1.01 Petey Panthers — RB Ashton Jeanty, 5’  8” 211 lbs, Boise State

The tutorial season is over for ol’ Blake, who is looking to make his mark on a league with a franchise cornerstone. He picked the right year to get the 1.01, because there’s a great player at the top…

Ashton Jeanty joins an elite company when it comes to 1.01 lore in the IFL. There are three, maybe four others that fit slam dunk 1.01s – 2016’s Ezekiel Elliot, 2017’s Leonard Fournette, 2018’s Saquon Barkley, and 2023’s Bijan Robinson. Jeanty was a featured prospect heading into the 2024 cycle, but no one expected him to rival Barry Sanders’ all-time rushing record, needing only 28 more yards to exceed his 1988 total. On an incredible 374 carries, Jeanty averaged 7.0 YPC, including 29 rushing touchdowns.

1.02 Washington Dan-0 – Omarion Hampton, 6’ 0” 221 lbs, North Carolina

Dan-0 is poised to not only reshape his roster with 10 picks in the first 2 rounds, but do so in a generational way. With an offense already with 3 stud muffin deluxes in Nabers, BTJ and Ladd, this could reshape the NFC as the conference running through DC for the rest of the decade. Some folks might remember the 2020 draft, where Dan had a record 8 1^st round picks. Same feel here. This is the Dan-0 draft and we are living in it babyyyyy!

As the first half of the draft cycle has unwound, Hampton has emerged as a clear 1.02. Hampton, who played alongside Drake Maye in 2023, matched his impressive rushing totals with the focus of offensive gameplanning solely on the crop-top demon. The past two seasons saw Hampton exceed 250 carries, notching an impressive 5.9 YPC while doing so. His 73 career receptions showcase an ability to catch the ball, an important asset in our all-purpose PPR league. He’s a quality athlete and with the drumbeat creeping into a 1^st round selection, this pick likely doesn’t change barring new information. 

1.03 Tampa Bay Luke – TreVeyon Henderson, 5’10”, 202 lbs, Ohio State

There’s a new era of running backs of sub-200 pound running back who are thriving for fantasy football. Look no further than our RB-loving league, which saw Jahmyr Gibbs, Kyren Williams, De’Von Achane, James Cook, Aaron Jones, and Bucky Irving all score over 20 PPG. Enter the former 5-star recruit TreVeyon Henderson, who is often compared to the Jahmyr Gibbs/DeAndre Swift/Tony Pollard archetype, who can be the highly explosive, home run hitter for a team. With his career carry total tapping out as a freshman with 183 carries, Henderson has struggled with injuries but stayed healthy playing in a timeshare with other stud muffin delux Quinshon Judkins. Henderson’s 7.1 YPC showcases his homerun ability and he’s no slouch as a receiver with 77 career receptions. He can be left on the field all three downs as a stable pass blocker and so long as he can stay healthy, he’ll likely be a fixture in our top 32 RB/WR/TE rankings through the remainder of the 20s.

1.04 Petey Panthers — Tyler Warren, 6’5 ½” 256 lbs, Penn State

The first divergence from the AFC mock begins here, with Warren going to Carolina. Blake diversifies his offensive portfolio with hopes that Tyrone Tracy and Trey Benson can both be quality pieces at running back. However, he was not vibing with Brock Bowers last year. Perhaps that’ll continue for future tight end prospects?

After back-to-back years of quality rookie TE production from Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers, the trauma of Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid aren’t the focal points in anyone’s draft hearts. Enter the headline name of a stellar tight end group, Tyler Warren. Warren played behind NFL starters Pat Freiermuth and Theo Johnson before earning his record-breaking senior season, notching 104 receptions, 1,233 yards, and 8 TDs. He also carried the ball 26 times for 218 yards and 4 TDs. Warren’s receiving totals set the Power Conference receiving record for most yards in a season. (believe it or not, another TE broke the all-time NCAA TE receiving yards record, who we’ll discuss later) Warren is in the massive Gronk mold, who doesn’t run the crispest routes, but will happily find the ball at its highest point and subsequently run over the nearest defender. An adequate run defender, there should be little worry he’ll leave the field.

1.05 Washington Dan-0 — – Kaleb Johnson, 6’1” 224 lbs, Iowa

If 200 lbs back aren’t your thing, let me present you Cam Ska-errr… Kaleb Johnson! While not the flashiest prospect of the draft cycle, Johnson excelled against quality Big 10 competition, exploding with 240 carries, 1,537 yards on 6.4 YPC. He contributed in the passing game as well, with 22 receptions for 188 yards. Watching Johnson’s tape, you see a bruising running style, who is not afraid of contact. You often hear Johnson’s name connected to teams who like to run zone-based running schemes. While Johnson isn’t an elite athlete, that is not something that is a must-have as a running back. He’ll likely hear his name called in round 2 in late April.

1.06 New Orleans Titsu — Quinshon Judkins, 6’0” 221 lbs, Ohio State

Titus’ run of back-to-back titles has shocked the IFL landscape and there’s no doubt he’s looking for a third. He must land a stud here with the 1.06 to supplement a team with some question marks heading into the offseason IFL calendar.

It’s hard not to see David Montgomery when watching Quinshon Judkins. The dude seeks contact and is the traditional running back who’ll get better as the weather gets colder. Judkins was a workhorse back during his first two years at Ole Miss, but struggled with injuries his sophomore years, limiting his effectiveness. After transferring to chase a Natty with the Buckeyes, his usage turned into a timeshare with the aforementioned TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins 1a’d the duo with 194 carries, 1060 yards, and 14 rushing TDs, while providing 22 receptions 161 yards, and 2 receiving TDs. (5.5 YPC) Judkins doesn’t have the home run explosiveness like Henderson, Hampton, or Jeanty, but if you like meat and potatoes for dinner, you’ll like Judkins.

1.07 Tampa Bay Luke – TE Colston Loveland, 6’6” 248 lbs, Michigan

I just traded away Sam LaPorta, so thank goodness Loveland can assist with my dearth of talent on offense.  

If Tyler Warren is the all-around TE, Colston Loveland fits the modern-day receiving archetype. Even dealing with an AC joint dislocation, he played through injury and was the centerpiece of a depleted Michigan offense. Compared to Warren and Fannin’s stats, he does not stand out but posted a quality 56 receptions, 582 yards, and 5 TDs. There are reports citing that Loveland is considered by some to be the #1 TE prospect in this year’s draft as well. It’s looking like a near lock he’ll hear his name called in the first half of the 1^st round come April, with a drop-dead floor being 22 with Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers.

1.08 Washington Dan-0 – RB Cam Skattebo, 5’9” 219 lbs, Arizona State

Dan wraps up a 3-headed monster at running back with Skattebo. Omarion Hampton, Kaleb Johnson, Cam Skattebo, and the aforementioned receivers are perhaps the most dangerous group of six the IFL has ever seen! All are under team control through 2028.

This Rio Linda native got his start at D2 Sacramento State (hello Marte Mapu lovers), but after catching the eye of innovative Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, who was born in 1990 btw, (lordt), Skattebo transferred. While things weren’t picturesque in year one, that didn’t stop a transcendent season, which was projected to finish last in the Big 12 to a conference championship and a 1^st round bye in the playoff. One of the workhorses of college football, Skattebo didn’t become a household name until his 30 carry, 143-yard eruption against Texas in January. While the game came up Milhouse for the Longhorns, Skattebo showcased he belonged in the conversation of this quality group of backs. He is the punisher of this running back class and was efficient with 5.8 YPC on 293 carries and 1711 rushing yards. A true dual-threat player to boot, 45 receptions for 605 receiving yards is certainly nothing to sneeze at either. One thing he’ll need to clean up is his pass blocking, but it’s not like he’s willing.

1.09 Chicago Nic – Tetairoa McMillan, 6’4” 219 lbs, Arizona

Lotta different ways Nic can go here at the 1.09. There’s a foundation at each position on the Bears, so this’ll likely be BPA.

If this was a different class and certainly if this was a different league, it would be blasphemy that Tet McMillan fell to the 1.09. Alas, the IFL is its own animal, hence us routinely selecting elite IDP prospects far higher than what you’d see in conventional fantasy leagues. Tet is a Hawaii native and was paired with his high school sweetheart QB Noah Fifita for his college career. Sonny & Cher would be jealous of this duo’s chemistry as they put on a show the last two years in Tucson. Tet balled out like few other receivers in college football, with 84 receptions, 1319 yards and 8 TDs in only 12 games, earning 1st-team All-American honors. Tet is in the Drake London mold, who can be a featured X and be lined up all over the field to create mismatches. While he’s not going to burn people to create separation, he wins with quality routes and physicality. Fingers fucking crossed he’s paired with a competent passing attack for potential instant success.

*UPDATE: Lotta varying reports coming out of Combine weekend that Tet may be in for a bit of a draft slide. It is no longer a guarantee that he’s the first receiver off the board. He may even fall out of the first half of round 1.

1.10 Washington Dan-0 — DE Abdul Carter, 6’3” 250 lbs, Penn State

Now Dan turns his attention to the defensive side of the ball, with 4 of the next seven selections. There’s a dire need at linebacker, with question marks at DE for who can start opposite Brian Burns and at S on who’ll start next to Antoine Winfield. There are plenty of options though in Rashan Gary, Will McDonald, Dallas Turner, and Laitu Lattu. So, this Carter pick is certainly not a guarantee.  

If you watched Penn State’s college football playoff run, it was impossible to not see Abdul Carter game wrecking SMU and Notre Dame. The man was on a mission to leave a legacy as one of the best defenders in Penn State history, right there with another #11 from Penn State in Micah Parsons. It’s hard not to see the parallels here, as their usage was similar to some degree. Carter, while known for his 12 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, dropped back into coverage routinely, amounting to 4 PDs as well. Carter will likely be our first IDP off the board. In a deep offensive draft playing into the IFL’s RB/TE bonus strength, his selection will be a major domino to fall on our draft morning.

1.11 Washington Dan-0 — Jihaad Campbell, 6’ 3” 235 lbs, Alabama

If Jihaad falls to 10, I’d be stunned if he’s not selected by Dan with one of these three picks.

One of the winners of the combine was Jihaad Campbell, who led the linebackers with a 4.52 40 time. With his plus athleticism, it appears he’s locked up a 1st round ticket in late April. Campbell posted quality stats last season with 117 total tackles, 5 sacks and 1 INT in 13 games. He can play both inside and as an EDGE, showcasing potential versatility as a leader of a young defense. One knock on his profile is his instincts and diagnosis of plays, particularly in coverage. Advocates for the Jihaad believe this can be taught.

1.12 Washington Dan-0 — DE/LB Jalon Walker, 6’1” 243 lbs, Georgia

Jalon Walker is a hybrid backer in the Micah Parsons mold. Kind of a tweener, Walker flashes incredible burst off the line of scrimmage and has done extensive work as an inside linebacker. It’s a bit of a question mark on where he will play as a pro, and I think his value would be maximized in our league should he be placed in the shallower LBer pool. Last season saw Walker notch 89 tackles, 11 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in 14 games. He’ll likely hear his name called in the top 16 come late April, if not the top 10.

1.13 Green Bay Burruh — – WR Matthew Golden, 5’11” 191 lbs, Texas

There’s so much momentum coming out of the combine for Matthew Golden. With some analysis now proclaiming he’ll be the first receiver off the board. This pick for Barry is very much BPA, and whether or not he retains Justin Jefferson after the RFA auction may play a part.

While Isaiah Bond somehow still getting similar draft attention to Golden, he blew Bond’s production out of the water and even tested better than the track star in Indy. Golden’s 4.29 paced all wide receivers and was only off by .1 for the Combine’s best. Texas’ passing attack featured Golden as their #1 option, tallying 58 receptions, 987 yards, and an SEC-best 9 TDs in 16 games. While Ewers continued to struggle with injuries, Golden still put up quality numbers. Joining a plus offense as a late 1st round selection would vault Golden up this mock draft, potentially as a late 1^st round pick.

1.14 Detroit Nate — – RB Devin Neal, 5’ 11” 213 lbs, Kansas

A potential replacement for Kyren Williams is on deck here for Nate. Keep in mind this was one of the two firsts he received in that deal.

To the casual football fan, you might not know Devin Neal. The Kansas Jayhawks haven’t done jack shit in college football, sans the 2007 season where they somehow ended up #2 in the country for a week. (that was a weird year, look it up) Neal is Steady Eddy, notching three straight seasons of 1,000 rushing yards, having a low of 5.8 YPC through the past three years. He’s notched over 20 receptions each year as well. Neal is a wow athlete, but he’s Kenough.

1.15 Minnesota Wade — – Dylan Sampson, 5’ 8” 200 lbs, Tennessee

Wade can go several directions here, but I think the best available remaining Day 2 running back will be the selection. Questions remain on whether he’ll pay Saquon Barkley $50 million and he just traded away Bucky Irving. An injection at RB may be in order.

Dylan Sampson, a likely Day 2 running back who largely lit the college football world on fire with a borderline CFP team in Tennessee. Time and time again, the NFL and our league have misvalued conventionally undersized running backs. Sampson is the latest case study and it’s clear he can handle a full workload. Last season saw Sampson handle 258 carries, 1491 rushing yards, and 22 touchdowns, while catching 20 balls for 143 yards. A potential early 2nd for a full-time running back is screaming value, but that’s the nature of the 2025 draft.

1.16 Washington Dan-0 — – S Nick Emmanwori, 6’3”, 220 lbs, South Carolina

Dan finds his safety to pair with the recently acquired Antoine Winfield. This duo could be an IFL institution. Also in play here is QB Cam Ward.

Nick Emmanwori, lit the combine on fire, as many are calling it one of the best performances of all time. The hype machine was rolling on Emmanwori well before last weekend, as Daniel Jeremiah had him rated as a 1^st round prospect and his #1 rated safety. He also has compared him to Derwin James, and Jeremiah is the color commentator for the Los Angeles Chargers, so that hits a little different. Derwin also commented on Emmanwori’s performance at the combine, so you can understand how the hype has reached 1^st round IFL levels. In 13 games, he provided 88 tackles, 4 INTs and 2 TDs. Not too shabby for a player now also being discussed as a potential LBer. It appears he’s destined for a box role in the NFL.

2.01 Seattle Will — WR Emeka Egbuka, 6’1” 202 lbs, Ohio State

Will is sliding a bit under the radar thus far in the offseason, but don’t think for a second that he doesn’t want to fucking win this thing just as much as any of us. Egbuka is not flashy, but he’s shaping up to be a Robert Woods-type contributor for IFL purposes.

High floor, steady contributors often don’t win you rings, but they don’t often lose you games either. Emeka Ebuka is tailor-made to contribute on Day 1 and with late 1st round draft capital, he’s likely to do so. Egbuka has played second fiddle to many Alphas at Ohio State, but he’s provided a consistent receiving option, no matter the QB. This season saw him tally 81 receptions, 1011 yards, and 10 TDs in 16 games. In a draft full of what’ll possibly be volatile running backs, Egbuka provides safety.

2.02 Tampa Bay Luke — – CB/WR Travis Hunter, 6’0” 188 lbs, Colorado

It’s time to discuss the Unicorn. Travis Hunter is truly a one-of-a-kind player with the potential to play two full-time positions. The way he went about Combine interviews was wise. He wasn’t arrogant, stating that teams avoid him if they don’t want to play him both ways, but rather doubling down on his abilities to do so. The NFL has varying degrees of opinions on the best way to utilize him, but most reports state him as cornerback will be the full-time focus for most teams, with a subpackage of plays on offense. So if this is the case, where does his value lie in IFL? Well, MFL doesn’t do dual designations, so they have first say on what position he’ll play. It is not out of the realm of possibility he’ll be slotted as a WR, but play corner full time. Below, you’ll see an MFL representative’s response to this very question back in December.

2.03 Petey Panthers — – QB Cam Ward, 6’2” 219 lbs, Incarnate Word

Not sure Blake wants to put all his cards into the Justin Herbert basket. That is supposed to be a run-heavy offense, after all.

Ward’s journey is a textbook modern college QB success story in the transfer era. He got his start at DII powerhouse Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, TX. He then transferred and played two seasons in Pullman, Washington at Washington State registering quality, if not modest seasons. He then went supernova at the University of Miami, throwing for 305 completions, 4313 yards, 39 TDs (NCAA high), with only 7 INTs. (67% completion percentage to boot) These are easily this class’ statistical best. Watching Ward, he is calm, cool, and collected, almost like if LeVeon Bell was a QB, playing methodically until he pulls out some trickery out of nowhere. If I were a betting man, I’d say an NFL team will fall in love and trade up for him with Tennessee.

2.04 Seattle Will – WR Luther Burden III, 6’ 0” 206 lbs, Missouri

Some people like to Zig when the rest of the league is Zagging. Will capitalizes on both Egbuka and now Burden who may have fallen a bit further than they should have in a RB/TE-heavy draft class.

After a sophomore season that saw Luther Burden III turn into a potential top 10 NFL selection, he saw his draft profile take a massive hit after the Missouri offense regressed due to ineffective and injury-plagued QB play. Was Burden without blame? Hard to say, but there’s little to no talk of him being a top 16 pick, likely falling into late Day 1, early Day 2 value. Burden’s junior year won’t wow you statistically, but does provide a rushing component to his game, often compared to Deebo Samuel. He’d be a good fit for a team that like to use motion and misdirection. 

2.05 Arizona Jai – DE James Pearce Jr. 6’5” 245 lbs, Tennessee

Outside of Jalon Walker, Jai has a large hole at DE. Enter James Pearce, who can immediately be a contributor in the right spot. James Pearce Jr. is one of the premier pass rushers in this year’s draft. The last two seasons saw Pearce dominate the SEC, with 17.5 sacks, 66 combined tackles, 28 TFLs, 1 INT, and 3 forced fumbles. Pearce ran a jaw dropping 4.47 40 at 245 pounds. He’s a certified freak. A common knock on Pearce Jr. is down-to-down consistency, so look for him to shore that up early in his career.

2.06 Minnesota Wade — – LB Demetrius Knight Jr., 6’2” 235 lbs, South Carolina

Starting with Jai and running through Pete at the 2.11, there’s likely to be a run on IDP. Wade needs help across his defense, sans DT, so any number of positions is in play here.

While Jihaad Campbell was the highlight of linebackers at the Combine, Demetrius Knight Jr. was a compelling footnote. He posted a noteworthy, 4.58 40, showcasing his athleticism which is evident when watching his tape. Knight has bounced around quite a bit in his six years in college, playing 4 years as a backup LBer at Georgia Tech, before transferring to Charlotte and concluding with the Gamecocks. This season, he compiled 82 total tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT and 3 forced fumbles. It appears it’ll be between Knight and Carson Schwesinger on who’ll be the LB3.

2.07 Washington Dan-0 — – LB Carson Schwesinger, 6’ 2” 242 lbs, UCLA

The award for the best hair this year might go to Schwesinger, who no doubt will be signed by a hair brand in short order. Schwesinger may be the sound his hair makes when it flows through the wind. Anywho, Carson led college football in solo tackles with 90, with a combined tackle mark of 136 across 12 games. He also provided 4 sacks, 2 INTs, and a forced fumble to boot. Unfortunately, we didn’t see him test much in Indianapolis, but it’s clear he is a quality ball player.

2.08 Chicago Nic — DE/LB Mike Green 6’ 3” 245 lbs, Marshall

Not a dire need for Nic at DE, but Tuli Tuipulotu isn’t a guarantee to take a step forward and Jonathon Cooper is signed for only one more year. (although extendable)

Mike Green oozes upside, as he led college football with 17 sacks in 2024. Not only that, he posted a WTF 84 total tackles and 3 forced fumbles while playing quite a bit of LBer as well. With the hybrid LB/EDGE prospect era alive and well Mike Green appears to be one of the better ones in recent memory. A top half 1st round prospect does have a red flag, however, which included a sexual assault incident that concluded with him being kicked off the Virginia football team in 2021. He was not charged with a crime but also was accused of sexual assault while in high school as well.

2.09 Chicago Nic – S Malaki Starks, 6’1” 197 lbs, Georgia

Brisker and Pitre make for a nice duo, but Starks could replace either of them if they both walk in RFA next year.

Similar to Luther Burden, if Malaki Starks was draft-eligible after his sophomore season, it’s possible he would be selected in the top half of the first round. Now, it’s possible he slides to Day 2. Starks was a do-it-all safety for the Bulldogs, registering 77 total tackles, 1 INT, and 3 PDs during his 2024 campaign. Starks was an All-American in 2023, and he tested well at Indy. While Emmanwori has the headlines, Starks shouldn’t be overlooked as a competent safety who would provide instant fantasy value.

2.10 Washington Dan-0 – – QB Shedeur Sanders, 6’1” 212 lbs, Colorado

Dan picked up a quality QB in 2^nd round last year in Bo Nix. Does Dan go back to the well with Deion’s kid?

Certainly from a clean pocket/in-structure perspective, Shedeur Sanders is game manager delux. Put that man behind a quality offensive line and he should succeed. However, out of structure, Sanders consistently found himself in trouble, which led to many drive-killing sacks through his two years as the Colorado starting QB. Sanders set the NCAA record for all-time completion percentage with 71.8% and tallied 4134 passing yards and 37 TDs leading the Big 12 in both categories. Appearing to be a top 10 pick Sanders will likely not be placed in an ideal situation, but should be competent enough for fantasy purposes. For now, he’s an ideal #2 QB for our 16-team, 1QB league.

2.11 Petey Panthers – DT Mason Graham, 6’ 3” 296 lbs, Michigan

Pete has done quite a bit of drafting and trading to find a solution at DT (hello Ed Oliver, Bryon Murphy and Co.), but a surefire starter has alluded him up to this point. Graham was in play at the 2.03 but with almost every GM set at DT between the 2.03 and the 2.11, he gets a bit of value.

It appears Mason Graham is ticketed for a top 5 overall selection and it’s not hard to see why. He’s been the best player for the Wolverines across the past two seasons and is one of a few blue chip prospects in this draft. Graham possesses dual threat traits as an elite run defender and pass rusher, notching 45 total tackles, 7 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks across 12 games. While it’s a bit of a gamble to bet on DTs, Graham’s profile fits a potential star in the making. With our boost in DT scoring, a mid-2^nd round pick feels right, especially if he lands in a situation where he can soak up tackles.

2.12 Arizona Jai — RB Jordan James, 5’9” 205 lbs, Oregon

Jai loves himself some running backs and if there’s value here with a Day 2 running back, perhaps not in the greatest situation, this feels like a quality spot to land. Jai’s offense is ready to rock with James Cook, Breese Hall, Nico Collins, AJ Brown, and Xavier Worthy.

Jordan James led the Oregon Ducks rushing attack during an undefeated regular season. He carried the rock 233 times for 1267 yards, amounting to 5.4 YPC. He also tallied 26 receptions for 209 receiving yards. These stats put James firmly in the Day 2 conversation and he is the textbook case of falling in our draft because of a deep crop. Compared to a Baby Marshawn Lynch, James brings a punishing running style, even at 205 pounds.

*Update: James did not have the best combine performance, but if there’s a position that matters less, it’s running back. His body of work speaks for itself, but landing spot/draft capital will be paramount for him to stay in the IFL’s round 2 conversation.

2.13 Minnesota Wade – TE Harold Fannin Jr., 6’ 3” 241 lbs, Bowling Green

For the last year and change, Harold Fannin Jr. has flown under the radar as a prospect as the featured passing weapon at small school Bowling Green. Even when he broke the all-time TE reception (117) and yardage record (1555) in a single season, Fannin is still not considered close to an elite prospect. Is this because of big school elitism or are there some underlying red flags we should be privy to? Putting stats aside, yes, Fannin should be docked for not consistently playing against stout competition, but when he did, here were his stat lines:

2024 @ Penn State – 11 receptions for 137 yards and a TD

2024 @ Texas A&M – 8 receptions for 145 yards and a TD

While not elite competition, it’s still noteworthy he had a 17 reception, 213 yard, 1 TD effort during his Bowl Game against Arkansas State. The yardage was a bowl game record for a tight end and 17 receptions is tied with Tyler Warren for the most receptions for a TE in a single game.

A red flag for fantasy purposes was he was being lined up at fullback too often during the Senior Bowl, a sign that NFL teams may not view him as a traditional in-line tight end. So is he a liability as a blocker and if so, will that matter to the team that drafts him?

Talk about a borderline Travis Hunter-type shift in value. Late Day 2 appears to be the draft projection, but Day 3 can’t be ruled out.

2.14 Seattle Will — – RB Damien Martinez, 6’ 0” 217 lbs, Miami

Similar to the aforementioned Devin Neal, Damien Martinez was a consistent contributor during his time in college. Across three seasons, he exceeded 982 rushing yards averaging over 6.1 YPC each year. One flag Martinez has that Neal does not is his lack of receiving usage, with only a career 32 receptions despite starter usage. There was also a curious amount of a lack of carries at certain points last season, only totaling 159 carries across 13 games for a prolific Miami offense. Martinez displayed quality athleticism for a back his size at the Combine, so like so many around him, is right on that Day 2 borderline. If he’s a 3^rd round pick, it’ll be tough for him to fall out of our 2^nd round.

2.15 Washington Dan-0 — – TE Mason Taylor, 6’ 5” 251 lbs, LSU

Dan wraps up his foundation draft with one of the big winners of the weekend. To put a bow on this beauty, here’s who he signed: QB Shadeur Sanders, RB Omarion Hampton, RB Kaleb Johnson, RB Cam Skattebo, TE Mason Taylor, DE Abdul Carter, DE/LB Jalon Walker, LB Jihaad Campbell, LB Carson Schwesinger and S Nick Emmanwori.

The LSU pipeline of receivers is strong and Mason Taylor has the potential to share in this legacy. This studly tight end caught 55 balls for 546 yards and 2 TDs during his junior year. In a record-breaking type season, these stats may pale in comparison to Tyler Warren or Harold Fannin, but understand these are typical marks for quality TE prospects. Taylor is compared to Dallas Goedert via NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein and is the son of HOFer Jason Taylor and his uncle is HOFer Zach Thomas. (we’re all so old)

2.16 San Francisco Vic — — TE Elijah Arroyo, 6’5” 250 lbs, Miami

Vic could go several directions here, but BPA feels right with some quality TE prospects slipping late into the 2^nd round.

No one is going to contradict Elijah Arroyo having an immaculate NFL tight end body. The dude is built for the position and looks like a stone cold killer when catching the ball. Paired with Cam Ward, he tallied 35 receptions, 590 receiving yards, and 7 TDs, with a noteworthy, 16.9 yards per reception. Arroyo took some time to come into his own as a prospect, but 2024 saw him burst onto the scene with the entire Miami offense clicking. A lock to be a day two pick, the best could be yet to come.

2.17 Green Bay Burruh – DE Mykel Williams, 6’5” 260 lbs, Georgia

While Barry went offense with the 1.13, he needs to bolster a nonexistent defense. Enter Georgia Bulldog delux Mykel Williams, who has an athleticism package to dominate in the NFL. Even while banged up the entire season, playing “at less than 60%” with a grade 2 ankle sprain, he tallied 21 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Williams is shaping up to be a mid-1^st round pick, so fingers crossed he goes to a team that’ll be able to utilize him in near full-time snaps from the jump.

Other players considered: QB Jaxson Dart, RB Jarquez Hunter, RB Bhayshul Tuten, RB Ollie Gordon II, RB Trevor Etienne, RB Woody Marks, RB Jaydon Blue, RB Brashard Smith, RB RJ Harvey, RB DJ Giddens, RB Tahj Brooks, WR Jayden Higgens, WR Jack Bech, WR Elic Ayomanor, TE Terrance Ferguson, ED Shemar Stewart, DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE Nic Scourton, DT Walter Nolen and S Xavier Watts.