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"The Browns finished with a 2-15 record, and do you know why? Because of the defensive line and the secondary" -No one ever |
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The Texans did make a change at OC and OL coach which may help. They also changed scheme for the last month of the season which help just a bit. It sounds like Tunsil, who never practiced on Wednesday, and Mason, who was terrible last year, were bad locker room guys so a change had to be made. I'll go with 10-7 until they do better than 10-7.
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You nailed the 76ers at three. Sorry didn't see this until today. Next year we'll formalize a process for promoting some reader mocks on the main site. Thanks for contributing. |
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I can't help but root for underdogs but this series just cookied. OKC has more than earned it which is how its supposed to be. As much fun as it is for underdogs to surprise us it wouldn't be right if the better teams didn't close the deal more often than not. |
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I like the Thunder tonight but I think Indiana is good enough win this. Back in my day it was about your big three. Haliburton, Siakam, and Turner feels very much in the same weight class as SGA, Holmgren, and Williams. They may not score as much but look a bit closer and they score a bit more efficiently. This 2-1 lead by Indiana may not be the fluke people think it is.
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"They have to at some point if Shedeur Sanders doesn’t live up to expectations" If they have the 3rd worst record in the NFL, I can't see how Sanders would have "lived up to expectations" The pick will be a QB. |
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i don't know why so many are convinced that Arch Manning will declare for the 2026 Draft. He is currently making more NIL money than he will likely make in the first year of his rookie deal. So, there is absolutely no reason for him to rush to the NFL, particularly if he is enjoying his College experience and if his handlers feel he needs an extra year of starting at College to prepare him for the NFL.
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I like pacers to cover again. I think they may do better tonight. Less nerves. Getting used tk OKC’s length.
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In a world where everything is rigged I'll take the 10 points in the opening game of a series that the league would like to go longer than expected if possible
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@mb365yo LOL exposed how? She's the one who got mad that I pointed out that she helped ruin Around the Horn
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I think Caleb Downs might be the best defensive player in the nation and there’s definitely not a better Saftey in the nation. Suprised to see you have Sabb going over him. Dont get me wrong Sabb is good but hes not Downs
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Again, if the Browns have the 3rd (or 4th?) worst record in football it won't be because of OL or DL play, it will be QB. And that would be the pick. To use a high draft pick on yet another DL is just insane.
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If the Browns are picking in the top 3 they will be choosing a QB. A DL? That's insane seeing as they have Garrett and used a top 5 pick last year on a DL.
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Would like to see Cleveland somehow get Caleb Downs, he's going to be a great pro. Would've been a top 10 pick in this recent draft. They already have safeties though, maybe they could use him in nickel packages. Greg Newsome won't be back in 2026, one way or the other. Otherwise Cleveland needs interior OL. Their guards are expensive and Bitonio is getting old. Teller will be 31 during the 26 season. Would've been nice to trade Bitonio before the draft. I'm not sure Zak Zinter is developing. |
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Imjo- 7 game series. With the home teams winning in the West- In the East the opposite the road teams in 7- just my two cents worth
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Your fat, crooked-faced, faggot ass got exposed by Mina Kimes. ?? Kill yourself.
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Nice pass on NY/IND last night Walt. No matter who you were playing, you had to be suffering at some point, maybe at many points. Some games are good entertainment but bad bats.
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Walt-Imho I think Arch Manning will take his Uncle Eli's plan to the NFL- Imho I think Arch will play 3 years at Texas and declare for the NFL Draft in 2028. I do agree with your assessment regarding the quarterback class for 2026 and that the Saints- Steelers- Jets and Raiders will draft quarterbacks. I can see the Rams drafting their next franchise quarterback in 2027 class just my 2 cents worth
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You should be a big Bo Nix fan what is wrong with you? What will it take for you to come over to the dark side?
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@cbernd I probably botched it on the entry...looking into this now. Thanks for the heads up |
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Walt- I've got a bad feeling that the Nuggets will win tonight- Imho- Russell Westbrook will be playing out of his mind against his old team- to extend the series to the 7th game in OKC to determine which team plays the dangerous Timberwolves in the Western Conference Championship. Maybe just maybe the Thunder will finally play like the best team in the NBA tonight
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Ya might want to change the verbiage for the Solid Starter section. It's all referring to the Cardinals and Walter Nolen.
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So the Browns finish with the 3rd (or 4th?) worse record in the NFL with no QB and you have them taking a tackle and a CB. Can't emphasize enough that it will be a QB (if they are picking this high0
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I watch the game- finally okc showed what they're made of. Though they didn't cover the won a hard fought game coming from behind. Now Walt hopefully the Thunder can put the Nuggets away for good on Thursday nite in the Mile High City to advance to Western Conference Championship game and then move on to the NBA Championship game
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I wholeheartedly agree Walt- the Thunder youth is showing. The Nuggets are using their experience to steal a game. Imho- the Thunder coach is getting out coached by a interim coach. Hopefully the Thunder will figure it out and send the Nuggets to Concun
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As a 76ers fan I'm happy to see the Celtics lose. Go Knicks. A bit confused as to how it is the Knicks have been able to do this a bit not. They have the grit to get the job done. the 76ers never had that. That had a bit of it with guys like TJ and Saric but they weren't quite up to snuff talent wise. Had it in Butler but didn't hold onto him. Knicks showing baseline talent and a double serving size of grit and you can take them down.
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Hey Walt- I watched the game. You might have jinxed the Thunder. The last 2 games the Thunder will get big leads. Then focus on shooting bricks for three,'s- allowing the Nuggets get back into the game. Gordon has been a thorn in the Thunder's side throughout the series- with the Thunder having no answer. Imho the Nuggets will go up 3 games to the Thunder's 2 games on Tuesday. The Nuggets don't fear the Thunder. Expect the joker to have a bounce back game in game 5. Just my two cents worth
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Walt- once again I have to agree. In the 1st game- the Nuggets celebrated like they had just won their 2nd NBA Championship. I agree with your total assessment!
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As a Broncos fan, I think calling our 2024 defense Superb is a little bit of an exaggeration. They were good, great even at times. But our light, quick defensive line and weak interior Linebacking core allowed teams like Baltimore and Buffalo to completely bully our front seven. If Dre Greenlaw can play healthy (which is unfortunately looking less likely) the additions of Hufanga and Barron should help in containing plays from breaking through the second level. That alone will go a long way in keeping us more competitive against bruising running games. And that is a good thing for us, as half of the AFC West seems to be developing their own power running game now.
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The George Pickens trade makes up for the lack of drafting a WR- If Pickens behaves himself and becomes the Tony Hill- Alvin Harper to Cee Dee- Imho Pickens could be franchise tag in 2026.
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I totally agree. The Nuggets celebrated like it was 1999. The Thunder will storm back BIG time
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Man, that Hunter had better be good for the Jags to pick at 22! I'm guessing top ten.
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I honestly don't think the Browns go defense with 2 top ten picks. Like I said last week, unless someone lights it up (no Flacco) then the highest pick will be a QB
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@DirtyDobler Thanks for the heads up. We had the analysis just missed the top list. |
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Jeremiyah Love will be evaluated on the same level (at least) as Bijan. Not mocking him in the first two rounds is insane barring injury.
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Other than Arch, I'd love to see the Browns somehow get Caleb Downs. Dude can straight up ball... would've been a top 10 pick in last week's draft. Jeremiah Smith has to wait 2 more years, which is insane. Smith would've been a top 5 pick this year. Very curious to see how Nico does at UCLA this year. Also Sam Leavitt at ASU. I think Drew Allar will bust - something is off about him, he should've developed more by now. |
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Excellent draft for the Bills. Quality choices at obvious positions of need. This could put them in the Super Bowl.
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"generally reliable" and "character concerns" do not scream 3rd pick of
the draft at me. Unless one of the younger Cle QBs steps up in a big way
their highest pick will be for a QB
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After the 3rd round, I wonder what the point is of writing "the Colts get some cornerback depth" or "the Packers get some wide receiver depth" after every pick, since that is obviously what is happening from the pick itself. It would be actually interesting to read about why players not in the top 400 on the consensus big board are going in your 3rd round (D'Eryk Jackson), or why guys in the consensus top 100 are falling to your 7th round (Dylan Sampson). It will be interesting to see if those picks are close to right, and it does make me want to know if you have information on those guys that most analysts don't have. |
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I love it when a player comes in with a chip on their shoulder so looking forward to seeing where Sanders goes at this point.
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@Mr. Football How come whenever a draftnik says about their pick "Take it to the bank" they are almost always wrong? |
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Aaaaand of course my Jets drafted the OT with the highest bust potential, IMO. Any idea on what position the Rams are targeting at 2.46? I'm thinking CB. Passing up Travis Hunter to draft Mason Graham top-5 is why the Browns are the Browns. Nice call on CIN/Shemar Stewart. |
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Oh man. If things break this way, if I'm Seattle's GM, I'm taking Higgins in the second right before the Broncos, and Mason Taylor at 52. DK leaving left a hole at X WR, and with Brady Russell moving to FB the team only has two TEs on the roster, one of which, Fant, is on the final year of his deal - can guarantee Seattle takes a TE before the weekend is overm Kubiak loves 2 TE sets.
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Which team is MOST LIKELY to make the 1st HEADSCRATCHING PICK? I believe you can never go wrong saying THE RAIDERS!!
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If the Ravens draft resembles this mock with the exception of a few picks I would be very happy w=with this result
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Bizarre that both Charlie and Walter don't have Sanders being drafted in the first round. I get that his stock has fallen but to think that no one would spend a first rounder on him is insane. Saints, Steelers, Raiders, Colts, Giants, Jets, Browns etc. are all possibilities to draft him where they are or to trade into the late first round and nab him. First round means fifth year option. Tough to take these mocks seriously without Sanders somewhere in the first round.
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It was only week ago that Howie Roseman was asked how the Eagles deal with players who have off-field concerns. He said it is on a case-by-case basis BUT, players with sexual assault or violence against women charges are barred from even being considered by the Eagles. Zero chance Mike Green is even listed on their big board.
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@-Rod- I did have to deploy the debacled site a bit ago which may have caused issues. or it may be a bug in which case I may not be able to fix it until after the draft. Feel free to email me at dfield6091@gmail.com if you want to add more details. |
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So much wrong with this take: 1. No way in hell will the Giants be bad enough to draft Arch in 2026. 2. He didn't even start over Quinn Ewers. 3. He doesn't have nearly enough experience to even think about declaring after the 25 season. |
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Sounds like a cry for help Charlie, "my mock drafts are a projection of what I think teams WILL do and not what they SHOULD do." Perhaps Walterfootball will allow you to do a mock on "what teams SHOULD do". :-) |
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Cleveland has to trade up into slot 22 to take a QB, just because they've had so much success doing that in the past. /sarc |
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At 93 you say Chase Young hit free agency. Not accurate, Saints gave him another contract. Does this change your thinking with that pick? Cam is still set to retire after the year probably.
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Has anyone else noticed that Charlie and Walt are working from different draft orders?
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@The Champ You know what...scratch that about Henderson. Jahmyr Gibbs is a tandem RB and he popped off at 1.12. There are always surprise 1st RD picks and explosive offensive weapons are at a premium. I like Henderson better than Hampton, and Feldman's article suggests that a lot of NFL decision-makers feel the same. I'm finding a spot for Henderson in the 1st RD. |
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If you have access to The Athletic, check out Bruce Feldman's latest article. It's a position-by-position scroll of quotes from NFL scouts and coordinators about prospects that he's heard throughout the pre-draft process. It's similar to the Bob McGinn series, but less mean-spirited and likely more legit. Feldman's 2024 edition was mostly spot on as far as speculation as to where the prospects might pop off.
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@The Champ For what it's worth, the Pewter Report - where Charlie Campbell used to work - like Donovan Ezeiruaka at 1.19 and Demetrius Knight or Jeffrey Bassa in RD 3 or 4 for the Bucs. They've been on Ezeiruaka all along and never seriously considered Jihaad Campbell there. They have historically been pretty sharp with TB's picks. The UNDER on Egbuka's 29.0 O/U (-275) and OVER on the 2.5 total WRs drafted in the 1sr RD (-280) are getting juicier. I think Egbuka is a pretty safe 1st RD bet. I have to agree on TreVeyon Henderson. I love Henderson and his fit in DEN, WAS or even with the Chargers, but he's always been a tandem RB, and a tandem RB is an unlikely 1st-rounder. I'm considering DL or CB for DEN now - Payton could easily like Day Two guys like Kaleb Johnson or D.J Giddens. Be careful how high you slot Josh Simmons. I live in Columbus. Trust me - be careful. |
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Mmmm...IDK about Miami taking a guard at 13, we can get a good one at 48. We need an impact DT, CB, or S at 13
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Regarding the blurb about the Rams at 26, if they went WR, I think it's far more likely that they would be interested in Egbuka over Burden. Egbuka, in addition to the obvious receiving production, is loved by teams for his character, and the Rams really appreciate receivers who block their tail off in the run game. Think Robert Woods here, but better.
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I think I'm going to have to make some changes to what I have at the moment. The chatter seems to be that Jihaad Campbell is going to end up on PUP, so I may drop him from 19th to Tampa, a pairing I have had for weeks. I think they see themselves as contenders, so perhaps they aren't willing to use their first pick on a guy who seems destined to have a lingering injury into the season. (Maybe that's a spot for Starks, 19 to Tampa.) Conversely, Josh Simmons seems to have gotten a positive medical evaluation and I'm getting the sense that he will be long gone before 31; he's a legit LT prospect in a draft with virtually none of them. I also really want to find a way to get Egbuka back into Round 1, as this is a proven producer who didn't take a backseat to other outstanding Ohio St. teammates, who interviewed remarkably well with teams, and who is a plus in the run game too because of his well he blocks. I may end up dropping Henderson back out of Round 1 and just slotting Hampton back to Denver, but damn, I really love that Henderson fit for them.
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@Walt Vegas odds now have Jeanty over Graham as the favorite to go at #5. You may want to mention Jeanty as a possibility at that spot. |
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I'm currently banging out my contest mock and have prioritized pinpointing where the QB prospects are going to go and kinda working around that. Here's what I think I think so far: Cam Ward/TEN - Mistake, but inevitable. Shedeur Sanders/PIT - It's simple. Aaron Rodgers wants to start for a contender. PIT is the only realistic option left for him. Rodgers is literally waiting to see if PIT drafts Sanders or Dart, and if they do, he'll retire. I don't care how bloated the OVER number on Sanders' 9.5 O/U gets or how much smoke there is that he'll tumble out of the 1st RD - if Penix and Nix went as high as they did in a much stronger draft, then Sanders is going in the 1st RD, with 1.21 his absolute floor. Jaxson Dart/CLE - Whether it's a trade up from 2.33 or at 2.33, I think Dart will be CLE's target. Dart is this draft's QB analytics darling and no team emphasizes analytics like CLE. Dart is also going to be a bust; drafting QB busts is what the Browns do. I'm getting the feeling that 1.06 could be a sneaky spot for Sanders. Geno Smith is approaching 35 and basically on a one-year deal. O'Connell is on the trading block. Brady has a history with the Sanders family. Sure, if Jeanty pops off at 1.05, the Raiders could pivot to a RT like Membou, Jalon Walker, maybe even Mykel Williams or Tet McMillan, but I think they would consider Sanders just as strongly. The Raiders have quietly been bringing in all the QBs for Top 30s and WOs, too. The Rams might consider Dart, but it's impossible to say because they do their scouting in-season and meet with prospects virtually. I'm going to assume they ride with Stafford/Garoppolo one more year. I think SEA will come out of Day Two with Will Howard or Tyler Shough. If PIT doesn't get Sanders or Dart, then Rodgers signs with PIT and maybe the Steelers grab a Will Howard or Kyle McCord in the 3rd/4th RD. Chris Ballard will ride with AR/Danny Dimes because he's a drunken idiot. The Saints use 3.71 or 3.93 on Quinn Ewers. |
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I really like that ATL/Ersery pick. McGary is a much better run-blocker than pass-blocker, and he's now the blindside protector with the lefty under center. ATL has been scouting OTs heavily during the pre-draft process. I just wonder if Ersery makes it out of the top 40. He's in play for KC and PHI at the bottom of RD 1. I think the Giants might like Milroe, too. There's the Bama connection, and while the Giants aren't winning the SB with that Wilson/Winston QB room, it's the kinda QB situation that suggests a project rookie QB that might need a redshirt season. That seems to point more toward Milroe than Sanders/Dart. Milroe's raw, rushing threat/bazooka-but-inaccurate arm skill set has parallels to early Josh Allen, who Daboll was instrumental in refining in BUF. |
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Nice mock. Only real quibble is that I don't see the Texans going with the specific OL that is Simmons because they seem committed to going for high-character OL's only who offer leadership. I'm thinking of Booker, Zabel if he falls, or maybe Donovan Jackson or Conerly Jr., assuming they go OL. Could see them pivoting to Egbuka (if available) if Booker and Zabel are gone.
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@Mr. Bitter My new mock has Warren going 9th to the Saints instead of Will Johnson, but that is a really difficult pick to pin down because the Saints have so many needs and I don't think they are going to pick a QB. Regardless of who is available at 10, I absolutely think that the Jags should trade down with the Bears and pick up #39 if they can. Graham is not a blue-chipper and it's as simple as that. I don't hate it if they take Jeanty, though. But as I said, I like the current bet of Jeanty +300 to go #5 overall. The odds of his drafted team being the Jaguars is also +300, but I like the odds for him being the #5 pick much better. This is because you'd have two chances to win the bet, one if the Jags just take him, and two if the Bears (or someone else) trades up. Can't win the bet if someone trades up! A couple of other notes: Schrager tweeted tonight that two players that will go earlier than mock consensus are Mykel Williams and Colston Loveland. I already have Williams 11th to SF and Loveland 14th to Indy, so I'm not inclined to change anything right now, but it's worth noting for sure. |
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@pinballer3 I did this exercise to break out of the media regurgitation/groupthink rut that you mentioned. Every year around this time it's the same: All the legitimate information that can be gathered has been gathered, so all that's left for the media is rumor, speculation and flat-out disinformation that gets repeated so often that everyone just kinda accepts it, leading to the top 6 to 8 picks in every mock draft looking exactly the same. And every year, the actual draft looks nothing like the consensus and everybody gets like six to nine 1st RD picks right. I don't want to do that this year. "1. Ward 2. Hunter 3. Carter 4. Campbell 5. Graham 6. Jeanty 7. Membou 8. Walker" just isn't how it's going to go down. So I decided to tune out the media stuff until the eve of the draft and focus on going back to the tape, team needs and where the value pockets are for those needs. Because that's exactly what NFL decision-makers are doing right now. |
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@pinballer3 Banks' current 13.5 O/U is poised to drop. The UNDER is getting hammered. I'm not surprised at all. On tape, he's the cleanest LT prospect in the draft. I never understood why he ever dropped outside of the top-10 in mocks. Maybe prospect fatigue...I dunno. He's just so good, clean and consistent that it's boring. I think he's in play for the Jets at 1.07 and wouldn't be shocked if the Pats just picked him over T-Rex at 1.04. Membou at LT is pure projection. I mean, he might be able to, but I see no evidence of it on tape. He plays like a guard. That would be a risky pick for SF if Membou slides. Campbell plays so upright. I don't see him at guard. He'll lose the leverage game in there. I doubt he gets out of the top-10 though. I was on the SF/future LT at 1.11 train for a while, but I'm off it now. Just really think that the 49ers can't afford to f*ck around. They absolutely have to address the DL early and often in this draft. Bosa is all alone. You put that DL out there against the Rams OL, and Stafford eats that defense alive. |
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Well played. Mocks that make you think are more interesting than media regurgitation. I'm now staring at my mock pick of Banks at 11 for SF, wondering if T-REX might fall there. I picked Banks for SF due to his high value OT position, assuming that a pretty good DL/E pick would be there for them in round 2. FanDuel has both OL and DL/E at +180, no help. Hmm...I think Banks is still a good bet, as Graham probably doesn't make it past the Saints. But then, every logical argument is like Swiss cheese. I look forward to your updates.
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@The Champ I mean, if we are going to assume that the new JAX regime is going to just sweep out unproven recent 2nd-rounders drafted by the former regime, then why is nobody talking about JAX trading down and drafting Tyler Warren to replace Brenton Strange? It's not like Trevor Lawrence doesn't need all the help he can get. |
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JAX/Graham is also iffy because Graham is a 3T, not a nose. The Jaguars already have Maason Smith and Arik Armstead at 3T. Sure, Smith was drafted by the former regime, but that was a 2nd RD investment and he's only 22. How do we know for sure that the new Jags coaching staff doesn't like his potential? And it's not like Armstead is a bum. He was miscast as an EDGE last season and will be better back at his natural spot. It's also a nearly $20M dead cap hit to release him, so he's probably not going anywhere soon.
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@The Champ The 1.05 JAX/Graham chalk has always been kinda iffy to me. He's good, but not that good. When I watch the tape of a DT prospect projected to go top five, I expect to see a Suh/Quinnen Williams-type that is consistently pressing the iOL into the QBs lap or on the QB's ass. Graham is not that guy. He's a scrappy, assignment-sure technician that fits the run and creates piles at the LOS, but when you watch the tape, it's Kenneth Grant right next to him that is actually splitting double times and puncturing the backfield more times than not. |
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@Mr. Bitter It really does just make all the sense in the world. They have the extra 2nd, from the fleecing of the Panthers. Graham is not a blue-chipper and someone you stand pat for. If you're Gladstone, this is a gift. I could even see a scenario where Graham drops all the way to 10 for the Jags, though it has to be unlikely. But no matter, if the Jags like the idea of beefing up the DT position, they can just pick Harmon in a draft like this and still have 2 picks high in the 2nd Round.
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Absolutely the WORST mock I've seen for the Eagles. I can buy Simmons in the first, but the Eagles nist oressubg needs are DT (lost Milton Williams) and edge (lost Sweat and Graham). Then there is TE since they're trying to moveon frm Goedert who gets injured every year and safety where they traded Gardner-Johnson WR is not a need and RB is not a need - they're wasted picks. Better TE's available in the 3rd than Fannin. This is a terrible effort.
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It sounds like the Texans may not in favor of Conerly. mostly because of a perceived lack of core strength, which is a need for a tackle and can not necessarily be built over time.
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I like your trade ideas. If Carter somehow slips a bit or if JAX passes on Graham I could see the 'Niners making a move up for one of them. The Giants packaging 2.34 and Thibodeaux to move up into the 1st RD for Sanders makes a lot of sense, too. Just so you know, there's actually a late round/UFA DE prospect from Mizzu in this draft named Johnny Walker Jr. lol |
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@The Champ Yeah, very little can be gleaned from the Combine, Pro Days, where every movement made and every word said has been mapped out by handlers and rehearsed ad nauseam. Teams have to get these QBs in their rooms, on the white board, throw concepts and verbiage at them, really get under the hood. It would be insane to invest in a QB without that baseline of information. Agree with you on the 49ers. (My exercise really did set me straight in a few spots.) SF went from that Bosa/Buckner/Armstead/Jones wrecking crew to Bosa and practice squad guys. That's not gonna stand. Pick 1.11 simply has to be earmarked for D-line. Underrated factor: SF DL coach Kris Kocurek. Stewart, Williams and Nolen are upside prospects in need of refinement. Kocurek is arguably the best in the business. Mason Graham is now 5.5 O/U -110 to the OVER. I'm convinced that CHI is moving up to 1.05 for Jeanty. When you look at how aggressively Poles knocked out the need at EDGE and revamped the O-line during free agency...the two high 2nd rounders...it all points toward a bold Day One move up the board. |
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@The Champ Hopefully Ballard sobers up and comes to his senses. Indy could be dangerous with Sanders under center. |
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I also think this exercise is a good example of why the 49ers really might go DL instead of OL, even though I think Banks (or another OL) would be a perfectly logical fit for them. But the OL is much more functional than the DL, at this time, and since the 49ers probably still see themselves as contenders, and since the DL need is more dire, I'm really starting to think that guys like Stewart/Mykel Williams/Harmon/Nolen will be the pick. And I really don't see Will Johnson being the guy, despite the need at CB also. The 49ers just really seem to prioritize the trenches, and last year the DL was uncharacteristically terrible. They used top 30's on Stewart, Williams, and Nolen. I think my final mock is going to have one of those three guys at 11, unless some strong intel comes out to change my mind.
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Really like this exercise. I especially like it because I couldn't possibly agree with you more that the Colts should take Shedeur Sanders if he's there at 14. Forget everything else. You have a horrific QB situation and Daniel Jones should be a backup. And AR can't throw the ball functionally. Sanders completes passes. You have to do that to have any shot of advancing in the playoffs. AR is the type that can get you a #7 seed because he may not turn the ball over, but you aren't going anywhere against good teams with good defenses if you can't complete passes to keep your offense on schedule. But on the site here, the only QB's that Indy appears to have spent Top 30's on were Ewers and Shough. As I note on my mock about the Saints being highly unlikely to pick Sanders, teams just don't draft 1st Round QB's that they don't meet with. I'm stunned, frankly, that Ballard is staking his job on AR and Jones. And it's why he's going to get fired. And that means a new GM will likely want a new head coach, unless Irsay poaches someone from the Philly front office. |
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Why do you hate the Texans so much. Are you Colts or Jags or worse yet, Titan fans?
Connerly is not a bad selection for the Texans in round 1, if you're not paying attention to the team, they're going interior OL in round 1. They'll make do this year at tackle with Howard, Fisher, Robinson, Brown and Deculus. The Texans can't run the ball between the tackles (Mixon consistently has to jump-cut to the exterior), their interior play has been horrible...they're going to use the run to help the pass, to help the current tackles...they're going to upgrade the interior first. If things go well with their selections in the interior this year and if Fisher (last years 2nd round pick from ND at T) proves he can play adequately or better, going into next year they'll really only need to address 1 T position via free agency or draft. At pick 58 you have the Texans taking a DE to "upgrade the position"??? Over Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter??? Lawrence Taylor would be an upgrade, but not the guy you have at 58 despite him playing in College Station, just up the road. Do you even follow the Texans, at all? At pick 79, despite Nick Caserio, just this past week or so telling the media that at WR they look for separation skills, you have the Texans selecting Beck but write "Beck has separation issues". I see. Wow, just wow. And at pick 89 you have the Texans going LBer. Again, wow, just wow. On a team that might have the best defense (certainly in the discussion) in the NFL but has serious issues at OL and WR you have them taking a T instead of the more pressing area of IOL (despite only 1 IOL off the board at the time, Booker), a WR who can't separate despite the GM saying that separation skills are the first trait he looks for, and the Texans going after 2 defensive players who won't see much playing time because their D is stacked with high quality and depth. Been a big fan of your site for many years but you've obviously dedicated 0 time to the Texans. |
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@42yardline I just don't believe Ward is that much better than Sanders. Neither are transcendent talents, so their NFL success could easily hinge on what kind of situation they're drafted into. TEN is drafting Ward to start immediately...in an offense where Calvin Ridley is the only viable target and Dan freakin' Moore is considered an upgrade for the O-line. Beyond the excellent Sweat/Simmons DT duo, TEN's defense is swiss cheese. If Ward was a lift-all-boats-level QB prospect like Manning/Luck, that would be fine...but he's not. He's not even close. The Titans are setting Ward up to fail. Now let's say Sanders slides and gets drafted by the Rams. In that system, with that supporting cast and the luxury of learning under McVay and behind Stafford for a stretch, I'd be willing to bet mucho cabbage that Sanders would have a more successful career than Ward. As for why I think the Jets should go QB but TEN shouldn't - that's easy. It's because Travis Hunter isn't an alternative for the Jets. Hunter is going to be a truly generational superstar. |
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@Mr. Bitter Clearly, Bitter, you know your football. Just one question: You said you would like your Jets to pick Sanders to replace Fields. Yet you said the Titans should take Hunter #1 overall when they have an incompetent QB in Levis. Why? There is no guarantee that Tennesee can get a legitimate QB in the second round when other QB needy teams can trade into the mid - late first round to get their guys. And, almost certainly, Ward is the best QB option in this draft. |
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@Mr. Bitter Yeah,I never really saw Jeanty dropping to, say, 10. Just too elite of a prospect in a draft without any blue-chippers apart from Hunter and Carter. You were pounding the table for Jeanty to go as high as 4th overall, and while I don't see that (they just really seem committed to fixing their God-awful OL), I wouldn't be shocked in the least if he goes 5th overall. Perhaps the Jags just take him for themselves, if they think there's very little difference between Graham and the DT's that could be there in the early 2nd. Or, perhaps more likely, the Jags are willing to move down and a team comes up to take Jeanty, sniping him away from the Raiders. The Bears obviously come to mind, given that they have two early 2nd Round picks. The other could be Denver, though they'd have to give up a lot more than Chicago would. As for Milroe, sure, I can't say it would surprise me if Pittsburgh took him at 21. It seems like he's not going to drop below either the Browns or Giants in the early 2nd, so who knows. But he's nowhere near pro ready, like, NOWHERE NEAR. So that would mean you run the risk of Mason Rudolph starting for you all year if Rodgers doesn't come. For that reason, I do think they would be more likely to draft Sanders or Dart, if available. (And I think at least one of them will be.) |
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Also: You probably already know, but Ashton Jeanty's draft position O/U went from 9.5 to 6.5 today, still juiced to the UNDER. Mason Graham - whose 5.5 number was like U -250 a week ago - is now EVEN at 5.5.
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I got an email from a reader and was asked to respond to you guys.
There is buzz about Manning going back to Texas for 2026, but it's fluid, and players go back and forth on the decision every year. Thus, it's definitely too early to make any firm judments.
As for the Browns, they went 1-15 in 2016, and Andrew Berry was part of the braintrust that passed on Trubisky, Pat Mahomes and Deshaun Watson for a DE with the No. 1 overall pick. They passed on Watson twice in that draft and could have moved up a few spots from pick 12 for Mahomes after taking Garrett. So they realistically passed on Mahomes twice. The year before, he was part of the braintrust that passed on Carson Wentz after going 3-13. Based on his track record, taking a QB is not a guarantee.