Mock Draft Monday: What Dane Brugler’s Top 100 Is Telling Us
Kevin dives into Brugler's top 100 players in the NFL draft.
Every Monday isn’t about running another mock.
Sometimes it’s about reading the board differently.
Instead of forcing picks into a format, we’re stepping back and looking at something just as important, Dane Brugler’s Post–Senior Bowl Top 100. Not to copy it. Not to debate it. But to understand what it’s signaling.
Brugler’s board isn’t dynasty-driven. It’s not devy-influenced. It’s not built on ADP or hype cycles. It’s built on evaluation, traits, projection, role, and how NFL teams are talking behind the scenes. And when those evaluations shift after Senior Bowl week, that matters.
Because this time of year isn’t about final rankings.
It’s about identifying where the NFL might already be ahead of our market.
Who’s rising quietly?
Who’s sitting inside the Top 50 that devy managers barely discuss?
Which archetypes are getting real draft traction before the dynasty space reacts?
This isn’t a mock draft.
This is a temperature check.
And if you’re trying to stay ahead in dynasty, understanding where the NFL lens differs from fantasy groupthink is how you build leverage before the ADP spike comes.
Let’s dig into the names we may not be talking about enough.
The Names the NFL Is Louder On Than Fantasy
Every draft cycle, there’s a gap. A gap between how the NFL evaluates players… and how the fantasy space talks about them.
Right now, that gap is sitting inside Dane Brugler’s Top 100.
These aren’t the obvious headliners. They’re not dominating devy startups. They’re not being debated as future WR1s on timelines every day. But they are consistently showing up inside the Top 25, Top 50, and Top 75 of one of the most respected draft boards in the industry.
And that matters. Because Brugler’s board isn’t built on hype cycles or fantasy fit. It’s built on traits, projection, role translatability, and real draft capital conversations happening inside league buildings. When players keep landing this high post–Senior Bowl, it’s usually not accidental.
So instead of running another mock, we’re looking at something more important:
Where might the NFL already be ahead of the fantasy market?
These are the names we may not be talking about loudly enough.
Overall 22 – KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Why This Ranking Matters
Brugler has Concepcion as his WR4 and a Top-25 overall player. That’s not noise. That’s a real draft projection in what many are calling a “down” receiver class, being inside the Top 25 changes the conversation. It moves you from an interesting dynasty asset to a legitimate Day 1 capital discussion. And if that sticks through the summer, we’re suddenly talking about a player who could realistically push into the 1.05 range in rookie drafts depending on landing spot. Top-25 receivers don’t go quietly.
What the NFL Might Be Seeing
The NFL sees a deployable piece. Concepcion wins early. He gets into space quickly. He’s slippery against press and snaps off breaks with very little wasted motion. He doesn’t overwhelm you with long speed, but his suddenness at leveraged break points makes him difficult to sit on in man coverage. Against zone, he understands spacing and uncovers instinctively. He’s quicker than fast, and that matters.
This is a player who can win on choice routes, create separation near the goal line, and be schemed touches on utility throws where his run-after-catch ability shows up. Add in a legitimate punt return value, and now you’re talking about a staff-friendly player who can contribute in multiple phases. For teams with young quarterbacks or inconsistent protection, that immediate separation skillset is attractive.
Where Fantasy May Be Lagging
Fantasy isn’t ignoring him, but the ceiling conversation might be lagging. There’s hesitation because he’s not a prototypical outside alpha. He had a 10.3% drop rate in 2025. He isn’t a pure hands-dominator. And he wins more with suddenness and deployment than vertical dominance.
But the market sometimes overcorrects toward archetype instead of role security. If he locks in Day 1 capital, the fantasy conversation will shift quickly. Separation travels. Early uncovering travels. And in a class without clear WR1 separation at the top, draft capital will dictate value more than we want to admit.
Draft Capital Outlook
If Brugler’s board is any indication, he’s firmly in the Round 1 conversation. Even if he slides slightly, Top-50 capital would still validate him as one of the safer receiver bets in this class. The special teams value only strengthens that floor. Day 1 capital would immediately push him into the early rookie draft tier.
Bottom Line
The NFL sees a versatile, separation-driven weapon. If the draft capital follows, fantasy won’t be quiet about him for long.
Overall 27 – Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Why This Ranking Matters
This is the highest I’ve seen Cooper. And I don’t hate it. Top 30 overall is a real projection. That’s not fringe hype. That’s legitimate early-round conversation. Especially in a receiver class where the tiers aren’t clearly separated yet, being ranked this high suggests evaluators see more stability than the fantasy space does. If this holds through pre-draft season, we’re no longer talking about a mid-second-round rookie pick type of profile. We’re talking about someone who could sneak into late Round 1 territory in rookie drafts if the capital follows.
What the NFL Might Be Seeing
Cooper checks more boxes than he gets credit for. He plays with strength. He’s coordinated in the air. He competes at the catch point. He understands how to open his stride and create throwing windows for his quarterback. There’s awareness to his game; he adjusts mid-air and secures the ball cleanly.
The run-after-catch ability is another separator. He’s not just a vertical role player. He can turn routine completions into chunk plays. His production jump matters too. After being a rotational piece in 2024 (28 catches at an absurd 21.2 yards per catch), he expanded into a true featured role in 2025 with 69 receptions, 937 yards, and 13 touchdowns. That’s real growth, not stat padding. And if evaluators believe those traits translate, especially paired with reliable hands, that profile starts to feel safer than consensus suggests.
Where Fantasy May Be Lagging
Fantasy might still be anchored to earlier perceptions. The class was labeled “down.” Cooper wasn’t billed as a five-star. He didn’t explode immediately. He doesn’t have the brand recognition of some others in this group. And analytically, he may not check every box. But sometimes the market lags when a player quietly rounds out his profile instead of dominating from day one. He may not be flashy. But he has some of the surest hands in this class and wins in ways that NFL teams value: body control, competitiveness, and conversion reliability. If draft capital validates that, perception shifts fast.
Draft Capital Outlook
If he sneaks into Round 1, the conversation changes overnight. Even early Day 2 capital would be significant. That’s the threshold where fantasy managers are forced to reevaluate their priors. With Day 1 or early Day 2 capital, he likely lands as a late first-round rookie draft pick, especially in a class without clear separation at the top.
Bottom Line
This is higher than most fantasy boards have him. But if the NFL is truly this loud on Omar Cooper Jr., the market won’t stay quiet for long.
