• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

2026 NFL Scouting Combine

Prior to the combine, I got the sense Cooper was going to be the WR who could sneak into the first round. He's right fourth on my draft wishlist at WR. Some combination of Tate/Lemon/Tyson are going very early and at least one will fall within trade range. Tyson may have the highest upside...it's just that injury red flag that's concerning. I know some may consider it a reach, but I'd be pretty happy with Cooper in the first.

 
I think Allar is going in Rd 1. Teams are desperate for QBs and so far I see people trying to talk themselves into Ty Simpson, a backup QB arm talent with good but not outstanding film. I'm guessing at least 1 team will see Allar as a top 10 talent with fixable mechanical issues.

I can see the Rams taking Allar. They have pick 13 and 29 in rd 1. Let him sit behind Stafford for a season or 2 while his mechanics get fixed. Steelers may also want that scenario with Allar sitting behind Rodgers.

Jets at 16? Please no. No young QB deserves that.

Will Vikings give up on McCarthy at 18?

Browns have pick 6 and 24. I'd hate to see Allar with the Browns but especially now with Shedur fans who are under the delusion that he's an elite talent.
Talking yourself into taking a QB in the first round gives you a high probability of setting back your franchise for 4 years. Not only does he have a high likelihood of busting but you feel like you have to give him every chance to succeed. I ask it every time drafting a qb comes up. Which qb besides Mendoza has better tangible and intangibles then Will Howard in this draft. And Ive yet to hear an answer much less a coherent argument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xjx
Talking yourself into taking a QB in the first round gives you a high probability of setting back your franchise for 4 years. Not only does he have a high likelihood of busting but you feel like you have to give him every chance to succeed. I ask it every time drafting a qb comes up. Which qb besides Mendoza has better tangible and intangibles then Will Howard in this draft. And Ive yet to hear an answer much less a coherent argument.

I'd take a flier on Allar, Beck, maybe Nussmeier. Can't put all the eggs in the Will Howard basket. Let them battle it out, keep drafting til you get Him.
 
Talking yourself into taking a QB in the first round gives you a high probability of setting back your franchise for 4 years. Not only does he have a high likelihood of busting but you feel like you have to give him every chance to succeed. I ask it every time drafting a qb comes up. Which qb besides Mendoza has better tangible and intangibles then Will Howard in this draft. And Ive yet to hear an answer much less a coherent argument.
Fans want to see Will Howard and McCarthy and Khan keep talking him up. They're either setting up a huge smokescreen for something or setting him up for heavy criticism when he plays like a 6th-round pick if he ever gets a chance.
 
No short QBs or ones with small hands. We need big strong QBs.
Will be interesting seeing those combine measures.

I want Magic Mike zooming in on that game footage. See what QB is his favorite. We are talking binge game tape reading, pizza roll feeding , we”ll Motel 6 leave the light on - needing.
 
We will know more after the combine but it looks like this would be my draft strategy

1. Outright ignore the QBs
2. Take a wr within the first two rounds. Take another around round 5... its extremely deep and worth double dipping.
3. Trade Highsmith, probably to the Saints who just switched to the 3/4 and need 3/4 edge guys... get their second rounder... draft an edge guy with one of the three third rounders, .. edge is real deep, and Sawyer and Herbig both need playing time... you arent trading Watt...
4. If you want another DT, take one no later than rd 2 this year. I dont think the DL depth is DTs as much as DE types
5. Use a third rounder on an IOL guy... they are gold and its deep enough a good one should be there
6. Take a DB later in the draft, another real deep spot this year. Unless they want a starter type.. getting a fifth or sixth rounder is fine...
7. Trade up for sure... or trade into the future... we dont need all 12 picks this year...
8. If you go RB.. take a late one..the kind that could spend a year on the PS without getting poached, but is good depth in case of a camp injury
9. A late gamble on a TE is another fine move..
10. Take another tackle, but not too early.. a guy is gonna drop into the 4th or 5th that will be great value and wont need to play right away
 
We will know more after the combine but it looks like this would be my draft strategy

1. Outright ignore the QBs
2. Take a wr within the first two rounds. Take another around round 5... its extremely deep and worth double dipping.
3. Trade Highsmith, probably to the Saints who just switched to the 3/4 and need 3/4 edge guys... get their second rounder... draft an edge guy with one of the three third rounders, .. edge is real deep, and Sawyer and Herbig both need playing time... you arent trading Watt...
4. If you want another DT, take one no later than rd 2 this year. I dont think the DL depth is DTs as much as DE types
5. Use a third rounder on an IOL guy... they are gold and its deep enough a good one should be there
6. Take a DB later in the draft, another real deep spot this year. Unless they want a starter type.. getting a fifth or sixth rounder is fine...
7. Trade up for sure... or trade into the future... we dont need all 12 picks this year...
8. If you go RB.. take a late one..the kind that could spend a year on the PS without getting poached, but is good depth in case of a camp injury
9. A late gamble on a TE is another fine move..
10. Take another tackle, but not too early.. a guy is gonna drop into the 4th or 5th that will be great value and wont need to play right away
Why Highsmith and not Herbig?

Which one would bring in more draft capital?

🤔
 
TJ Watt. A contender with cap space and the chance to add a superstar would choose Watt 10-out-of-10 times and he'd still fetch the most of the three.
I pimped him like no other I have ever pimped leading up to the draft. But without a franchise I would make that move. I would make it a next year pick(s). Teams can look at tape and see how many chips he sees. How disruptive he is. Yeah I would pull that trigger and he is my favorite current player.
 
I pimped him like no other I have ever pimped leading up to the draft. But without a franchise I would make that move. I would make it a next year pick(s). Teams can look at tape and see how many chips he sees. How disruptive he is. Yeah I would pull that trigger and he is my favorite current player.
It's the difference between running the team as a fan vs. as a business to produce a winner. Highsmith is criminally underrated here with fans constantly wanting to trade him and I think it's because of his injury history. He's one of the best all-around OLBs in the league. Not flashy, just gets the job done. Herbig is too young and explosive to let walk away and Sawyer honestly looked better than I expected as a rookie. In the perfect world, I keep them all. If I want to maximize trade return, I move Watt. I suppose if moving Watt isn't an option, you trade Highsmith because he's older than Herbig.
 
It's the difference between running the team as a fan vs. as a business to produce a winner. Highsmith is criminally underrated here with fans constantly wanting to trade him and I think it's because of his injury history. He's one of the best all-around OLBs in the league. Not flashy, just gets the job done. Herbig is too young and explosive to let walk away and Sawyer honestly looked better than I expected as a rookie. In the perfect world, I keep them all. If I want to maximize trade return, I move Watt. I suppose if moving Watt isn't an option, you trade Highsmith because he's older than Herbig.
I also look at who is the weakest against the run. With the way the running game has helped move that SB run needle you have to be able to stop it as well as run it.

In the end I want the one who brings in the most draft capital.
 
Last edited:
Why Highsmith and not Herbig?

Which one would bring in more draft capital?

🤔
Highsmith is a runstopping Olb that can rush the passer. He will be 29 this year, young enough to still have great value, he is only signed for 2 more seasons. He will need an extension next year anyway

Watt is a high end passrushing De/olb.. he will be effective for 3-4 more years... and he is already signed.

Herbig looks like a high end pass-rushing olb. He is just gonna be 25 this year. He had 7.5 sacks on 600 snaps last year...

Sawyer looks more like a Runstopping olb.. he doesnt have the same passrushing skills just yet... but like other similar guys that can develop...

If you look at this, highsmith's type of olb will likely have a shorter effective career length than Watt... and is a lot older than herbig. ... you want more snaps for Herbig and Sawyer... Highsmith is the logical trade option... that would free up the money to sign Herbig
 
Top