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The Grey Manes Staff Live Mock Draft 2.0

  • Writer: DB Keener
    DB Keener
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

T-Minus 13 Days and counting down fast until the 2026 NFL Draft is upon us, and here at the Grey Manes, we have switched out focus almost exclusively to Draft Day.


Last week, I ran a solo Mock Draft 1.0 through the PFFN Mock Draft Simulator and wrote about the journey on where I ended up. On the Pod last Tuesday, (7pm EST Tuesday Nights), Brent, Chris and I sat down and did a Live 1st Round Mock draft for all teams under some basic rules to see who the Detroit Lions would end up with as we picked for needs of those teams in front of them. It was pretty smooth sailing for the most part, but there were a few instances of some upset picks (player, not position) and one massive curveball late that made it an entertaining exercise.

The Rules

  • Consensus Picks of Francisco Mendoza to LAV at #1 and Arvell Reese to NYJ at #2

  • Alternating picks Starting at #3 in order of Dan, Brent & Chris

  • No Trades

  • Used the PFFN Consensus Rankings


The Results

The Grey Manes Staff Live Mock Draft 2.0

The Detroit Lions Pick Analysis

  • There was a bit of a spirited debate on who the Lions should take at #17, with discussions centering around S Thieneman, EDGE Mesidor, EDGE Faulk and OY Proctor. Lomu and Iheanachor were suggestions as possible OTs as well. We did come to the consensus of the players available; Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor is the choice and plugs in at RT, but if he struggles, he can play guard.

  • Brent and I both agree that Vega Ioane would likely be the pick if he hadn't gone a few picks earlier to Tampa, although Chris was a bit skeptical on Ioane to the Lions.

  • Chris made the point we have talked about that Penei Sewell is flexible enough to play either RT or LT so any OT is in play.



Remainder of Draft Analysis

  • First Upset was Chris taking The Ohio State WR Carnell Tate at #5 instead of Ohio State LB Sonny Styles or Edge David Bailey, scuttling the Browns pick of tate at #6, who went with The Ohio State LB instead

  • Probably the biggest surprise was through Pick #8, there were some absolute perceived studs on the board in S Downs, EDGE Bain, CB Delane and OTs Freeling and Fano.

  • At #9, there was some indecision, but had the Chiefs taking Edge Bain Jr to start getting some youth on their DL

    Brent went all in on the "Jets gonna Jets" by having them take ty Simpson at #16. This was a byproduct of no trades more than anything, as it's believed that Simpson will ge a target in Rd 1 of a trade up

  • The next indecision point came with Pittsburgh at 21, where I went with S McNeil-Warren over WR Omar Cooper in a mild upset.

  • The last "reach" was by Brent (again?) at #28 taking LB Jacob Rodriguez who was projected more in the mid to late 2nd round

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