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Dave
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Jeff
Absolutely. I've got stats, believe it or not, guys. And do you know when the last time the the Raiders drafted a quarterback in the first round was?
Joey
Jamarcus Russell, Marcus Russell in 2000.
Jeff
You know the last time that the Raiders took a quarterback before round four? The only time the Raiders took a quarterback before round four between now and jamarcus Russell?
Dave
No, I can't think of it. No.
Jeff
Derek Carr in the second round in 2014. Those are the only quarterbacks we're 20 years span, basically where the Raiders have drafted with meaningful draft capital two quarterbacks. And I think that all the knocks on Fernando Mendoza about You know, he might not be the overall athlete or the arm talent that Cam Ward from last year's class or those types of things I think are fair questions. I think mentally it's the polar opposite of Jamarcus Straw. So mentally I think that he has the makeup. We've seen it in big games and big moments. The way he handles the media strikes me as having the mental makeup. And I keep going back to just Joe Burrow in terms of understanding the position as a whole and understanding what your responsibility is and understanding how to rebuild a culture that has been a very, very losing culture. And so I think that those are the things that he checks those boxes and I think it's interesting. We did actually, I believe all three of us were in the draft. We did a draft last week, our first real live rookie draft in the Superflex League and I got Mendoza at the 105. I was very, very surprised there.
Dave
Yeah, I think people have just assumed, you know, doesn't have the rushing upside and that's just like a death knell for quarterbacks. But you talk about Burrow and you've made that comp a handful of times throughout this preseason and I think or off season and I think that's just perfect. Like, you know, Burrow was another guy that going into his final college year wasn't on anybody's radar and then just has this great season, ends up, you know, making a case to be the number one overall pick. And we see, you know, even without the elite rushing upside, he's still doing just fine in fantasy. So I love the value that you're getting on Mendoza in rookie drafts. Joey, any, any thoughts here on Mendoza? I think the one question everybody really has is how many games is he actually going to start in? 20, 26, you know, with. Yeah, I think Tom Brady being there and you know, Kirk Cousins, I, I do wonder if he's gonna play or not.
Joey
I don't think he is at this point. I think they brought Kirk Cousins in on a one year deal and then maybe the Raiders go like what, two and eight? Let's not say. Hope that happens, but they bring him in towards the second half of the season. But I think they have got Mendoza, they got him for the long haul and I don't think they want to rush him out there necessarily.
Dave
And I also think that Tom Brady is like a process driven type of person that even if they are 2 and 8 or if they're 2 and 15, like he strikes me as the type that said, like this is the decision that we made and we are going to stick through with this decision. So, you know, a lot of times we, we heard that last year, right, with Jackson Dart that like he might not start all year, like Russell Wilson's going to be the starter. But those Bluebirds got loud in New York and Jackson Dart was starting earlier than we all expected. If there's one organization that I think would really stick to the plan of letting him develop for a year, it would be the Raiders. So Dynasty. Yeah, I love Fernando Mendoza, but crafting best ball teams, you know that, you know, Kirk Cousins going about eight rounds later looks a little bit alluring at times. But we've got a lot to discuss today. We're going to go through all of round one, all of the draft picks that I have done in my most recent mock draft. Jeff is also doing mock drafts. His is going to come out Wednesday, so be sure to catch that. But if you're watching on YouTube right now, do us a favor, give us a thumbs up. Best way to help the show grow. Also leave a comment, let us know if you have anything to add and we will respond to every single one of those comments. And then of course, if you are watching and haven't subscribed subscribed already, please do that. If you are listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a review. I ask for this every single episode and I'm going to continue asking for it every single episode because it is really the only way you can help our podcast grow besides going door to door, knocking throughout your neighborhood and saying, have you guys heard of the football guys fantasy football show? If you're willing to do that, we'll take that as well. But a review would be just fine. Onto the next pick. The New York jets are on the clock with pick number two. I've got them going with Arvel Reese, linebacker out of Ohio State, a guy who can play a little bit of off ball, linebacker, a little bit of edge, kind of that cornerstone piece that I think Aaron Glenn wants to build around. Jeff, do you have anything to add as an Ohio State fan or should we just like kind of gloss over the, the defensive players and the, the offensive linemen for the sake of the show?
Jeff
I mean, we don't want to turn off our entire IDP audience off the jump, but at the same time, I think that when you're looking at our Bell Reese, you're looking at potentially the Michael Parsons package of a player that can be very, very flexible in position. I think the concern would be to take him second overall you're viewing him on value as being primarily an edge rusher. Whether or not he can get there I think is an open question. As an Ohio State fan watching him last year, it was only one year of production. I don't really know why he wasn't playing the year before, but that's neither here nor there. But it really did kind of tail off as the end of the year went on. So I think that those are the concerns overall when you're looking at the package. But again, I think the allure and what we often see early in the draft is if he were to reach that 1% outcome and be the next Michael Parsons, he's more valuable than anybody else on the board.
Dave
And, and Jeff, I think I've got about a quarter of the picks in round one are all Ohio State guys. So we might be throwing a lot of these defensive and offensive lineman players in your direction. Asking for some insight, Pick number three, Arizona Cardinals. This is really one where we are getting a lot of last minute smoke from Adam Schefter saying that the Cardinals are interested in Jeremiah Love. I am calling it just that. I think that is a smokescreen. Trying to change the value of this pick a little bit. I've got them going with David Bailey edge out of Texas Tech. Joey, I see you nodding along here. You think it would be kind of crazy if the Cardinals went with Jeremiah Love at three, right?
Joey
Oh, absolutely. They're trying to get someone to trade up to him. And it sounds like Kansas City is interested in trading up to the third. We'll see. I mean, there's a ton of smoke draft week, but you know, maybe a little bit of some little embers we were starting to see with Kansas City trading up. And you know, if you've got Kenneth Walker in Dynasty, I'm not saying get rid of him now, but I would be maybe a little concerned.
Dave
Yeah, absolutely. Because it sounds like they are still very interested in moving up for Jeremiah Love. Jeff, let me ask you, you say, and I love this. I don't know. You drop this a couple years ago and I've heard you say it throughout. You say when it comes to draft rumors, you want to believe what you hear early and what you hear late. And then there's that whole middle area with a lot of lies. Monday, April 20, three days before the draft. Are we in the late period yet? Or when you say late, are you talking like the morning of the draft on Thursday?
Jeff
I, I kind of defer to the morning of the draft, honestly, when it comes down to it. I think right now we're sitting in the still kind of in my I think the Cardinals desperately want to move off this pick, but I think you can say the same thing for half the teams in the top 10. The reason why they want to move off the pick is the reason why nobody wants to move up is because there's not a clear player to take right here. I also think that they want to I do believe the smoke on them with Ty Simpson potentially. I mean there's I know Jacoby Brissette is asking for more money if he's going to be the starting quarterback. They don't have an option there. I think they would like to take Ty Simpson. They don't want to get made fun of by taking Ty Simpson third overall. So they're desperately hoping that somebody moves back. And Joey, I think you bring up a good point with Kansas City because you're really looking at a team in Kansas City that has an additional first round pick from that trade of Trent McDuffie earlier this off season. You're looking at a team that they don't expect to be picking in this range again anytime soon. It's kind of a fluke year that they ended up there so you could see them move up and in my mock I'm going to have them move up, but it's going to be for David Bailey. I think that they're you look at the overall value of an edge and gets another need for Kansas City as they rebuild. They're really rebuilding that team on the fly and going up and getting Bailey. I do believe the smoke a little bit that Bailey has kind of set himself to be at the top of the draft.
Dave
Hey, if you like watching the show right now with me, Jeff and Joey, be sure to hang around on this YouTube channel. Jeff and Joey are flying out here to Colorado Springs over the weekend. We are going to be hanging out doing a ton of content together. On Thursday night we're doing an NFFC high stakes draft. As soon as round one ends, we're jumping in a $350 draft with $300,000 up top in the Football guys Online championship trying to draft a team taking advantage of the big movers out of round one of the draft. We'll also be live streaming all of day two so the entirety of that event we will be here in person live streaming that event. So please if you like this, subscribe to the YouTube channel because we have a ton of really fun content coming your way with three of us for the rest of this week. Let's keep moving down the picks here though. Pick number four, Tennessee Titans going with Sonny Styles. Joey, we all saw Sonny Styles just destroyed the NFL combine. Looked like one of the most athletic guys that we've seen hitting in a while. Now this is another Ohio State guy that we're talking about. I've got quite a few going inside the top five here. We don't need any in depth analysis here, but this kind of feels like the, the chalky pick going to number four. Right. Like the Tennessee Titans just shoring up that defensive line which could use some
Joey
help a hundred percent. The only thing I could see the Titans pivot off of. I know talked about Jeremiah Love before, but there was some early smoke with the Titans be interested in Love. I think it's going to take someone team to trade up to get Love this early in the draft, but the Titans, if they're there and they want them, they could grab them there. And I don't know if that says for Tony Pollard, but yeah, and Tony
Dave
Pollard, if he, if, if the Titans do draft Love, I think that that's just the end of the road for Tony Pollard, you know, and, and that's baked into his cost right now. If you're doing these early best ball drafts. He is so cheap right now. I think people are drafting under the presumption that the Titans will take Jeremiah Love. I've got him fallen a little bit, but Pick number five, New York Giants. Jeff, I'm going to throw this one to you to break down. I've got Caleb Downs going here and I know, wow, not a premium position. You can't possibly take a safety inside the top five. I look at what John Harbaugh has done throughout his career as a coach with Ed Reed, with Kyle Hamilton, two safeties that really kind of shaped his defensive mindset here. I think Caleb Downs, not the exact type of player, but a very versatile guy. A guy who can play free or inside the box. A guy who can like, you know, rush the, the, the, the pass rusher if he, or I'm sorry, can rush the quarterback if he needs to. Just such a versatile weapon. I think this is the guy that John Harbaugh is going to be looking at at 5.
Jeff
I love the team fit. I think he's going to be the pick at 10 because I do think that Love is going to go four to the Titans. I think they're going to take Styles at 5 and then you can. When you talk about John Harbaugh, he was, he was kind of at the tail end of it. But if you think about the Baltimore Ravens in their most successful period, they got a linebacker and a safety from the University of Miami and Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. And really when you look at the Giants overall defensively, they've got nice pieces, especially at the edge rushers. But if you were to go with Styles and Downs, that could really be replicating what you were able to build with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in Baltimore and have those two players as really the identity, the backbone of, of your defense. I think that both you talk about downs, you talk about Styles. Football IQ is off the charts. They're fantastic people. They Styles blew up the combine, but to a level that Downs probably doesn't. But I think Downs is one of the smartest football players that you can run into. And I know that Matt Patricia, in one year as defensive coordinator at Ohio State basically said as much that he's incredibly intelligent. So that's where I like the fit. I think now having that 10th pick, and I know when you originally did this, they didn't have that 10th pick. To me, that lines up perfectly. Go. Styles at 5, Downs at 10.
Dave
Next pick is going to the Cleveland Browns at 6. I've got them going with Francis Mauigoa tackle out of Miami. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I'm grinding. Offensive tackle film. He's the top ranked tackle and that's who I have the Cleveland Browns going with because they need a tackle. Number seven. Now we're going to have some fun here. Jeremiah Love out of Notre Dame, the top running back in every set of rankings that you will see just a transcendent talent here. I think the Washington Commanders, we saw them kind of piecing together all of these vet minimum deals and they've got a day three contract with Corey Crosby merit in there, but they don't really have any guy that can separate from the bunch. I think they go out, they make that splashy move, they put Jeremiah Love in a backfield with Jaden Daniels. Joey, how excited would we be if Jeremiah Love lands with the Washington Commanders?
Joey
I think it would be, you know, an elite player to pair with Jane Daniels. We would be very, very excited. Is it the best case scenario for him? I think there's maybe a handful of teams that you'd like to see him end up on before the Commanders, but the Commanders do have a need for him. It would be great to see that if he doesn't end up there. I think I have Carnell Tate going there. I think he makes a lot of sense to fill in there with Washington. But that's if Love goes sooner. But if Love's on the bill to seventh overall, Commanders are either they're trading out or they're taking Love.
Dave
And absolutely this team needs a wide receiver and I understand mocking a wide receiver to the commanders, but I just look at Dan Quinn, you know that he, he does want to have that run run first type of mentality and they haven't really had any sort of strong running back play since he has been there. So I could easily see them going wide receiver here. But I think just wish casting a little bit. You know, looking at the free agency moves that they made, I think that they are kind of planning for Love. Jeff, is there a landing spot that you'd like to see Jeremiah Love at besides Washington? I know you said in your mock you've got him going to to Tennessee I believe but is there somewhere else that you might want to see Jeremiah Love land
Jeff
to look holistically at the top 10 or where he's the range he's going to go in? I think this is probably about as good as you're going to get because you cannot have some significant questions that offensive line or offensive environment. Some of the other landing spots, you know Washington going out and get Laramie Tunsil, that was a big piece that helped solidify their line. Obviously they had the year from heck last year with everything going wrong after. They're so really just kind of blessed 2024 season. So yeah, looking to reset and rebuild. I do think that from. From everything I've heard they are on one of those teams that are desperately looking to move back. They don't have a second round pick. They would like to get another pick to be able to go there and I think look potentially on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe a cornerback for them.
Dave
Yeah. And I think that's the biggest difference in how we mock draft. Jeff. I just don't even do trades because it's so hard trying to work trades in there. I know you like to have a lot of fun with trades guys moving up and down and players flying around all over the place. In MOCs that just gets a little bit too messy for me. So I stick with the, the picks that they have but definitely a team that I would not be surprised about if they traded back. Now we talked about Fernando Mendoza at the top of the show. We just talked about Jeremiah Love. Be sure to check out the football guys rookie guide if you haven't already. After this weekend, you're gonna have to pay for it but it is still free for now, 100% free. Just go to footballguys.com rookie guide we are going to be updating live throughout the weekend with Fantasy impacts updated depth charts. So much fun stuff throughout the draft but that is going behind a paywall. So if you want to check it out now just to get a free taste football guys.com rookie guide be sure to check that out if you have not already Continuing to work our way down the board. New Orleans Saints on the clock with pick number eight. I've got them going with Reuben Bain out of Miami, Cameron Jordan still free agent, not a part of the Saints. They've had that kind of locked in elite edge rusher for almost the last 15 years now. I think that they will look to replace him if they have the opportunity and I think that's kind of the the fall off there. We've kind of got some really good edge rushers coming in, but I think the Ruben Main is kind of a the last of the elite tier. Joey, I see you nodding along. We don't need to dive into this one too much but this just, just feels right.
Joey
Absolutely feels right. They have a need there. Philip. The only thing I could see happening where New Orleans pivots off that is if there's a wide receiver run that starts. But I don't think that's going to happen because the Saints in my mind they do have a need for a wide receiver as well. So if we see for some reason Cardinal Tate comes off the board and Jordan Tyson for some reason goes earlier than that. Maybe we see Makai Lemon out there but outside of that, no they didn't edge rusher, they're going to get one here.
Dave
Next up we've got the Kansas City Chiefs picking at number nine. This is a team that just traded away Trent McDuffie and I think that looking at Mansoor Delaine, cornerback out of lsu, that's just a natural fit for them. They're able to get that draft capital. They're able to replace McDuffie and I think that you know he's the the the top cornerback in this draft for a reason. So that's where I expect him to go. We got huge news over the weekend. Pick number 10. This was the Cincinnati Bengals in this spot but they made a trade for Dexter Lawrence and they were able to get move out of that spot. So now the New York Giants are on the clock at pick 10 and Jeff, I know you're going to scoff at this One a little bit. But there's been so much buzz about them needing a wide receiver. We got the rumors about Joe Shane going out to eat with Jordan Tyson. Jordan Tyson clearing all the concerns about his medicals at his public workout. So I've got them going with Jordan Tyson here at number 10. What are your thoughts on that one?
Jeff
I mean, I don't mean to scoff at it. It's certainly, I think it's in play. I think that where a lot of the talk around that seems to be centered out of the fantasy football community of people basically putting connecting the dots of knowing that there was a dinner and then this trade goes down. To me, I think those two things are entirely unrelated pieces of news. But I understand connecting the dots to land there for sure. And I think that Tyson, now that he has cleared some of the injury concerns, you know, looking overall at the wide receivers in the draft, it wouldn't be a tire shock to see him be the first wide receiver taken off the board.
Dave
Next up, we've got the Miami Dolphins on the board with pick 11. They have two first round picks. This is the one that they actually hold for from last year. And Joey, I know this one's going to get you excited. I've got Kenyon Siddiq going here now, just a hyper athletic guy, but also when you look at the personnel that they have right now, Malik Willis, Devon Achan, we expect this to be a run heavy team. I think putting a guy like Kenyon Siddiq in this offense, a guy who can play out of the backfield, who can be that lead blocker but can also split out and catch the ball and make plays after the catch. This to me just feels like such a good fit for what they're trying to do with this Malik Willis led offense in Miami.
Joey
Yeah, we talked about Miami in the last few episodes leading up to this. Like just they're rebuilding and so they need some star players to build around. Kenyan Sadiq, for my money is probably if you look at all the players and all the positions, he seems to have the step up on everyone else as against his competition at the position. So I think it's gonna be a slam dunk for Miami. I am hoping that he falls further down the board because you said we can wish cast and I'm gonna wish cast him somewhere else in just a little bit. But it would be a drink by chance.
Dave
The maybe we'll get into it would be fun and a little tease for the end of the show here in my mock draft. I Don't have the Miami Dolphins calling it quits on offensive skill players after Kenyon Sadiq. So stick around to the end of the show to see who else we have going to Miami as well. Next up, Dallas Cowboys on the board with pick 12. And this is maybe one of my spicier takes. And I know Cowboys fans hate this because I've been talking about this possibility for the last couple of months. I have them going with Carnell Tate here and Jeff, your player comp, which, hey, we're doing player comps later this week right here on the football guys fantasy football show, so be sure to check it out. Your player count for Carnell Tate was George Pickens. And to me, it just makes so much sense for them to draft Carnell Tate, not have to play this hardball contract negotiation game with George Pickens. They get younger, they get cheaper, and then they can trade George Pickens for a second round pick. This to me just makes so much sense. And this is how we have seen Jerry Jones operating. Like he doesn't want to make these negotiations with players who don't want to play for him. They'll just trade him away and find somebody who does want to play for them. I think Carnel tate at pick 12 would make a ton of sense if he's there for Dallas.
Jeff
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely very, very interesting, Dave, and I can understand. No, I get it. I get your, I get your argument on it. I get Cowboys fans pushback on it. So I can see both sides on it. I think Tate will be gone off the board by then, but. So it would be good value if he is there for them to go there. But I'm, I think that it's a very good job by you.
Joey
I, I don't, I think Dallas is going to address wide receiver in this draft, but I'm thinking it's going to
Dave
be a little bit later.
Joey
And there's somebody I like as a fit in Dallas. Not as much as Tate, of course, Tate would be a better option, but there's somebody that I think fits in pretty well.
Jeff
I mean, I'm not going to sleep on my guy, Ryan Flournoy, so himself
Dave
a little bit last year, jokes aside like that is the pushback that I get when I like bring up that George Pickens doesn't want to play for Dallas and that, you know, he might not be in training camp and these sorts of things. Dallas fans are quick to say, like, we don't need George Pickens. We've got Ryan Flournoy and He's just fine. So I mean really showed some promise last year, so I understand why Dallas fans are excited. Pick 13 Los Angeles Rams. They got this pick via the James Pierce trade last year, so they're going to be picking 13th. I've got them going with Spencer Fano out of Utah, an offensive tackle. You know they lost their long time offensive tackle to retirement this year. Having signed is no longer a part of that team. So I think that bringing in a new offensive tackle would make a lot of sense for them. Up next, we've got the Baltimore Ravens at pick 14. I also have them going with offensive tackle Monroe Freeling out of Georgia. They lost Tyler Lindebaum, which is a center, but they've also got Ronnie Staley getting a little bit older. There's some things that they need to address here, so we take some movements around on the offensive line, but I think that bringing in Freeling helps set them up for the future. Pick 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I butcher this name every single time and I'm not even going to try. We've got Owain Ioane out of Penn State. Joey, if you want to take a stab on this first name, you might have to learn how to say this one soon. An interior offensive lineman, which is exactly what they need after losing both guards last year to season ending knee injuries. This can allow them to kind of stick with Cody Munch as the long time guard and then they can play Ioanny, I think is how you say it opposite him. I think this one makes a lot of sense based on the Bucks needs. Joey, I know you won Kenyon Sadiq here, but you'd be excited if you guys drafted a guard, right?
Joey
Offensive lines, never a bad pick, right? Like it's this, it's if you don't know what to do in the draft. Cleveland Browns. Listen, take notes. All these bad picks you've made over the years, you could just been taking offensive line all this time. You got one good one, could just kept doing that. But no, I, I think it's a great pick for the Bucks. But yeah, like I want Sadiq there. Like Mike Evans is gone. We need a red zone threat. Let's get him in there.
Dave
And there's a lot of names but we talked about this recently. Joey, like Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, these guys that like really showed promise early flamed out quickly. So they kind of don't have much behind Abuco right now. Putting them in play for wide receiver here. And you know, YouTube commenters just shred me for butchering that name. This is a fantasy football show.
Jeff
Can we talk about Godwin? Because to me he's like crazy value in what I'm seeing in basketball drafts right now. Not that this is a mock draft show or anything like that, but I, I don't know if people writing off Chris Godwin, to me, I think he's going to be big bounce back here.
Dave
Yeah. You know, going into his age 30 season I think is the big concern. But Joey, let's hear what you got to say.
Joey
Yeah, I think people are trying to find the next Mike Evans in Tampa Bay and they're not even thinking about Goblins. I think you're right on. Jeff is people are just wondering what's gonna, who's gonna fill in there and it's like, well, Godwin's gonna be in the slot and when he's healthy, he's was with a wide receiver too years ago in the NFL until he got injured. Like he is very capable. You're exactly right, Jeff.
Dave
And also that ankle injury that he came back from is no minor injury. Like he clearly was not himself. We were getting updates all off season about swelling and bleeding and limping. Like it just felt like that never really got back to 100. Now betting on a 30 year old receiver to suddenly get healthy who hasn't been healthy isn't always the best bet. But I think the upside there, I mean, Chris Godwin's going like round 16 in basketball drafts right now. Like he is just free towards the end of your draft. So good call out there, Jeff. Next one we're going to talk about. We're at the midway point of the draft after this one. New York jets on the clock with that Colts pick that they got in the sauce. Gardner trade got them going. With Kai Lemon here. We know that Garrett Wilson is a phenomenal wide receiver, but I think that the skill sets here are very different. Garrett Wilson is best outside, deep downfield. Makai Lemon can do that, but is also very good underneath across the middle of the field after the catch. I think this just sets them up to have such a fun high, low type of offense and give some much needed playmakers to this jets offense that doesn't have many right now. Jeff, I see you nodding along a little bit. I don't know, I haven't looked at your mock draft yet. I don't know who you have going here, but to me this would just be such an obvious pick if Makai Lemon's still on the board at 16.
Jeff
I had this pick in my Mach 1.0. Because as you're going through, it's. It'll strike you. It strikes you as like, this just makes sense that.
Dave
Right.
Jeff
This would be the pick. I feel like Mikhail Lemon here, given what the jets need, given the value, given this pick range, it feels very, very much like this would be the pick.
Dave
And, you know, sometimes you do anchor down to things early. Like, this was Mach 1.0 in my draft as well. I had it the same and just copied and pasted everything from 1.0 to 2.0, because this just. Just feels like a pick that we all want to see.
Joey
Yeah. I wouldn't be too concerned, but yes. Yeah. Well, that's. That's. That's exactly kind of what I'm about to say, Jeff, is like, I don't think anybody really wants one of these receivers to go to the jets, but Makai Lemon's the quality receiver that if he does go there, I don't think it's terrible because he's got great hands. So if Gino's throwing the ball, that's a little scary. But, you know, Lemon can catch pretty much anything, so I wouldn't. I wouldn't not like it, but I wouldn't hate it.
Dave
You know, I think Gino was a lot more hurt last year than I think people realized. It wasn't all that long ago that he was in Seattle supporting DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett both as guys that we were putting in our lineup every single week. So I think the Geno does have it in him to support multiple fantasy weapons. Of course, we want to see 35 of the targets going to Garrett Wilson and all of the red zone targets going to Garrett Wilson. But I do have a little bit of faith in Geno Smith supporting multiple pass catchers in a single offense at some point.
Joey
Go ahead, Jeff.
Jeff
I was gonna say at some point, if you're the jets, you want to set yourselves up so that if you're in a situation like this year where you have the second overall pick, not every single quarterback that possibly can goes back to school to avoid being a New York Jet. And so I think next year, you're looking ahead. Dante Moore obviously went back. Yeah. Arch Manning obviously went back. There's multiple quarterbacks that maybe if there were another team sitting at number two, they might be in this draft. But I think that the jets looking at it as. You got to do your best to avoid that situation from reoccurring, because I think we all would expect the jets to be somewhere in the top 10. And probably eyeing a quarterback in the draft.
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Dave
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Jeff
Still working on it, Dave. But I do wonder about the safeties in this class because kind of like we talked about in Fantasy last year, so many running backs. And I think what we ended up seeing of the running backs was that guys went later than we kind of expected them to because of the depth of the position. Safety is one of those positions in this class. It's not historically been viewed as a premium position. There are multiple very good safeties in this class, and that could serve to push some of these guys later into the draft and where you might be expecting to see them.
Dave
Next up, we've got the Carolina Panthers, and this was one of the hardest picks for me to make. They are quietly a team that doesn't have any glaring needs right now. Like, they kind of don't need anything, which means that you're available to pick everything. So I just want BPA here where we've got Keldrick Falk out of, out of Auburn. And right now, like the Panthers, they've got a decent defensive line and they've got good edge rushers. But I don't know, I'm of the belief that you can just always add edge rushers to a roster. Like, I don't think a team's ever going to be upset about having too many good edge rushers.
Jeff
My favorite wild card, if you really want to play a long shot, when you're looking at some of these plays that might be out here, is Falk going eight to the Saints.
Dave
That's right. Reuben Bain going. Yeah, I think that they need an edge rusher. And yeah, I said there was a bit of a tear fall off here, but I have seen a lot of people say that Falk is just as good as some of those top guys that we're all projecting inside the top 10. So, Jeff, bringing some of the spice here, pick number 20, Dallas Cowboys, back on the clock after the earlier pick. They've got this one from the Michael Parsons trade via the Green Bay Packers. They desperately need help on defense. Jad McCoy, cornerback out of Tennessee. I think this one makes a lot of sense for them. Again, we're not going to spend too much time on the the defensive players here, but I know Cowboys fans will have my head if I don't mock at least one defensive player to them in round one. Next up, Pittsburgh Steelers. Avion Terrell, cornerback out of Clemson. This just makes a lot of sense to me. The Steelers have historically shown that they like to value NFL bloodlines. And this is the younger brother of A.J. terrell, a guy who's just a physical corner that could play opposite Joey Porter Jr. Right off the jump. Los Angeles Chargers. I promise we've got some good fantasy football picks coming up in a couple minutes here, so just stick with us. Pick number 22, Los Angeles Chargers defensive line going with Peter woods out of Clemson. Probably the biggest need that they have in Peter Woods. A lot of people haven't projected going a little bit earlier. If he's sitting here at 22, I think that is just an easy pick for them. Pick number 23, back to fantasy football talk here. I had this one mocked prior to the weekend when I started working this mock draft through a little bit. Then we got a report this morning from Adam Schefter that AJ Brown is going to be a New England patriot sometime after June 1st. So I've got them going with Denzel Boston here. To me, I don't think There is any one to one replacement for A.J. brown, but Denzel Boston is about as close as you can get in this draft class. Six foot four, 220 plus pounds, just a big physical imposing receiver. Joey, before we talk about Denzel Boston, before we talk about Romeo or before we talk about AJ Brown, I have a question for you regarding Romeo Dobbs. This was a guy that we were both excited about when we were doing our post free agency show. Assuming A.J. brown is a New England Patriot, pour some cold water on the Dobbs hype, right?
Joey
It would pour a little bit, but I said when we had that episode like he doesn't need a full workload, he does need to be the wide receiver one to be productive for the Patriots. He can succeed, which is 80 receptions in a season. I don't think A.J. brown going to New England would be the death wish for Romeo Dobbs, but yeah, it does pour a little bit of cold water on it.
Dave
Jeff, I don't know, whatever you want. You want to talk about deads of Austin, AJ Brown, Romeo Dubs, Drake May, Jalen Hurts. There's so many different things. Like this is just very much so. You know, this was me kind of wish casting the AJ Brown trade in my mock draft. And then we got the report from Schefter this morning that it's pretty much all but a done deal.
Jeff
I mean this A.J. brown thing to the page has kind of been an open secret for like about five weeks now or so that it's kind of about as official as it can get. They're waiting until after June 1 because his contract becomes more tradable at that point and Then you have New England. That's probably.
Dave
They.
Jeff
They would much rather get New England's 2027 first, not only because of the depth of the 2027 class, but also because it's not for sure the 32nd or in the draft. And so you kind of step into that wild card there with A.J. brown. I think his value in best ball from what I've seen has been pretty interesting. You gotta get him in the third round, which as bad as things were last year, he was still wide receiver 10 in fantasy. And that was so I'd never. I've not understood at all the kind of the conversation and perception around AJ Brown bias.
Dave
We talk about this all the time. Like he was hurt season. He had that island game on Thursday night where he had zero points. So I understand why people feel that way about A.J.
Joey
brown.
Dave
But if you just zoom out and look at the season In a whole, A.J. brown was still A.J. brown last year, right?
Jeff
And Kevin Petulu was fired. So even if you were to view like worst case of he's going to be an Eagle again, they have a brand new offensive coordinator. That's one that. I think that if you can take AJ Brown in the third round, you take AJ Brown in the third round and you don't even worry about it. But yes, him becoming a Patriot, I think is a boon for him. I mean, the Eagles, we see this so often. We saw it with A.J. brown where the Titans traded A.J. brown and then went back and took Traylon Burks. I mean it's. It makes natural sense that, you know, we saw it with Minnesota when they traded Stefan Diggs and they go and draft Justin Jefferson. This, this happens. These players that become tradable or they get moved off and it's a premier position and you have. I know they've tried to go out and add Hollywood Brown and maybe some other pieces there, but absent that, I mean there's not anybody that could credibly step up as the wide receiver too, or even the third option. The way we've seen Dallas Goddard step up as the, the second option when A.J.
Joey
brown.
Jeff
Brown has been out of the lineup or Devonta Smith's out of the lineup. So yeah, it makes natural sense for them to touch the wide receiver position.
Dave
And look at the Panthers. They traded away DJ Moore and then they went Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legat, Te McMillan. Like they just kept going until they finally hit on a guy. So yeah, if you are willing to trade away one of your stud receivers, you better be able to recoup that in the draft and I think that Denzel Boston sets them up. Last question I have here and Joey, I'll throw this one to you. Devonta Smith, you know, he's been a guy that I've been drafting aggressively in early best ball drafts. You know, we talk about A.J. brown, how he would impact Romeo Dubs. When I look at a guy like Denzel Boston, I think this would be good for Devonta Smith. You know, take a little bit of pressure off of him, have that guy who can run more of the downfield routes. I think that I'd be more excited for Devonta Smith if the Eagles drafted Denzel Boston than I would be if they just completely overlooked the wide receiver position and just ask Devonta Smith to go out there and do it all.
Joey
Yeah, a few seasons ago, we saw Devonta Smith just be like a target monster and it feels like those days aren't gone, but like, like where are they? They have to be coming back. And I think they absolutely could come back if they bring something like Denzel Boston in where Devonta Smith is now more the leader, the veteran on the team. So, yeah, I could see that happening. I still am always worried for Devonta Smith, though. He's so little. Like he is away.
Dave
He is, but he's also so good at like you see he and. And knock on wood. I've never once seen Devonta Smith get. Get blown up. Like he is so good at just like mitigating contact when it's coming for him. Just those little side steps and maneuvers to kind of like tuck and roll rather than taking those big hits. So all it takes is one. But DeVonta Smith, fingers crossed, has been good so far about avoiding those big shots. Got another fun fantasy football pick here. Cleveland Browns on the pick at 24. I had them going with offensive tackle early in the draft and I've got them going with wide receiver here. I think Todd Monken coming in, he wants to rebuild this offense and they don't have good protection, they don't have good wide receivers. I think they use both of those picks here. Casey Concepcion is the guy that jumps out to me now. He was a little bit of a faller about a month or so ago when we got that report about the knee cleanup, but it sounds like he is 100 from there. We've seen the workouts. He looks good. And I think we saw how Todd Monken kind of built a passing attack around Zay Flowers. Now, I'm not saying that Zay Flowers and Casey Concepcion are one to one comps but they are cut from a similar cloth. So I could see them going out getting Casey Concepcion. I don't know who the number one would be between Concepcion and Harold Fannin, but I think just giving them multiple options as pass like we haven't seen it from Jerry Judy besides that one year two years ago Cedric Tillman has just been little flashes here. Isaiah Bond shows up on the highlight tapes but doesn't really do much outside of that. I think inception being that wide receiver one can open up more for Harold Fannin as the tight end one. And I think now all of a sudden you have multiple options in Cleveland as well as much needed protection. This to me if they could walk out with Muigoa on the the early pick Casey Concepcion with the late pick that would be about as perfect of a draft as I can dream up for Cleveland.
Jeff
Dino Jeremiah talks a lot about kind of in with Bucky Brooks kind of looking at it as they're gonna if they're gonna go tackling wide receiver then like what's the ordering and kind of what's going to be available later could drive. So I think that you're exactly right. Giving them tackle wide receiver does feel like that's direct the direction they would be going. I mean Casey Concepcion at this point would be the best player on the board and so maybe they do Carnell
Dave
Tate and Caleb Lamu like they could flip flop that easily. Yeah but I think these are the two that they they need to address.
Jeff
Yep, I agree.
Joey
I mentioned earlier that I could see Conception going to Dallas at 20th. There's a wide receiver that I like to fit into Dallas later on if he makes it down to Cleveland. Fantastic. But I do think Cleveland's going wide receiver with their second pick. I I think they're gonna go earlier with the other position.
Dave
Next up we got the bears at pick 25 and despite surprising us all last year going aggressively after offense, I do have them switching this year go to defense. Akeem Messador who played opposite Reuben Bane at Miami, an edge rusher. The Bears, they've invested heavily in edge but they just haven't seemed to hit on any of the guys that they have tried out. So hopefully this can help them get that right up at pick 26. Jeff, I really really want to know your take on this one. As a Buffalo Bills fan I have Kaden McDonald knows tackle out of Ohio State going there. It's a need for the Bills. But as a Bills fan and an Ohio State fan, I don't know if there's anybody Better in the world to discuss the possibility of Kaden McDonald's going to Buffalo. What would your thoughts be here if they. They turned in this card on Thursday night?
Jeff
I think it would be okay. I think McDonald's, you're right on McDonald being the first interior defensive lineman off the board. It sounds like that's the direction everything's headed. I think right now when you're looking at Buffalo, the bigger concern for them is to get a three technique that could play. Because they're transitioning to Jim Leonard's defense, they're moving a little bit more towards a 3, 4 front as opposed to a 4, 3 front. I know there was talk this weekend that Greg Rousseau is going to be moving to outside linebacker potentially. So K. McDonald is not a three technique. And so that's where I probably would be a little bit surprised given what they they like. I should know his name and I'm blanking, but they took a kid third or fourth round last year that they like at defensive tackle, I think. So it would be a surprise here. But I really want to see Casey Conception go to the Bills. He grew up a Bills fan. I would love to see them just kind of just quadruple down on obviously adding DJ Moore. But then you add Conception into that mix as well and really just definitively answer these questions around having talent around
Dave
Josh Allen, and that's a Dionne Walker, I think, is who you're thinking of, Jeff. And he right now is the only other defensive tackle on the. On the depth chart. So they might be looking to. To shore that up a little bit next pick. Some of these are just like, I feel like too obvious. Like this one almost feels so right that there's no way it could possibly happen. San Francisco 49ers pick it at 27. We have heard a lot of talk every single year like who is the next Debo Samuel and Omar Cooper has been dubbed the next Deebo Samuel out of this rookie class here. So a team that, you know, went from being one of the the best wide receiver rooms in the NFL to suddenly pretty thin really needs some wide receiver help here. I think Omar Cooper Jr. Out of Indiana would make a ton of sense for them. Joey, would we get excited about Omar Cooper in San Francisco? I know they just spun up on Ricky Pearsall a couple years ago who hasn't been able to stay healthy. They just brought in Mike Evans. But I think Omar Cooper just embodies what you want to see in a Kyle Shanahan wide receiver.
Joey
Yeah, he fits in so well, these wide receivers just confine holes in everywhere in the defense, and Cooper fits into that role really well. And I don't think this team has a true wide receiver, too, for next year. I think they have a wide receiver one for next year, and their wide receiver two might be George Kittle once he gets back. So I think Cooper could fit into that role really well and then emerge to the wide receiver one. There is a wide receiver that I would be really excited to go to San Francisco. I don't want to, like, bury the lead to talk up through your mock draft, but maybe I would like to see Mike Evans mentor Chris Brazil. I think it just. It just feels like it fits so well that that's what I would like to see happen here. But if Omar Cooper's on the board, I believe Omar Group is going to go first.
Dave
Jeff, what are your thoughts here on Omar Cooper potentially going to the 49ers?
Jeff
He strikes me as a Shanahan wide receiver to the core. And I know that I saw talk out of the 49ers that like two months ago basically saying, look this one down in ink that if Omar Cooper's there, this is the player that they would want. It is. I think that you make the most interesting point there. We can flashback just two years ago when they drafted Ricky Pierce on the first round and. And the kind of consensus was like, whoa, what's going on? They have already have the best receivers in the NFL and they draft Ricky Pierce hall, and now it's like nothing. It feels like relative to. I mean, obviously Brandon Iuk is still under contract, but the odds of him playing for the 49ers again seem slim to none. That's not going to happen. And then Pierce, all you mentioned with the injuries, it does. They need to answer something long term. But to Joey's point, the number two wide receiver is Christian McCaffrey. I mean, we saw that last year in Christian McCaffrey's strong fantasy season was entirely built upon not having receivers, essentially, and having to utilize him as. As a wide receiver.
Dave
Yeah, you talk about Christian McCaffrey, and since we've talked a little bit of basketball, Chris McCaffrey is one of those guys that I just can't stop drafting in basketball. I'm not even reaching for him, but like. Like he's fallen into the middle to the late end or like, late first round, there was a pick. I did the other. I did three straight drafts where I got McCaffrey at like, pick six, pick seven, and then again it pick six and then I went into another draft where I had pick 11 and I said finally a team where I don't have to take Christian McCaffrey. And then he fell into my lap at 11. Like people are just leaving McCaffrey for dead in drafts this year. And a player that I will gladly pick up at a discounted price. Pick number 28, Houston Texans. Caleb Lamu, offensive tackle out of Utah. If they don't take offensive line here, I just don't know what they're doing in Houston. This feels like, you know, even if they have to look deep down their board, they're taking offensive line here. Kansas City Chiefs, they've got this pick from the Trent McDuffie trade. So I had them going with quarterback earlier in the draft. I've got them going with edge here. TJ Parker can play opposite Chris Jones. You know, the defense last year, they don't look quite as good as it did two, three years ago. So I think that them trying to retool the defense would make sense in this year's draft. Earlier in the show when I talked about Kenny and Sadiq going to Miami at 11, I said that there's another player that I think would work out for them. Dolphins back on the board with the pick they got from the Denver Broncos in the Jalen Waddle trade at pick 30. And this is where I have Chris Brazel going. Just makes so much sense to me. Complete opposite type of player of Sadiq. Sadiq is going to be in the backfield across the middle of the field, short and intermediate targets after the catch stuff. Brazil is more of that downfield guy. So we already talked about how Kenyon Sadiq would be a perfect fit for the run heavy offense that they want to install in Miami. Have a guy like Brazil that can take the top off the defense, get some high low concepts going there, opening up some of the stuff underneath as well. There aren't a lot of pieces to get excited about right now aside from Devon Hn. I think if they can go out and get Sadiq, get Brazil, then all of a sudden on paper they have an offense that we can start to get really, really excited about. Lack of piece questions to you guys rather than just stop talking and hoping somebody picks it up. Jeff, what is it that you wanted to say here?
Jeff
No, I think you're right on there. And the lack of pieces across the board. I mean Malik Washington right now looks like slated to be the the only wide receiver on the field. I don what they're going to do even offensively it. It is does kind of create. Well one, it creates concern about Malik Willis actually working as a quarterback because
Dave
Pixar is me wish casting that Malik Willis can have some weapons around him in this Fox draft.
Jeff
You do kind of wonder when he. Because I pretty certain they still still had both Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle when he signed. If there wasn't a little bit of like rug pull that didn't happen there of like kind of being like, oh yeah, I'll waddle. I mean Tyreek comes back and then now it's like, hey, Malik Washington, how are you doing? Would you like to get 15 targets per game?
Dave
Yeah, I think Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell would be the current number two and three on the roster. Not. Yeah, it's hard to get excited about a quarterback. Like the rushing upside is there for Malik Willis. Don't get me wrong. I'm excited about that. But I have been aggressively drafting him in best ball drafts knowing that they need to add to this offense. Like if they are just setting Malik Willis to go out there and throw the ball to Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, they're basically setting him up to be a sacrificial lamb so they can get a top draft pick next year. And that's not what I want to see from Malik Willis.
Joey
Yeah, Jeff and I, we like to talk about narratives a lot back and forth with each other. I think in a few weeks I'll be on the Dynasty show. We're going to be talking about narratives all about that intervene games teaser, I guess, for anyone watching there. But one thing Miami does do a good job of is there's a lot to do in Miami and they want people to come to their game. So I think Miami is going to put something on the field. I've been saying for weeks now I think Juwan Jennings is going to end up there. They're going to put something together down there in Miami. I like both the players that we talked about going there in your mock Dave, but they're going to bring other people into. I, I can't see them. Not maybe Brandon Nyuk. Maybe that's where he ends up. San Francisco.
Jeff
That probably would be my concern on Brazil because it sounds like maybe off the field the maturity might be a little bit of a question. And so putting him into Miami might not be the very, very best environment. So that's, that's probably my overall thoughts on that fit.
Joey
How's he doing?
Dave
Miami doesn't take him. We always have the the Raiders can take him at the top of round two and we can send him to Las Vegas where he can develop maturely.
Joey
We're just not setting this kid up for a good life ahead of him.
Dave
Pick 31 New England Patriots. I've got them going. Blake Miller, offensive tackle out of Clemson. Kind of what I said about Houston. Do you guys feel the same way about New England that like, no matter how far they have to reach down their board, like after just see that offensive line just getting absolutely clobbered during the playoffs, I feel like they need to address that this off season.
Joey
Poor Will Campbell.
Dave
Yeah, I know. And that might be the move is moving Will Campbell inside where he can, you know, play guard with those short arms and they can draft a tackle to take over what he was doing there. Last pick here. Last pick here. And this is just the, the definition of wish casting, but I do not care. Seattle Seahawks picking at 32nd overall. I've got them going with Eli Stowers and I know they've got A.J. barner. They just spent a high draft pick last year on Elijah Arroyo. But we are seeing so many teams transition into these heavy formations where they're using multiple tight ends. I think having Eli Stowers, he isn't a traditional inline tight end. They have that in A.J. barner. So I think having A.J. barnard play that traditional inline role and then you can use a rotation of Stowers and Arroyo and JSN as the pass catchers. This to me is just like the ultimate fun pick we saw. Eli Sowers had a fantastic combine, I think putting him into a good offense where he wouldn't need to do the traditional tight end stuff could just kind of be a pure pass catcher. This would just be the ultimate fun upside landing spot for Eli Stowers. So like I said, bit of wish casting, but I think you need to have those fun picks in your mock draft drafts.
Joey
Yeah. And I wouldn't even give up on Elijah Arroyo if that were to happen because Arroyo is going to still be able to block, so that's going to keep him on the field. So to keep them in your fantasy lineups where Stowers is just in the way that Kyle Pitts is a tight end, he's a pass catching and Cooper
Dave
cup is basically a tight end in this offense. Like if you watch how they operated last year, Cooper cup was like just getting in the pile and blocking and doing a lot of that dirty work. So. So this whole offense is predicated on running the ball and then using that run to set up for shots to jsn. So I think Eli Stowers would be able to be involved as a blocker, but then he could also get loose every now and then for the pass catching. So Jeff, what are your thoughts here? Is this just like complete fantasy football brain rot?
Jeff
I very, very much enjoy the creativity. My concern is that Clint Kubiak's not there.
Dave
Well, I mean, that's a very polite way of saying you're an idiot, David. Dave. But.
Jeff
Well, no, but, no. I mean Clint Kubiak's not there anymore and so that would be my concern. And, and Joey, I don't mean to bring up sore subjects, but how was going from Liam Cohen to Josh Grizzard? Because I feel like the Seahawks are kind of in for that a little bit. Where if you. Yeah, if you have Clint Kubiak there, I, I would be. This would be very, very fun and very, very intriguing. I feel like whoever the offense, I mean they have an offense coordinator obviously and I should know.
Dave
Let me, let me step in. Their offensive coordinator is Brian Fleury, who has been the longtime tight ends coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Jeff
So he called plays before. Has he, you know, done any of these things before? No, I think that there's a creative.
Dave
And Jake Tongas and Ross Dwelly and the guys that we have seen doing pretty well in San Francisco.
Jeff
I think it's interesting in terms of when you were to look at personality. You have Jackson, Smith and Jake, but really, I mean, he kind of is the only receiver. Receiver there. And so you have these multiple tight end sets and that's what we're seeing out of the Rams. I mean, that's where my hesitation on mocking a wide receiver to the Rams is because they seem like they really are intrigued and love the idea of having multiple tight end sets. It's very. We know that divisions are really end up copying off of each other and especially the teams that do best in those divisions. So I think that it's fascinating football fit. And you kind of have Rashid Shahid as the white nominal wide receiver too. But he can line up in the backfield, he can move around, around. And especially for an offense that doesn't have a plug in running back right now, I think it's fascinating. I mean if we're talking about Stowers going in this range, I would love him to be a chief and be like the next Travis Kelsey. But no, I think it's. It's fascinating and I think that you're right on. I Don't understand the value of Stowers where I'm seeing it of. To me you're seeing a league that's looking for sours and him go out and have a great, great combine. But he's viewed to be like a back end second round pick. I think he's more likely to be a first round pick and so that's where I applaud it.
Dave
And you know, you and I last year I feel like we were saying the same thing about the tight ends when we were pointing to all of these guys like Mason Taylor, Elijah Arroyo, Terrence Ferguson and a lot of people were calling them like borderline day two picks. And we're like no, these guys are going to go in like late first, early second round because this is how the league is moving and what it is shifting towards. And then sure enough we saw all of those guys were like most people watching the draft were, were surprised at how high the tight ends were going. You and I kind of called that from like last January. So I think looking at Sadiq, I've seen a lot of people scoff at the idea of him going in the top half of first round. I think that he is locked in for the top half of first round and then Stowers fall into one of these good teams at the end of the first round would not only be really fun for fantasy but would be really good for his long term outlook as well.
Joey
Is there a team that picks? Maybe because we have not really talked about trading of picks. We mentioned the top of Jeff liking to do it, which shocked me after being in fantasy drafts with Death for the last five years. Know that he likes to trade picks. I had no idea to see Seattle move back a little bit. And that's where we see Ty Simpson go is right at the end of the first round as well.
Dave
And I think that is, I don't want to say probably what we'll see but my guess would be that Seattle, you know they're always looking and they don't have a lot of draft picks. They've only got four picks in this entire draft. So I think when they're sitting there at at 32, the jets or the Cardinals, one of those teams is going to want to jump ahead of the other to make sure that they can get Ty Simpson and set themselves up for the fifth year option. If I mocked trades in my drafts that's what I would have done is have the jets move up here or the Cardinals move up here to this 32nd pick. But for the sake of fun. I'm going with Eli Stowers to Seattle.
Joey
I like fun.
Dave
Well, that'll do it. And we're gonna have a lot of fun this weekend. Well, first of all, before this weekend, I'm getting ahead of myself. We've got another show coming out later this week with the three of us that's going to release on Wednesday. We're going to go through all of the top prospects in this year's class talking about the player comps for every single one of those players. Then we'll be back on Thursday or, I'm sorry, we'll record it Thursday night. But Friday morning we'll have our NFFC High Stakes draft coming out Friday afternoon during day two of the NFL Draft. You can hang out with us while we're live streaming that entire event. So. So stick around. Jeff, Joey and I, we are going to be very busy over the next week. I want to thank you to YouTube audience for taking the time to hang out with us. We'll be back all week with fun content leading up to and through the NFL draft. Thank you so much for tuning in. We will see you soon.
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Jeff
We're kicking things off by kicking up mud.
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Jeff
The summer starts here.
Dave
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Podcast: Footballguys Fantasy Football Show
Episode: Who Every Team Will Pick In Round 1 of the NFL Draft (Final Mock Draft)
Date: April 20, 2026
Hosts: Dave Kluge, Jeff Bell, Joey Wright
This high-energy episode dives into host Dave Kluge’s final mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Joined by Footballguys colleagues Jeff Bell and Joey Wright, the crew delivers detailed picks for each team with insightful debate, laughs, and fantasy football-centric takes. The conversation emphasizes providing "real" scenarios over just being "right," with team and fantasy fit as the guiding light. Along the way, the trio shares draft rumors, rookie insights, top landing spots, dynasty advice, and bold wish-casting, making it a rich primer for both fantasy players and NFL draftniks.
Mendoza as Chalk at #1:
Raiders are locked in on Mendoza, skipping smoke screens or trade-down speculation.
“There’s no question here, right? ...This is going to be Fernando Mendoza.”
– Dave, 01:07
Historical Context:
Raiders’ reluctance to spend first-round capital on QBs since Jamarcus Russell and Derek Carr.
“Between now and Jamarcus Russell... two quarterbacks in a 20-year span.”
– Jeff, 02:33
Mendoza’s Makeup:
Not an athletic outlier, but viewed as mentally elite—compared to Joe Burrow.
“Mentally, it’s the polar opposite of Jamarcus... I keep going back to Joe Burrow.”
– Jeff, 02:54
Fantasy/Dynasty Impact:
Don’t expect Mendoza to start immediately with Kirk Cousins present; Raiders likely to stick to the plan.
“If there’s one organization that I think would really stick to the plan... it would be the Raiders.”
– Dave, 04:33
“If he were to reach that 1% outcome and be the next Micah Parsons, he’s more valuable than anybody else on the board.”
– Jeff, 07:07
“Desperately hoping someone moves back.”
– Jeff, 08:28
“Downs is one of the smartest football players that you can run into.”
– Jeff, 12:17
“An elite player to pair with Jane Daniels.”
– Joey, 14:19
“Just trade him away and find somebody who does want to play for them.”
– Dave, 21:38
“Omar Cooper’s going to go first.”
– Joey, 44:46
Cyclical WR Trade/Replace Trend:
Teams moving star WRs, then replacing via the draft (citing A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs).
Tight End Zone:
Dave “wish-casts” Eli Stowers to Seattle at 32—imagining him as a flexible, Kyle Pitts-esque route weapon in multi-TE formations.
“This is just like the ultimate fun pick.”
– Dave, 52:00
Offensive Line Round-Up:
Multiple teams (Browns, Ravens, Buccaneers, Texans, Patriots) address O-line gaps, often determined by BPA or past injuries.
“Most mock drafts this time of year are trying to be right. This mock draft, I’m trying to be real.”
— Dave, 01:07
“Mentally, it’s the polar opposite of Jamarcus... I keep going back to just Joe Burrow.”
— Jeff, 02:59, on Mendoza’s makeup
“When it comes to draft rumors, you want to believe what you hear early and what you hear late. And then there’s that whole middle area with a lot of lies.”
— Jeff, 08:02
“If there’s one organization...that would really stick to the plan of letting him develop for a year, it would be the Raiders.”
— Dave, 04:33
“Chris Godwin’s going like round 16 in best ball drafts right now. Like he is just free towards the end of your draft.”
— Dave, 25:44
“If you’re willing to trade away one of your stud receivers, you better be able to recoup that in the draft.”
— Dave, 37:25
“To me you’re seeing a league that’s looking for [Eli] Stowers...but he’s viewed to be like a back end second round pick. I think he’s more likely to be a first round pick and so that’s where I applaud it.”
— Jeff, 54:49
The hosts maintain a casual, bantering tone threaded with deep draft analysis and fantasy football savvy, pausing to inject humor or acknowledge fandom-driven bias (“wish casting”). They reference previous years’ trends, current best ball ADP, perceived NFL team strategies, and emerging draft rumors to create a realistic but fast-moving round one projection. They speak in their authentic voices, unfiltered by marketing or polished PR, adding to the “realness.”
| Pick | Team | Selection | Fantasy/Narrative Notes | |------|---------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | LV Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB | High floor, Burrow comp; likely to sit behind Cousins | | 2 | NY Jets | Arvel Reese, LB/Edge | Parsons comp; positional flexibility | | 3 | AZ Cardinals | David Bailey, Edge | Trade-down rumors, Bailey over QB/“smokescreen” | | 4 | Tennessee Titans | Sonny Styles, S | Combine standout | | 5 | NY Giants | Caleb Downs, S | Harbaugh’s new Ed Reed | | 6 | Cleveland Browns | Francis Mauigoa, OT | O-line necessity | | 7 | Washington | Jeremiah Love, RB | Powerful dynasty fit, possible trade-up target | | 8 | New Orleans Saints | Reuben Bain, Edge | Logical Cam Jordan replacement | | 9 | KC Chiefs | Mansoor Delaine, CB | Immediate corner replacement | | 10 | NY Giants | Jordan Tyson, WR | High-upside first WR; post-injury rise | | 11 | Miami Dolphins | Kenyon Sadiq, TE/H-back | Multifaceted weapon for run-heavy, Malik Willis offense | | 12 | Dallas Cowboys | Carnell Tate, WR | Pickens trade bait, youth infusion | | 13 | LA Rams | Spencer Fano, OT | Addressing tackle retirement | | 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Monroe Freeling, OT | O-line succession planning | | 15 | Tampa Bay Bucs | Owain Ioane, G | Major O-line injuries, need protection | | 16 | NY Jets | Makai Lemon, WR | Underneath threat to complement Garrett Wilson | | 17 | Detroit Lions | Kaden Proctor, OT | Insurance for Taylor Decker’s retirement | | 18 | Minnesota Vikings | Dylan Vieme, S | Harrison Smith heir apparent | | 19 | Carolina Panthers | Keldrick Falk, Edge | BPA at Edge | | 20 | Dallas Cowboys | Jad McCoy, CB | Addressing defensive woes | | 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Avion Terrell, CB | NFL bloodlines (A.J. Terrell’s brother) | | 22 | LA Chargers | Peter woods, DL | D-line need | | 23 | NE Patriots | Denzel Boston, WR | AJ Brown trade ripple—"next best" X receiver | | 24 | Cleveland Browns | Casey Concepcion, WR | Monken’s offense, Zay Flowers mold | | 25 | Chicago Bears | Akeem Messador, Edge | Misses at Edge drive another try | | 26 | Buffalo Bills | Kaden McDonald, DT | Slight scheme/fit debate (OSU/BUF double fandom insight) | | 27 | SF 49ers | Omar Cooper Jr., WR | “Next Deebo,” shades of versatility; room thin after Iuk/Waddle trades | | 28 | Houston Texans | Caleb Lamu, OT | Must go OL | | 29 | KC Chiefs | TJ Parker, Edge | Defensive re-tool | | 30 | Miami Dolphins | Chris Brazell, WR | Downfield speedster, unlocks new offense dimension | | 31 | NE Patriots | Blake Miller, OT | Desperate O-line needs | | 32 | Seattle Seahawks | Eli Stowers, TE | Creative multi-TE formations; upside fantasy “fun” pick |
This episode is a treasure trove for fantasy drafters mapping RB/WR landing spots, dynasty managers planning rookie drafts, and NFL fans chasing draft realism and buzz. The hosts’ natural camaraderie, depth of insight, and willingness to speculate boldly make for a can’t-miss primer on Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft—well ahead of the picks themselves.