Mel Kiper · Feb 27, 2026

Kiper's latest mock draft, as relayed on the show, has Caleb Downs second to the Jets, Karnell Tate sixth to the Browns, Spencer Fano fifth to the Giants, Mauigoa 11th to the Dolphins, Jeremiah Love ninth to the Chiefs, Ty Simpson 20th to the Steelers, plus Makai Lemmon, Jordan Tyson and Denzel Boston in the first round.

“Mel Kiper's latest mock has him landing in Kansas City with the ninth pick.”

said on air, transcribed by us · NFL Live (podcast) · read the original →

9 checkable claims from this

Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.

Mock Draft Picks Carnell Tate Cleveland BrownsFeb 27, 2026
Carnell Tate to be picked at number 6
“the highest drafted wideout in Mel Kiper Junior's mock draft going six to the Browns”
Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Carnell Tate
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
91.7
baseline:
50
actual pick:
4
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
91.7
predicted pick:
6
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Denzel Boston Buffalo BillsFeb 27, 2026
Denzel Boston to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)
“followed by Jordan Tyson to the Ravens, Denzel Boston to the Bills”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Denzel Boston
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
73.84
baseline:
50
actual pick:
39
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
73.84
predicted pick:
first round (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Caleb Downs New York JetsFeb 27, 2026
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 2
“he is the number two prospect or at least going number two to the jets, excuse me, in Melchheimer Junior's latest mock”
Close · 68Scored 67.71 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Caleb Downs
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
67.71
baseline:
50
actual pick:
11
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
67.71
predicted pick:
2
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Ty Simpson Pittsburgh SteelersFeb 27, 2026
Ty Simpson to be picked at number 20
“Mel Kiper had him going 20 to the Steelers in his latest mock.”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Ty Simpson
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
73.84
baseline:
50
actual pick:
13
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
73.84
predicted pick:
20
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Makai Lemon New Orleans SaintsFeb 27, 2026
Makai Lemon to be picked “in the top 10 to the Saints” (picks 1–10)
“He's one of four wide receivers going in the first round of Mel's draft with USC's Makai Lemmon also in the top 10 to the Saints”
Close · 65Scored 64.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Makai Lemon
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
64.84
baseline:
50
actual pick:
20
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
64.84
predicted pick:
in the top 10 to the Saints (picks 1–10)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Jordyn Tyson Baltimore RavensFeb 27, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)
“He's one of four wide receivers going in the first round of Mel's draft with... followed by Jordan Tyson to the Ravens”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Jordyn Tyson
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
8
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
first round (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Spencer Fano New York GiantsFeb 27, 2026
Spencer Fano to be picked at number 5
“a key piece of Mel Kiper Junior's mock draft, and there are six in total going in the first round led by Utah's Spencer Fano going fifth overall to the Giants”
Hit · 84Scored 84.09 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Spencer Fano
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
84.09
baseline:
50
actual pick:
9
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
84.09
predicted pick:
5
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Jeremiyah Love Kansas City ChiefsFeb 27, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 9
“Mel Kiper's latest mock has him landing in Kansas City with the ninth pick.”
Close · 77Scored 77.11 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 50 against a shuffle’s 50+0 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
0
player:
Jeremiyah Love
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
77.11
baseline:
50
actual pick:
3
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
77.11
predicted pick:
9
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
50
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Francis Mauigoa Miami DolphinsFeb 27, 2026
Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 11
“Just outside the top 10, Francisco or CC Maui Noah. Mel has him going 11 to the Dolphins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?