# Peter Bukowski: Bukowski argues Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal (Julianne Neill) is one of the 40-45 best players in the draft and deserves an early second-round/top-50 selection, while also predicting there's roughly a 90% chance he's still available for the Packers at pick 52 and that he won't last until pick 84. **Claimed:** Mar 23, 2026 **Pundit:** Peter Bukowski — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/peter-bukowski **Outlet:** Locked On Packers (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-packers-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/5b095f/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/fffb8e40-f0de-47f1-97e3-cf2e2fd0ffe9/episodes/30c7a587-7570-4147-8d8a-651bf09e8c07/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=fffb8e40-f0de-47f1-97e3-cf2e2fd0ffe9&awEpisodeId=30c7a587-7570-4147-8d8a-651bf09e8c07&feed=FkBDUQLt 2 checkable claims — 2 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. All 2 have settled, averaging 12.5 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I think this is one of the 40 best football players in this draft and I think there is like a 90% chance he will be there for the Packers at 52. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Julian Neal to be picked “consensus top 50 pick / early second round grade” (picks 1–50)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Julian Neal - Verdict: scored 11.97 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Julian Neal to be picked at number 52** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Julian Neal - Verdict: scored 13.05 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - Julian Neal — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/julian-neal ## What others said about the same people - Jacob Westendorf on Julian Neal: Jacob agreed on the same mock selections (Chris Johnson at 52, Dominique Orange at 84, Julian Neal at 120, JC Davis at 153, Nick Singleton at 160), predicted Green Bay's 2027 starting corners would be Neal and Johnson, and said they would keep Devonte Wyatt rather than trade for and pay Dexter Lawrence. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ccd9a91b-2409-453a-b1bc-506f61623cd1 (scored 40.26) - Jason Hirschhorn on Julian Neal: In a constrained mock-draft exercise (choosing from pre-set boards), Jason agreed with Jacob on Packers selections: CB Chris Johnson at 52, DL Dominique Orange at 84, CB Julian Neal at 120, OL JC Davis at 153 and RB Nick Singleton at 160. They also doubted Chris Johnson would still be available at 52. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f589ab37-36ef-4d13-90e3-d14d1bbe5c25 (scored 40.26) - Chad Reuter on Julian Neal: Reuter's five-round mock has Buffalo trading up one spot to No. 25 for Texas A&M receiver Casey Concepcion, then taking Arkansas CB Julian Neal at 91, Michigan edge/linebacker Jayshawn Barham at 126, and Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson at 168. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0af09436-4774-4d61-8382-04c739086df7 (scored 70.71) - David Harrison on Julian Neal: In their final mock draft Monday, Harrison has the Commanders trading back twice and selecting eight players: safety Dylan Thieneman at 16, WR Denzel Boston at 33, RB Mike Washington Jr. at 83, C Jagger Burton at 132, CB Julian Neal at 147, QB Cade Klubnik at 187, DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. at 209 and TE Riley Nowakowski in the seventh round. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e0151883-b7ac-4b3a-ae45-1cc58b32adb8 (scored 12.5) - Michael Hanich on Julian Neal: Hanich expects rookie guard Beau Stephens to get a game-day roster spot as Seattle's first interior offensive line backup given injuries to Quenton Nelson and Anthony Bradford, and suggests cornerback Julian Neal could return from IR for the Week 9 game against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/896d80cc-e504-438c-bf14-79ed2abe36bb (not settled) - Michael Hanich on Julian Neal: Hanich expects Trevon Diggs, elevated from the practice squad, to make their first regular-season appearance for Seattle against the Chargers in Week 4, likely in man-coverage packages or with the second-team defense. They also suggest rookie cornerback Julian Neal could be a healthy inactive for that game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/565dc0e8-1c7c-47c1-bad6-7f3c201dc5c9 (not settled) ## 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=peter-bukowski