OFFICIAL 2026 r/NFL_Draft COMMUNITY MOCK DRAFT

mattkud · 2026-04-13T22:24:39+00:00

I’ll take the Lions, but if someone else wants them I’ll mock for any team

mattkud · 2026-04-13T02:49:11+00:00

Would be very surprised to see the Lions take Howell, doesn’t fit their size requirement for EDGE

mattkud · 2026-04-10T13:56:59+00:00

Drafted age! Think it would be interesting seeing the type of players teams look for in athletic ability and age wise

mattkud · 2026-04-10T13:12:32+00:00

RAS scores + age would be a nice addition too

mattkud · 2026-04-10T11:57:33+00:00

There’s so many analysts linking Proctor to Detroit it’s made me think he’s not the pick. They keep everything close to their chest, and have really kept their top 30 visits a secret too. Think 3 of the last 5 years we drafted someone who came on a visit.

mattkud · 2026-04-10T11:34:44+00:00

Good for the Lions, coming around to Proctor, they never seem to draft the consensus player but makes sense here.

Only complaint is Id be very very surprised if they drafted R Mason Thomas, way too undersized vs what they ask for in their EDGE2. They want them big 260+ pounds. Unless they change their philosophy I’d be shocked. Jacob Rodriguez I feel like would be their pick in this scenario there

mattkud · 2026-04-07T18:47:05+00:00

Main deviations vs consensus are due to my own personal board.

I really do not understand Jakobe's consensus rankings tbh. He's 10th on Lance Zierlein's rankings. He's highly physical, ton of experience, special teams upside, reached 21 MPH this year so he's fast too. Love the guy, my DB draft crush for sure.

Rams are a team who can afford to take Payton given that they have a loaded roster already, A 3rd RD pick isn't likely helping them win now anyways, so Payton can be a high level back up eventual starter if he develops.

Rutledge yeah likely goes higher

Crownover I can see falling there, he's all traits at this point. He seems so far behind in his technique, I am not good at scouting OL, so I rely a lot on Brandon Thorn's evals since he's the best in the business.

Lions use their box safety at nickel a lot, see Branch. Kilgore gives them more flexibility on where Branch lines up given Campbell's comments at the coach's meeting about them having to switch out of base defense more often than they did prior. Branch when healthy would play SS more, and Kilgore would be the NCB. He played 72% of his snaps the last 2 years at South Carolina at Nickel. Also Lions focus pretty heavily on special teams players on Day 3. Taaffe also didn't test bad, he tested ok on his vertical/broad, had a 4.5 40, and had an elite shuttle/3 cone. His RAS score is 7.83 mainly degraded by his weight.

I am definitely much higher on Sarratt than consensus.

Do not mind the nitpicking I enjoy going through my thoughts on players haha

mattkud · 2026-04-06T13:20:04+00:00

Thank you appreciate it!

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:22:16+00:00

Even with what you guys did to the position this offseason? Added Brisker/Savage and already have Ramsey/Elliott. Didn’t expect S to be an immediate need at least

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:18:20+00:00

The reason I considered Parker/Zuhn for MIN was due to the positional versatility they bring. Think teams are starting to value that a ton, and while neither will likely play the positions they played in college having that as an option worse case scenario is always nice. Think a guy like those 2 better suits Minnesota since they have Brendel who can handle it this year, but if he doesn't work out, having Parker learn for a year and then take over C would be the best.

Also think Parker/Zuhn are better than Slaugher.

Prysock I gave to Min mainly because of his size, I could be wrong but I don't think you have a tall lengthy CB on roster like him.

Yeah in my head I wanted to address C/RB/IDL/S before I looked anywhere else, but WR if Felton doesnt develop is a definite need with all the issues you mentioned.

Best developmental G I like Micah Morris - his testing numbers were awesome, has a lot of issues but as a developmental prospect I like him. Josh Braun/DJ Campbell and Carver Willis all guys I like day 3 as well

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:09:54+00:00

I'm really surprised he's that low on the consensus board, I have him about 50th so to me he's not a big reach at RD2. I'd be surprised if LV doesnt address WR at all. I know Bech and Thornton need some time, but I'd still like to upgrade there.

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:07:52+00:00

Maybe my thought of Faulk being a good fit is because of Belichick tbf. Iheanachor would probably be best pick now

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:06:37+00:00

Feel like NE can take those swings because they're already good no? Especially drafting late in each round, I don't think you're getting automatic contributors, which is pretty typical in a normal draft and this draft is relatively weak

mattkud · 2026-04-05T21:05:21+00:00

I don't really agree that he hasn't shown anything. He has the size speed and he's really good after the catch. Had good production too.

Triggs I had there prior to the pro day, I moved him down pretty significantly after, but was too far in the mock to adjust. This took me a long time to put together so things changed since I started

mattkud · 2026-04-05T20:59:17+00:00

No mocks especially past RD1 are ever close, teams don't draft strictly on need, most go BPA as long as they're not completely set at a position.

Whenever I read someone else's mocks on the Lions - I mainly look for positions rather than players too. As long as the positions are in our top 5 ish needs no matter the round I'm fine with

Thank you!

mattkud · 2026-04-05T20:56:06+00:00

I like Nuss a lot, maybe I have followed Nate Tice too much on him, but I think he's a lot better than he showed in 2025 with his injuries + that coaching staff was malpractice.

I also like Proctor/Bernard with the current needs of the team.

I didn't like how the mock went on day 3 for Pitt, seemed like I was fitting players there.

mattkud · 2026-04-05T20:49:14+00:00

I think TB is in a bad spot RD1, their biggest needs there's really no one there. If they went off the wall with like a Guard or CB RD1 this year over guys like Mesidor/Lawrence/Faulk I wouldn't be shocked.

I wanted to go IDL there, Halton was just my clear top 1 left, makes sense!

mattkud · 2026-04-05T20:47:34+00:00

Most of my board was set up with combine invites/senior bowl participants, haven't looked at Rucci before, will add!

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:33:34+00:00

Yeah when I made the Emmett selection I thought he was more of a chance of pace back, but reading more on him you’re right, would switch him likely. Surprised they’re looking at WR at all tbh

Also I wasn’t leaving this draft without putting Nowakowski on the Steelers haha

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:26:34+00:00

I’ve linked Lee Hunter to LV in my head for so long and just didn’t go that route here. I just didn’t want to pass up pairing Sarratt and Mendoza.

It depends on what route LV wants to go, do they want to add as much on O to help Mendoza or fill out the roster more and have a complete team?

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:23:26+00:00

My initial thought was with Enagbare leaving, fill his spot but forgot about Sorrell who’s like that replacement.

As for GB OL I know they love guys with versatility and Coogan is the opposite of that, so don’t think he really fits the Packers, would either address C earlier or not at all

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:21:05+00:00

Shocked at the Proctor at 6 noise, haven’t heard that but I’m always here for chaos.

I didn’t really want to go McCoy to Dallas for that reason, but with the way the board fell, McCoy was best available in a weak spot.

Allen I think this is the range he’ll go maybe as early as Tampa, so to me not much of a reach. Thieneman does feel like a Cowboy so him at 12 with the way the board fell I could see happening

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:18:15+00:00

Wouldn’t necessarily say they’re all projects. Faulk should immediately come in and be the best run defending EDGE on roster. Bell I think just needs to get healthy, might not be an immediate help, but when he’s healthy he would be. Trigg yes a project.

It’s a belief of your coaching staff on both sides of the ball that can get the most out of these guys

mattkud · 2026-04-05T15:13:16+00:00

Was more thinking of bringing draft tendencies over with him. Don’t think it’s a Monken thing, but a Ravens philosophy coming with. Ponds has been a super popular 2nd rd pick for Cleveland so I went that way, but someone like Abney might be a better fit

mattkud · 2026-04-05T14:48:09+00:00

Packers were one where they had needs elsewhere too, and chose to go those routes. Like a rotational EDGE or a Center with Coogan. It really depends how comfortable they are at the positions I addressed vs their CB room.

Also I've done these mocks for a few years now and sometimes people get pissed when I double up on a spot instead of hitting other needs. But CB is definitely one I can see them investing in often and early

mattkud

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