# JP Acosta: Acosta gave draft ranges for combine risers — Nussmeier in the third round, Kenyon Sadiq in round one, Chris Johnson in round two — and made picks 2, 4, 6 and every other selection in a post-combine first-round mock draft. **Claimed:** Mar 2, 2026 **Pundit:** JP Acosta — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jp-acosta **Outlet:** Pushing the Pile (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/pushing-the-pile-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8174655/8174655_2026-04-12-052055.192.mp3?rssID=6037 26 checkable claims — 26 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 38 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 20 of 26 have settled so far, averaging 62.2 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I think the third round is where about is about where I draft him. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Garrett Nussmeier to be picked “the third round” (picks 65–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Garrett Nussmeier - Verdict: scored 0.16 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Chris Johnson to be picked “the second round” (picks 33–64)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Chris Johnson - Verdict: scored 77.11 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Blake Miller to be picked at number 28** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Blake Miller, Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 62.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Denzel Boston to be picked at number 32** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Denzel Boston, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Makai Lemon to be picked at number 16** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Makai Lemon, New York Jets - Verdict: scored 84.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Dillon Thieneman to be picked at number 26** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dillon Thieneman, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Caleb Downs to be picked at number 10** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **K.C. Concepcion to be picked at number 24** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: K.C. Concepcion, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: scored 100 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 - **Rueben Bain to be picked at number 4** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Tennessee Titans - Verdict: scored 62.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Arvell Reese to be picked at number 2** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Arvell Reese, New York Jets - Verdict: scored 87.81 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 8** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jeremiyah Love, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Kanye Savic to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kanye Savic - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 12** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Mansoor Delane, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 77.11 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Caleb Banks to be picked at number 18** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Caleb Banks, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Keldric Faulk to be picked at number 22** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Keldric Faulk, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 67.71 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 - **Cade McDonald to be picked at number 30** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Cade McDonald, Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Olaivavega Ioane to be picked at number 14** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Olaivavega Ioane, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Jacob Rodriguez to be picked “top 50” (picks 1–50)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jacob Rodriguez - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Cole Payton to be picked “day two”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Cole Payton - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chase Pizzantes to be picked “day two”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Chase Pizzantes - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malachi Lawrence to be picked “legit round two potential”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Malachi Lawrence - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dennis Sutton to be picked “day two”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dennis Sutton - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dillon Thieneman to be picked “round one”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dillon Thieneman - Verdict: not settled yet - **Deion Burks to be picked “day two”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Deion Burks - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Garrett Nussmeier — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/garrett-nussmeier - Chris Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-johnson - Blake Miller — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/blake-miller - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Denzel Boston — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/denzel-boston - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Makai Lemon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/makai-lemon - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Dillon Thieneman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dillon-thieneman - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - K.C. Concepcion — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/k-c-concepcion - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns - Monroe Freeling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/monroe-freeling - Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/titans - Arvell Reese — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Kanye Savic — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kanye-savic - Mansoor Delane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mansoor-delane - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Caleb Banks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-banks - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Keldric Faulk — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/keldric-faulk - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - C.J. Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/c-j-allen - Cade McDonald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cade-mcdonald - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Olaivavega Ioane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/olaivavega-ioane - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Jacob Rodriguez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jacob-rodriguez - Cole Payton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cole-payton - Chase Pizzantes — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chase-pizzantes - Malachi Lawrence — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malachi-lawrence - Dennis Sutton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dennis-sutton - Deion Burks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deion-burks ## What others said about the same people - Ross Jackson on New Orleans Saints: Ross Jackson picked the Saints to beat the Raiders at home, projecting a 27-24 final score with the Raiders scoring 24 points. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/434df603-78e1-41ae-a04c-8ef859abd50e (scored 38.1) - Connor Rogers on Los Angeles Chargers: Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c2a0048-cb74-4da9-8ef4-695cc6571cdf (scored 0) - Chris Simms on Houston Texans: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 23.81) - Connor Rogers on Buffalo Bills: Rogers predicted the Bills would beat the Lions in their new stadium on Thursday night, winning by a touchdown. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/feddcc68-c714-4448-9a45-6679a6dbd34e (scored 100) - Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0) - Brandon Carney on Austin Ekeler: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 0) ## More mock draft picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ryan Wilson on J.J. McCarthy: Recalling 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/44cc5859-8b2b-4fbf-b5c0-62c635f2e357 (scored 36.92) - Nick Shook on Francis Mauigoa: Shook 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 87.81) - Daniel Jeremiah on R Mason Thomas: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f60c916c-1b5f-4252-8733-1770c7809577 (scored 59.46) - Bucky Brooks on Carnell Tate: In a mock draft covering the first 14 picks, Brooks made the odd-numbered selections: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, a Miami offensive lineman to Arizona at No. 3, Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5, Ohio State's Arvell Reese to Washington at No. 7, Carnell Tate to Kansas City at No. 9, tight end Kenyon Sadiq to Miami at No. 11, and Spencer Fano to the Rams at No. 13. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/677f566f-9e38-4dd7-b312-0baad54b440e (scored 80.52) - Jeff Cavanaugh on Lorenzo Styles: Streaming 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f1f48cc1-f9d5-44ca-b130-2c6447b49bc6 (scored 0.51) - Steve Mensch on Caleb Lomu: Making the even-numbered picks in the mock, he sent Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Spencer Fano to the Giants at 5, Jordan Tyson to the Saints at 8, a Tennessee cornerback to Miami at 11, Keldric Faulk to Baltimore at 14, Akheem Mesidor to Dallas at 20, Kenyon Sadiq to Philadelphia at 23, Caleb Banks to Buffalo at 26, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29 and Chris Johnson to Seattle at 32, plus Caleb Lomu to Detroit at 17. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f65851f3-1c53-4ae9-80ef-875db5ce2a3f (scored 62.09) --- 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=jp-acosta