When it comes to the NFL calendar, there's a specific kind of madness that sets in around late winter and early spring. Everyone has an opinion. Your neighbor thinks the Jets should trade for a veteran kicker. Your cousin is convinced the Cowboys are one linebacker away from a Super Bowl. But in the sea of noise, certain names carry a bit more weight. Chad Reuter is one of those names.
If you’ve spent any time on NFL.com, you’ve seen his work. He’s the guy who doesn't just stop at a single round. No, Chad Reuter mock draft season usually involves grinding through three, five, or even all seven rounds. It's an exhausting amount of work that most analysts won't touch.
The Method Behind the Seven-Round Madness
What separates a Chad Reuter mock draft from the thousands of others floating around the internet? Basically, it’s the sheer volume and the refusal to play it safe. Most analysts stick to the first 32 picks because, honestly, guessing what happens in the sixth round is like trying to predict the weather three years from now. Reuter leans into that chaos.
He has covered the draft since 2000, starting with his own fan site, Packerdraft.com, before eventually becoming a cornerstone of NFL Network’s draft coverage. Because of his background in economics and public policy analysis, he looks at the board differently. He’s not just looking at a "big board" of talent; he’s looking at team needs, salary cap implications, and historical trends that most of us overlook.
Why Multi-Round Drafts Matter
A first-round mock is a vanity project. A seven-round mock is a blueprint.
When Reuter releases a multi-round projection, he's showing you how a team can actually rebuild a roster. For example, in his recent 2026 projections, he isn't just handing a team a star quarterback like Fernando Mendoza or Arch Manning. He’s also finding them the right-guard depth they’ll need in the fourth round to keep that quarterback upright.
It’s that level of detail that makes his work a staple for fans who actually want to understand their team’s strategy rather than just seeing a flashy name at the top of the page.
Dealing With the "Rage Bait" Accusations
If you head over to Reddit or Twitter after a new Chad Reuter mock draft drops, the comments are... colorful. You’ll see fans calling his picks "pure madness" or "unrealistic."
I’ve seen people complain that he’s "picking names out of a hat" when he suggests a team might trade up for a running back in the first round or take a flyer on a small-school tackle. But here’s the thing: NFL teams are often "unrealistic."
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Remember when everyone mocked the Raiders for taking Clelin Ferrell at number four? Or when the Packers took Jordan Love? Mock drafts that only reflect "consensus" are boring and, more importantly, usually wrong. Reuter knows this. He uses his mock drafts to explore "what if" scenarios that actually happen in real war rooms.
He’s admitted in interviews that some positions, like safety or corner, are incredibly difficult to scout because they aren't challenged enough on tape. He’s honest about the limitations of the craft. That honesty often leads to "spicy" takes that end up being more accurate than the safe picks everyone else is making.
Key Trends in Recent Reuter Projections
If you're looking at his latest 2026 outlooks, a few things stand out.
- Quarterback Volatility: Reuter has been tracking the rise and fall of guys like Ty Simpson and Dante Moore. He doesn't just move them up because they won a big game; he looks at their "off-platform" playmaking and leadership.
- The Senior Bowl Connection: Since Reuter works closely with the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, his mocks often feature "risers" from these events. If a kid from a mid-major school dominates in Mobile, you can bet he’s moving up three rounds in Reuter’s next update.
- Trade Aggression: He is one of the few major analysts who projects specific trades in his mocks. He doesn't just say "this team might trade down." He’ll actually swap the picks and explain why both teams would pull the trigger.
In his 2025 five-round mock, he famously had the Jets pivoting at quarterback after college stars like Dante Moore decided to stay in school. It’s that real-time adjustment to the news cycle that keeps his content fresh. He isn't just recycling the same list every week.
How to Read a Chad Reuter Mock Draft Without Losing Your Mind
If you see your favorite team pass on a "generational talent" in his mock, don't throw your phone. You have to understand his goal. He isn't trying to be the most "accurate" person in March; he’s trying to be the most "informative" person.
Check the "needs" section he usually includes with his December and January updates. He identifies the five biggest holes for every team. Even if you hate the specific player he mocked to your team, he’s usually dead-on regarding what position they will target.
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Actionable Insights for Draft Fans
- Watch the middle rounds: Reuter’s real value is in rounds 3 through 5. That’s where he identifies "sleepers" like Missouri's Armand Membou or Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart before they become household names.
- Track the trades: Look at the logic he uses for trades. It often reveals which teams are "pick rich" and likely to be aggressive on draft night.
- Compare to the "Big Board": If Reuter has a player going significantly higher than they are ranked on Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 list, pay attention. That’s usually a sign of "team fit" over "raw talent."
Basically, stop treating mock drafts like a final exam and start treating them like a scouting report. Chad Reuter is giving you the data; it's up to you to see how the pieces fit.
To get the most out of the upcoming draft cycle, start by comparing his multi-round mocks against the official NFL Draft order as it updates weekly during the playoffs. This will help you see which team needs are becoming desperate and which prospects are actually rising in the eyes of league insiders rather than just social media scouts.