<b>Preloading 9 resources made LCP 200ms slower</b>

<b>Preloading 9 resources made LCP 200ms slower</b>
<code>&lt;link rel=preload&gt;</code> jumps the queue — but everything can't be first.
— 9 preloads (fonts, hero, 2 scripts, CSS) all competed in the first connection window
— The LCP image preload was now contending with 4 font preloads it didn't need
— Bandwidth split 9 ways delayed the one resource that mattered by 200ms
— Cut to 2 preloads (LCP image + critical CSS): image arrived 210ms sooner
Preload is a priority signal; signaling everything signals nothing.
Takeaway: 1-2 preloads on the critical path, never more.