Mock Draft Mon(Tues)day

By: Josh Frey-Sam

I’m not going to lie: I was on a road trip for work this weekend and was too wiped to write a newsletter for Monday. So, this week, we’ve pushed Mock Draft Monday to Tuesday.

I’ve been getting some good feedback on these mocks, so thank you to those who are following along. And if there is a particular format or roster configuration you would like to see me mock, shoot me a message on Instagram or X @jfreysam and I will do it one of these Mondays.

We’ve got a special one for today, though. And perhaps this one is overdue, given that many leagues have already completed their drafts.

We’re going dynasty mode rookie draft.

This one was a bit tougher to configure on Sleeper, but we did the best we could with the platform.

I only went five rounds, and I was picking from the No. 7 spot.

Check out how we fared, and scroll for an explanation on each pick.

Pick 1.7: Of course, these rookie drafts can be all about whatever your needs are, but we went into this as a blank canvas, searching for the best players available.

That was Kaleb Johnson in this spot.

This was a tough one. Other players I considered were RJ Harvey, Tyler Warren and Emeka Egbuka, but I just love Johnson’s potential for immediate and long-term impact.

The Steelers’ third-round pick is going to be in the running for the Week 1 starting job, although I suspect he will start in a timeshare with Jaylen Warren. However, Warren is likely playing his last season as a Steeler, and we often see these rookies begin to take over in the second half of the year.

At 6-1, 224 pounds, he has the frame to be a workhorse, and he was one of the most productive players in college football last season at Iowa.

His biggest hurdle this season will be earning the trust of Aaron Rodgers. He must prove he’s a capable pass protector because Warren has already shown that he is.

Pick 2.6: I have a man-crush on Jack Bech.

For starters, if you haven’t read the story about Bech’s brother, who was killed in the New Orleans truck attack earlier this year, I highly recommend you do. It’s a sad but inspirational story about how Bech overcame that emotion and put together an incredible performance at the Senior Bowl.

Looking at the player, Bech gives me the same vibes Cooper Kupp gave me when he was a rookie— overlooked in many respects, but the more you watch him, you can just tell he’s going to be a stud at the next level.

He’s 6-1, 214 pounds, and while he doesn’t have elite speed, he’s a sure-handed, savvy player who can find the soft spots and make himself available for his quarterback.

I firmly believe Bech will be an impact player as a rookie. He might have no problem being the No. 1 receiver on this team; the only problem is that he probably slots in behind Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty.

Still, with Geno Smith slinging him the rock, I think we could see Bech jump into fantasy relevance and become a solid dynasty asset.

Pick 3.7: This was a relatively easy pick for me at this point.

DJ Giddens is not only a player worth drafting in dynasty leagues, but he could be a worthwhile handcuff late in re-draft leagues.

He was drafted in the fifth round by the Colts, so his draft value doesn’t scream “fantasy superstar,” but what makes Giddens particularly interesting is that he will likely operate as the No. 2 running back on the depth chart behind Jonathan Taylor.

The same Jonathan Taylor who has played in just 11, 10 and 14 games in the last three seasons, respectively. An injury to the Colts’ workhorse feels likely at some point, which means Giddens will have an opportunity to show his worth.

To me, there’s a reason why the Colts drafted an RB this season. They know Taylor already carries a big risk at 26 years old, and, at 6-0, 212 pounds, Giddens is capable of taking over as the No. 1 back if they need.

Pick 4.6: This was the easiest pick of this draft.

You will probably have to wait a year to see the Isaac TeSlaa pay dividends, but we could be talking about a potential breakout start one year from now.

At 6-4, 214 pounds, TeSlaa is a body. He also has terrific speed and explosiveness for his size, running a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and broad jumping 10-9 at the combine.

The part that makes TeSlaa intriguing is that the Detroit Lions traded up to select him in the third round. That speaks to the team’s view on his potential, and with Jameison Williams in a contract year, it feels like the rookie will be able to use this season as a springboard to 2026.

I always like taking chances on great athletes in favourable situations, and TeSlaa is all of that.

Pick 5.7: At this point in the draft, you’re looking for fliers who carry potentially elite upside.

I think Commanders receiver Jaylin Lane fits that criteria. I’m not sure how much run he’ll get this season, but like TeSlaa, he could be in line for a significant role in 2026.

Lane, selected in the fourth round, is the prototypical slot receiver. He’s listed at 5-10, 191 pounds and has tremendous burst. He ran 4.34 and broad jumped 11-0 (!!) at the combine.

The situation leaves you optimistic. Again, I’m not sure what this season looks like with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in the mix, but this receiver room could look very different in a year.

Samuel is likely a one-and-done in Washington, while Scary Terry is looking to cash in on a career year before he turns 30 with a contract extension.

McLaurin’s deal could get done, but Lane still feels like he should be in the mix for a starting role next season. With his speed and Jayden Daniels’ arm, we could be in line for fireworks.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh