# Damian Parson: Locked On's draft analyst laid out where several prospects should land in the upcoming draft: Zachariah Branch as a Day 2/third-round target for the Chargers, Penn State's top offensive lineman gone well before pick 22 (ideally 14 to Baltimore), Akeem Mesador and Malachi Lawrence as first-round edge rushers, Derrick Moore as a Day 2 edge, and Texas's left tackle as a top-10 pick next year.

**Claimed:** Apr 20, 2026
**Pundit:** Damian Parson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/damian-parson
**Outlet:** Locked On Chargers (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/locked-on-chargers-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/d1cedf/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/709e5c37-556a-46ea-9cab-c0d0267c4589/episodes/9a9447ed-9082-4e7a-97f6-cb693a00599c/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=709e5c37-556a-46ea-9cab-c0d0267c4589&awEpisodeId=9a9447ed-9082-4e7a-97f6-cb693a00599c&feed=A8M6ytRb

5 checkable claims — 5 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> But it just seems super unlikely, as we get closer and closer to the draft that he's gonna get to 22.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Zachariah Branch to be picked “day two, probably third round” (picks 65–100)**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Zachariah Branch
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Malachi Lawrence to be picked “inside the twenties”**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Malachi Lawrence
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Akheem Mesidor to be picked “round one”**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Akheem Mesidor, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Derrick Moore to be picked “day two”**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Derrick Moore
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Olaivavega Ioane to be picked “drafted before No. 22 (ideal landing spot 14 to the Ravens)”**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Olaivavega Ioane
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch
- Malachi Lawrence — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malachi-lawrence
- Akheem Mesidor — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/akheem-mesidor
- Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins
- Derrick Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/derrick-moore
- Olaivavega Ioane — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/olaivavega-ioane

## What others said about the same people

- Tyler DeSena on Kevin Coleman: DeSena expects Chris Bell to function as Miami's X-receiver, with Caleb Douglas as the deep-threat Z and Malik Washington in the slot, and considers Bell, Douglas, Washington and fifth-round rookie Kevin Coleman locks to make the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cdf88974-3b99-4342-b7eb-bcf15f82379c (scored 100)
- Alain Poupart on Keith Cooper Jr.: Poupart's third 53-man roster projection of 2026 for the Dolphins names which players make the roster and which are cut at each position group. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/af1013eb-d6fa-476c-b1d9-bc977dff22a5 (scored 0)
- Mike Moraitis on Andre Jones Jr.: Moraitis expects Andre Jones Jr. to hold a spot on Miami's 53-man roster after being signed off Buffalo's practice squad, with a significant special teams role under coordinator Chris Tabor. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/aada599b-129d-4866-bc24-0562e28b735c (scored 100)
- Alain Poupart on Jalen Tolbert: Previewing the Dolphins' preseason finale and roster cutdown, Poupart states Malik Willis is locked in as the starting quarterback, Mark Gronowski is effectively gone, and identifies Greg Dulcich and Will Kacmarek as the only certainties at tight end while treating several receivers as settled roster locks. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ea9d4107-0a88-42a5-8300-186c4a38bef3 (scored 100)
- Jeff Cavanaugh on Malachi Lawrence: Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 (scored 100)
- Alain Poupart on Chris Johnson: Poupart sorts the Dolphins roster into tiers ahead of the 53-man cutdown, naming 28 players as locks to make the roster and eight more as borderline locks who more than likely make it. He also expects Quinn Ewers to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Malik Willis, and says Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck will start the season on PUP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8d4c251a-feb0-423c-ab57-3c49236782c0 (scored 100)

## More mock draft picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Lance Zierlein on Jeremiyah Love: Zierlein laid out his final mock draft: Jeremiah Love at No. 3 to Arizona, Sonny Styles at No. 4 to Robert Saleh's team, and Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5. He also called Styles the only first-round linebacker in the class and said Ty Simpson is a lock to be a first-round pick, most likely to Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf600df8-87eb-492b-9d91-f7a2b39104ac (scored 100)
- Nick Shook on Max Iheanachor: Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 87.81)
- Gregg Rosenthal on K.C. Concepcion: Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8fae9a3a-7fd8-454c-99cc-0a8400c35d7d (scored 67.71)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Keyron Crawford: In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f60c916c-1b5f-4252-8733-1770c7809577 (scored 80.52)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Carnell Tate: Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/48a1d189-dc0f-4250-aa3b-0e27119c733a (scored 91.7)
- Bucky Brooks on Carnell Tate: In a mock draft covering the first 14 picks, Brooks made the odd-numbered selections: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, a Miami offensive lineman to Arizona at No. 3, Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5, Ohio State's Arvell Reese to Washington at No. 7, Carnell Tate to Kansas City at No. 9, tight end Kenyon Sadiq to Miami at No. 11, and Spencer Fano to the Rams at No. 13. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/677f566f-9e38-4dd7-b312-0baad54b440e (scored 80.52)

---

Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=damian-parson