Let the Mocks begin.......

[insaniti]

With trades, this one ended up being damn near perfect.

32.

Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

64.

Kenneth Grant DT Michigan

83.

Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State
86.

Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn State

123.

CJ West DT Indiana
139.

Jalen Travis OT Iowa State

156.

Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
185.

Jaydon Blue RB Texas

 

[NorthernBlitz]

With trades, this one ended up being damn near perfect.

32.

Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

64.

Kenneth Grant DT Michigan

83.

Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State
86.

Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn State

123.

CJ West DT Indiana
139.

Jalen Travis OT Iowa State

156.

Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
185.

Jaydon Blue RB Texas

If it fell like this, this is the kind of draft where I'd probably be apprehensive after the 1st round, then elated after the 2nd.

 

[slashsteel]

With trades, this one ended up being damn near perfect.

32.

Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

64.

Kenneth Grant DT Michigan

83.

Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State
86.

Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn State

123.

CJ West DT Indiana
139.

Jalen Travis OT Iowa State

156.

Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
185.

Jaydon Blue RB Texas

I like that it stayed heavily on the trenches even with a QB agenda.

That is what I hope for regardless of who or what positional selection comes whenever.

 

[insaniti]

If it fell like this, this is the kind of draft where I'd probably be apprehensive after the 1st round, then elated after the 2nd.

when running the sim, I was kind of arguing with myself over taking the QB or the DL. The DL has a better chance of sliding, considering that the Brown and the Giants didn't take QB's in the first, and didn't move back up into the first for a QB. I got my trade down, (a few actually, and used a third and second round pick in '26 that I got from trading down to move back into the second), and took the chance that I'd be able to get a solid DL in the 2nd. Just happened to be my favorite DL prospect.

Here's how I look at the QB position in this draft. If I can trade down, and I like the prospect, even as a fringe 1st/2nd, with Cleveland and the Giants waiting with the first two picks in the second, you have to take the QB. IF you like them. If not, wait until the 3rd for Shough, or the 4th for Howard (although I think the Titans take Howard with the first pick in the 4th, double up like Washington did years back with RG3 and Cousins).

 

[slashsteel]

when running the sim, I was kind of arguing with myself over taking the QB or the DL. The DL has a better chance of sliding, considering that the Brown and the Giants didn't take QB's in the first, and didn't move back up into the first for a QB. I got my trade down, (a few actually, and used a third and second round pick in '26 that I got from trading down to move back into the second), and took the chance that I'd be able to get a solid DL in the 2nd. Just happened to be my favorite DL prospect.

Here's how I look at the QB position in this draft. If I can trade down, and I like the prospect, even as a fringe 1st/2nd, with Cleveland and the Giants waiting with the first two picks in the second, you have to take the QB. IF you like them. If not, wait until the 3rd for Shough, or the 4th for Howard (although I think the Titans take Howard with the first pick in the 4th, double up like Washington did years back with RG3 and Cousins).

Not sure how far DLs will slide as the trenches stay a high need for good teams.

But it might very well cause a round 1 pause with the Steelers. Might. As I mentioned in the RAS thread Omar has glued in on RAS heavily in one element of their recent draft approach.

When looking at these prospects who did what that group oddly didn’t complete drills for whatever reason.

Doesn’t roadblock my desire for a DL in 1 especially if it is a BPA. But it might very well be a negative for them if they have two positions and or players created equal.

 

[insaniti]

Not sure how far DLs will slide as the trenches stay a high need for good teams.

But it might very well cause a round 1 pause with the Steelers. Might. As I mentioned in the RAS thread Omar has glued in on RAS heavily in one element of their recent draft approach.

When looking at these prospects who did what that group oddly didn’t complete drills for whatever reason.

Doesn’t roadblock my desire for a DL in 1 especially if it is a BPA. But it might very well be a negative for them if they have two positions and or players created equal.

I agree, and it really depends on they have these QB's ranked. And when I said that the DL has a better chance of sliding, I mean that in a deeper pool, of more equally ranked players, the chances of landing a good DL prospect in the second is much higher than landing a good QB prospect. Just by nature of the position. The trenches are for sure the foundation of every good team, and that's why I went and grabbed multiple on both the DL and OL.

But without a starting QB on the roster, and without any stability at the position, you have to try and solve that problem. Which is why I went with the Dart pick. It worked out in my sim, might not work out as well in real life. I know there have been scouts and front office people that have made the claim that who you draft at 10 isn't much different than the person you will draft at 32 in this years draft. Without that group of for sure first round guys, Thursday will be the most unpredictable draft we've had in years.

 

[slashsteel]

I agree, and it really depends on they have these QB's ranked. And when I said that the DL has a better chance of sliding, I mean that in a deeper pool, of more equally ranked players, the chances of landing a good DL prospect in the second is much higher than landing a good QB prospect. Just by nature of the position. The trenches are for sure the foundation of every good team, and that's why I went and grabbed multiple on both the DL and OL.

But without a starting QB on the roster, and without any stability at the position, you have to try and solve that problem. Which is why I went with the Dart pick. It worked out in my sim, might not work out as well in real life. I know there have been scouts and front office people that have made the claim that who you draft at 10 isn't much different than the person you will draft at 32 in this years draft. Without that group of for sure first round guys, Thursday will be the most unpredictable draft we've had in years.

Like me some Dart. I just think he is going to be a gun slinger. If someone told me you can have Howard, Dart, or Sanders…. I would lean his way slightly.

 

[insaniti]

Like me some Dart. I just think he is going to be a gun slinger. If someone told me you can have Howard, Dart, or Sanders…. I would lean his way slightly.

I could make an argument for any one of those three. Those are my 3 fav too. Dart has the gunslinger mentality like you said, Sanders is the most accurate QB in college football history, and Howard has that Big Ben size with a bit more athleticism.

 

[slashsteel]

I could make an argument for any one of those three. Those are my 3 fav too. Dart has the gunslinger mentality like you said, Sanders is the most accurate QB in college football history, and Howard has that Big Ben size with a bit more athleticism.

Pretty much how I see the three. I would think all three have decent potential. With all three of course having questions. I do see their floors being decent…

 

[SteelerFan448]

With trades, this one ended up being damn near perfect.

32.

Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

64.

Kenneth Grant DT Michigan

83.

Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State
86.

Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn State

123.

CJ West DT Indiana
139.

Jalen Travis OT Iowa State

156.

Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
185.

Jaydon Blue RB Texas

Even if you don't like Dart, the rest of this draft is very good.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Like me some Dart. I just think he is going to be a gun slinger. If someone told me you can have Howard, Dart, or Sanders…. I would lean his way slightly.

Watching Ben ruined what I want in a QB. I mean, I liked watching Favre growing up, then having Ben on the Steelers and now Josh Allen is my favorite QB. All are big-armed gunslingers. I have to remember a QB doesn't have to have a rocket arm to succeed, but it sure is nice. Dart sort of gives me that vibe as well in terms of being a gunslinger.

This goes back to the QB question is where and when should the Steelers take one? If they like Sanders or Dart, they almost have to take them at 21. There are several teams at the top of the second who are banking on these guys falling to them.