2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[Blacknapkins]

Originally Posted by emac213

I'm pissed the Steelers didn't draft Sanders with the 3rd round pick. Smh.

The draft will be in Pittsburgh next year, and my guess is that they will take a QB then. Manning, Iamaleava, Allar, Nussmeier, Sellers, Klubnik, and Leavitt the 2026 QB Class has way more potential talent than the 2025 class, and Sanders was way overhyped. He doesn't have good processing speed or arm strength; he doesn't throw with anticipation, and his inability to make quick decisions under pressure is terrible. His throwing motion is slow, and he sometimes holds onto the ball too long, increasing his risk of sacks. I like their first two picks. Harmon is basically Cam Heyward 2.0, and Kaleb Johnson reminds me of Le'Veon Bell/Todd Gurley; he has incredible vision and feet, and he fits Arthur Smith's outside zone scheme perfectly.

[ChadFL]

Some thoughts about my Jags moving up to land Travis Hunter. I get why they did it. He's one of the most naturally gifted, most athletic players to enter the NFL draft in a long time. Just playing WR or CB at a Heisman level in the NCAA is incredible, but to do BOTH is almost unheard of. Obviously, you can't play 2-way in the NFL, so he'll almost certainly be strictly a CB, where I do think his ceiling is higher, in addition to that position just being more valuable as great CB's are hard to come by. Jacksonville also garners a lot of fan interest with Travis Hunter.

All that said, this is a potentially big risk. Hunter really needs to be that franchise All-Pro level CB he's capable of becoming to make the trade worth it. To move up only 3 picks, Jacksonville gave up their #5 overall, giving up next year's 1st round pick and a 2nd round this year. There's a good chance the Jags 2026 pick is top-10.

[traths]

Originally Posted by Blacknapkins

The draft will be in Pittsburgh next year, and my guess is that they will take a QB then. Manning, Iamaleava, Allar, Nussmeier, Sellers, Klubnik, and Leavitt the 2026 QB Class has way more potential talent than the 2025 class, and Sanders was way overhyped. He doesn't have good processing speed or arm strength; he doesn't throw with anticipation, and his inability to make quick decisions under pressure is terrible. His throwing motion is slow, and he sometimes holds onto the ball too long, increasing his risk of sacks. I like their first two picks. Harmon is basically Cam Heyward 2.0, and Kaleb Johnson reminds me of Le'Veon Bell/Todd Gurley; he has incredible vision and feet, and he fits Arthur Smith's outside zone scheme perfectly.

To add to what you said he also didn't show up for his pro day, didn't play in the Senior Bowl, and refused to throw at the combine. His entitlement and arrogance is what kept him from getting drafted. This guy is a walking red flag and NFL scouts and GMs all saw it.

[R3P0]

Some more seems to be coming out about the Sanders situation

The Ringer’s Todd McShay recently revealed that Daboll had a negative experience with Sanders during one of their private pre-draft meetings. It left a bad taste in the mouths of those in the room and explains why the Giants passed on him.

It may also explain why Sanders remains on the board.


"Shedeur didn’t have a great interview with Brian Daboll in a private visit," McShay said. "An install package came in. Preparation wasn’t there for it. [He] got called out on it. Didn’t like that. Brian didn’t appreciate him not liking it."

McShay added that two teams drafting inside the top 10 with quarterback needs had meetings with Sanders that "did not go well." Those personnel sources felt Shedeur "did not care" what they thought of him.

[Samus Aran]

Did Kenny Pickett demand a trade yesterday when the Browns drafted Gabriel, and then demand another trade today when the Browns drafted Sanders?

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

Did Kenny Pickett demand a trade yesterday when the Browns drafted Gabriel, and then demand another trade today when the Browns drafted Sanders?

Not that I've heard

[VictoryAtNight]

Shedeur Sanders is a Brown.

Shedeur Sanders DRAFTED By The Cleveland Browns Full LIVE REACTION | 2025 NFL Draft - YouTube

[JDub1]

Now we have to wait four months for college and NFL football to return (sigh)

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Obviously, you can't play 2-way in the NFL, so he'll almost certainly be strictly a CB

Id be shocked if he doesnt play both.
I dont mean full time but i would think theyll have packages for him in certain situations just like others players have done.

[traths]

I wonder how he feels about it now.

[BizCat]

Regarding Sanders

So many analysts are screaming "collusion" but the reality is that he publicly shit on pro teams his senior year, he didn't win when it mattered, he's a known diva, he seems to be more worried about being a celebrity than a QB, and his dad is Lavar Ball 2.0 who will act as his agent, and you know he wants him to be overpaid, so you know negotiations are going to be a pain in the dick. The talent/potential is there, but at what cost to management and the locker room? With that said, maybe dropping to the 5th round will humble him a little bit and he'll be playing with that giant chip on his shoulder. I'm rooting for the kid, but I'm glad they didn't take him early. We'll see about Gabriel. I hate that pick when Will Howard was still on the board.

[El Rey]

when it was announced CLE picked Sanders a lot of people were clowning the fact that they now carry five QB's on the roster but Watson won't be available until mid-season, if at all. Flacco is old and inconsistent. Pickett is a decent backup option and not a starter. Gabriel I am unfamiliar with but he's a fellow rookie. really seems like the job is up for grabs and maybe, hopefully this slide humbles him a bit.

[ChadFL]

Seems like the worst case scenario for Sanders. Him slipping really isn't very damaging for him, as most kids, given his family is already rich. If he went undraftes, he could have picked for whoever he wanted to play for. Instead, he's a late round pick by one of the worst run organizations in pro sports. Aren't the Browns a few years from even digging out of the Watson contract debacle?

[El Rey]

glad the Niners addressed the need of the defensive line but god damn five of the first picks were defensive players. we did need a LB to compliment Warner since Greenlaw left. the CB pick was a question mark until it was just revealed Mustapha was injured in the season finale and won't be available until midseason. but the offensive line needed addressed as well and they didn't address that until the seventh round.

[unsung122212]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Seems like the worst case scenario for Sanders. Him slipping really isn't very damaging for him, as most kids, given his family is already rich. If he went undraftes, he could have picked for whoever he wanted to play for. Instead, he's a late round pick by one of the worst run organizations in pro sports. Aren't the Browns a few years from even digging out of the Watson contract debacle?

I think it’s a good situation for either Gabriel or Sanders. Cleveland already knows what they have with Flacco (will probably be the starter) and Pickett QB 2 unless Gabriel or Sanders really shows them something. They’re already moving on from Watson, whom they can get rid of in 2026. All the qbs on the team are suited for the style that Stefanski plays to. They could have trade bait if both rookie qbs show something in preseason for other teams. That plus the extra first round in 2026 (which is probably their true QB target) could be used for weapons or protection if Sanders performs like potential franchise guy (assuming he gets playing time).

[traths]

The Commanders and DC agreed to build a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...adium-rfk-site

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by BizCat

Regarding Sanders

So many analysts are screaming "collusion" but the reality is that he publicly shit on pro teams his senior year, he didn't win when it mattered, he's a known diva, he seems to be more worried about being a celebrity than a QB, and his dad is Lavar Ball 2.0 who will act as his agent, and you know he wants him to be overpaid, so you know negotiations are going to be a pain in the dick. The talent/potential is there, but at what cost to management and the locker room? With that said, maybe dropping to the 5th round will humble him a little bit and he'll be playing with that giant chip on his shoulder. I'm rooting for the kid, but I'm glad they didn't take him early. We'll see about Gabriel. I hate that pick when Will Howard was still on the board.

I don't buy any claims of collusion in the least bit. NFL owners and GM's aren't a bunch of guys who sit around in a smokey room slapping asses coming up with large scale conspiracies. Sure some may be friends, but by and large we're talking about a bunch of billionaires who's cut each other's throat if they have the opportunity and GM's have their job on the line every single season. If any owner or GM looked at Shedeur Sanders and thought, "this guy has the talent and leadership ability to be a franchise QB," you can damn well bet he'd be gone by the end of round 2 or 3. The fact that he was drafted in the 5th round means 32 teams independently looked at him and saw him as a 5th round draft pick. And yeah, I do think the bulk of the concern is his character/personality, because I certainly think he's no worse than a 3rd round pick based solely on talent. Not that character isn't a valid concern - especially when it comes to QB's, who are expected to be team leaders. The NFL is littered with the corpses of guys like Ryan Leaf and Johnny Manziel who did have a lot of talent, but completely lacked the maturity both on and off the field to succeed at the highest level.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by unsung122212

I think it’s a good situation for either Gabriel or Sanders. Cleveland already knows what they have with Flacco (will probably be the starter) and Pickett QB 2 unless Gabriel or Sanders really shows them something. They’re already moving on from Watson, whom they can get rid of in 2026. All the qbs on the team are suited for the style that Stefanski plays to. They could have trade bait if both rookie qbs show something in preseason for other teams. That plus the extra first round in 2026 (which is probably their true QB target) could be used for weapons or protection if Sanders performs like potential franchise guy (assuming he gets playing time).

Possibly. I will give Cleveland some credit for doing their best to emerge from the Deshaun Watson disaster, which was arguably a bigger disaster of a trade than the Russell Wilson trade was for Denver. Cleveland gave up a ton in terms of draft picks, as well as sunk cap money, but I do think they did a solid job drafting this time. The QB's they took aren't a huge loss, even if both are busts. They only gave up a late 3rd round pick for Gabriel and a 5th round pisk for Sanders. Their early round picks were very solid and they scored and for merely trading down 3 spots in this draft, they get Jacksonville's 2026 first round pick (good chance it's top-10) as well as the Jags 2nd round pick in this draft. Browns are also past the Deshaun trade in terms of giving up draft picks as well. Cleveland also did manage to get Myles Garrett, the anchor of their defense and an all-world player, to stick around, which helps a lot.

[DKLou]

Originally Posted by BizCat

Regarding Sanders

So many analysts are screaming "collusion" but the reality is that he publicly shit on pro teams his senior year, he didn't win when it mattered, he's a known diva, he seems to be more worried about being a celebrity than a QB, and his dad is Lavar Ball 2.0 who will act as his agent, and you know he wants him to be overpaid, so you know negotiations are going to be a pain in the dick. The talent/potential is there, but at what cost to management and the locker room? With that said, maybe dropping to the 5th round will humble him a little bit and he'll be playing with that giant chip on his shoulder. I'm rooting for the kid, but I'm glad they didn't take him early. We'll see about Gabriel. I hate that pick when Will Howard was still on the board.

Nice to read some logic here. The media, or at least some of the usual suspects like ESPN have been drooling over this kid and it’s based on… ummm…. Nothing tangible. He very possibly has a low ceiling & good people with actual talent and player assessment skills know this. He’s a mediocre, ,ate round prospect and that’s it.

So, normally this would be fine and happens all the time. The 800lb gorilla is that Deion is a great ex-player but he’s also a hot dog. Massive primadonna and extremely loud. A team then not only had to take a chance on what’s been a mediocre QB at best but they also get the Deion circus on top of that? No effing way. The browns could have waited even longer or not bothered. We’ll see how this plays out but claiming collusion is almost as dumb as claiming racism here and people are doing that too.

[mwynn]

Every year the "experts" are wrong about multiple players. Let's see what happens on the field.