Issue #202: Try Not to Suck

By Derrick Ernst

August 14, 2025

Mock Draft # 2

It’s a good motto to live by: Try not to suck. For those who are unfamiliar, it was a saying former Chicago Cubs Head Coach, Joe Maddon popularized. My sister and I even got shirts. I still wear mine on occasion, more so for nostalgia reasons, but also for a bit of motivation as well. I’m only half kidding. So what’s my overarching piece of advice for all of you heading into your draft(s) over the weeks to come: Try not to suck.

Last week I did a live mock with others. Today I’m going to do a mock by myself. I’m assuming the 6th overall pick and the rule is I can only draft players with ADPs that align with or are ranked lower than those who fall with the picks for someone drafting out of the 6th slot. A few other things, assume there are 12 teams, half point PPR, 15 rounds, and standard roster format.

Really the purpose of doing this is to see what’s possible. It’s inevitable that unforeseen things happen in drafts. As long as those are expected, seeing what’s possible should serve as your vision to get you in the right headspace as to not have the only thing you’re familiar with include things that make every draft unique. Go time:

1.06: Puka Nacua, LAR (WR)

For me, this pick is only between CMC and Nacua. Given that we found WR running light the later our live draft went on, I elected to favor WR here.

2.19: Derrick Henry, BAL (RB)

A bit controversial given that I’d expect him to go sooner, but he’s ranked 19th overall on ESPN and that’s our pick. Consider me lucky.

3.30: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (WR)

I got it good in R2, but playing by the rules gets the best of me here because as much as I wanted J. Allen, ESPN has him ranked 28th overall. Them the rules. JSN it is.

4.43: DK Metcalf, PIT (WR)

I’d be pretty happy with these three WRs locked up. If my draft fell this way, I’d set my sights on RB for the next 3/4 picks and if a QB fell, sprinkle them in-between.

5.54: Courtland Sutton, DEN (WR)

Another snipe. D. Swift was ranked 52th. And I lied. Not much RB talent to work with at this slot so the WR stack ensues.

6.67: Tony Pollard, TEN (RB)

Hard for me to believe a RB1 is still available at pick 67 but Pollard is. A pretty good compliment to Henry who’s game doesn’t consist of anything through the air.

7.78: Kaleb Johnson, PIT (RB)

That “3/4 of my next picks should be RB” statement is starting to pick up steam. If Johnson turns out to be what I hope he can be, this pick will be a steal. Mid-rounds is where the magic happens.

8.91: Cam Skattebo, NYG (RB)

It’s the point in the draft where a risk/reward kind of player can be taken. I have ample options at both RB and WR. If he doesn’t pan out, I’m likely not going to feel it. If he’s a home run like I think he can be, it means another RB on roster can be trade bait. Very little to lose with this selection.

9.102: Justin Herbert, LAC (QB)

There are other QBs on the board here with (probably) more upside than Herbert, but at this point in the draft I want my QB to be a no-nonsense, sure thing. Herbert gives me that. Plus, you gotta like what LAC has done to revamp their WR room.

10.115: Colston Loveland, CHI (TE)

It was between Loveland and Tank Bigsby. This decision really boiled down to capping out a “onesie” position with a player who has top-five potential at his position or a RB who will be sharing touches with two other backs (although I think he’ll win out in terms of share). Let me take a sure thing (Loveland), especially if he ends up being the one and only TE I draft.

11.126: Hollywood Brown, KC (WR)

There’s a world out there that Brown is KC’s leading receiver this season. We still don’t know what his potential is in this offense and in R11, that’s a proposition worth finding out the answer to.

12.139: Najee Harris, LAC (RB)

I’ve said it enough times for you to know that I’m not 100% convinced Omarion Hampton will have a stronghold on LAC’s ground game. The two RBs are almost ten rounds apart. Give me the vet with a lot greater upside than the rookie who has a lot of hype to prove. And just like clockwork, apparently LAC OC Greg Roman came out yesterday saying one-man backfields are a thing of the past. I rest my case.

13.150: Jonnu Smith, PIT (TE)

He’s the biggest flyer of any player of this mock, but if he does end up being PIT’s WR2, I don’t think he’ll have much trouble rivaling his TE4 performance from last year.

14.163: Denver Broncos D/ST

They’re my pre-season D/ST1. They’ll likely need to be drafted a round or two sooner in reality, which I’m not on-board with, but for this exercise, I’ve operated under the assumption they’ve fallen to me.

15.174: Tyler Loop, BAL (K)

As to not get too greedy, he was the lowest ranked kicker that we have identified in our Draft Guide (although I could’ve had every kicker at our disposal).

Mock Roster

QB: Justin Herbert, LAC

RB: Derrick Henry, BAL

RB: Tony Pollard, TEN

WR: Puka Nacua, LAR

WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA

TE: Colston Loveland, CHI

FLEX: DK Metcalf, PIT

D/ST: Denver Broncos

K: Tyler Loop, BAL

Bench: Courtland Sutton (DEN), Kaleb Johnson (PIT), Cam Skattebo (NYG), Hollywood Brown (KC), Najee Harris (LAC), Jonnu Smith (PIT)

I don’t toot the horn often, but I will do it here: this is a winning roster. Your roster should be like a food pyramid, a big base filled with volume that slowly condenses upward to more risk and upside plays. This roster does that and you should aim for yours to do the same.

NFL Top 100

Source: Facebook (NFL)

Say what you want about the guy, but this level of consistency and peer recognition for a non-QB is really impressive. Mean reversion becomes more difficult with age, but there’s something here that may suggest that number is a lot lower in 2026.

In other news, I will be traveling tomorrow all through next week and while there will likely be a little bit of delay in getting issues to you in the mornings, I’m not expecting to skip any. Can’t afford to miss any time with the season right around the corner!