JP Acosta· Apr 20, 2026
In the show's first-round mock draft, JP Acosta made the odd-numbered picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to Vegas and running through Blake Miller to the Patriots at 31.
“It is Fernando Mendoza, quarterback from Indiana.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast) · read the original →
16 checkable claims — 16 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 31 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 16 have settled, averaging 81.8 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Their call against what happened
overall pick15They said
22What happened
Their call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Akheem Mesidor
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Sonny Styles
- New York Giants
- Blake Miller
- New England Patriots
- David Bailey
- Arizona Cardinals
- Omar Cooper
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Makai Lemon
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Monroe Freeling
- Los Angeles Rams
- K.C. Concepcion
- Carolina Panthers
- Kadyn Proctor
- Detroit Lions
- Malachi Lawrence
- San Francisco 49ers
- Keldric Faulk
- Chicago Bears
- Avieon Terrell
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Spencer Fano
- Francis Mauigoa
- Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Downs
- Washington Commanders
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
16 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Akheem Mesidor to be picked at number 15
“But if they don't go and find a trade up partner, I think a key Mesador would be the pick here.”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.91 against a shuffle’s 50+41.91 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 41.91
- player:
- Akheem Mesidor
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 22
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 15
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 91.91
- Mock Draft PicksSonny StylesNew York GiantsApr 20, 2026
Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5
“Number five with the Giants, their first pick... but I have Sonny Styles going here. The linebacker out of Ohio State”
Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.91 against a shuffle’s 50+41.91 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 41.91
- player:
- Sonny Styles
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 7
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 5
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 91.91
- Mock Draft PicksBlake MillerNew England PatriotsApr 20, 2026
Blake Miller to be picked at number 31
“31 for the patriots. This feels like a dream scenario for them. I had them going Blake Miller tackle from Clemson.”
Close · 55Scored 54.53 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.91 against a shuffle’s 50+41.91 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 41.91
- player:
- Blake Miller
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 54.53
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 17
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 54.53
- predicted pick:
- 31
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 91.91
- Mock Draft PicksDavid BaileyArizona CardinalsApr 20, 2026
David Bailey to be picked at number 3
“So I kept David Bailey here at three.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.91 against a shuffle’s 50+41.91 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 41.91
- player:
- David Bailey
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 91.91
- Mock Draft PicksOmar CooperPhiladelphia EaglesApr 20, 2026
Omar Cooper to be picked at number 23
“23 for the Eagles... I'm going Omar Cooper Junior here.”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Omar Cooper
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 30
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 23
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksMakai LemonPittsburgh SteelersApr 20, 2026
Makai Lemon to be picked at number 21
“But Mikai Lemmon falling here at 21 feels like a perfect fit for what the Steelers need in their receiver room.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Makai Lemon
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 20
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 21
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksMonroe FreelingLos Angeles RamsApr 20, 2026
Monroe Freeling to be picked at number 13
“I think they're going tackle here... and I have them taking Monroe Freeling out of Georgia.”
Close · 77Scored 77.11 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Monroe Freeling
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 77.11
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 19
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 77.11
- predicted pick:
- 13
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksK.C. ConcepcionCarolina PanthersApr 20, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to be picked at number 19
“I have them going KC Concepcion, wide receiver out of text saying them.”
Hit · 81Scored 80.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- K.C. Concepcion
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 80.52
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 24
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 80.52
- predicted pick:
- 19
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksKadyn ProctorDetroit LionsApr 20, 2026
Kadyn Proctor to be picked at number 17
“We go to Detroit at 17 and this one feels like a Brad Holmes pick... It's Caden Proctor, tackle from Alabama.”
Hit · 81Scored 80.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Kadyn Proctor
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 80.52
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 12
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 80.52
- predicted pick:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
Malachi Lawrence to be picked at number 27
“27 with San Francisco forty niners. I have them going Malachi Lawrence Edge from UCF.”
Hit · 84Scored 84.09 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Malachi Lawrence
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 84.09
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 23
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 84.09
- predicted pick:
- 27
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksKeldric FaulkChicago BearsApr 20, 2026
Keldric Faulk to be picked at number 25
“which leads us to '25 with the Chicago Bears... if he does fall here, Dennis Allen's gonna fall over himself drafting him, and that's Auburn Edge, Keldrick Falk.”
Close · 77Scored 77.11 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Keldric Faulk
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 77.11
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 31
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 77.11
- predicted pick:
- 25
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksAvieon TerrellKansas City ChiefsApr 20, 2026
Avieon Terrell to be picked at number 29
“'29 is the Chiefs again... And I had them taking a guy that I think is very similar to Trent McDuffie, and that's Avion Tyrell.”
Close · 44Scored 43.91 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Avieon Terrell
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 43.91
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 48
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 43.91
- predicted pick:
- 29
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksSpencer FanoKansas City ChiefsApr 20, 2026
Spencer Fano to be picked at number 9
“I have them going Utah tackle Spencer Fano with the ninth overall pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Spencer Fano
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 9
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksFrancis MauigoaMiami DolphinsApr 20, 2026
Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 11
“They're keeping the guy local. They I have them taking Francis Maitonoa out of Miami.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Francis Mauigoa
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 11
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
- Mock Draft PicksCaleb DownsWashington CommandersApr 20, 2026
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 7
“They also throw positional value out the window, and I have them taking Caleb Downs, safety from Ohio State.”
Hit · 84Scored 84.09 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Caleb Downs
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 84.09
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 11
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 84.09
- predicted pick:
- 7
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“if we're gonna start number one overall, this feels like cut and dry. We're putting this in Sharpie. It is Fernando Mendoza, quarterback from Indiana.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 95.8 against a shuffle’s 50+45.8 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 45.8
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 95.8
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WilsonMock Draft Picks · J.J. McCarthyMiss · 37Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Max IheanachorHit · 88Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Keyron CrawfordHit · 81In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Carnell TateHit · 92Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day.
- Jeff CavanaughMock Draft Picks · Lorenzo StylesMiss · 1Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40.
- Scott BogmanMock Draft Picks · Olaivavega IoaneClose · 71He gave David Bailey to Tennessee at 4, Sonny Styles to Washington at 7, Caleb Downs to Cincinnati at 10, Carnell Tate to the Rams at 13, Denzel Boston to the Jets at 16, Kayden McDonald to Carolina at 19, Vega Ioane to the Chargers at 22, Peter Woods to Chicago at 25, Emmanuel Pregnon to Houston at 28 and Romello Height to Denver at 31, and insisted both Bailey and Downs are top-10 locks.