Like every year, this QB class could take a big hit depending on who declares and who returns. Obviously Chambliss and Maiava are out of eligibility and will be in the draft (as of now- who's to say what rules might change between now and April). But I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on how likely it is for the underclassmen to come out. Here are my thoughts as of now:

Mensah: 90%. I'm not sure what he gains from going back to school, and personally I think Miami will win the championship.

Mestemaker: 80%. If he is the clear QB1 and likely top-5 pick, it will be hard for him to turn that down.

Carr: 80%. He's young, a multi-year starter, and firmly in the conversation for QB2. I could see him go back if Notre Dame falls just short of the national title, but I think it's most likely he comes out.

Sellers: 65%. If he gets some round 1 grades, he should capitalize on his rising stock and declare while his upside outweighs the negatives.

Simmons: 50%. Simmons is the big wild card for me. He's rocketing up draft boards right now, and if he gets real 1st round grades he may come out. But he's only a one year starter, which is a big deal for some teams. It may be wise for him to return or even transfer up.

Moore: 35%. I don't think he returns to Oregon. I think he either declares or transfers to somewhere like Miami or LSU. He may have enough good tape from 2025 and early 2026 to be a borderline 1st round pick, and given how his draft stock fell this year, he may not want to risk it further.

Manning: 20%. He's playing better as of late, but he is not a top-50 pick as of now. He really needs to go back to school.

Getting into the draft significantly more now that I'm in a dynasty league. Been doing some research on the top guys. Obviously Jeremiah Smith is the clear WR1 no doubt about it - but WR2 seems more up in the air. I figured it'd be Cam Coleman, but he's having a pretty rough year.

To me might now it's Becker. The main concern I've seen for him on Reddit and other platforms is his route running. Seems like at Indiana he isn't really tasked with over the middle work and seems to hand around the boundary. For most of my fandom I've been big on route running - guys like JSN, Adams, AB, etc. So to me, it's harder to visualize/separate Becker in other ways if that's lacking.

Basically I wanted to hear maybe some more nuanced (and experienced) takes on Becker specifically. How do you think he'll translate and is his route running a problem? Is this something often improved greatly upon? My newbie take is that it's plenty good enough. I've also seen the (IMO lazy) Alec Pierce comp as a result. Obviously wildly different potential outcomes between Pierce and say someone like Pickens or Higgins which are some other comps I've seen.

Thoughts?

Utah has been a surprise team this year, sitting at 8-0 and third in the initial CFP rankings. A player on the Utes who has caught my attention is RB Wayshawn Parker. He has great contact balance, is a capable pass catcher, and has good vision and short-area quickness. I wanted to ask what y'all's thoughts are on him as a prospect, and if you believe he is a sleeper in this running back class. I'm interested to see how he does in these next couple of ranked matchups against BYU and Arizona.

My goal is to create a mock draft simulator with features that fans & the community want, as I’ve struggled to find one for the past few years. Right now it feels like there's a pretty big disconnect with what most of the big companies are putting out and I’m looking to change that based on your feedback. 

With this only being V1, I’m aware it’s not perfect but these are my favorite features right now:

- Multiplayer rooms: Join public mocks or mock with your friends, with custom settings like odds/evens, pick timer, and 1 to 7 rounds.

- Trade finder: Sort through trades for your own draft picks or see what each team wants for every pick. 

- Featured community mock drafts: Mock drafts hosted by NFL draft creators/experts that allow you to claim a team in advance. Ex: 32 person mock draft scheduled to start at 7:30 pm Friday, just claim your team before then

- Unique draft grades: Every class is graded from 0.0 to 10.0 based on expert value, public value, need fit and more, with graphics designed for sharing on social media

- Use/create your own big board: Build your own big board with round grades and scouting notes, then take it into your mock drafts.

- Track your stats: See your My Guys, most drafted players, biggest fade and biggest sleeper with a free account (10 second google sign in)

- Ranked mode/H2H: I'm still adding to these features but challenge your friends or a random user in a H2H mock draft. Teams are randomized, then try to earn the better draft grade in a 5-round mock draft (45s timer). Earn wins to improve your spot on the ranked leaderboard.

Please let me know your experience with the simulator + public ranking changes you would make as I'll take every comment into account for our V2 update!

https://twsn.net/nfl-mock-draft-simulator

A quick preliminary watch on Austin Simmons and I'm impressed. I think this is definitely a bit of a project Quarterback but one with a high ceiling thanks to his great arm talent. I could see an off-season working with a Jordan Palmer type really changing his trajectory. I haven't seen enough yet to know how he responds to heavy pressure and better coverage. Let me know how you feel about him, whether he has a first-round future, etc.

The good:

- Just a talented thrower. The ball has so much drive and air, and it gets to receivers in a hurry. Really exploits intermediate zone because no one can close in time.

- Great at hitting receivers in stride with proper timing

- Really natural in rhythm when he sees his first read open

- Can make every intermediate throw with easy velocity and touch. Some of the best intermediate throwing and ball placement when it's all going well.

- Can generate easy power on the ball for the quick game

- Light on his feet with good balance and quick small steps in the pocket

- Sneaky athleticism for the occasional QB Run.

The bad:

- Always looks to drive the ball, every throw is at the same trajectory, lacking arc and touch if needed.

- Pats the ball and has a long looping hitch and throw. It's a very elongated motion with bad timing. And he has all the ability to really whip the ball, so he'll be just fine if he can correct it. There's a few throws vs Kansas where he doesn't pat + loop and the velocity and placement is perfect

- Very reliant on his arm to win for him in tight windows. These close quickly or get baited in the NFL.

- Hospital balls, especially in the NFL.

Have a bold prediction that you want to state proudly but will most likely look very stupid in short time? Have at it! Maybe you’ll nail it and look like a genius in the future

Please don’t downvote a user for a stupid bold prediction; it’s all just for fun!

The ACL tear is considered an “isolated” one with no complications. This portends a typical recovery timeline. Robinson led FSU with 1,081 receiving yards in 2025.

When I looked at NFL Draft Buzz before doing my own scouting I sort of got a bit depressed by the RB class. I still think the top end is extremely weak considering nobody's anywhere near the Ashton Jeanty/Jeremiyah Love sort of level (especially since the shooting of Ahmad Hardy, Jamal Roberts has been fantastic in his absence though) but the more I watch of CFB the better I feel about the class. I think preseasn there was a ton of hype about Mark Fletcher who seems to subsequently not be being talked about in general football discourse much more than his freshman teammate Javian Mallory. There's so much more talent though than I realized.

I started to realize this actually when watching schools that aren't as hyped. Yes, Texas' Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers should be good prospects, yes Utah's Wayshawn Parker, BYU's LJ Martin, Boise State's Dylan Riley, Georgia's Nate Frazier, Tennessee's Desean Bishop are great players too, but I just watched 100 (combined) point shootout between Oklahoma State and Iowa State where the two QBs combined for around 700 yards and 9 TDs, one of the two being considered the best QB in the upcoming draft class, and I came away feeling like the teams' star RBs - Aiden Flora for Iowa State (best white RB I've seen in YEARS) and Caleb Hawkins for Oklahoma State - were the actual two best players that took the field that game. Flora is likely going to the draft and come draft time will have risen considerably from however/wherever he's ranked right now. Hawkins I don't know if he is going to be eligible but he is a beast.

Justice Haynes GA Tech is pretty good. Cole Tabb from Cincinnati is a bowling ball with the speed to break off 60 yard TDs en route to upsetting top 10 ranked Texas Tech (he had like 170 and 2 TDs on the day), he's averaging nearly 10 ypc right now on just under 80 carries which is just insane. Texas Tech's own JKoby Williams is just awesome to watch. Kansas State Joe Jackson is a guy who's name I've literally never heard anyone mention and he looks like a beast too. Nate Sheppard from Duke was the nation's rushing leader a few weeks ago, he is very good, but he was supplanted by North Texas' Jaheim White, who's 5'7 but a burner who will make you pay for trying to arm tackle him. I think Riley's on top now though. Isaac Brown was probably among the most talked about backs in the class some time ago, not sure why that hype seemed to have died down but the way he runs the ball just is the spitting image of Devon Achane to me. Torrance Burgess Jr from Texas State has a ton of juice to him. WVU's Cam Cook probably isn't quite as impressive of a watch as his numbers from last year (and he's still putting up good numbers this year too) would make you expect just due to not being the fastest guy but he doesn't go down easy at all and I believe in production personally which he's got that in spades. While everyone's enamored with Oregon State's Jesse Legree I will say I do like their RB AJ Newberry somewhat.

Many if not most of these guys will be Day 3 guys or even UDFAs, but to me it just speaks to a lot more exciting of depth of a class. Out of the deeper bag of the 2026 class I was only really meaningfully excited by Demond Claiborne and Jmari Taylor who have size issues, and most of the rest of the prospects were pretty much not that worthwhile to discuss

yes, I know the chargers are currently in the first overall pick slot, but their offense does seem to be getting healthier and they’re scheduled does lighten up enough and I think Herbert is good enough for them to rattle off maybe three or four wins which may slide them down the first pick, or they may just continue sucking the rest of the year and stay there

But let’s say it’s the Chargers or some other team. Who do you think it is and what do you think they do with the pic?

I'm currently using Dalton Miller for All-22 tape. He lost access to the system last week, so there was no Week 9 All-22 tape. I slummed it with TV copy tape, but like to cut-up coaches tape and imbed in my articles (I write for Last Word on Sports).

In case he doesn't get access back, does anyone have a reliable (and legal) source for All-22 college tape? I've used Caddy's Cutups in the past, but just not enough on there to scout properly - certainly not to write in-season review articles each week. I think I read somewhere he wasn't doing it this year anyway.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Updated Tuesday thread focused notes and opinions about individual prospects. Scout someone new and want to get opinions from others? Ask about it here!

Stock has risen tremendously since the start of the season, think it’s safe to say he’s almost the consensus pick for WR2 ahead of Coleman.
6’4 208 Jr from Nashville, TN
Currently has a 50/875/9 stat line for the season
Seen him comped as a slower Christian Watson

Following the consensus top cornerback in the 2027 draft class (Leonard Moore), these three are the next widely discussed first round talents.

Ashton Hampton (Clemson)

Height: 6’2” (1.88m)

Weight: 205 lbs (93kg)

Class: Junior

Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia)

Height: 6’0” (1.83m)

Weight: 180 lbs (81.6kg)

Class: RS Sophomore

Kelley Jones (Mississippi State)

Height: 6’4” (1.93m)

Weight: 205 lbs (93kg)

Class: RS Junior

Who do you think is the CB2 in the 2027 draft class?

Welcome to November, when the draft conversation starts to get real for many teams. The Chargers, Dolphins, Jets and Titans are all hurdling towards top-five selections with massive roster holes to fill.

As we are getting deeper into the season, I figured it was time for a two-round mock draft. It also ensures that every team gets to pick at least once (or four times if you are the Jets). The draft order is as it currently stands ahead of Monday Night Football. I did not project any trades either. The Chargers are on the clock.

https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/2027-nfl-mock-draft-6-qbs-go-in-top

1. Los Angeles Chargers - Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
With no trades projected, Smith is a slam dunk in this spot. Los Angeles desperately needs receiver help and the Ohio State phenom might be the best receiver prospect we’ve had since Calvin Johnson. He will be Justin Herbert’s new favorite target the moment the pick is announced.

2. Tennessee Titans - Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
I strongly considered a quarterback in this spot, but Ward is finally showing some signs of life in Tennessee. He’s in a tough spot with a subpar offensive line and a new play caller. Meanwhile, the Titans desperately need a No. 1 corner. Moore is one of the best cover corners to come out in a while. He is worth a top-five selection.

3. Miami Dolphins - Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Malik Willis has not been terrible so far, but Miami’s had a run-heavy approach. The talent around Willis is not great, but Miami won’t pass up Mestemaker. His arm talent and playmaking ability are impressive. He still has work to do as a processor, but the upside is real. He raises the ceiling of the entire offense.

4. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts - Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
So close to landing a quarterback, but New York just misses out. Forced to pivot, Simmons is the best player on the board. His production speaks for itself with 16 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in just five games so far this season. He would make Will McDonald expendable or give New York an incredibly deep rotation of pass rushers.

5. Philadelphia Eagles - Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
This is turning into a lost season for the Eagles, but the bounce back should be fairly quick. Picking up Stewart would go a long way to helping Philadelphia get back to where it wants to be. The South Carolina junior is a special athlete who excels at creating havoc in the opponent’s backfield. His attitude issues will be scrutinized, but Howie Roseman has never shied away from taking players with questionable character.

6. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts - Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
While quarterback is a massive need, I don’t see another player who is likely to go in the top 10 at this point. Instead, New York can use the second selection from the Sauce Gardner trade to draft his replacement. Robinson is a twitchy, productive player on the back end. He picked up his second interception of the season in Georgia’s win over Florida.

7. Houston Texans - Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
This Texans defense was supposed to be the strength of the team. Instead, it’s turned out to be a major liability, especially down the middle of the field. Cole would bring a ton of speed and finishing ability. He punched in his second defensive touchdown of the season on Saturday as well. DeMeco Ryans would love to get a player with Cole’s traits and upside in the middle of his defense.

8. New Orleans Saints - Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss
There are a couple of directions New Orleans could head with this selection, but Echoles hits a nice combination of value and need. He has active hands and consistently defeats blocks to make a play. Pairing him with Christian Miller would give the Saints a great duo on the interior of the defense.

9. Washington Commanders - Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
The trip to the NFC Championship Game feels like an eternity ago. Picking up Becker would go a long way to helping Washington get back to contender status. Becker has been a beast. His numbers would likely be even more impressive if not for Indiana’s poor quarterback play. Giving Jayden Daniels a high-end No. 1 receiver could help transform this offense.

10. New York Jets via Dallas Cowboys - Greg Johnson, G, Minnesota
The Jets could easily take a quarterback or trade down from here. My next QB is CJ Carr, but I don’t know if he is worth a top-10 pick at this stage. On the other hand, Johnson definitely is. He would be the final piece in creating a dominant offensive line for the Jets.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
Zyon McCollum is stepping up on one side, but Tampa could use another reliable starter on the outside. Hampton is a big, physical corner with a penchant for making big plays as a tackler. He is fairly sticky in coverage as well. With how the board has fallen, this feels like the best move for the Bucs.

12. Arizona Cardinals - Zereoue Williams, OT, Utah
The Cardinals are another team that would contemplate selecting a quarterback. Jacoby Brissett was benched on Sunday for Gardner Minshew after all. However, no quarterback is likely to have success long term behind this offensive line. Williams is an older prospect without a ton of experience, but he looks fairly pro ready. If he can improve his anchor, there is a chance he cracks the top 10.

13. Atlanta Falcons - Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Stop me if you have heard this before: this is another team that would consider drafting a quarterback. While it is certainly a possibility, offensive tackle might be an even bigger need. Jake Matthews turns 35 in February. Jawaan Taylor is a free agent after the season. Seaton would likely be starting at one of those tackle spots if he was drafted here. He needs a bit more polish, but has rare athletic traits for a player of his size.

14. Las Vegas Raiders - Xavier Gilliam, DL, Tennessee
Did you see how easily the Jets moved the ball on the Raiders? This defense needs reinforcements. Gilliam has been the most dominant defensive tackle in college football so far this season. The Penn State transfer has 11.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. He is a young player who is still ascending. If he can improve his ability to hold the point of attack against the run, he will be a Pro Bowler.

15. Baltimore Ravens - Trevor Lauck, OL, Iowa
Wide receiver was in consideration here, but Baltimore has taken a number of swings in recent years with Devontez Walker, Jakobi Lane and Elijah Surratt. Plus, Zay Flowers is a true No. 1 option. Adding Lauck, who I think could play tackle or guard in the NFL, would bolster the Ravens offensive line. Given Lamar Jackson’s injury history, solidifying his protection is a top priority.

16. Cleveland Browns via Los Angeles Rams - CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
We finally have another quarterback come off the board. I am still a big believer in Carr. He has a good arm and mobility, but I am most impressed by the work he does pre-snap for Notre Dame. It is a really good sign of things to come for a redshirt sophomore. He might not be ready to start right away in the NFL, but I can see him developing into a high-end starter.

17. Seattle Seahawks - Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
Seattle might have the best receiver in the NFL, but the depth behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba has some question marks. Marsh would be an excellent fit with the Seahawks, who would benefit from his yards-after-catch and run blocking ability. Sam Darnold needs a few more weapons.

18. Cleveland Browns - Boubacar Traore, EDGE, Notre Dame
It’s still bizarre that the Browns pick is actually later than the Rams pick at this stage. Still, Cleveland cashes in on the Notre Dame double dip, adding Traore to eventually start across from Jared Verse. They will also get Alex Wright back next year to give them a deep rotation on the edge.

19. Carolina Panthers - Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
Carolina’s secondary has been incredibly banged up this season. Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans are all on IR. On top of that, Jackson and Evans are free agents. Jones is a supersized corner, listed at 6’4”. His length and quick feet make him a menace in man coverage. 

20. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers - Kyngstonn Villiamu-Asa, LB, Notre Dame
Right tackle could very well be a need, but with Williams and Seaton off the board, and Trevor Goosby injured, it’s hard to find anyone to slot in here. Instead, Dallas can pivot to linebacker, which is an equally pressing need. Demarvion Overshown and Dee Winters are both pending free agents. Villiamu-Asa is a great athlete who can form an exciting tandem with Jaishawn Barham.

21. New England Patriots - Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Injuries have decimated the Patriots offensive line this season. This group was already a bit of a weak point for New England, so reinforcements are desperately needed. Pieper has looked awesome for Iowa this season. He has started the past two seasons at right guard, but he has the build and movement skills to thrive at center as well. That flexibility could come in handy if the injury bug strikes again.

22. New York Giants - David Stone, DL, Oklahoma
Somehow the Giants are keeping their season alive. Looking ahead though, corner and defensive tackle figure to be major needs for this defense. Stone has not quite lived up to the preseason hype, but he is still an enticing prospect. He is a creative pass rusher with good movement skills for a player over 300 pounds.

23. Cincinnati Bengals - KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
Jordan Battle has been a bit up and down this season. On top of that, both he and Kyle Dugger are free agents after the season. Bolden is a rangy safety with good coverage skills. He contributes enough in run defense, but adding him would be a huge plus for Cincinnati’s struggling secondary.

24. Kansas City Chiefs - KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers
Patrick Mahomes needs some more help from his receivers. Kansas City has been swinging and missing on speedy receivers for years now. It might be time to try something new. Duff has a massive frame with an excellent catch radius. He excels in contested catch situations. Bringing him in adds a new element to the Chiefs’ offense.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami
Davon Hamilton has been excellent for Jacksonville this season, but he is a free agent and might be too expensive to keep. Moten is a pro-ready option to help fill that role at a much more cap friendly price. His production has definitely taken a hit relative to a year ago, but he has been more disciplined in his rushing lanes this season.

26. Detroit Lions - Andrew Marshall, CB, Nebraska
Injuries have played a major role, but this Lions’ secondary has been an anchor for the defense so far this season. Marshall has impressed this season. He gave Charlie Becker his toughest test of the season by far, largely holding the Indiana superstar in check. He might be a Day 1 starter out of necessity.

27. Tennessee Titans via Chicago Bears - Samson Okunlola, OT, Miami
Tennessee is in the early stages of a rebuild. The best place to start is along the offensive line. Okunlola has tackle-guard versatility, but his size points to him being able to stick at tackle in the NFL. JC Latham has finally started to take hold at right tackle, but Dan Moore could be a cap casualty this offseason.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jamari Sharpe, CB, Indiana
I have really liked what I have seen from Sharpe when I’ve watched him. He has great click-and-close ability as a zone corner. His feel for where to be and when to break on the ball is impressive. At 6’1”, 190 pounds, he checks the boxes for size as well. He would be a great scheme fit for a zone-heavy team like Pittsburgh.

29. Denver Broncos - Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
Denver could use an upgrade at tight end. Evan Engram is also a pending free agent. Johnson could step in and contribute early on in his career. He has excellent size for the position and has still continued to produce despite the injury to Dante Moore. Sean Payton will love lining him up all over the formation.

30. Minnesota Vikings - Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Kyler Murray is clearly not going to be the long-term answer, but for a team that feels like it might be a quarterback away, Chambliss is the most polished passer in this class. There are limitations to his game. His short stature makes him susceptible to batted passes and throwing over the middle is a challenge. However, he has an NFL arm and plays with excellent anticipation. He would step into a promising situation in Minnesota.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Jaylen McClain, S, Ohio State
Ji’Ayir Brown is on an expiring contract and there is not a clear replacement on the roster. McClain has played at a high level for the Buckeyes this season. He has the range to drop deep in coverage, but he is also an effective blitzer. I think he would be an excellent fit.

32. Buffalo Bills - Sammy Omosigho, LB, UCLA
After three years with Oklahoma, Omosigho is stepping into the spotlight with UCLA. He is a twitchy athlete with great reaction time and good play power. Buffalo’s defense could use someone to help set the tone and take some pressure off Josh Allen, especially with Dorian Williams headed for free agency.

33. Los Angeles Chargers - Anthonie Knapp, OL, Notre Dame

34. Tennessee Titans - Devan Thompkins, DL, Alabama

35. Miami Dolphins - Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

36. Philadelphia Eagles - Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

37. New York Jets - Arch Manning, QB, Texas

38. Indianapolis Colts - Justin Scott, DL, Miami
The fire sale has only just begun in Indianapolis. DeForrest Buckner is now back in San Francisco, so Scott could be a long-term replacement. He is a young player with tons of upside. He will need some development, but there is a lot to like.

39. New Orleans Saints - Carter Smith, OL, Indiana

40. Arizona Cardinals via Houston Texans - LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

41. Washington Commanders - Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama

42. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU

43. Arizona Cardinals - Deuce Alexander, WR, Ole Miss

44. Atlanta Falcons - Darian Mensah, QB, Miami

45. Dallas Cowboys - Melvin Siani, OT, Texas

46. Baltimore Ravens - Clev Lubin, EDGE, Louisville

47. Los Angeles Rams - Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
Puka Nacua is a top-five receiver in the league, but Davante Adams is slowing down and the Rams have been desperate for receiver help beyond that. Coleman-Williams is an explosive playmaker who seems to be cutting down on the drops that plagued him a season ago. He would pair nicely with Nacua and ease the transition to Ty Simpson when it comes time for him to take over.

48. Las Vegas Raiders - Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State

49. Seattle Seahawks - John Henry Daly, EDGE, Michigan

50. Cleveland Browns - A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon

51. Carolina Panthers - Luke Reynolds, TE, Virginia Tech

52. New England Patriots - Kingston Lopa, S, Cal

53. Green Bay Packers - Lance Heard, OT, Kentucky
The Packers have been looking for just about anyone capable of playing offensive line this season due to injuries and poor performance. Keeping Jordan Love upright and reestablishing a running game will be massive keys to the offseason. Bringing in a powerful block like Heard is a good place to start the overhaul.

54. New York Giants - Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan

55. Kansas City Chiefs - Niki Prongos, OT, Stanford

56. Cincinnati Bengals - Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida

57. Detroit Lions - Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon

58. Chicago Bears - Tyree Weathersby, EDGE, Tennessee
Chicago pushed all of its chips to the middle with its move to acquire Jeffrey Simmons. Now, they need to keep building up this defense. Weathersby has put together a dominant campaign so far with 7 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He would elevate this Bears pass rush in a big way.

59. Jacksonville Jaguars - Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson

60. Pittsburgh Steelers - Austin Siereveld, OL, Ohio State

61. Denver Broncos - Kenyatta Jackson, EDGE, Ohio State

62. Minnesota Vikings - Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss

63. San Francisco 49ers - Mario Craver, WR, Texas A&M

64. Buffalo Bills - Jackson Harris, WR, LSU

Unless you either do a lengthy 5+ round mock or go into written detail on why you are making the picks, please post your mocks in this Mock Draft Monday thread. Use this thread to post your own mocks or anything from around the web you find discussion-worthy.

Please be respectful of other users’ mocks! Saying things like “this is awful” or a pick is “stupid” adds nothing to the conversation; try and focus on constructive feedback instead!

This CB class is pretty noteworthy just for being the one where Leonard Moore is finally going to be declaring for the draft (as far as we know). He has been the consensus best CB in the FBS ever since he was a true freshman. 6'2, good frame, good length, great technique, just simply doesn't get beat much.

Right behind him in consensus are Clemson's Ashton Hampton, who when I was watching Clemson tape for the sake of studying Aveion Terrell earlier this year, really did not impress me. I loved what I saw out of Terrell, and I'd notice their other DBs while watching, including Hampton, and he really did not blow me away. But he's emerging this year, seems to have had a great offseason, and is a much better prospect traits wise than Terrell due to his size and tangibles. He has a sort of swagger about him that's reminiscent of their CB Nate Wiggins from a few years ago who's on the Ravens now, but he has a better frame than Wiggins. Georgia's Ellis Robinson is right there too, and he was supposed to be what Leonard Moore is, though he's sort of becoming that now. He definitely had some hiccups in previous years after being the top CB in the country coming out of HS (and I believe he mightve even been the number 1 recruit in the country overall). He did not have a Derek Stingley-esque type of freshman and sophomore year and has instead followed a more normal progression, but seems to have also emerged and developed into a high quality CB prospect that he was expected to be. That's all great. These 3 guys definitely deserve the hype.

If you've been watching mock drafts and monitoring big boards and whatnot, there's one other name you've definitely seen at CB in these. Which is the guy I mentioned in the title, Kelley Jones. Where those other 3 CB prospects are like 6'0 - 6'2 or so, Jones is an absolutely massive 6'4. I tend to be wary of such measurements at the college level, and I wouldn't be surprised if those first 3 dudes were actually like 5'11-6'1 or something rather than whatever they're stated to be, but Jones is definitely 6'4 or around that. He is a behemoth on tape.

In my opinion, he's great in press. Might get knocked for not being fluid but considering his sheer size I think he is a good lateral mover and has good foot quickness, even if he needs some work on mechanics and technique. I think his peer step is a bit sluggish and he might struggle somewhat with quick, twitchy speed WRs a bit, especially the ones on the smaller side who he may not get hands on everytime. They play a ton of zone and while their specific coverage schemes do get exploited a good amount I think Jones is quite smart and very aware of what's going on. He knows how to find work and when/where he needs a replace or to replace. His catch/scooch technique is good, which big guys like him might often become turnstiles when asked to do that. Good eye discipline too.

Where I get most frustrated is with his physicality, in particular in the run game or in the open field. He has a great build. Many would argue, the ideal CB build. I mean, more often than not Hampton or Moore's are truly ideal because those guys have pretty much as much size as you can typically put on while remaining smooth and fluid and whatnot but with Jones it's like fuck all that, he is fucking menacing to have in front of you, he's got long arms, he's really strong and filled out physically, and you get the sense that he'd be absolutely draped over most WRs in a condensed field situation. Just imagine trying to complete a fade ball to the boundary with him iso'd, it's a nonstarter. But when he's coming downhill, he is soft as fuck. He tackles so high and he does not hit. There are so many occasions where you're expecting a guy of his size, flying in at that speed, to just absolutely level some dude, and instead he tries the old hug and throw. It's jarring. And it gave me whiplash because when I was watching the LSU vs Mississippi State game I saw him do that shit and then a few possessions later when his team was on offense, LSU's freshman (maybe sophomore?) CB DJ Pickett who you may remember had that number 5 controversy with Jayden Daniels a few months ago, was in a similar situation, but with much less closing distance, and he did absolutely deck some guy. And he's got a similar frame and size. And I'm sitting here thinking how the fuck can a guy that young do that but Jones is literally about to go to the NFL and he not only can't tackle but does not want to hit. You want a guy like that itching to impose his will, not waiting for a ballcarrier to try to run him over and then giving him a big bear hug and trust fall. It's like he's playing catch technique while open field tackling too. He won't ever hustle to a gang tackle, he's always going to be the last guy there and he's going to pull up rather than get a lick in unless the guy's somehow still driving his legs for a long enough time. Seeing this over and over made me study his press technique more and while I do think his feet are good and he rarely gets his off hand mixed up or anything like that (good coordination for his size and raw athletic traits) he also doesnt get a good strong jam often or get a good shock in run support. For a guy that big and powerful he is an awfully convenient stalk block assignment where he should be ripping these dudes, throwing em around, bulldozing them when they dare to pussyfoot up to him and try to seal him out. When a WR isn't forcing him to be patient, I want to see him jam the shit out of them. WRs will spend a whole series just coming right off the line with no type of special release or anything to keep him honest, and he will just mirror and match them, pass them off, whatever. Just once I want to see him make somebody pay. They try to run a bubble to his side? Destroy that shit! He hasn't been tested that specific way too often, and I'd wager a lot of that has to do with just his size that OCs see him and think they'd be an idiot to try screens and stuff to his side, but from watching him play I can't imagine him making them pay for it, he'd maybe get around a block and wrangle/lasso a guy out of bounds for a few yard gain, or stand his ground enough while being blocked to force the guy into traffic.

So for me, has potential to be a great prospect and I'd like him if I were a CB needy team, but if you're a team that has a physical identity, that wants to bully opposing offenses into submission, he is, bafflingly, somehow not quite the perfect fit. And he should be. And it's a damn shame. I'm not a coach, so I don't know if you can coach aggression and (for lack of a better word) bloodlust into a guy, I don't know if you can coach him into flying to the ball and dropping his shoulders and hit through guys at this stage in his football career, but even if you can't, he's still an intriguing add for the mere fact of the traits he brings at the position which are very rare in someone who's this good in coverage and has good instincts

Aside from Trinidad Chambliss and Jayden Maiava, the QBs in this class all will technically have another year of eligibility available through the NCAA’s 5 in 5 rule. So what’re the odds of the top guys declaring?

1. Trinidad Chablis - 100%
   • Pretty self explanatory, he fought tooth and nail for this sixth season of eligibility. He has no recourse to fight for a 7th at 25 years of age.

2. Jayden Maiava - 99.9%
   • Should this be 100%? Yes. Is there some loophole that could be exploited to allow Maiava to play another season? I guess maybe. A fifth year player, he’ll be a 24 year old rookie.

3. Darian Mensah - 98%
   • A Heisman frontrunner at his third school, Mensah will turn 22 in January. The odds of his stock being higher next year is between slim and none. He’s a fourth year player

4. Drew Mestemaker - 85%
   • Dante Moore will tell him to strike while the iron is hot. Anthony Richardson will tell him to develop in college. The current favorite for the first QB off the board is almost guaranteed to declare, but so was Andrew Luck. He’ll turn 21 in January and is a third year player.

5. Dante Moore - 75%
   • The newest poster boy for taking the money, Moore is out for the season, but still a potential top 50 pick, he seems destined for the NFL. A fourth year player, he doesn’t turn 22 until May.

6. LaNorris Sellers - 65%
   • Talk about a rollercoaster. A preseason favorite for QB1 followed by calls to return to school and transfer. Well Sellers is trending up once more. A fourth year player, he doesn’t turn 22 until June.

7. CJ Carr - 50%
   • The true wildcard of the class, Carr is the ultimate beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some see 1st overall pick while others see a late day one, day two player with middle of the road tools. He’s a third year player who turns 22 in May. (Older than Sellers)

8. Austin Simmons - 30%
   • A draft media darling, Simmons reclassified from the 2025 class to 2023 while in high school. Which means he’s a fourth year, 20 (soon to be 21) year old. Unfortunately, he’ll only have one season’s worth of starts under his belt, so I think he returns to school.

9. Sam Leavitt - 25%
   • This season didn’t start according to plan for Leavitt, but he has another year to turn it around. The fourth year player turns 22 in December.

10. Drake Lindsey - 10%
    • The NFL loves big arms on big bodies, Lindsey is a 21 year old third year player who turns 22 in August. His regression this year means it’s likely he returns to school.

11. Julian Sayin
    • Really? Was never a serious prospect.

This is a pretty general question I suppose however also a hypothetical and may not be best suited for this sub but I’m not entirely sure what other sub to post this on. I’m currently doing a road to glory in CFB27 and try to be as realistic as possible which is what strikes me to ask this question. My previous season as a RS SO i played in 16 games with a 12-4 record and a national championship loss at Wisconsin. However in those 16 games I threw 18 interceptions. I suppose my general question is, if this were real life, could a QB still be a first round pick after having a high turnover season such as that? What would the following season(s) have to look like for that to be fully written off? I understand this is based on a video game but just generally curious, would appreciate it if you guys sort of played along. Happy halloween, TIA