# Damian Parson: Locked On's draft analyst laid out where several prospects should land in the upcoming draft: Zachariah Branch as a Day 2/third-round target for the Chargers, Penn State's top offensive lineman gone well before pick 22 (ideally 14 to Baltimore), Akeem Mesador and Malachi Lawrence as first-round edge rushers, Derrick Moore as a Day 2 edge, and Texas's left tackle as a top-10 pick next year. **Claimed:** Apr 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Damian Parson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/damian-parson **Outlet:** Locked On Chargers (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-chargers-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/d1cedf/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/709e5c37-556a-46ea-9cab-c0d0267c4589/episodes/9a9447ed-9082-4e7a-97f6-cb693a00599c/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=709e5c37-556a-46ea-9cab-c0d0267c4589&awEpisodeId=9a9447ed-9082-4e7a-97f6-cb693a00599c&feed=A8M6ytRb 5 checkable claims — 5 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. > But it just seems super unlikely, as we get closer and closer to the draft that he's gonna get to 22. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Zachariah Branch to be picked “day two, probably third round” (picks 65–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Zachariah Branch - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Olaivavega Ioane to be picked “drafted before No. 22 (ideal landing spot 14 to the Ravens)”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Olaivavega Ioane - Verdict: not settled yet - **Akheem Mesidor to be picked “round one”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Akheem Mesidor, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malachi Lawrence to be picked “inside the twenties”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Malachi Lawrence - Verdict: not settled yet - **Derrick Moore to be picked “day two”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Derrick Moore - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch - Olaivavega Ioane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/olaivavega-ioane - Akheem Mesidor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/akheem-mesidor - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Malachi Lawrence — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malachi-lawrence - Derrick Moore — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/derrick-moore ## What others said about the same people - Alain Poupart on Carlos Washington: Poupart expects rookie guard Kadyn Proctor to clear concussion protocol and play against Detroit, sees Ollie Gordon II continuing as the Dolphins' workhorse back, and thinks practice squad back Carlos Washington Jr. could be elevated for the Lions game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f436e4c-b47e-41c6-9c95-ad8a2e6a32f0 (scored 0) - Nick Brinkerhoff on Miami Dolphins: Predicts a 23-20 Dolphins win over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a38cb982-14c3-4bea-bf0f-f61b43e1535a (scored 100) - Mike Kadlick on Miami Dolphins: Picks the Dolphins to beat the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/23a2739f-abc5-4aea-9665-cebe61f324c5 (scored 100) - Alain Poupart on Miami Dolphins: Picks the Dolphins to upset the Jets 24-20, citing New York's run-defense problems against a Miami ground game led by Ollie Gordon II and Malik Willis. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0737798d-0dca-47e8-926d-d78d3f3f095a (scored 97.62) - Alain Poupart on Miami Dolphins: Picks the Jets to beat the Dolphins 19-17, while predicting Miami will get its win over New York in the rematch five weeks later. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9911cc3c-511b-46b0-b379-e65b36a962bf (scored 100) - Jourdan Rodrigue on Miami Dolphins: Roderick picked the Vikings to smash the Colts, the Dolphins to win their first game of the season against the Jets, and the Saints to upset the Steelers in Paris. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b45ad24a-5924-47e4-b85c-68b9fa738ef4 (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. 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=damian-parson