Zierlein called Walter Nolen the best pure talent among defensive tackles in the class but warned IDP gamers not to overpay after Arizona took him in Round 1. Multiple teams had Nolen completely off their boards due to what Zierlein labeled "big, big concerns" about maturity and work ethic. While the 6-4, 315-pounder carries a 92nd-percentile pass-rush win rate and could evolve into a 9-sack interior terror, Zierlein emphasized that interior linemen who enter the league with off-field red flags hit at only a 28 percent rate for 50-plus career starts over the last decade. Without proof that the Cardinals’ staff can keep him focused, Zierlein advised treating Nolen as a late-round stash in IDP rookie drafts rather than a blue-chip building block.

Lance Zierlein labeled undrafted quarterback Brady Cook an intriguing lottery ticket for teams and dynasty gamers. He admitted Cook looked "terrible" in 2024—hurting Luther Burden’s production—but highlighted a 2023 season that showcased a big frame, live arm and the ability to hit all three levels of the field. Because that ceiling tape exists, Zierlein would “take a swing on him in camp and stash him on a practice squad.” For superflex formats, he recommends Cook as a no-cost final-round stab in case the 2023 version resurfaces under NFL coaching.

Lance Zierlein said the Texans reached on sixth-rounder Graham Mertz and advised fantasy managers to ignore him in super-flex or deep-bench dynasty formats. Zierlein admitted Mertz improved after transferring from Wisconsin to Florida but still grades him as a QB3/clipboard type at best. He compared the pick to Houston’s past Day-3 swing on Davis Mills and argued Mertz lacks Mills’ pocket feel and intermediate accuracy, giving him little chance to survive a three-game spot-start stretch if C.J. Stroud were to miss time. With no rushing component to prop up fantasy scoring and journeyman Case Keenum likely to remain the primary backup, Zierlein sees zero path to meaningful snaps and recommended using the roster spot elsewhere.

Zierlein called Omarion Hampton the perfect battering ram for Jim Harbaugh’s "hammerhead" offense in Los Angeles and expects the rookie to command 18–20 carries per game almost immediately. Hampton averaged a nation-best 4.1 yards after contact and survived 275 touches last year without injury, traits Zierlein believes will let Harbaugh recreate his old 49ers ground-and-pound identity while protecting Justin Herbert’s surgically repaired finger. The caveat is longevity: Hampton routinely took front-flip caliber hits at North Carolina, so Zierlein doubts he holds peak form beyond a six-year window. He advised redraft and best-ball drafters to pounce at a Round-7 ADP this summer while cautioning dynasty managers to view Hampton as a high-end producer for four to five seasons rather than a second-contract star.

Lance Zierlein said Jalen Milroe landing in Seattle is the perfect slow-cook situation for dynasty managers. Zierlein expects new OC Ryan Grubb to copy the Saints’ early Taysom Hill blueprint: a weekly goal-line and third-down package that puts Milroe on the field alongside Sam Darnold while the staff works on his footwork and accuracy behind the scenes. The payoff, according to Zierlein, is worth a longer leash than most developmental quarterbacks receive because Milroe is a "home-run hitter" who can erase mistakes with 65-yard touchdown runs and vertical bombs. He compared the evaluation scale to Lamar Jackson’s rookie year—accept more strikeouts (missed throws) in exchange for explosive plays that change game scripts. With Seattle in zero hurry to name a franchise QB and Pete Carroll historically willing to use specialist packages (think 2012 Russell Wilson red-zone sets), Zierlein views Milroe as a priority late-round dynasty stash and a sneaky best-ball dart: even 4-6 gadget touches per week could generate spike weeks while you wait for the full-time starter ceiling.

Lance Zierlein labeled Dillon Gabriel a "safe backup" profile that teams can drop straight into a timing-based spread system—think Miami’s or Green Bay’s—without re-tooling the playbook. Despite knocking him during the season for red-zone mistakes, Zierlein ultimately liked Gabriel’s combination of quick release, controlled footwork, and willingness to win from the pocket. He noted that Gabriel’s clean 2.57-second average time to throw, 65% career completion rate, and 9.3 adjusted yards per attempt in 2023 all project well to No. 2 duties. The catch is size (sub-6’0”) and limited arm strength cap his long-term ceiling, but that matters less for a clipboard role. Zierlein advised superflex managers in 40-man dynasty leagues to spend a final-round pick on Gabriel—especially if he lands behind an injury-prone starter—because his high-end processing and movement skills give him four- to six-week bridge upside in a pinch.

Lance Zierlein blasted Jacksonville’s decision to mortgage future picks for Travis Hunter, calling it a "kind of crazy" price tag for a sub-190-pound two-way player. Although Zierlein still views Hunter as the best wideout in the class, he flagged long-term durability concerns at both corner and receiver and noted that playing both ways magnifies the risk. He reminded listeners that only six wide receivers under 190 lbs have posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons since 2010 and pointed to the Jaguars’ existing target hogs—Christian Kirk and Evan Engram—as additional roadblocks to immediate WR1 usage. Zierlein’s bottom line: let someone else chase the hype in rookie and best-ball drafts unless Hunter’s ADP falls outside the top 15 picks.

Lance Zierlein cautioned dynasty managers against banking on Quinn Ewers as a high-end NFL prospect. While acknowledging flashes against Michigan (2023) and Alabama (2022), Zierlein argued you “keep having to hang on to those same two games.” He flagged Ewers’ continued injury issues—"he's injured all the time and he's not durable enough"—and questioned the quarterback’s ability to “play chess” with NFL defenses, citing limited field reading and slow processing. Given those red flags, Zierlein views Ewers as a volatile developmental pick rather than a surefire starter, advising Superflex drafters to treat him as a speculative swing rather than a cornerstone asset.

Lance Zierlein said the Bears landing Luther Burden in Round 2 was "really good value" for a franchise that is clearly loading up around its young quarterback. Zierlein liked that Chicago already fortified the offensive line in free agency and then doubled down on pass-catchers—Colston Loveland at No. 10 and Burden 32 picks later—rather than reaching for a second-tier tackle. He believes Burden’s first-round caliber talent paired with an immediate target vacuum behind DJ Moore positions the rookie for fantasy relevance sooner than the market expects, making him an attractive late-first/early-second dynasty rookie pick and a viable late-round redraft flyer.