The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Building the Beast: Dane Brugler's end-of-season mock draft
Dec 3, 2025
Dane Brugler, a renowned draft analyst for The Athletic, joins to dissect his end-of-season mock draft. He reveals why top teams may not select quarterbacks and proposes strategic trades, like the Browns going for Mendoza. Discussions touch on positional value, the Giants' tough choices, and potential steals like Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Love. Brugler also highlights edge rushers expected in the top ten and examines how specific players could enhance struggling offenses, all while setting the stage for exciting college matchups ahead.
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Mock Drafts Should Model Real Trades
- Early mock drafts must include realistic trades to reflect team needs and draft order uncertainty.
- Dane Brugler trades top picks to model realistic QB-needy teams moving up rather than forcing improbable stick picks.
Cleveland Likely To Aggressively Chase A QB
- Cleveland's two first-round picks make them likeliest to aggressively pursue a QB upgrade.
- Fernando Mendoza fits Cleveland's coaching profile with strong processing and pocket play rather than elite athleticism.
Mendoza's QB Profile: Processing Over Explosiveness
- Scouts compare Fernando Mendoza to Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins for football IQ and layered throwing.
- Mendoza pairs enough mobility to avoid sacks with strong pre- and post-snap processing rather than elite athleticism.