Unless Wilson and Overshown look really strong we basically could draft the BPA on defense at any position outside of DT, where we obviously have way too much invested to turn around and spend a 1 on it. I don't think safety is a strong possibility because of the talent, although of course I'd take Downs if he was there.
So in all likelihood we'll probably need impact players at DE, LB and possibly even CB, with only two 1's and no 2/3. In my mind that means they need to do something in FA (like sign Quincy Williams), because even though I like the first round talent at all three of those positions, I don't want to feel like we have to trade down just so we can add numbers.
Other random thoughts based on some stuff I've been wondering about plus the Brugler rankings:
-David Bailey is my guy and I don't think anybody can move me off it. He's never going to be able to set the edge in a 4-3 like you want but truthfully I don't give a fuck. He's guaranteed to be a very good if not elite edge rusher, add him to Ezeiruaku, Williams and Osa and you're going to have an elite pass rush at some point in 2026. Figure out the run defense with JAG's and/or vets like Clowney and Thomas.
-Keldric Faulk looked like a guaranteed top 5ish pick when I saw him against Alabama last year but he's been really quiet this year. Part of that is schematic like Brugler says, part is Auburn sucks which demoralizes players, but he also just looks really inconsistent. I wouldn't complain at all if we took him around 12-15 but my gut tells me it'd be better to take a sure fire guy like Bailey who has no real warts aside from size/run defense, which is something a good coach can work around.
-If McCoy tests well I'll be worried about our braintrust falling in love with him. He's one of the few guys with prototypical size and was excellent last year, but I'd rather wait on a guy like Delane or Terrell with our second 1st.
-Assuming our first pick is around 12-15, with the other being around 18-24, I feel like we should go DE with the first pick (Bailey/Faulk/Bain) and then LB/CB with the second (Allen/Styles at LB, Terrell/Delane at CB).
-Reese and Downs are the obvious outliers that you take immediately if they're available.
-If we do want a prototypical 4-3 DE I like Zion Young and Quincy Rhodes, but guys like them lose some of their appeal to me because they're better fits on the inside in clear passing situations, and we already have Williams/Osa slated for that.
-If Love is there at our first pick we have to consider him. I wouldn't love going RB with the defense in the situation it's in but he'd most likely be the clear BPA and would be a seamless fit with Williams.
-Not interested in OT at all even though it might be a massive need. It's just a weak overall class with lots of guys who might be better suited on the inside. Fano has disappointed a bit and I don't think he'd be worth taking in the top 15 for us.
Kind of a strange class because you have 2 QB's with barely any starting experience who are at the top of the class, plus a guy like Mendoza who is just kid of meh as a prospect. But you know teams are going to roll the dice there no matter what, so they're going to go high unless they tank the rest of the year.
Then you have a mixed bag of position prospects with no surefire blue chip guys except Downs and Reese, both of whom play positions that teams generally avoid high in the draft.
Put all that together and I think it's going to make for a very unpredictable first round.
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