2026 Official NFL Draft on ThePowderBlues.com - Day 3, Rounds 4-7

[Fouts2herbert]

I'm thinking throw out the tapes on Mesidor. Man playing with boys at The U. Bolts will find out really fast if he can play with the best. I'm thinking he's going to be AT LEAST better than Dupree and Kennard so should be an upgrade.

As for every other pick, I guess this is a line 'em up and let 'em compete kinda deal. Not a lot of high profile choices but certainly some solid looking football players( not sure about a DB who can't tackle though😮).

If we just get league average play from the any of these dudes, plus the FA's ( Biadasz, Strange, Tomlinson, Mitchell, etc.), we'll be better than last year( where, once again, OL sucked, RB depth too thin, and IDL play too thin)

Camp will be a battle this year! Can't wait💪🏽

Mesidor tore it up in the CFP against the best that the college ranks had to offer, if that's not an indication that his game translates to the pros then I'm not sure what is...

[Fouts2herbert]

If it was only so simple anybody could be GM. I suspect this is crap and has no data to back up its value.

It's a hot steaming load of bullshit, this might end up being Joe's best draft to date...there are a lot of different variables to take into account that go way beyond a one size fits all consensus board...sometimes getting the right prospect at the right time matters and Hortiz has been a master at that kind of timing when it comes to the draft...if he thinks this draft could yield 6 starters out of 8, I think that gets my attention because we've already seen him pull quality starts from day three picks in 2024 and again in 2025...the pundits can go suck an egg...

[Fouts2herbert]

They all have flaws in their game of one sort or another. Only games and excellent coaching can change bad habits. The CBA limiting practice schedule cannot.

Even Fano, Mauigoa did not receive Alt level grades. Teams will always overvalue experience.

Eg, why did Pregnon drop ? Polian just pointed out that he is a waist bender. Low eyes and low pad level leads to not successfully picking up stunts.

In any case, I am quoting what Brandt heard from NFL scouts regarding the ~ 2025 & 2026 late round talent levels, which they seem to think had a precipitous dropoff.

it's possible that there could be an "adjustment period" as the football world learns how to navigate the new NIL reality, but these guys are not going to stay in college for good, at least not yet, so at some point they all have to move on to the pros and the pipeline should be restored as soon as everyone learns how to work the new set up...

[wu-dai clan]

it's possible that there could be an "adjustment period" as the football world learns how to navigate the new NIL reality, but these guys are not going to stay in college for good, at least not yet, so at some point they all have to move on to the pros and the pipeline should be restored as soon as everyone learns how to work the new set up...

Yes. Agreed. Reasonable. Brandt is now Director of the Moorad Center at Villanova. Sports Law; Contracts. His wheelhouse. He will definitely keep his eye on the trends.

I am thinking in teems of Charger drafting.

LOL. I was waiting for Hortiz to say "this one's for you Popper" as he whipped out his blue star and selected Slaughter. It is interesting to see this heavy OL investment for sure, F2h.

[Fouts2herbert]

Yes. Agreed. Reasonable. Brandt is now Director of the Moorad Center at Villanova. Sports Law; Contracts. His wheelhouse. He will definitely keep his eye on the trends.

I am thinking in teems of Charger drafting.

LOL. I was waiting for Hortiz to say "this one's for you Popper" as he whipped out his blue star and selected Slaughter. It is interesting to see this heavy OL investment for sure, F2h.

we all knew they HAD to invest heavily in O-line, did I think it would be 4 picks, hell no, I predicted 2 out of the 5 picks we originally had and then fill out the roster in post draft free agency, but I guess that they didn't like what was left in veteran free agency and they REALLY liked what they knew would be available in day 3 of the draft which goes against what Brandt is saying...for the sake of my Chargers I certainly hope your guy is wrong...

In the wrap up presser yesterday, Chad Alexander said something that stood out to me, "We really improved this team today" and all three of them were completely over the moon about the players that they landed in day 3...if the GM and the coaches are all as giddy as that, I tend to think that the pundits might not have all the answers...Joe believes 6 of the 8 guys have starting potential and he doesn't normally throw out that type of stuff...I think he's trying to reassure the fan base not to buy into all the negative bullshit...

[Riverwalk]

I’m not buying into the negativity or the giddiness at this point.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I’m not buying into the negativity or the giddiness at this point.

Solid take

We have a lot to be excited and optimistic about with this team, this is a good era of Charger football

But the division and AFC is tough, and the Chargers have been off season darlings many times, we have seen how that goes. January will decide again

[wu-dai clan]

we all knew they HAD to invest heavily in O-line, did I think it would be 4 picks, hell no, I predicted 2 out of the 5 picks we originally had and then fill out the roster in post draft free agency, but I guess that they didn't like what was left in veteran free agency and they REALLY liked what they knew would be available in day 3 of the draft which goes against what Brandt is saying...for the sake of my Chargers I certainly hope your guy is wrong...

In the wrap up presser yesterday, Chad Alexander said something that stood out to me, "We really improved this team today" and all three of them were completely over the moon about the players that they landed in day 3...if the GM and the coaches are all as giddy as that, I tend to think that the pundits might not have all the answers...Joe believes 6 of the 8 guys have starting potential and he doesn't normally throw out that type of stuff...I think he's trying to reassure the fan base not to buy into all the negative bullshit...

I expect Harbs to throw all of this into the cement mixer, pour it out, and see what starts to cure.

Did not know that Andrew Brandt was my guy

but wu is a scholar of football

[Formula 21]

I think Brandt's theory is flawed as hell and probably loaded with bias from how the system changed from what he was accustomed to...the NFL stands to benefit from getting older players because they spend less time developing on pro rosters, who gives a shit about 2nd and 3rd contracts when the average career only lasts like 2.5 years, every team in the NFL will have older more experienced depth going forward and the guys that were ready to contribute at 22 will continue to come out in the draft to get the bigger NFL pay days as they will be the higher draft picks...

So a player at 24 who has spent an extra year working on his technique and his body is worth less than he was at 23? Absurd. Yes a phenom who is ready to play at 20 is more valuable than a guy who has to work till he’s 24 to get to the same spot, but those are rare players.

[Riverwalk]

Solid take

We have a lot to be excited and optimistic about with this team, this is a good era of Charger football

But the division and AFC is tough, and the Chargers have been off season darlings many times, we have seen how that goes. January will decide again

Good sober take like always from you. The draft also elevated my optimism but the division and conference will be tougher opponents than last year.

[Formula 21]

Here’s some of his explanation.

https://www.wideleft.football/p/the-...nsus-big-board

There’s still no correlation to team wins and losses as related to each team‘s unique situation. Example. We need an x receiver but a slot receiver is higher rated. We need a man to man cover corner to make our scheme work, but a zone corner is higher rated. We want a 240 pound MLB, but the 225 pound guy is rated higher. We desperately need a guard with pulling skills to make our scheme work, but the next highest rated player is a safety.

Follow consensus ratings and save millions on scouting. genius. Every team should do this.

[Xenos]

There’s still no correlation to team wins and losses as related to each team‘s unique situation. Example. We need an x receiver but a slot receiver is higher rated. We need a man to man cover corner to make our scheme work, but a zone corner is higher rated. We want a 240 pound MLB, but the 225 pound guy is rated higher. We desperately need a guard with pulling skills to make our scheme work, but the next highest rated player is a safety.

Follow consensus ratings and save millions on scouting. genius. Every team should do this.

It’s not necessarily about relying solely on the Consensus Board. But it should be part of the equation. It’s also one thing to be off one time by say a 100, but to do it repeatedly raises concerns and is usually why there are staff changes. If Telesco had followed more on the Consensus Board after the 2nd round, maybe we would have gotten more talent and more wins, and he would still be here. I think that’s been the difference between Hortiz and Telesco so far. He’s been less off compared to the Consensus Board.