The Official 2026 NFL Draft Thread (No Spoilers)

That's because they were desperately trying to get out of it.

 

No, but his argument is that they are reaching for a player who is unpolished like Jones. If anything, this is worse. Jones was at least considered a top-20 prospect. This guy isn't among the top 30 players in the draft on pretty much every board out there.

This wasn't a matter of there just being too many good tackles to resist. There were better players who filled significant needs on the board.

 

I also remember you talking up Gonzalez then.

 

This is part of why I have posted about Thieneman so much. If he is a quality starter from day one for the Bears and Iheanachor doesn't work out or simply isn't as good of a player, I don't want people crying hindsight. I was right about multiple guys I wanted over Edmunds. You and I were both right to want Gonzalez over Jones. I hope the Steelers break the pattern and prove me wrong, but I'm not optimistic.

 

If you feel so important. Why don't you give Omar a call or maybe set up camp outside his residence?

 

Clearly, you missed the long, repeated debates here with other posters insisting I didn't know what I knew.

 

Not an entirely accurate statement at all.

#23 - https://theringer.com/nfl-draft/2026/big-board?positions=t
#33 - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/the-beast-2026/top-300-prospect-rankings/
#29 - https://www.thehuddlereport.com/value-board
#19 - https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/draft/pre-draft-board/?position=OT
#32 - https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/...ard-top-prospects-best-positional-field-yates
#30 - https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/...per-big-board-top-prospects-players-positions
#31 - https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/
#35 - https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-50-2026-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-4-0
#28 - https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2026/consensus-big-board-2026
#30 - https://www.pff.com/draft/big-board?season=2026

If we are going to jump to conclusions the morning after, at least let's agree to use accurate information that is easily available.

 

No, I don’t. I’m not even saying I’m a fan of the pick, even though I like the kid, I think it’s a reach. I’m just saying I’m not sure it was a panicked pick. And if it was, it’s pretty unsettling.

 

Agreed. I would have rather had Theineman, Lewis, McDonald or Rodriguez, to name a few.

 

I don't watch much and only know what I hear and read. One thing I know is that the Steelers preferred Lemon over Max, but probably not by much because they didn't move to protect the pick. Then I know that they prefer Max over Lomu. Interesting to know who they would have picked had Freeling been available.

 

Panicked is probably a bit of overstatement , but reach isn't. Either way,
Let hope no matter what that He becomes great here, and helps us win a SB

 

I'm sure they would've picked Freeling over Max.

 

Will be headed out for Draft Day 2!1

Definitely looking forward to it!!


Just have some backend work to complete before then!

 

I so wanted Thieneman. You do t pass on blue chip players like that. We will need a free safety next year. He could have been our slot cb this year. The fact we’re relying in Ramsey this year is a joke. We do t have a real FS on the team currently. He would have been a real chess piece for our secondary. This Max guy is a real reach. Would have preferred Omar Cooper Rutledge, Bisontis and Dillon. As much as I faulted Tomlin in the past this was just as bad. The only thing that will make all of this worse is if we move u- in the second and draft Denzel Boston now which would be a horrible pick.

we are a terrible organization now and we draft like a desperate one. Drafting for need instead of bpa results in reaches like the one last night or whe. We reached on Broderick four years ago. We will be drafting for a Tackle in a few years again because of this miss.

 

Likely, I actually meant to say Freeling or Lemon.

The bigger question is throw Blake Miller into the mix and what's the preference rank between the four of them?

 

Boston is the last guy I want. He is a slow plodder. We already have that in Pittman. Why would you want this guy? Where do you play him and Pittman? Rodgers likes to get the ball out quick, we need a shifty route runner that can get open quick and produce yac. Boston is a downfield contested catch receiver. Germie Bernard should be the target.

 

‘Exactly. If you stay at 21 then it had to be Omar Cooper or Thianemen. You don’t reach for a project when a blue chipper is staring you right in the face.

 

Exactly I am high on Cook. Why waste a pick in tackle in the first round.

 

Art is and has been delusional. In his mind we have been in win now mode for the last ten years. He is a pathetic owner. Weill should be the real GM.

 

Again. 5th tackle according to whom? What tom, dick, Harry, or where anyone else ranks a player isn’t worth a damn thing. NFL teams have been scouting these players for years. Not just the year they’re drafted. Every single draft players rise/fall and every single year fans and pundits are shocked. Those players that rose or fell did so on the big boards put together by the people that are actually scouting these players. It’s only surprising to fans and the media

 

I stand corrected. I still see many rankings outside the top 30 and below Thieneman.

 

I don't think Jones was a reach. The way they are comparable is they are both unpolished. Last night, however, was definitely a reach.

I'm not sure if Thieneman is a good enough in man coverage for the slot, but he easily could have been starting at free safety as soon as this season.

 

Agree. Max Iheanachor is not a horrible reach, but he was more a bottom first rounder, so likely should have been Cooper or Thianemen. You trade down for Iheanachor. They lost value in the pick.

Once Roseman jumped Khan, the clock was running, so those trade down offers by other teams were definitely being lowballed. Very disheartening how asleep at the switch Khan was last night.

 

Their age

 

They need help at safety I like Bud Clark in the mid rounds, the starters will be Brisker and Elliott.