The 55th Annual Amish Mafia Mock Draft

[gopkrs]

Orange vs McClellan will be interesting to watch.

 

[Pkrjones]

Orange vs McClellan will be interesting to watch.

McClellan can be moved around the line depending on run/pass situation, whereas Orange is NT only on run downs. Gute LOVES position flexibility.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

McClellan can be moved around the line depending on run/pass situation, whereas Orange is NT only on run downs. Gute LOVES position flexibility.

Yup. Those are the little nuances that come out, at least for me, after the actual picks are made. "Big Citrus" seemed to be a popular name with Packer fans, but like you said, McClellan was the guy Gute wanted and a lot of that had to do with the ability to move him around the defensive line.

One thing that stood out to me with this draft class, 5 players competed in the SEC and 1 (DDS) in the Big Ten. Those are the 2 top divisions in college football. I don't know if it was intentional, but Gute got some blue chip players, that played with and against the top players in the NCAA.

 

[gopkrs]

McClellan can be moved around the line depending on run/pass situation, whereas Orange is NT only on run downs. Gute LOVES position flexibility.

So you already know who will be the better player?

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

So you already know who will be the better player?

Obviously, since Gute could have drafted either player, he felt McClellan was the better player/fit for the Packers. Who ends up being the "better" player, we may not know for several years.

 

[AmishMafia]

Obviously, since Gute could have drafted either player, he felt McClellan was the better player/fit for the Packers. Who ends up being the "better" player, we may not know for several years.

Or . . .

You can't tell how Orange would have done for the Packers because he would have been not used in the same manner he will with the Vikings.

I did hear a report that the Viking staff looked upset when the Packers took McClellan. I did not see the video and can't confirm, but my thinking is the Packers knew another team would take him before their pick. 2 DTs ended up going so . .

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

You can't tell how Orange would have done for the Packers because he would have been not used in the same manner he will with the Vikings.

Yup.

The Butterfly Effect.

The lives of McClellan (CMC)*, Orange and for that matter every man drafted or signed as an UDFA, have been sent down a new path. How well they would have done had a different path been chosen, nobody will ever know.

* From now on, I am just going to call Chris McClellan "CMC", that way I don't have to keep double checking the spelling of his last name.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Here is another interesting note and might explain the low scores in the 2A2MDC:

For the first time Gute did not draft a single player from their official pre-draft "top 30" visits in 2026.

This represents a significant shift from previous years, such as 2025 and 2022, when the team selected five and six of their visitors, respectively.

 

[OldSchool101]

Congrats to DoURant with 11pts



Todd Princl with 8 pts.

Tyni and Poker had 3 pts

The rest of us? Nothing!

Please let me know if I missed anything.

This was a tough Draft. Partly because we only had 6 chances and anyone picking in RD7 like me went south. Often times it’s RD7 that wins because it’s 10 points for 1 correct pick.

Congrats at @DoURant! That’s solid getting 50% player penetration.

 

[OldSchool101]

I think Brian laid down some smoke screen. The Bears went after a couple of Packers Top 30 visits and players we talked about often. Roush, Demmings, Van Den Berg etc.

 

[OldSchool101]

So you already know who will be the better player?

I’m convinced McClellan is a higher valued player. I think Orange is a guy you take RD4 if you have a pair of 4ths. He’s really leaving 2-down player.

Chris McClellan just crushed Orange in output. Chris tally looks like a Top 50 player and Orange like a Top 125 when you look at their profiles.

 

[DoURant]

I’m convinced McClellan is a higher valued player. I think Orange is a guy you take RD4 if you have a pair of 4ths. He’s really leaving 2-down player.

Chris McClellan just crushed Orange in output. Chris tally looks like a Top 50 player and Orange like a Top 125 when you look at their profiles.

McClellan has the potential to be a 3 down player, due to his pass rush ability. Orange didn't show any pass rush in college, so unless he completely flips that script, he will be relegated to being only a rotational piece.

 

[Poppa San]

McClellan has the potential to be a 3 down player, due to his pass rush ability. Orange didn't show any pass rush in college, so unless he completely flips that script, he will be relegated to being only a rotational piece.

Just like the hammer was only a weapon of war until someone used it to drive a nail?

 

[Heyjoe4]

McClellan can be moved around the line depending on run/pass situation, whereas Orange is NT only on run downs. Gute LOVES position flexibility.

That's a good catch Pkr. McLellan reminds me of Raji more so than Orange. Now that I think of it, Raji was the last truly great NT in GB. I may be missing something, but I recall Raji was an excellent NT playing run or pass.

 

[Heyjoe4]

McClellan has the potential to be a 3 down player, due to his pass rush ability. Orange didn't show any pass rush in college, so unless he completely flips that script, he will be relegated to being only a rotational piece.

That's why Gluten moved up to make sure he got McLellan. The iDL needs to get better at pressuring the QB. The addition of Hargrave helps, Wyatt is already pretty good at it, and I expect McLellan will get significant snaps as a rookie, given his versatility.

Side coment - I was amazed at how many OL and DL guys, north of 300 lbs, were running right at 5 seconds in the FYD. One guy ran a 4.96, can't recall the name.

That is mind boggling to me, that such big guys can move so fast.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Or . . .

You can't tell how Orange would have done for the Packers because he would have been not used in the same manner he will with the Vikings.

I did hear a report that the Viking staff looked upset when the Packers took McClellan. I did not see the video and can't confirm, but my thinking is the Packers knew another team would take him before their pick. 2 DTs ended up going so . .

I'm always curious how a GM knows, or maybe just feels it in his bones, that a guy he likes won't be around in, say 5 or 10 picks and trades up.

I don't think it's terribly expensive to move up 5 to 10 spots, especially in later rounds. Anyway, it was a good call by Gluten. McLellan certainly has more versatility than Orange.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm always curious how a GM knows, or maybe just feels it in his bones, that a guy he likes won't be around in, say 5 or 10 picks and trades up.

I would guess that the Packers have people and/or analytics that scout other teams needs and players that each team likes. That allows them to keep an eye on certain players and the teams standing between said player and the Packers next pick.

 

[AmishMafia]

I'm always curious how a GM knows, or maybe just feels it in his bones, that a guy he likes won't be around in, say 5 or 10 picks and trades up.

I don't think it's terribly expensive to move up 5 to 10 spots, especially in later rounds. Anyway, it was a good call by Gluten. McLellan certainly has more versatility than Orange.

We have a book on Gute. We look for high RAS guys with certain body constraints. Top 30 visits are likely genuine interest. There are 2 other elements with medical and personality that other GMs may see some tendencies.

Additionally, there is evidence of interest/amount of attention to a particular athlete during the combine. Who they interview and who all shows up at the pro days.

Factor in need and you might have a decent idea of who each team is probably interested in.

We are amateurs and yet we usually have a decent idea who the Packers are taking. If we knew how the draft was going to fall, most of us would have had the Cisse and DDS picks correct. And the NFL GMs know much more than we do.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

If we knew how the draft was going to fall, most of us would have had the Cisse and DDS picks correct. And the NFL GMs know much more than we do.

It would be interesting, fun and intense to hold a "Live draft contest". Basically, everyone playing has to be online during the draft. The object would be to guess who the Packers will select with their next pick. We would all be on the clock before the Packers pick is announced.


Obviously, any such draft would have to get the approval of the Amish Mafia.

 

[AmishMafia]

It would be interesting, fun and intense to hold a "Live draft contest". Basically, everyone playing has to be online during the draft. The object would be to guess who the Packers will select with their next pick. We would all be on the clock before the Packers pick is announced.


Obviously, any such draft would have to get the approval of the Amish Mafia.

You have my approval and I am happy to do you this favor.

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[SudsMcBucky]

It would be interesting, fun and intense to hold a "Live draft contest". Basically, everyone playing has to be online during the draft. The object would be to guess who the Packers will select with their next pick. We would all be on the clock before the Packers pick is announced.


Obviously, any such draft would have to get the approval of the Amish Mafia.

On one of the boards I was on (maybe a national Rivals type board or something) but first come-first serve is we'd have 1 person draft for each NFL team. This wouldn't be live, but we'd start drafting like the week before the actual draft and see how it would come out. Usually you'd have a person who was a fan/knew that particular NFL team very well. It was quite fun.

 

[Poppa San]

It would be interesting, fun and intense to hold a "Live draft contest". Basically, everyone playing has to be online during the draft. The object would be to guess who the Packers will select with their next pick. We would all be on the clock before the Packers pick is announced.


Obviously, any such draft would have to get the approval of the Amish Mafia.

Run it as a separate contest, with prizes for correct guesses. Events like this is when I miss the shoutbox.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

with prizes for correct guesses

It's really going to be difficult to top the Prizes that The Amish Mafia gives out for his contest. My New Corvette arrived today and heck, I finished tied for 3rd place!

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[Schultz]

This was my 4th or 5th top 3 finish.

 

[DoURant]

Grabbing my place on the 1st page

2. Lee Hunter -DT - Texas Tech
3. Julian Neal - CB - Arkansas
3. Domonique Orange - DT - Iowa State
3. Ted Hurst - WR - Georgia State
4. Brian Parker - OL - Duke
5. Sam Roush - TE - Stanford
5. Kaelon Black - RB - Indiana
5. Jamari Taylor - RB - Virginia
5. Taylen Green - QB - Arkansas
5. Diego Pounds - OT - Mississippi
5. Demonte Capehart - DL - Clemson
6. Jordan Vanden Berg - DT - Georgia Tech
7. Nyjalik Kelly - Edge - Central Florida
7. Enrique Cruz - T - Kansas
7. Michael Heldman - Edge - Central Michigan
7. Jaden Dugger - LB - Louisiana
7. Hezekiah Masses - CB - California
7. Thadeus Dixon - CB - North Carolina
7. TJ Quinn - LB - Louisville
7. Anthony Smith - WR - East Carolina

You did nail 2 guys we signed as UDFA's, Quinn, and Kelly