Pure Devy. No 2026 Crutches. Our First Offseason Devy Mock
Kevin looks at the first pure devy mock draft of the off-season.
Every Monday.
All offseason long.
Different lenses. Different builds. Real devy strategy.
Welcome back to Mock Draft Mondays, a weekly series built to go deeper than screenshots, ADP chasing, and consensus boards. Each week, we shift the perspective so you’re not just seeing picks, you’re seeing process: how to think through the board, weigh risk, and stay ahead of the market before value becomes obvious.
This mock marks our first pure devy mock of the offseason. No 2026 rookies. No shortcuts. Just long-term bets on talent, development curves, and eventual NFL outcomes. This isn’t about planting flags or locking in rankings; it’s an early temperature check on the devy landscape while it’s still fluid.
The drafters in this mock were members of our Discord, and that matters. These drafts are intentionally fluid, shaped by how each manager values risk, timelines, positional scarcity, and upside. There’s no rigid ADP here. What you’re seeing is real decision-making, reacting to the board as it unfolds.
Throughout Mock Draft Mondays, you’ll see a wide range of formats and frameworks, dynasty startups, devy-only boards, C2C hybrids, position mocks, and strategy-driven builds that emphasize leverage, insulation, and long-term portfolio construction. The common thread is always the same: intentional decision-making over noise.
At this stage of the cycle, the questions matter more than the answers.
Which running backs have a realistic path to workload and draft capital?
Which wide receivers can actually separate from the pack?
Which quarterbacks flash true NFL ceilings and which still need more time?
Think of this mock as the foundation. This is where value starts forming, long before production, context, and draft capital fully reshape the board. If you play devy with a long view, this is where edges are built.
Let’s dig in.
Round 1 Takeaway: 2027 Class Is Here
Round 1 is where we finally see the vaunted 2027 wide receiver class assert itself. Even though players like Ryan Williams and Cam Coleman haven’t fully lived up to the loftiest preseason expectations yet, the ceiling on this group remains undeniable. This is a bet on traits, long-term development, and eventual separation rather than early production — and drafters were clearly willing to buy into that upside early.
What really stands out, though, is the running back usage. Only two RBs came off the board in the entire first round, which is a notable deviation from what we usually see in devy formats. Part of that hesitation stems from the current state of the position. Outside of Bo Jackson, the RB class is filled with unknowns — uneven production profiles, incomplete NFL skill sets, and more projection than certainty. Until roles, usage, and translatable traits become clearer, managers appear content to let the position slide.
In contrast, wide receivers offered cleaner bets: longer insulation windows, clearer developmental arcs, and more confidence in how those traits translate to the NFL. Round 1 reflected that market reality — a willingness to wait on RB clarity while locking in elite WR upside early.
1.01 – Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (2027)
1.02 – Bryant Wesco, WR, Clemson (2027)
1.03 – Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama (2027)
1.04 – Arch Manning, QB, Texas (2026)
1.05 – Bo Jackson, RB, Ohio State (2028)
1.06 – Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (2027)
1.07 – Cam Coleman, WR, Texas (2027)
1.08 – Dakorien Moore, WR, Oregon (2028)
1.09 – Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan (2028)
1.10 – Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri (2027)
1.11 – Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas (2027)
1.12 – Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (FL) (2028)
Round 1 Spotlight: Bryant Wesco Jr. (1.02)
Bryant Wesco Jr. coming off the board at 1.02 is aggressive, and I absolutely love it. This is the type of pick that reflects how devy drafts should function early in the cycle: betting on ceiling, insulation, and NFL translation rather than waiting for consensus to catch up. According to reports, Wesco has re-upped with Clemson and will return for the 2026 season, giving the Tigers another year with one of the most explosive wide receivers in the country.
Wesco’s 2025 season was unfortunately cut short after a back injury in the SMU game, but his production prior to that point was impossible to ignore. In just seven starts, he posted 31 receptions for 537 yards and six touchdowns, leading Clemson in receiving scores and placing himself among the national leaders before going down. The efficiency and scoring profile popped immediately, this wasn’t volume chasing, this was impact production.
Zooming out, Wesco’s résumé is already strong despite limited total games. Through 19 career contests, he’s totaled 72 receptions, 1,245 yards, and 11 touchdowns, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2024 and continuing to build on that momentum in 2025. He wins with vertical speed, physicality at the catch point, and a growing route tree that translates cleanly to the next level. More importantly, he looks like an NFL receiver, not just a productive college one.
In my rankings, Wesco sits as WR5 overall in devy and WR2 in the 2027 class, and that evaluation is intentional. This is a player with legitimate top-10 NFL Draft upside if the trajectory continues. Taking him at 1.02 isn’t chasing hype; it’s getting ahead of where the market is likely headed. This is exactly the type of swing that wins devy leagues long-term.
Round 1 Spotlight: Ahmad Hardy (1.10)
Ahmad Hardy is one of the hardest profiles to gauge in the devy space, and his selection at 1.10 perfectly captures that tension. From a pure production standpoint, Hardy checks every box you could possibly ask for. During the 2025 season, he rushed for 100-plus yards in seven games, including monster performances of 250 yards against Louisiana, 300 yards versus Mississippi State, and 157 yards at Arkansas. He finished the year with 241 carries for 1,560 yards (6.6 YPC) and 16 touchdowns, leading the nation in rushing yards per game (130.0) and ranking second nationally in total rushing yards.
The accolades followed. Hardy was a Doak Walker Award finalist, earned multiple SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, and graded out as one of the best running backs in the country analytically. According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy posted a 91.9 offensive grade, a 92.5 rushing grade, and led the nation with 1,181 yards after contact, accounting for over 71% of his total rushing output. He also forced 96 missed tackles and ranked second nationally in runs of 10-plus yards. On paper, this looks like a future Day 1 or Day 2 NFL back.
And yet… this is where devy evaluation gets uncomfortable.
Missouri’s offense has historically produced backs who pile up college production but fail to translate to NFL or fantasy relevance. Volume, scheme-driven efficiency, and wide rushing lanes have inflated numbers before, and Hardy’s receiving résumé, just seven catches for 22 yards, does little to offset those concerns. Add in the arrival of new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, and Hardy’s future usage and role projection become even murkier. A philosophical shift could elevate his ceiling or expose the limitations in his profile.
This is the type of devy pick I personally avoid. Hardy may already be priced at or near his ceiling, which is a dangerous place to buy in a format built on value appreciation. If everything breaks right, this looks sharp. But if the market turns or the NFL translation stalls, there’s very little insulation left. Hardy isn’t a bad bet — he’s just a hard one. And in devy, those are often the most expensive lessons.
