance of good affordable veteran defensive ends available in FA.
-There is also an abundance of good edge players in the draft

When you try to buy into the face of scarcity, it usually doesn't end as well. Meanwhile, buying abundant items gives you better value and more choice.

Edges impact the game more, are scarcer, pricier and age less gracefully. You want them young and thru the draft.

I am disinterested in drafting a DT in the first two rounds, if at all. Wouldn't mind double-dipping at Edge in this draft.

[Boltjolt]

Bleacher Report has Caleb Banks as their 49th ranked prospect.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25289844-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-florida-dl-caleb-banks

I watch Peter Woods tape... and I just don't get it. Even his "highlight tape" sucks. Is he getting extra credit for his TD runs...?
PFF has him ranked @#17. But they give him a 72.2 score... WTF.

I am rooting for the Chaincrusher Consensus Crowd... I hope they both go before #22.

Not sure what that means?

[Steve]

The Cowboys tried him at a heavier weight, and a reduced one. He failed completely in both cases.

He's had three years to develop and he hasn't at all. Only even made the game-day roster 8 times last season.

The Chargers are set at NT, IMO, with Tart and Caldwell, so I don't think they are even looking for that profile of player.

Tart might still be listed at NT, but he is more often aligned in the over the G or in a gap. He is really our 3 technique guy, at least on the base D. He is not a little quick guy, but his combination of power and quickness works out well as a run down 3 technique. And at some point we need more players who can line up inside to rotate with Caldwell, Oboigbe and Tart. I am in favor of bringing back Dashawn Hand, but he is a solid stop gap guy. At some point we need another guy. Tito has proven he is not that guy.

As far as Smith goes, is he as bad as the UDFA we will sign after the draft? Most of those players are just camp fodder. I get that Smith probably won't work out, but there is still a very, very slim chance. Sign him, put him in a more familiar environment ... maybe you get lucky. Unlikely, but still possible.

The big advantage of the Seahawks/Raven/Chargers/Giants D is that you have a simple framework to teach the players, and they can spend all the time that other teams spend just getting lined up on technique and working together. I don't know if Smith is going to make it just because of that. Technique is part of his problem, but that may not be his bigger issue.

[Steve]

Bleacher Report has Caleb Banks as their 49th ranked prospect.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25289844-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-florida-dl-caleb-banks

I watch Peter Woods tape... and I just don't get it. Even his "highlight tape" sucks. Is he getting extra credit for his TD runs...?
PFF has him ranked @#17. But they give him a 72.2 score... WTF.

I am rooting for the Chaincrusher Consensus Crowd... I hope they both go before #22.

The problem I have with Banks is that he is not that physical. He uses his hands very well to shed blocks. Way better than most college DT. But how well is all that going to work against NFL caliber OL who also know how to use their hands? Plus the injury thing. I would like to see him use his hands to land a blow, rather than use them to just swat and club the OL hand. A better first step, coming off the ball low and quick, driving them into the OL chest would make me feel like he can use his impressive size to his advantage.

Peter Woods is kind of the prototype in terms of physical ability. He doesn't use his hands well, but his feet are good. So good that he makes plays with just his feet, lower body power and quickness. That being said, is he going to be another Sheldon Rankins? Guy with all the tools, but cannot consistently shed. It comes down to if you think you can teach him to shed blocks better so he can use his speed, quickness and power to make plays. You just see so many guys like him who never learn to do that. Some certainly do, but it seems like it is a crap shoot, which is not something I am looking for when I look at 1st round picks.

I'm not a huge fan of either as a 1st round pick.

[Steve]

I'll take it, especially if we get the white pants with the navy jersey.

You can dress him up in pink for all I care. I want him because I think he is a good G prospect. I just don't think we are going to get the chance.

[dmac_bolt]

I want to share an updated needs graph, and request critique of any kind. I'm sure not the master guru here!

I refined two things in particular.

• Distinguished NT and DT...stacking Calwell behind Tart. Those two are true nose. This makes it clearer the profile of interior defensive players we might be looking for. Ideally we'd want DTs in that spot who can run stop but also press the pocket. Don't need the mass of a NT. Maybe Ebiogbe has shown enough to be slotted second in the DT rotation?
• I delineated the types of LB, making it more explicit that we either need Colson to step up and be a useful Mike LB (his natural role), or we find a true run defending Backer in the middle.

UpdatedDef.png

Thats a very good depiction of Chargers defensive needs. quibbles aside, very clear and convincing on key needs. Well done.

I expect 75% are penciled in via FA … in particular DT likely is filled via Joe’s Value Bin. Otherwise not sure what direction Joe will go. Ebs might move up to DT2, they may decide to settle with Wax at Mike1 with hope Colson can beat him out (you missed Colson on your chart). They may prefer more Wills than Mikes given their light box approach, not sure if Colson is more Mike than Will actually (welcome thoughts). Joe will sign an Edge2 but will they seek E1 via draft? Very possible.

7 DBs not S sounds roster-heavy. I continue to suspect CB is a high value wild card no one is predicting via draft.