Off-Season Mock Drafts: First Look at Superflex Post-Draft Rookie Mock
Last week, we looked at one of the first single-quarterback mocks following the NFL draft, and this week we will look at the results from one of the first superflex mock drafts. Obviously, quarterbacks get a boost in superflex leagues, but how much, and in this year’s, uh, questionable QB class, is it even warranted? Let’s take a look.
I was assigned the 12th pick in this mock and was very curious to see what position players might fall to me in each round with the quarterbacks getting bumped up, so let’s see how things played out.
Round One
Another draft, another Ashton Jeanty 1.01. If he ends up as a bust, it’ll be a killer for bad teams already picking first overall. Keep your fingers crossed. In superflex, it’s not a shocker to see Cam Ward go second, although I would go with Omarion Hampton unless I was desperate for help at quarterback. Ward is a safe pick. As the first overall pick in the NFL draft, he should have a long leash in Tennessee and lock up a starting spot for at least the next three years.
Travis Hunter comes off the board next. I went into greater detail about his role with the Jags last week, but playing wide receiver first and foremost, he becomes much more interesting and should be the first receiver taken in fantasy drafts, too. We get back-to-back receivers with Tetairoa McMillan at 1.04. In what is thought of as one of the better running back classes in years, I’m surprised to see only one drafted through the first four picks.
My shock at the lack of RB picks was set aside as the next four picks were all running backs, with Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, and Kaleb Johnson bringing us through pick 1.08. I can’t imagine anyone sitting at 1.05 thinking they have a chance at getting Hampton, so if you’re picking 1.05 this year, there is a small glimmer of hope out there for you. Despite a crowded backfield, Henderson should get used heavily under Mark Vrabel in New England. Judkins was one of my favorites and landed in a great spot with the Browns taking over the vacated Nick Chubb role – until the Browns double-dipped at the position, hurting Judkins’ ceiling. Among the better landing spots this year was Johnson going to Pittsburgh. He will likely open as their lead back, with Jaylen Warren spelling him on occasion. Johnson doesn’t even have to get new socks, t-shirts, or accessories as he sticks with black and yellow uniforms following his time in Iowa.
Following the small RB run, we get our next quarterback, Jaxson Dart. Don’t expect much from Dart in year one; the Giants will have Russell Wilson under center all season, barring injury or an unforeseen collapse. Even then, they’ll likely turn it over to Jameis Winston next, leaving Dart on the bench to soak up as much knowledge as possible. While a solid long-term dynasty selection, he isn’t going to help your team for another year or two. We followed Dart’s pick with Emeka Egbuka, another player unlikely to help you much for the next two years. As long as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are unretired, healthy, and suited up on Sundays, there is no path to meaningful targets (and receptions) for Egbuka. If you already have a solid squad and added Dart and Egbuka this year, you might be in a great spot come 2027.
The first round wrapped up with another running back and our first tight end. RJ Harvey and Colston Loveland are both worthy of their first-round fantasy capital. Harvey is in a great spot in Denver with Sean Payton and has a real shot at finishing as a top-12 running back in year one. I selected Loveland with the 12th pick. In the past couple of seasons, we have seen rookie tight ends come in and dominate right out of the gate – including Sam LaPorta, who finished as TE1 in 2023 as a rookie under now Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson.
Round Two
I like Matthew Golden, but I hate the landing spot. I think Golden is a very good receiver, but not great. The Packers already have a room full of very good receivers. To me, nothing he does is far better than what everyone else in that locker room already does. They just added more of the same. Conversely, I really liked Luther Burden‘s landing spot in Chicago. He’s a versatile player who will have touches created for him as an early second-round pick in an up-and-coming offense. Burden might have landed in the perfect spot for him.
We get our second tight end at 2.03 in Tyler Warren. He gets the draft capital but goes to a team in a bit of disarray due to unknowns at the quarterback position. Warren’s ceiling is severely capped if Anthony Richardson can’t progress as an NFL quarterback. Jayden Higgins came off the board next. I love the player and think he will be a fine addition to the Texans’ offense and make an impact immediately. This is a strong draft class at the top. In other years, Higgins would be flirting with a top 12 ADP, but as it stands, he’ll probably be around in the mid-second all summer. Higgins gets bookended by tight ends, with Mason Taylor coming in right behind him. He has been gaining some steam heading into the draft and was selected with the tenth pick of the second, giving him excellent draft capital. Justin Field likes to target his tight ends so Taylor may hit the ground running and produce right away.
We got two more receivers off the board with Tre Harris and Jack Bech. They are in very different situations. Harris goes to a Chargers team that wants to be run-heavy despite having a franchise quarterback and an established top receiver. Bech goes to a team with a journeyman veteran under center and a wide receiver corps devoid of talent. At least they both have cool uniforms. Despite their differences, I expect both to have a considerable role for their respective teams as rookies.
Let’s get back to running backs, shall we? Cam Skattebo was next and seems like a great fit as part of a one-two punch with Tyrone Tracy. New York was one of the better landing spots for him, and he should do well there. Skattebo was followed by Jalen Milroe at 2.09. You’re not going to find anyone who doesn’t believe in Sam Darnold more than me, but there is no way I’m burning a second-round pick on a third-round, developmental quarterback sitting behind a player who just signed a three-year, $100m contract. I don’t get it – and I like Milroe.
Speaking of things I don’t understand, why did the Browns draft Dylan Sampson after drafting Judkins in round two? More things I don’t understand: Why would anyone then draft Sampson in the second, knowing that every year of his rookie contract will be blocked by another more talented back with significantly better draft capital? I’m at a loss for words. As a palate cleanser, Bhayshul Tuten was the next pick. He’s a super-athletic freak who could (and should) excel in the Liam Coen offense in Jacksonville. Once Travis Etienne is out of the way, look out for a Bhayshul breakout.
I closed the round with what I thought was a steal at 2.12. Tyler Shough will likely play the most games out of this rookie class among all quarterbacks not named Ward. What he does with those snaps and starts, only time will tell, but he is going to see the field, which you cannot say about most of the other rookie QBs in this class. If he keeps falling to 2.12, I’m going to have way more Shough than I ever imagined.
Round Three
We kick off round three with a whimper. The NFL told you what they thought of Shedeur Sanders on draft weekend. He was the sixth quarterback selected and the second selected by the Browns. Listen to what they’re telling you. This is a wasted pick. Dillon Gabriel would have been a better selection.
After that, we got back-to-back wide receivers with Jaylin Noel and Kyle Williams coming off the board. I like Noel and think he landed in a great spot as Houston looks to surround CJ Stroud with weapons. He should develop into a reliable weapon out of the slot for years to come. I wasn’t as high on Williams as many others, but similar to Noel, Williams is being brought in to surround another young quarterback with weapons. New England has very few playmakers at receiver, and Williams could develop into that for Drake Maye while learning from a veteran like Stefon Diggs.
The back-to-back receivers were followed by back-to-back tight ends with Elijah Arroyo and Terrance Ferguson getting us through pick 29. I like both players and both landing spots, although I believe their paths to success vary wildly. Arroyo is stuck behind Noah Fant and will be brought along slowly unless Seattle can move Fant before the start of the season, while Ferguson should hit the ground running as part of the Rams offense right away. I’ll stay with the back-to-back theme here as we also had back-to-back Rams, with running back Jarquez Hunter next off the board. Hunter was not one of my favorite backs in this year’s class, but he did get fourth-round draft capital under Sean McVay, and Kyren Williams‘ contract expires at the end of the season.
We get two more receivers off the board next, with Pat Bryant and Elic Ayomanor, again with two different paths to success. Bryant will probably not be involved often as a rookie as he is brought along to be the possible replacement for the soon-to-be-30-year-old Courtland Sutton. In contrast, Ayomanor is likely to be involved early, whether he is ready or not, thanks to an abhorrent depth chart in Tennessee.
We get another tight end at 3.09 with Harold Fannin. In 2025, I assume he will be totally worthless. There is a world where the Browns cannot afford David Njoku after the 2025 season, and if they see enough out of Fannin, he could be the next man up as Cleveland’s top tight end option in 2026. Damien Martinez is in a similar situation. Buried behind two bona fide NFL running backs, there is little hope for any fantasy production this season, but as part of a two-back committee with Zach Charbonnet, if Kenneth Walker, well, walks after his contract expires at the end of 2025, he could be a sneaky value pick down the road.
I won’t lie to you: I know absolutely nothing about Jaylin Lane. I know he went to Virginia Tech and was drafted in the fourth round. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein grades him out as a “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter,” so I should start learning more about him. I closed out the round with Dallas’ Jaydon Blue. I’ve seen him go in the second round in other mocks and real-life drafts, which is too rich for my blood, but 3.12 feels about right. The Cowboys desperately need running back help, and Blue might fit the bill after being buried behind some guys named Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, Jonathon Brooks, and Keilan Robinson while in college.
Round Four
If you want to throw darts in the final round of superflex drafts, Will Howard makes a lot of sense. As it stands, Mason Rudolph is the Steelers’ opening day starter. I think Howard could take that job. Even if Aaron Rodgers elects to sign with Pittsburgh, Howard could show them enough to get a legitimate shot at the starting job in 2026.
I like Savion Williams just fine, but now he’s just another body in a suddenly ridiculously overcrowded Packers’ receiving corps. I have no idea what kind of role they envision for him now, or in the future. D.J. Giddens got one of the worst possible running back landing spots in the entire 2025 class. Jonathan Taylor had over 300 carries last year; what could Giddens possibly get in 2025, 70? Even that seems impossible. He is completely and totally buried, but becomes a must-add handcuff for Taylor owners.
I absolutely love the next quartet of picks. Woody Marks, Jalen Royals, Devin Neal, and Brashard Smith all seem like monster values to me this late in drafts. All four of them landed in great spots with an opportunity to get on the field in a system that fits their respective skill sets. I would take any four over most of the players in round three. I follow all that excitement with Trevor Etienne, who I never liked, and I don’t particularly care for his landing spot in Carolina, either.
The final four picks trend upwards in my mind with running backs Jordan James, Ollie Gordon, Kyle Monangai, and Tahj Brooks. James is in a Kyle Shanahan system that often produces fantasy points and he’s behind oft-injured starters and backups, making him a sneaky high-upside pick this late. Ollie Gordon brings something different to the Miami backfield and could easily lead the team in red zone touches as a rookie. I liked Monangai, but then I didn’t. Then the Bears added him, and you think about how Ben Johnson has previously used his backs in Detroit- we were rushing to the waiver wire to add players like Craig Reynolds, Justin Jackson, and Sione Vak, so there’s no reason Monangai can’t pull in some work throughout the season. And with the final pick, I added Tahj Brooks again. He’s been my go-to late-round pick. I’m blown away that he is falling this far time and time again. Is he a league winner? No, probably not, but he certainly can be a weekly contributor, and that’s more than you can say about many incoming rookies.
I hope you enjoyed this look at one of the earliest superflex mock drafts of the off-season following the NFL draft. I thought this was one of the best, most accurate mocks I’ve participated in over the last few months. I didn’t think we saw many players get grossly over or under-drafted. There were no real big shockers among the players who went undrafted. Simply put, this was a solid draft that should give people an accurate idea of what to expect when their real-life drafts commence.
- Off-Season Mock Drafts: Final Rookie Trends - May 31, 2025
- Off-Season Mock Drafts: Best Ball ADP, Part II: Deep Dive - May 24, 2025
- A Hater’s Guide to the 2025 Rookie Tight End Class - May 22, 2025
Last week, we looked at one of the first single-quarterback mocks following the NFL draft, and this week we will look at the results from one of the first superflex mock drafts. Obviously, quarterbacks get a boost in superflex leagues, but how much, and in this year’s, uh, questionable QB class, is it even warranted? Let’s take a look.
I was assigned the 12th pick in this mock and was very curious to see what position players might fall to me in each round with the quarterbacks getting bumped up, so let’s see how things played out.
Round One
Another draft, another Ashton Jeanty 1.01. If he ends up as a bust, it’ll be a killer for bad teams already picking first overall. Keep your fingers crossed. In superflex, it’s not a shocker to see Cam Ward go second, although I would go with Omarion Hampton unless I was desperate for help at quarterback. Ward is a safe pick. As the first overall pick in the NFL draft, he should have a long leash in Tennessee and lock up a starting spot for at least the next three years.
Travis Hunter comes off the board next. I went into greater detail about his role with the Jags last week, but playing wide receiver first and foremost, he becomes much more interesting and should be the first receiver taken in fantasy drafts, too. We get back-to-back receivers with Tetairoa McMillan at 1.04. In what is thought of as one of the better running back classes in years, I’m surprised to see only one drafted through the first four picks.
My shock at the lack of RB picks was set aside as the next four picks were all running backs, with Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, and Kaleb Johnson bringing us through pick 1.08. I can’t imagine anyone sitting at 1.05 thinking they have a chance at getting Hampton, so if you’re picking 1.05 this year, there is a small glimmer of hope out there for you. Despite a crowded backfield, Henderson should get used heavily under Mark Vrabel in New England. Judkins was one of my favorites and landed in a great spot with the Browns taking over the vacated Nick Chubb role – until the Browns double-dipped at the position, hurting Judkins’ ceiling. Among the better landing spots this year was Johnson going to Pittsburgh. He will likely open as their lead back, with Jaylen Warren spelling him on occasion. Johnson doesn’t even have to get new socks, t-shirts, or accessories as he sticks with black and yellow uniforms following his time in Iowa.
Following the small RB run, we get our next quarterback, Jaxson Dart. Don’t expect much from Dart in year one; the Giants will have Russell Wilson under center all season, barring injury or an unforeseen collapse. Even then, they’ll likely turn it over to Jameis Winston next, leaving Dart on the bench to soak up as much knowledge as possible. While a solid long-term dynasty selection, he isn’t going to help your team for another year or two. We followed Dart’s pick with Emeka Egbuka, another player unlikely to help you much for the next two years. As long as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are unretired, healthy, and suited up on Sundays, there is no path to meaningful targets (and receptions) for Egbuka. If you already have a solid squad and added Dart and Egbuka this year, you might be in a great spot come 2027.
The first round wrapped up with another running back and our first tight end. RJ Harvey and Colston Loveland are both worthy of their first-round fantasy capital. Harvey is in a great spot in Denver with Sean Payton and has a real shot at finishing as a top-12 running back in year one. I selected Loveland with the 12th pick. In the past couple of seasons, we have seen rookie tight ends come in and dominate right out of the gate – including Sam LaPorta, who finished as TE1 in 2023 as a rookie under now Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson.
Round Two
I like Matthew Golden, but I hate the landing spot. I think Golden is a very good receiver, but not great. The Packers already have a room full of very good receivers. To me, nothing he does is far better than what everyone else in that locker room already does. They just added more of the same. Conversely, I really liked Luther Burden‘s landing spot in Chicago. He’s a versatile player who will have touches created for him as an early second-round pick in an up-and-coming offense. Burden might have landed in the perfect spot for him.
We get our second tight end at 2.03 in Tyler Warren. He gets the draft capital but goes to a team in a bit of disarray due to unknowns at the quarterback position. Warren’s ceiling is severely capped if Anthony Richardson can’t progress as an NFL quarterback. Jayden Higgins came off the board next. I love the player and think he will be a fine addition to the Texans’ offense and make an impact immediately. This is a strong draft class at the top. In other years, Higgins would be flirting with a top 12 ADP, but as it stands, he’ll probably be around in the mid-second all summer. Higgins gets bookended by tight ends, with Mason Taylor coming in right behind him. He has been gaining some steam heading into the draft and was selected with the tenth pick of the second, giving him excellent draft capital. Justin Field likes to target his tight ends so Taylor may hit the ground running and produce right away.
We got two more receivers off the board with Tre Harris and Jack Bech. They are in very different situations. Harris goes to a Chargers team that wants to be run-heavy despite having a franchise quarterback and an established top receiver. Bech goes to a team with a journeyman veteran under center and a wide receiver corps devoid of talent. At least they both have cool uniforms. Despite their differences, I expect both to have a considerable role for their respective teams as rookies.
Let’s get back to running backs, shall we? Cam Skattebo was next and seems like a great fit as part of a one-two punch with Tyrone Tracy. New York was one of the better landing spots for him, and he should do well there. Skattebo was followed by Jalen Milroe at 2.09. You’re not going to find anyone who doesn’t believe in Sam Darnold more than me, but there is no way I’m burning a second-round pick on a third-round, developmental quarterback sitting behind a player who just signed a three-year, $100m contract. I don’t get it – and I like Milroe.
Speaking of things I don’t understand, why did the Browns draft Dylan Sampson after drafting Judkins in round two? More things I don’t understand: Why would anyone then draft Sampson in the second, knowing that every year of his rookie contract will be blocked by another more talented back with significantly better draft capital? I’m at a loss for words. As a palate cleanser, Bhayshul Tuten was the next pick. He’s a super-athletic freak who could (and should) excel in the Liam Coen offense in Jacksonville. Once Travis Etienne is out of the way, look out for a Bhayshul breakout.
I closed the round with what I thought was a steal at 2.12. Tyler Shough will likely play the most games out of this rookie class among all quarterbacks not named Ward. What he does with those snaps and starts, only time will tell, but he is going to see the field, which you cannot say about most of the other rookie QBs in this class. If he keeps falling to 2.12, I’m going to have way more Shough than I ever imagined.
Round Three
We kick off round three with a whimper. The NFL told you what they thought of Shedeur Sanders on draft weekend. He was the sixth quarterback selected and the second selected by the Browns. Listen to what they’re telling you. This is a wasted pick. Dillon Gabriel would have been a better selection.
After that, we got back-to-back wide receivers with Jaylin Noel and Kyle Williams coming off the board. I like Noel and think he landed in a great spot as Houston looks to surround CJ Stroud with weapons. He should develop into a reliable weapon out of the slot for years to come. I wasn’t as high on Williams as many others, but similar to Noel, Williams is being brought in to surround another young quarterback with weapons. New England has very few playmakers at receiver, and Williams could develop into that for Drake Maye while learning from a veteran like Stefon Diggs.
The back-to-back receivers were followed by back-to-back tight ends with Elijah Arroyo and Terrance Ferguson getting us through pick 29. I like both players and both landing spots, although I believe their paths to success vary wildly. Arroyo is stuck behind Noah Fant and will be brought along slowly unless Seattle can move Fant before the start of the season, while Ferguson should hit the ground running as part of the Rams offense right away. I’ll stay with the back-to-back theme here as we also had back-to-back Rams, with running back Jarquez Hunter next off the board. Hunter was not one of my favorite backs in this year’s class, but he did get fourth-round draft capital under Sean McVay, and Kyren Williams‘ contract expires at the end of the season.
We get two more receivers off the board next, with Pat Bryant and Elic Ayomanor, again with two different paths to success. Bryant will probably not be involved often as a rookie as he is brought along to be the possible replacement for the soon-to-be-30-year-old Courtland Sutton. In contrast, Ayomanor is likely to be involved early, whether he is ready or not, thanks to an abhorrent depth chart in Tennessee.
We get another tight end at 3.09 with Harold Fannin. In 2025, I assume he will be totally worthless. There is a world where the Browns cannot afford David Njoku after the 2025 season, and if they see enough out of Fannin, he could be the next man up as Cleveland’s top tight end option in 2026. Damien Martinez is in a similar situation. Buried behind two bona fide NFL running backs, there is little hope for any fantasy production this season, but as part of a two-back committee with Zach Charbonnet, if Kenneth Walker, well, walks after his contract expires at the end of 2025, he could be a sneaky value pick down the road.
I won’t lie to you: I know absolutely nothing about Jaylin Lane. I know he went to Virginia Tech and was drafted in the fourth round. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein grades him out as a “Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter,” so I should start learning more about him. I closed out the round with Dallas’ Jaydon Blue. I’ve seen him go in the second round in other mocks and real-life drafts, which is too rich for my blood, but 3.12 feels about right. The Cowboys desperately need running back help, and Blue might fit the bill after being buried behind some guys named Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, Jonathon Brooks, and Keilan Robinson while in college.
Round Four
If you want to throw darts in the final round of superflex drafts, Will Howard makes a lot of sense. As it stands, Mason Rudolph is the Steelers’ opening day starter. I think Howard could take that job. Even if Aaron Rodgers elects to sign with Pittsburgh, Howard could show them enough to get a legitimate shot at the starting job in 2026.
I like Savion Williams just fine, but now he’s just another body in a suddenly ridiculously overcrowded Packers’ receiving corps. I have no idea what kind of role they envision for him now, or in the future. D.J. Giddens got one of the worst possible running back landing spots in the entire 2025 class. Jonathan Taylor had over 300 carries last year; what could Giddens possibly get in 2025, 70? Even that seems impossible. He is completely and totally buried, but becomes a must-add handcuff for Taylor owners.
I absolutely love the next quartet of picks. Woody Marks, Jalen Royals, Devin Neal, and Brashard Smith all seem like monster values to me this late in drafts. All four of them landed in great spots with an opportunity to get on the field in a system that fits their respective skill sets. I would take any four over most of the players in round three. I follow all that excitement with Trevor Etienne, who I never liked, and I don’t particularly care for his landing spot in Carolina, either.
The final four picks trend upwards in my mind with running backs Jordan James, Ollie Gordon, Kyle Monangai, and Tahj Brooks. James is in a Kyle Shanahan system that often produces fantasy points and he’s behind oft-injured starters and backups, making him a sneaky high-upside pick this late. Ollie Gordon brings something different to the Miami backfield and could easily lead the team in red zone touches as a rookie. I liked Monangai, but then I didn’t. Then the Bears added him, and you think about how Ben Johnson has previously used his backs in Detroit- we were rushing to the waiver wire to add players like Craig Reynolds, Justin Jackson, and Sione Vak, so there’s no reason Monangai can’t pull in some work throughout the season. And with the final pick, I added Tahj Brooks again. He’s been my go-to late-round pick. I’m blown away that he is falling this far time and time again. Is he a league winner? No, probably not, but he certainly can be a weekly contributor, and that’s more than you can say about many incoming rookies.
I hope you enjoyed this look at one of the earliest superflex mock drafts of the off-season following the NFL draft. I thought this was one of the best, most accurate mocks I’ve participated in over the last few months. I didn’t think we saw many players get grossly over or under-drafted. There were no real big shockers among the players who went undrafted. Simply put, this was a solid draft that should give people an accurate idea of what to expect when their real-life drafts commence.
- Off-Season Mock Drafts: Final Rookie Trends - May 31, 2025
- Off-Season Mock Drafts: Best Ball ADP, Part II: Deep Dive - May 24, 2025
- A Hater’s Guide to the 2025 Rookie Tight End Class - May 22, 2025
