Ross Jackson · Feb 27, 2026

Previewing the NFL Combine's defensive back and tight end workouts, Jackson projected draft ranges for several prospects — Caleb Downs as a top-10 (and deserving top-five) pick, Dylan Thieneman early Day 2, Mansoor Delane inside the top 15 and as the first cornerback off the board, and Colton Hood in the second round. He also said undersized Indiana corner D'Angelo Ponds could run in the 4.2s and become the first small corner in 20 years taken in the top 100.

“Caleb Downs is probably a top 10 pick, period. Should be a top five pick.”

said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Saints (podcast) · read the original →

7 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 Colton HoodFeb 27, 2026
Colton Hood to be picked “a second round pick” (picks 33–64)
“Colton Hood, probably a second round pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Colton Hood
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
37
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
a second round pick (picks 33–64)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Caleb DownsFeb 27, 2026
Caleb Downs to be picked “top 10 pick” (picks 1–10)
“Caleb Downs is probably a top 10 pick, period. Should be a top five pick.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Caleb Downs
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
95.76
baseline:
50
actual pick:
11
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
95.76
predicted pick:
top 10 pick (picks 1–10)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Mansoor DelaneFeb 27, 2026
Mansoor Delane to be picked “top 15 pick” (picks 1–15)
“Mansoor Delane's probably a top 15 pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Mansoor Delane
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
6
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
top 15 pick (picks 1–15)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks D'Angelo PondsFeb 27, 2026
D'Angelo Ponds to be picked “selected in the top 100” (picks 1–100)
“if D'Angelo Ponds does one thing in this draft, he could become the first corner in twenty years with his measurable selected in the top 100”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
D'Angelo Ponds
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
50
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
selected in the top 100 (picks 1–100)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this is wrong?
Combine Measurements D'Angelo PondsFeb 27, 2026
D'Angelo Ponds to post potential to run four three, and some people think he might run in the four twos at the combine
“watch that 40 yard dash because he's got the potential to run four three, and some people think he might run-in the four twos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Dillon ThienemanFeb 27, 2026
Dillon Thieneman to be picked “a day two early day two pick”
“Dylan Thineman's probably a a day two early day two pick, period.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Position Order Calls Mansoor DelaneFeb 27, 2026
Mansoor Delane to be 1st corner off the board
“Should be the first corner off the board.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?