# Mel Kiper: Kiper's post-free-agency mock draft, as relayed on the show, assigns specific prospects to specific picks through the top 20, including Fernando Mendoza at No. 2, Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5 and CJ Allen to the Cowboys at No. 20. **Claimed:** Mar 21, 2026 **Pundit:** Mel Kiper — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mel-kiper **Outlet:** DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://tracking.swap.fm/track/xt6bq09fJCm8CxP7DUGF/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/822/claritaspod.com/measure/prfx.byspotify.com/e/injector.simplecastaudio.com/d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111/episodes/8c4afa87-047e-4d26-ab18-b834f855f4b8/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111&awEpisodeId=8c4afa87-047e-4d26-ab18-b834f855f4b8&feed=4Fqey2NA 20 checkable claims — 19 mock draft picks and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 32 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 19 of 20 have settled so far, averaging 73.9 out of 100, against 47.9 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > This is Mel Kuipers mock draft came out this morning, so it's post free agency with those things considered. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Dillon Thieneman to be picked at number 18** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dillon Thieneman, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Ty Simpson to be picked at number 16** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Simpson, New York Jets - Verdict: scored 87.81 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Kenyon Sadiq to be picked at number 15** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kenyon Sadiq - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 19** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren - Verdict: scored 18.46 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **David Bailey to be picked at number 3** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: David Bailey, New York Jets - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Sonny Styles to be picked at number 7** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Rueben Bain to be picked at number 8** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Carnell Tate to be picked at number 9** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carnell Tate, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 4** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jeremiyah Love - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 2** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **C.J. Allen to be picked at number 20** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: C.J. Allen, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 23.94 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Caleb Downs to be picked at number 5** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Caleb Downs, New York Giants - Verdict: scored 77.11 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 10** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Mansoor Delane, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 84.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Monroe Freeling to be picked at number 6** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Monroe Freeling, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: scored 56.94 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Jordyn Tyson to be picked at number 13** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jordyn Tyson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Jermod McCoy to be picked at number 12** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jermod McCoy - Verdict: scored 2.12 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Spencer Fano to be picked at number 14** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Spencer Fano, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Kadyn Proctor to be picked at number 17** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kadyn Proctor, Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Carnell Tate to be 1st receiver off the board** - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: Carnell Tate, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 9.48 for a naive guess - **Francisco Mauigoa to be picked at number 11** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Dillon Thieneman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dillon-thieneman - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Kenyon Sadiq — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenyon-sadiq - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emmanuel-mcneil-warren - David Bailey — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-bailey - Sonny Styles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sonny-styles - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Carnell Tate — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carnell-tate - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - C.J. Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/c-j-allen - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/giants - Mansoor Delane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mansoor-delane - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Monroe Freeling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/monroe-freeling - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns - Jordyn Tyson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordyn-tyson - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Jermod McCoy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jermod-mccoy - Spencer Fano — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/spencer-fano - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Kadyn Proctor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kadyn-proctor - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Francisco Mauigoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/francisco-mauigoa - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins ## What others said about the same people - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - Sam Monson on New York Giants: Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4cb7a1e-1380-4f08-b39b-1432b97db846 (scored 0) - Jordan Dajani on Washington Commanders: Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/46f7646f-2c64-4827-a522-67975af79fb6 (scored 95.24) - Tyler Sullivan on Washington Commanders: Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1bb32676-c3b3-4b8e-8a03-b58396cf98bf (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on New York Giants: Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e142b910-0967-4de9-9429-c342bc079205 (scored 35.71) - John Breech on Washington Commanders: Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9fddc8e1-3823-4252-bdd7-f81ef11b1da3 (scored 90.48) ## More mock draft picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Simms on Malachi Corley: Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; they also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c0fd4647-2de8-4a5f-bac2-950fed303ee9 (scored 11.46) - Todd McShay on Keelon Russell: While breaking down LSU's offense, McShay called receiver Jackson Harris a top-50 NFL draft prospect, and later said LSU's Sam Levitt and Alabama's Keelan Russell are potential top-10 picks in a future draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15d40546-2ab9-4ab8-b5bd-ed0ef7f26ae5 (scored 0) - Philip Hughes on Kyle Kennard: Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected them as a Day 2 selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/605a686a-b5f1-4611-82b4-961abf8de93e (scored 33.86) - Charlie Campbell on Xavier Williams: Campbell's draft stock report projects Indiana WR Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in 2027, Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones as a first-rounder, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick, and Texas OT Trevor Goosby as a top-10 pick, while suggesting Arch Manning could still be a first-rounder if they declare. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2dd4bf46-e5eb-4dff-8500-95d9fdbd2986 (scored 0) - Walt on Garrett Nussmeier: In a running series of coach/GM hiring and firing grades, Walt projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2026 draft and has LSU's Garrett Nussmeier going No. 2 overall in their 2026 mock draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29bb2d31-fbe3-40db-b378-be5ba5d990b0 (scored 0) - Charlie Campbell on Xavier Williams: Reviewing Week 7 college games, Campbell projects a slate of draft outcomes: Tennessee's Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick in 2026, Alabama's Bray Hubbard as a Day 2 pick and Yhonzae Pierre as a potential first-rounder, Jeremiah Smith as one of the very first players drafted, Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in the 2027 draft, Colin Simmons and Trevor Goosby as top-10 picks, and Jadan Baugh as a first-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d2c00414-086d-4a40-bb69-7584be496742 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=mel-kiper