2026 Cowboys Draft Chatter Thread

[Simpleton]

Random thought, but I'm kind of confused on why Ioane is getting so much pub.

Even though we obviously won't be taking him I wanted to get a look out of curiosity and it's very strange to me that some are touting him as one of the best prospects in the class, even some saying "best OG prospect since Nelson" which is patently insane. He's an excellent OG prospect and I think pretty similar to Booker last year, but it feels like an overcorrection to how high Booker and Zabel went last year, who both went on to play very well.

It might just be part of everyone realizing how strange this class is and then elevating a very safe, high floor prospect.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Random thought, but I'm kind of confused on why Ioane is getting so much pub.

Even though we obviously won't be taking him I wanted to get a look out of curiosity and it's very strange to me that some are touting him as one of the best prospects in the class, even some saying "best OG prospect since Nelson" which is patently insane. He's an excellent OG prospect and I think pretty similar to Booker last year, but it feels like an overcorrection to how high Booker and Zabel went last year, who both went on to play very well.

It might just be part of everyone realizing how strange this class is and then elevating a very safe, high floor prospect.

Yeah I have to admit, I have watched nothing of him. I mean I've watched his games but to know much about an Olineman you have to really watch the player specifically. I can't say I've really given any thought to any of the Olineman in the early portion of this draft.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It might just be part of everyone realizing how strange this class is and then elevating a very safe, high floor prospect.

I'm sure that's a lot of it.

 

[Simpleton]

I'm sure that's a lot of it.

Yea, I just remember the uproar over Booker's "athleticism" last year, which is generally an insane thing to get upset over with an interior OL who is 320+.

Ioane doesn't look a lick more athletic in space to me than Booker did, but I guess some just assume he is because he had a marginally better broad jump or whatever, and of course he didn't run a 40.

But ultimately all of that is nonsense with prospects like this, which is why I wanted to watch a few snaps to see if he looked any more athletic.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Yea, I just remember the uproar over Booker's "athleticism" last year, which is generally an insane thing to get upset over with an interior OL who is 320+.

Ioane doesn't look a lick more athletic in space to me than Booker did, but I guess some just assume he is because he had a marginally better broad jump or whatever, and of course he didn't run a 40.

But ultimately all of that is nonsense with prospects like this, which is why I wanted to watch a few snaps to see if he looked any more athletic.

I doubt athleticism has anything to do with it. He's a great prospect on tape. He allowed 0 sacks in his final 2 seasons and I think like 4 pressures in 2025. Dude is pretty great.

And that said, it's not like he's generally projected to go ten or anything. I think he's rated right around where he should be.

 

[Simpleton]

I doubt athleticism has anything to do with it. He's a great prospect on tape. He allowed 0 sacks in his final 2 seasons and I think like 4 pressures in 2025. Dude is pretty great.

And that said, it's not like he's generally projected to go ten or anything. I think he's rated right around where he should be.

He's good but I'm just saying I've heard some of these media draft types float the idea that he's the best OG prospect since Nelson and there might be an argument for him as the best prospect in this class after the Reese/Bailey/Styles/Downs tier, all of which is insane based on what I saw from him.

 

[Genghis Khan]

He's good but I'm just saying I've heard some of these media draft types float the idea that he's the best OG prospect since Nelson and there might be an argument for him as the best prospect in this class after the Reese/Bailey/Styles/Downs tier, all of which is insane based on what I saw from him.

I haven't heard any of that but I wouldn't downgrade him because a couple dumbasses threw out some hyperbole. He's a great prospect and will be a very good pro.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He's good but I'm just saying I've heard some of these media draft types float the idea that he's the best OG prospect since Nelson and there might be an argument for him as the best prospect in this class after the Reese/Bailey/Styles/Downs tier, all of which is insane based on what I saw from him.

I mean if you say he is a slightly better prospect than Booker was, who else has been a great guard prospect since Nelson? Names aren't ringing a bell for me right now. I mean any time a guard is in the conversation as a top 15 prospect they must be a damn good prospect.

 

[Simpleton]

I mean if you say he is a slightly better prospect than Booker was, who else has been a great guard prospect since Nelson? Names aren't ringing a bell for me right now. I mean any time a guard is in the conversation as a top 15 prospect they must be a damn good prospect.

I'm saying that or you're saying if someone thinks that hypothetically?

Because I definitely don't think he's as good as Booker was after watching a few of his games.

It was always funny to me how Booker got slammed for his athleticism when he literally started at LT for a full game his last year at Alabama. I don't think Ioane could have managed that.

And to answer your question I think Skoronski in recent memory was better as well. Ioane will be excellent I think, but the hype is over the top with some.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I haven't heard any of that but I wouldn't downgrade him because a couple dumbasses threw out some hyperbole. He's a great prospect and will be a very good pro.

Wait I just realized Simp said AFTER the top tier.

I take back what I said, I don't think that's hyperbole at all. After the top tier he's up there.

As far as since Nelson? If he's not the best since then he's in the conversation.

It's not crazy.

 

[Simpleton]

Wait I just realized Simp said AFTER the top tier.

I take back what I said, I don't think that's hyperbole at all. After the top tier he's up there.

As far as since Nelson? If he's not the best since then he's in the conversation.

It's not crazy.

I think the top tier that was thrown out was actually Love/Reese/Styles/Downs, which would theoretically mean he's better than guys like Bailey, Bain and Delane, which I find a bit insane.

I think he might be in the conversation in terms of 1st round OG's just because there aren't that many each year, but to me he's much closer to a guy like Lindstrom than he is Nelson, at best I'd say he's roughly equal with Booker who many had around 18-20ish last year.

 

[Genghis Khan]

which would theoretically mean he's better than guys like Bailey, Bain and Delane, which I find a bit insane.

Yeah I don't agree with that.

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah I don't agree with that.

My overall point was that while he's a very good prospect I just think the hype is a bit out of control because of the general oddness of the class, and perhaps also as an overcorrection to sort of underrating Booker and Zabel last year.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I'm saying that or you're saying if someone thinks that hypothetically?

Hypothetically, I'm not going to be watching a first round guard prospect so I don't think I can honestly compare him as a prospect to Booker.

Also Skoronski is a little different category for me. Only because I think there was some possibility he could be an OT. The guy was a full time college LT. I was thinking more in terms of pure guard.

I mean Mauigoa is a guard to some people. Technically he is probably a better guard prospect in this draft.

Of course Zach Martin was a college OT but was clearly an NFL guard prospect so I'm not really sure how to judge "best guard prospect"

 

[Genghis Khan]

My overall point was that while he's a very good prospect I just think the hype is a bit out of control because of the general oddness of the class, and perhaps also as an overcorrection to sort of underrating Booker and Zabel last year.

That's where I disagree. I don't think the hype is out of control at all. I feel like you're listening to a couple people and over amplifying it.

I think generally he's rated where he should be.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

My overall point was that while he's a very good prospect I just think the hype is a bit out of control because of the general oddness of the class, and perhaps also as an overcorrection to sort of underrating Booker and Zabel last year.

If there was real hype we would be talking about him going before pick 12. I haven't seen any of that conversation.

Mostly I've heard he is a similar prospect to Booker last year who went higher than expected.

 

[Cotton]

Is it just me or is this a really weird draft class? Shit at QB, shit at OL, really top heavy for defense, insanely deep at CB, outside of the top 3 or so, not much at S. Maybe it's just a really weak class overall.

 

[NoDak]

Is it just me or is this a really weird draft class? Shit at QB, shit at OL, really top heavy for defense, insanely deep at CB, outside of the top 3 or so, not much at S. Maybe it's just a really weak class overall.

I think you're missing out on safety. After the top three, there are guys like Smith, Haulcy, Clark, Kilgore, Ramsey, who I think all are at least 3rd round types. Then you have guys like Wheatley, Taaffe, Moore and Payne. That's a lot of names, and a few of them will slip into the later rounds just because of numbers. A nice value could be found.

 

[bbgun]

 

[Cotton]

I think you're missing out on safety. After the top three, there are guys like Smith, Haulcy, Clark, Kilgore, Ramsey, who I think all are at least 3rd round types. Then you have guys like Wheatley, Taaffe, Moore and Payne. That's a lot of names, and a few of them will slip into the later rounds just because of numbers. A nice value could be found.

Yeah, you're right. And, I didn't really type that out fully anyway. Got in a hurry because my phone was about to ring. It is also heavy at EDGE. So, maybe it's just that it is heavy on defense and not so much on offense. Because, even at RB, after Love there isn't much there until the 4th worth taking.