Jay Glazer's 1st round Mock Draft

[Jay Glazer]

We've got a few more picks to update

1.17

RB can be somewhat of a gamble in the middle of the 1st. There's almost never a sure thing RB that falls and often very productive RB's can be had later in the draft. I see D.J Wolf has a nice RB to gamble on. Elite size and speed and should be a productive receiver as well.

The Pick: Los Angeles selects RB D.J Wolf Indiana

Wolf probably would be one of the leading candidates for OROY if he landed in Los Angeles

1.18

Little Rock has gone on record saying they'd like to add a CB so I could see Jorge Meacham as the pick here. He's got very nice size and isn't a liability in any area. Kelvin Fackleman might also get consideration here. He's got great zone awareness and hands.

The Pick: Little Rock selects CB Jorge Meacham UCLA

CB looks like more of a need for Little Rock and Macham is developed enough to start day 1.

1.19

Newark has to be excited that S Kelvin Fackleman is still available. We'll he's undersized he's still going to be an elite playermaker in the league. Newark would love to add a WR but there's no one that would be worthy of a pick here.

The Pick: Newark selects S Kelvin Fackleman Pittsburgh

Personally I like my S's to be able to play Zone and Fackleman excels in that area.

1.20

Madison needs WR's and S's and like Newark ahead of them no WR would make sense here. SS William McGinn is probably going to be the pick here. He's an elite run defender along with being a turnover forcing machine.

The Pick: Madison Selects S William McGinn Georgia Tech

McGinn's endurance might scare some GMs but McGinn knack for forcing turnovers should trump those concerns.

[GGill]

Been fun to read, however IF the player the Voodoo covet is gone in the first three picks, then the draft will take a vastly different course after we pick. The result of a cheap owner not loosening the purse strings for a competent scout and staying the course in rebuilding a team with what might not be the glamour pick. Or maybe better put, rolling the bones for some Voodoo magic.

[Matt]

like the insight once again

[Jay Glazer]

1.21

This is the 3rd 1st rounder for Little Rock and they've already added a LB and CB so I see them going in a different direction here. LR could use some help on the offensively line and road grading G Dwayne Roth would make a great addition.

The Pick: Little Rock selects G Dwayne Roth Tulane

Anytime you've got an Oline prospect running a sub 5 40 time it's basically a lock for an elite running blocking player.

1.22

Texas is looking for players on either side of the line and probably would have jumped on Roth had he been available with the pick. Instead Texas finds itself looking on the other side with DE Alonzo Lucas. Lucas has come very impressive attributes and while he'll never excel in pass rush he'll still be productive in that area along with a very solid run stopping game.

The Pick: Texas selects DE Alonzo Lucas Central Connecticut.

1.23

Lawrence has 3 1st rounders so they might be feeling like they can get away with not picking an immediate need. Amos is probably entering his final year so a QB to groom for a year makes a lot of sense. I see Lawrence grabbing the last blue chip QB prospect and hoping for the best.

The Pick: Lawrence selects QB Louis Crozier Stanford

[Jay Glazer]

My sources say The Mules were devestated by the retirment of TE Gearhardt and that will be a big priority in the draft. With the talent at LB and CB they're also looking at those two positions and expect to spend an early pick in both areas.

[Jay Glazer]

I know everyone is excited about the draft but I've had a chance to talk with IFL commissioner Matt about the possibility of expanding beyond it's current markets. After successfully establishing teams in Europa which many haters said won't be possible he's got his eyes expanding into China. Here's his comments

"There's 1.35 billion potential customers in China so of course we've had internal discussion about establishing a franchise there. One of the potential issues finding a team nickname that will cross both langagues. We've got a team of experts working on coming up with a solution there."

[Jay Glazer]

Adding a few more picks and hopefully should have this wrapped up tonight or in the morning.

1.24

Orlando didn't do a great job against the pass last year giving up almost 250 yards a game. That was partly do to teams being forced to throw but still their yards per attempt allowed was very average. 4th yr CB Evans is a true stud but they need someone opposite him.

The Pick Orlando selects CB Zack Tennant Stanford

1.25

Norfolk has the division on lock down and should have no problem repeating as division champs. Unfortunately they don't have the passing game to compete at the next level. UDFA Ronald Kramer was my far their most productive WR so that gives you an idea where the stand talent wise.

The Pick: Norfolk selects WR Irving Spear Texas Christian

Spears is one of the more interesting prospects and in the right situation he could be a 1000 yard WR.

1.26

Middle Backer isn't a need yet but TC has a way of creating holes. Houston has a couple directions they could go but I think they go BPA with the pick and grab MLB Cris "Navy" Seal. Seal is a very hard worker and will develop into a great run stopping LB. He'll never be great in coverage but he'll excel on special teams if given the chance.

The Pick: Houston selects MLB Cris Seal Kansas

1.27

Offensive line wouldn't be consider a strength for Georgia so that could easily be the pick here. C Damon Gilmore isn't a sexy pick but he'll be a beast in the running game. I could also see CB Hoover getting consideration here.

The Pick: Georgia selects C Damon Gilmore Hawaii

1.28

West Virginia already landed the gem of this class at 1.1 and now there's probably feeling the pressure to add some help at WR. Korey Freeman is far from special and doesn't have impressive combine #s. He does have good hands and should be a big playmaker in the punt return game.

The Pick: West Virginia selects WR Korey Freeman Florida A&M

[Jay Glazer]

We get a chance to ask Lawrence GM JesterBlaze about their upcoming draft strategy.

Q: You have one of the leagues oldest rosters and a QB almost certainly entering his final season. Where does the franchise go from here? You have 3 1st rounders this year so how does the Orginization prepare for the rebuilding process coming?

A: We have a clockwork way of doing things that really won't change this draft. When the Phantoms lose quality players to retirement we try not to fall into the trap of trying to manufacture players. *Anytime* our current QB is over 10 years experience and we feel that there's a worthy shot at a quality QB in the draft we pull the trigger. This isn't the draft for us regarding QB and neither have the past 4 been as it has played out.

Rather than look at it as 3 picks in the 1st round we're looking at it as 4 picks between 1.23 and 2.5. We currently have 4 positions/players in mind. Only 2 are probabilities but the flexibility and talent of this draft is ripe for where we're set to pick. Playmaker or trade we feel we're in good position going into 2026...

No question Jester has been success running the orginization so i'm curious what they have planned in the future at the QB position.

[Jay Glazer]

Here's the on the record comments we got from vancouver GM Markc

Q: How do you guys build on last years success? What positions do you expect you'll be targeting in the draft? How are you going to keep Carolina from getting a WR?

A: We have almost all our team returning from last year, other than starting RB Adam Prior, who we felt like we could let go because he couldn't even average 4 ypc behind a pretty good o-line. Of course, many of our key players are getting older and we need an infusion of youth at many positions. WR and RB are probably our top priority positions. Unfortunately, we don't have a pick until the end of the 2nd round so the top shelf players at these positions will be gone. Unless a WR or RB unexpectedly drops into our spot we'll likely end up taking BPA. Our pass defense was a little shaky last year and even though we have a decent pair of starting CBs, we feel like you can't have too many good CBs since we are in nickel and dime quite a bit. We are usually active traders during the draft and this year should be no different. We may try to trade back into the first round if things fall a certain way.

There may not be any elite WRs, but I think there are at least 5 or 6 which are first rounders and CAR should nab a good one if that's what they want. I wonder if Steven Rolfe will drop into the second round because of his 1% development.

We were lucky last season that all the other NC West teams struggled. I expect this year there will be a strong challenge.


I agree with Mark that there's probably going to be at least 5 WR that go in the 1st and that's playing out in my mock draft.

[zbuckley]

Georgia doesn't have a clue what they're doing......... My guess is the K

[Beeznik]

Georgia doesn't have a clue what they're doing......... My guess is the K

[ukpatfan]

Cool read Jay.
Great to see some writing on the forum again.

[Jay Glazer]

No suprise here but looks like Chicago is settling on QB Don Barrett.

Here's Chicago's comments

With the way our team has struggled at that position since taking over the franchise, I think that if he is available that would be our top selection. Our scouts and coaches are still working him out as we speak, but we feel that should he be there at 1.2 that he would be the best addition to help develop Wiggins and Houlihan.

[Jay Glazer]

We caught up with Cleveland GM Brando about the draft and the teams roster building strategy?

Here's his comments

I'd like to say I've had some great drafts the last few years, but I think really I took over a good roster and have kept the depth good with a combination of drafts and low-cost free agents. The one exception to that being DE Dallesandro (90/90) who turned out to be a big steal in the mid-to-late first round a few years back.

For the end of the first round this year, I'm looking at things with the knowledge that Corey Perkins is probably in his last year and the future at the QB position is a bit unsettled. I'm going to be looking at the best players available and then narrowing that down by which ones are more likely to make an impact in their rookie year. The good news there is that running back and outside linebacker are real need positions and they're also positions where you can get guys who are pretty well developed already. We could also use help at cornerback, though really I'd consider almost any position except defensive end if the talent and fit is there.

[Jay Glazer]

1.29

Cleveland is incredibly deep on the defensive side of the ball. The organization has said they'd like to take the BPA especially if that play can contribute right away. There's also thinking about the future of the QB position so I think that's where they go with this pick. QB Steven Conyers is extremely raw but will have at least a season to grow in cleveland.

The Pick: Cleveland seclects QB Steven Conyers Oklahoma

1.30

Lawrence is on the clock 7 picks after selecting the QB of the future. Their committed to the BPA strategy and I see TE Betrozoff as a strong possibility here. I also see OLB Chester Pray as an option. Ultimately I think the decision to go with the TE boils down to a bigger talent drop off at the TE position.

The Pick: Lawrence selects TE Donnie Betrozoff Akron

1.31

Georgia knows NFC South is going to be full of big time WR's so having 3 solid CB's will be a priority. There's still some very good LBs still on the board but given Georgia plays a 4-3 I see them going CB here.

The Pick: Georgia selects CB Leland Hoover Iowa State

1.32

Lawrence has to be thinking CB or LB here. There's still a couple of LB's with 1st round talent and the CB class still has playmakers available. I think OLB Chester Pray will get the call here. He's an all around LB and is ready to start day 1.

The Pick: Lawrence selects OLB Chester Pray Florida State