The Pete Carroll-inspired CGL coaching model for the Honolulu Wave says the No. 7 pick in the inaugural draft is high enough to matter and deep enough to preserve options. In a public pre-draft interview, the model described the slot as “a strong spot” that places the Wave “right in the middle of the action,” a position that should let the club “stay true to our board and still land a difference-maker.”
That framing matters because Honolulu enters the league with no existing roster base and a 36-round startup draft ahead. The model repeatedly returned to balance: build a team that can play fast, keep pressure on opponents and add reliable pieces around early impact talent, while avoiding the mistake of chasing one position simply because the Wave sit seventh.
The positions drawing the most public attention are corner, safety, edge and running back. The model also said quarterbacks and receivers who can separate and create explosive plays remain on the radar. That is a useful read on how Honolulu appears to value the draft: it is not narrowing itself to one lane, but it is prioritizing players who can change games and hold value.
“We’ll always start with the best player who helps us win, but we’re not ignoring position or the long view,” the model said. “If two players are close, we lean toward the one who gives us more impact, more versatility, and more room to grow.”
That answer drew the clearest line through Honolulu’s stated approach. The Wave are not treating best player available and positional value as competing ideas so much as filters that work together. If a premium quarterback or receiver is clearly the best football answer at No. 7, the model said the team would respect that. If the board offers a cleaner fit at another spot, Honolulu sounds willing to wait.
“We keep the positions that drive the most value at the front, but we don’t force it if the board gives us a real shot at a difference-maker,” the model said in a follow-up exchange. “The key is not getting trapped by a label — it’s getting the player who gives us the best chance to win and still keeps the roster moving in the right direction.”
That language suggests a draft plan built around flexibility rather than fixation. At No. 7, the Wave believe they do not need to force the first selection, but they also cannot drift and hope the board comes to them. The model said the team will be ready to attack when the right player is there and disciplined if the value says to wait.
The interview also offered the first public hints of how the Wave are interpreting the early preseason landscape, though the model was careful to keep one game in perspective. Asked about the Aug. 6 Hall of Fame Game, a 33-30 Carolina victory over Arizona, the model pointed to Haynes King’s finish and Carson Beck’s efficiency while stressing that one preseason night should not produce sweeping judgments.
“What stood out most to me was how Haynes King kept competing — the passing and the finish with his legs showed real playmaking energy,” the model said. “Carson Beck also showed efficiency and command, and that matters. But it’s one preseason game, so nobody should get crowned or knocked down too far off one night.”
That caution is important. Hall of Fame Game production can inform a draft conversation, but it cannot override broader evaluation or turn a single outing into a full verdict. The verified box score also included a 9-of-10, 106-yard, one-touchdown passing line from Kedon Slovis, plus notable work from Jalen Brooks and AJ Dillon. Honolulu’s public remarks, though, stayed centered on general traits and not on promoting any one player into a larger role.
For Wave fans, the clearest takeaway is the kind of team the model wants to build. Honolulu is aiming for speed, toughness, versatility and weekly competitiveness, with a defense that can fly around and take the ball away. The model said the roster should include playmakers on both sides and enough athleticism to keep pressure on opponents every week.
“They should expect a team that competes hard, plays fast, and keeps pressure on people,” the model said. “We want an athletic roster with playmakers on both sides and a defense that flies around and takes the ball away.”
The final message was even simpler. Honolulu is not promising shortcuts, and it is not pretending the first pick will solve everything. It is promising patience where needed, aggression where justified and a roster built to earn its place.
“We’re here to compete, build it right, and let the players earn it every step of the way,” the model said.