The Tankathon thread,i.e., the 2026 Draft

[KillerRaider30]

https://www.tankathon.com/nfl

[DanKD]

Not true. They took Rattler in the 5th round last year, not the second. If they think they can nab someone better than Rattler, why wouldn't they? They have little invested in Rattler.

Uh they took Rattler two years ago. They selected their current starter Shough in the 2nd round this last draft.

That said, Shough is old and doesnt have much upside so I doubt they pass on a potential franchise qb if one is there.

[CWood24]

Not with NIL. They're making millions in college

Even with NiL it is a bigger risk

Just look at the likes of Allar, Nussmeier or Klubnik these kids would have been 1st round picks last year, they’ll be lucky to be Day 2 pick the way they’ve played

Cam Ward is making 12 mil a year on average whereas the highest payed college player Arch Manning is projected to make around 4 to 6 million


Mendoza, Moore & Simpson most likely go high if they come out if they go back & have a stinker then you risk moving yourself out of contention for being picked high

My point is NIL might not be as much of a factor at the top end of the draft as people think as 6-8 million is a difference maker which is my point

[chucker]

Even with NiL is is a bogger risk

Just look at the likes of Allar, Nussmeier or Klubnik these kids would have been 1st round picks last year, they’ll be lucky to be Day 2 pick the way they’ve played

Cam Ward is making 12 mil a year on average whereas the highest payed college Arch Manning is projected to make around 4 to 6 million


Mendoza, Moore & Simpson most likely go high if they come out if they go back & have a stinker then you risk moving yourself out of contention for being picked high

My point is NIL might not be as much of a factor at the top end of the draft as people as 6-8 million is a difference maker which is my point

To further support your point...... if a guy is likely to be a first rounder and comes out of college with eligibility remaining, he foregoes a year of NIL money but gets 4 years of guaranteed NFL money. That 4 year deal sounds like more money to me. And if a guy is a success in the NFL then he can get to his second contract a year earlier because he started his NFL career a year earlier.

The bigger risk is when you look at a guy like Sanders, who thought he'd be a first rounder but ended up going in the 5th with a contract to match. I don't know if he had eligibility remaining in college and had the choice to wait but it demonstrates that the draft "buzz" doesn't always pan out.

[LayneStaley]

If you are a top 5 pick you come out imo.

[Attyla]

To further support your point...... if a guy is likely to be a first rounder and comes out of college with eligibility remaining, he foregoes a year of NIL money but gets 4 years of guaranteed NFL money. That 4 year deal sounds like more money to me. And if a guy is a success in the NFL then he can get to his second contract a year earlier because he started his NFL career a year earlier.

The bigger risk is when you look at a guy like Sanders, who thought he'd be a first rounder but ended up going in the 5th with a contract to match. I don't know if he had eligibility remaining in college and had the choice to wait but it demonstrates that the draft "buzz" doesn't always pan out.

I believe he had one more year of eligibility but I could be wrong

[BoKnows81]

Not true. They took Rattler in the 5th round last year, not the second. If they think they can nab someone better than Rattler, why wouldn't they? They have little invested in Rattler.

Do your homework. I'm not talking about Rattler

[Attyla]

Do your homework. I'm not talking about Rattler

Shough has been brutal.

[Hellbound]

Shough has been brutal.

Yeah if they're in position I don't see them passing on qb
People on here constantly say to continue to take swings at qb until you find one, why wouldn't other franchises do it?

[BoKnows81]

Shough has been brutal.

The guy has played 5 games in this league on a garbage team and has more TDs than INTs. All I'm saying is the Saints may want to see what they have. I'm not saying the will def pass up a QB if they get a chance.

[Attyla]

The guy has played 5 games in this league on a garbage team and has more TDs than INTs. All I'm saying is the Saints may want to see what they have. I'm not saying the will def pass up a QB if they get a chance.

maybe? It is the Saints and their ownership is too out there to predict. But TDs to INT does not really tell the story, he has been really bad, and he takes too many sacks that are on him. But you never know, they could keep rolling the dice

[heavyD]

maybe? It is the Saints and their ownership is too out there to predict. But TDs to INT does not really tell the story, he has been really bad, and he takes too many sacks that are on him. But you never know, they could keep rolling the dice

Rattler looked better. Looks like he may may an okay backup QB like AOC.

[Attyla]

Rattler looked better. Looks like he may may an okay backup QB like AOC.

Yea, he has not been great but spot starter may be his role going forward

[DanKD]

Shough is also 26 and was considered pro ready. He looks like crap for that. If he was a raw 21 year old then they may stick it out, but hes not developing much more.

[Willmark]

IMO the Saints are even worse than us and still have cap issues to finish dealing with in 2026. Tea leaf reading? I think they give Shough another year.

Looking at the long game here too? Steelers and Rams will be further back but have to address QB. Steelers much sooner but aren't used to moving up. The Rams? They have proven to not be risk adverse and if the right QB is there? I could seem them moving up. Stafford is playing great but he also has a lot of mileage. Dude is tough as nails but those hits add up.

[RunOverByHubbard]

Uh they took Rattler two years ago. They selected their current starter Shough in the 2nd round this last draft.

That said, Shough is old and doesnt have much upside so I doubt they pass on a potential franchise qb if one is there.

Shoot my bad. But, in any case, Shough is not the answer from what I have seen. In a weak QB class, everyone agrees that Mendoza is the man and without the other two declaring, it is a bad QB class.