I participated in the 12-man, non-snake, rookie mock draft this past weekend hosted on the @BellyUpFantasy twitter. Before I get into my picks, let’s lay down a little bit of background. I was randomized into the 12th and final pick of the draft. Of the two rookie drafts I have now participated in this summer, I’m two for two on getting the last pick. The last pick is no excuse to miss on potential talent, though, as most of us know. My strategy was to act like I am loaded on RB’s, since that is how I typically build my rosters, and I’m picking last anyway. With that in mind, I was mainly targeting pass catchers. Let’s see how I did.

1.12 Henry Ruggs III

There was not a rookie pass catcher taken until the 1.07 spot. However, then they went 1.09, 1.10, and 1.11 before it was my selection. I wanted Michael Pittman Jr. with my first pick, but I had to adjust. Houston took Pittman Jr. at 1.11, but it left Henry Ruggs III on the board with Lamb, Jeudy, Jefferson, and the aforementioned Pittman Jr. being selected ahead of Ruggs.

While I am not super thrilled about Ruggs in Las Vegas, I felt like I had to take this option. I am not entertaining Brandon Aiyuk ahead of Ruggs right now, even with the current Deebo Samuel situation, and Zack Moss was the only other player I wanted while on the clock. I had to stick to my strategy on taking pass catchers. After it was all said and done, I don’t mind getting the highest drafted WR as the fifth WR off the board and in the 1.12 spot.

2.12 Quintez Cephus

I love, love, love every bit of Quintez Cephus. As I have said on the show, I don’t draft Detroit players, typically, because I just try to stay away from my hometown team (and its Detroit, ya know?). However, I am getting my hands on Cephus as much as I can. His catch-in-traffic ability was apparent in college, and I’m banking on Cephus bringing that with him to the NFL.

I don’t think it’s unfair to say Amendola, although still serviceable in the pass game, is fizzling out as a slot receiver. I think Matt Stafford’s eyes are going to light up when he can look downfield to Golladay and Cephus and just chuck the pill somewhere above their heads and say “go get it”. It’s up to Cephus how many of those he can come down with, but I like his odds, and I LOVE his potential. Had to take him 2.12, had to.

3.12 Jalen Hurts

I’m going to be honest with you, I have one goal in dynasty rookie drafts this year and it’s “draft Jordan Love, stay away from other QB’s”. That’s not to say the other QB’s won’t be successful, I am just damn near ready to put my life savings into the fact that Jordan Love is the real deal for the future of GB. Well, Houston (again) drafted my guy (Love) at the 2.11. There is nothing I could have done about that, as I had only drafted my 1.12 (Ruggs III) by then.

Had I known Houston was going for Love, I would have tried to trade up, for sure. That’s how much I want a piece of this guy for the future. However, when he was taken it didn’t take me long to target Jalen Hurts. He has play-now potential in Philly, and who knows what kind of role we could see him play with Wentz’s keen ability to get hurt. After drafting two pass catchers to start, I had it narrowed to Hurts and Eno Benjamin as to who I wanted at 3.12. I stuck to my strategy of being already loaded at RB, went with Hurts. I don’t see myself picking Hurts often, but this was a case of never doubting the vibe. The vibe said pick Hurts.

4.12 Dalton Keene

I hate drafting last, have I mentioned that yet? Keene was plan D. I was hoping Donovan Peoples-Jones would fall so I could continue loading up on WR’s, that was plan A. Plan B was Thad Moss, but no way the great Chris Pinto was going to let me do that. Plan C was Devin Asiasi, but Nate snagged him at 4.10. However, even though this was plan D, I still like getting a piece of the young TE group in NE.

Asiasi is the favorite for most people as far as playing TE in NE goes, but Keene was also drafted this year by NE, and you just never know what that offense is going to draw up. It stands to reason both with have a legitmate shot. When it comes to Bill Belichick, you don’t always have to be the most talented to get on the field, sometimes you need to be the hardest working. Here’s to hoping Keene is a hard worker, as he comes off the board at my 4.12

5.12 Isaiah Coulter

Mr. Irrelevant. To be frank, I didn’t really have a plan after KJ Hill came off the board at 5.09. Yes, DeAndre Hopkins vacated targets in HOU. However, there are still a lot of able bodies in that WR room in Houston. Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks were brought in to fill as much of that void as possible. Still, those vacated targets are up for grabs, and picking Coulter here was mostly me hoping he can make something out of almost nothing. Tough core to break into, but all the opportunity in the world. Coulter goes 5.12 earning him Mr. Irrelevant honors.

That’s all for this week! I am trying to attend as many mock drafts as possible, but be sure to tune in every weekend @BellyUpFantasy to catch the mock draft, whether I am there or not. You can follow me @ItsZachMac for my daily sports content. Be sure to check out the Belly Up consensus rankings which are update weekly! Thanks for reading, stay safe!