2026 Live Draft Thread As It Happens

[Hongbit]

 

Philly once again figures out how to make an expensive move despite already leading the league in future void money by a wide margin.

I keep being told that the Lions have to be mindful of the cap and need to be more conservative.  I don’t get how Philly is able to make things happen for today while the Lions are handcuffed.   

[Motown Bombers]

6 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

 

Philly once again figures out how to make an expensive move despite already leading the league in future void money by a wide margin.

I keep being told that the Lions have to be mindful of the cap and need to be more conservative.  I don’t get how Philly is able to make things happen for today while the Lions are handcuffed.   

Because the Eagles let Josh Sweat, Jaelen Phillips and Milton Williams walk and don't have one of the highest paid players in the league already on the defensive line. 

[Motown Bombers]

The Lions should have let Hutchinson and McNeil walk so they can "make things happen for today."

[CMRivdogs]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

given that the lions traded up in round 2, getting rid of a 4th rounder to do so, and then chose not to trade up into round 3, i wonder if that means they dont think too highly of this draft class?  or that there's little difference left between levels of prospects? 

we'll see if they trade future capital today to get someone.

I've seen a couple of articles that indicated that several NFL evaluators feel that NIL has made the later round "prospects" less valuable or something. They don't think the talent is there

[Motown Bombers]

ESPN's B team draft coverage is better than their A team. 

[Hongbit]

6 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

The Lions should have let Hutchinson and McNeil walk so they can "make things happen for today."

Yes, they probably should’ve let McNeil walk.  They definitely shouldn’t have extended him when they did.  

Philly continues to make major improvements every year and focus mainly on how they can get to a Super Bowl right now rather than worrying about the future.  It very well may bite them in the ass in 5 years but they are likely to have even more NFC championships by then.  
 

[4hzglory]

7 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

I've seen a couple of articles that indicated that several NFL evaluators feel that NIL has made the later round "prospects" less valuable or something. They don't think the talent is there

I can get that the first few years of NIL, but once those are past, and guys are out of eligibility in college, you are going to have the same amount of guys coming in with more overall experience.  So in other words, I don’t buy that it’s as extreme as they say in year 3-4 of NIL, and think that negative effect will continue to leasen over time.

[CMRivdogs]

1 minute ago, 4hzglory said:

I can get that the first few years of NIL, but once those are past, and guys are out of eligibility in college, you are going to have the same amount of guys coming in with more overall experience.  So in other words, I don’t buy that it’s as extreme as they say in year 3-4 of NIL, and think that negative effect will continue to leasen over time.

Probably true. I think the current feeling is that some of the prospects will stay in "school" for a couple extra years shortening their careers in "pro ball". It will probably shake out in the long run

[Motown Bombers]

Just now, Hongbit said:

Yes, they probably should’ve let McNeil walk.  They definitely shouldn’t have extended him when they did.  

Philly continues to make major improvements every year and focus mainly on how they can get to a Super Bowl right now rather than worrying about the future.  It very well may bite them in the ass in 5 years but they are likely to have even more NFC championships by then.  
 

They extended McNeil halfway through the last year of his contract when he was having a Pro Bowl season. GTFO with that. 

The Eagles could have just re-signed Sweat for less money than Greenard who was better than Greenard and didn't cost multiple draft picks. The Eagles were also just as quiet as the Lions in free agency. AJ Brown is also good as gone so that frees up cap space. 

[4hzglory]

Just now, CMRivdogs said:

Probably true. I think the current feeling is that some of the prospects will stay in "school" for a couple extra years shortening their careers in "pro ball". It will probably shake out in the long run

Flip side is they should come in more ready.

[Stanley70]

The worst part of watching the draft is listening to these random fans and ex-players announce picks. STFU and read the card!

[Hongbit]

4 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

They extended McNeil halfway through the last year of his contract when he was having a Pro Bowl season. GTFO with that. 

The Eagles could have just re-signed Sweat for less money than Greenard who was better than Greenard and didn't cost multiple draft picks. The Eagles were also just as quiet as the Lions in free agency. AJ Brown is also good as gone so that frees up cap space. 

You asked if they shouldve let him walk.  The answer is probably so.   

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

You asked if they shouldve let him walk.  The answer is probably so.   

Then they could have traded for an injured pass rusher and give him a larger contract than the better pass rusher they let walk because they make it happen. 

[Motown Bombers]

Lions should have let McNeil and Hutchinson walk and trade St Brown so they could trade draft picks and give McNeil's money to an injured pass rusher. Make it happen Holmes. 

[Hongbit]

They could have done lots of things. Signing McNeill to that large extension was not a great move.   

[Motown Bombers]

Just now, Hongbit said:

They could have done lots of things. Signing McNeill to that large extension was not a great move.   

But trading for an injured pass rusher and giving him a large contract is. McNeil was playing at a Pro Bowl level and was healthy. This is just hindsight bull****. McNeil will also be healthy this year and there's no reason he can't return to form. 

[RedRamage]

2 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

They could have done lots of things. Signing McNeill to that large extension was not a great move.   

I think it's too early to tell on that. He wasn't super productive last season, but he was coming back from an injury as well, so it's possible he'll be back to his old self this year.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

The Raiders draft McCoy. I'm surprised Brad didn't take a flyer on him. 

[RedRamage]

If they take a safety this round @buddha gonna have a field day with all of us! 🙂

 

[Hongbit]

It also may end up to be a terrible move to sign Hutch to that deal too.  He wasn’t the same guy last year.  I think he will be ok but time will tell if that is another move that Brad didn’t get right. 

Great GM’s are the ones that end up with the right result at the end of the deal versus being lauded for making what seemed like the right move at the time when it was signed.  

[lordstanley]

There goes Keionte Scott 

[Hongbit]

2 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

I think it's too early to tell on that. He wasn't super productive last season, but he was coming back from an injury as well, so it's possible he'll be back to his old self this year.

As of this moment, it was not the correct move.  That could change but that’s relying on hope versus the reality of what just happened.  

I’m not sure why it’s more likely that he returns to that player than it is that he’s older, more injured and less productive player. 

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

It also may end up to be a terrible move to sign Hutch to that deal too.  He wasn’t the same guy last year.  I think he will be ok but time will tell if that is another move that Brad didn’t get right. 

Great GM’s are the ones that end up with the right result at the end of the deal versus being lauded for making what seemed like the right move at the time when it was signed.  

LMAO Hutchinson led the NFL in pressures. 

The right result was to keep Sweat who was better than Greenard last year, cost less, and didn't cost draft picks. 

[Hongbit]

1 minute ago, lordstanley said:

There goes Keionte Scott 

I liked him.  I’m surprised the Eagles didn’t trade up for him. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Hongbit

[Motown Bombers]

Just now, Hongbit said:

As of this moment, it was not the correct move.  That could change but that’s relying on hope versus the reality of what just happened.  

I’m not sure why it’s more likely that he returns to that player than it is that he’s older, more injured and less productive player. 

You're right. If the Eagles traded for McNeil they would be making it happen today.