# Lance Zierlein: Zierlein raised their draft evaluations after Thursday's workouts: Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman moved into their top 100, South Carolina's Demetrius Knight could be the first inside linebacker drafted, and Caine Medrano went from undrafted to draftable on their board. **Claimed:** Feb 28, 2025 **Pundit:** Lance Zierlein — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/lance-zierlein **Outlet:** Move the Sticks (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/move-the-sticks-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-move-the-sticks-with-daniel-jeremiah-bucky-bro/2025-nfl-combine-recap-dl-lbs 3 checkable claims — 2 mock draft picks and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 25.4 out of 100, against 36 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I thought he was like a third fourth. I think he's in the top one hundred now. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Demetrius Knight Jr. to be 1st inside linebacker off the board** - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: Demetrius Knight Jr. - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 21.98 for a naive guess - **Danny Stutsman to be picked “top one hundred” (picks 1–1)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Danny Stutsman - Verdict: scored 0.82 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Kain Medrano to be picked “drafted”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kain Medrano - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Demetrius Knight Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/demetrius-knight-jr - Danny Stutsman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/danny-stutsman - Kain Medrano — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kain-medrano ## What others said about the same people - Kyle Crabbs on Danny Stutsman: Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e8a40874-e85c-44ec-a4c8-b6f0edbd22d2 (scored 77.11) - David Harrison on Kain Medrano: Harrison gives their initial 53-man roster projection for the Washington Commanders: three quarterbacks including Ethan Kalyak Manus, three running backs, four tight ends, six receivers (leaving off De'Ami Brown and Jaden Bradley), nine offensive linemen with Matt Goldman at center, and a defense of six linebackers but only four cornerbacks. They also project Tunstall and Newton going to IR on Monday with De'Ami Brown and Dietrich Wise re-signed, plus a corner-heavy practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1d5b2565-5531-47ac-bff8-ccb9b23a980a (scored 100) - Ross Jackson on Danny Stutsman: Ross Jackson gives their final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b43691e9-1673-4236-ba12-7d60ad3b95f5 (scored 100) - Doug Joubert on Danny Stutsman: Joubert projects the Saints' 53-man roster ahead of the cutdown deadline, naming every player they expect to make the team by position group, plus several players they expect to receive PUP/IR designations, and predicting Torricelli Simpkins will later be moved to the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/80c9bcdf-68ec-49a5-a1d1-e59f4bee2653 (scored 100) - David Harrison on Kain Medrano: Harrison projects the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster if it had to be set today, naming 26 offensive players, three specialists and 24 defenders, and also assigns depth-chart slots at quarterback, running back, the offensive line, the interior defensive line, and the return/specialist jobs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2e2254ee-daf7-4f82-81d4-2bc73e1b7291 (scored 100) - Philip Hughes on Kain Medrano: Hughes projects Washington's initial 53-man roster ahead of the final preseason game, naming every player they expect to make the team by position group, and slots Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 3 quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ec7adba-dd12-4caf-9bb1-f1a343cee65a (scored 100) ## 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) - Blaine Grisak on Brian Thomas Jr.: Grisak argues the Rams should not trade a second-round pick for Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., calling it too great a risk and too high a cost. In an embedded tweet of their own from the 2024 pre-draft period, they suggested the Rams could select Thomas at pick No. 19. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/627bcf5d-9f1d-4a34-a1b7-53b8f0aebc40 (scored 84.09) - 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 Fernando Mendoza: 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 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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