The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL An Idiot's GUIDE to the 2026 NFL Draft
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Mar 20, 2026 Dave Helman, conversational draft analyst, and Dane Brugler, longtime prospect scout, break down the 2026 NFL Draft landscape. They debate ‘take the best’ vs positional value. They parse shifting draft narratives, QB and RB scarcity, edge rusher flavors and depth, standout receiver tiers, tight end surge, and Caleb Downs and the deep safety group.
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Draft The Best Player For Impact Value
- The 2026 class rewards taking the best available player rather than overvaluing position in a vacuum.
- Dane and Dave argue impact value beats positional value because roster context and contract costs change the pick's true worth.
Be Willing To Draft Smart Safeties Early
- Consider elite safeties like Caleb Downs despite non-traditional traits because they can unlock defenses immediately.
- Dane emphasizes Downs' football IQ, tackling and role at Ohio State made him a game-changer even without standout testing.
Expect More Doubles Than Home Runs
- The top of this draft has many question marks; teams should accept hitting doubles instead of swinging only for home runs.
- Dave highlights Fernando Mendoza and Jeremiah Love as relatively safer top prospects while many others carry sizable projection risk.