LZ

Lance Zierlein

NFL.com
41.8 avg (5yr)NFL.com Senior Analyst
5-Year Avg (HR)
41.8/96
5-Year HR Rank
13th / 93
2027 Prediction
April 2027 · TBD
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Lance Zierlein is one of the most well-known NFL Draft analysts in the industry. As a senior analyst at NFL.com, he publishes his signature "Mock Draft 4.0" — his final mock — typically the day before the NFL Draft each year. He's been a consistent fixture in the draft community for over a decade, known for his detailed player evaluations and prospect comparisons.

Over the 2022–2026 window, Zierlein averages 41.8 out of 96 points on the Huddle Report , with a peak score of 45 points in 2024. He's also tracked on FantasyPros , where his best finish was #21 in 2021 (178/320 pts). His approach blends traditional scouting with film study and league source intel, making him one of the more balanced evaluators in the space.

Year-by-Year Accuracy

Scoring: 1 pt for player placed in Round 1, +2 pts for player-team match. Maximum possible score is 96 per year (32 picks × 3 pts).

HR Official
40
of 96 pts
42%
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HR Official
42
of 96 pts
44%
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HR Official
38
of 96 pts
40%
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HR Official
45
of 96 pts
47%
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HR Official
39
of 96 pts
41%
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HR Official
47
of 96 pts
49%
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6-Year Average (HR)
41.8
Best Year (HR)
47 (2026)
Best % Accuracy
49%

Sources & Links

🔗The Huddle Report – Mock Draft Scores 🔗FantasyPros – NFL Mock Draft Accuracy 🔗Lance Zierlein – NFL.com Profile 🔗2025 Final Mock Draft 4.0 – NFL.com 🔗2024 Final Mock Draft 4.0 – NFL.com
⚖️ Compare Your Mock Draft vs Lance Zierlein

Head-to-Head Comparisons

vs Brendan Donahuevs Charlie Campbellvs Daniel Jeremiahvs Jared Smolavs Jason Borisvs Jeff Ratcliffevs Josh Norrisvs Justin Balesvs Lou Pickneyvs Matt Millervs Matthew Freedmanvs Mel Kiper Jr.vs Peter Schragervs Russell Brownvs Scott Smithvs Todd McShayvs Walter Cherepinsky

See Also

MK
Mel Kiper Jr.
ESPN · 40+ Years of Draft Analysis · 47 pts in 2025
DJ
Daniel Jeremiah
NFL Network · 5-Year HR Average 40.8 · Top NFL Draft Analyst

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Lance Zierlein Mock Draft Accuracy: NFL.com's Draft Expert

Lance Zierlein has been one of the most prominent NFL Draft analysts for over a decade, serving as a senior draft analyst at NFL.com. His "Mock Draft 4.0" series — typically his final mock before each draft — has become one of the most anticipated annual publications in the NFL Draft community, known for its detailed analysis and creative trade scenarios.

Over the five-year window from 2022 to 2026, Zierlein has averaged 41.8 points out of a possible 96 on the Huddle Report scoring system. His best year came in 2024, when he scored 45 points — his highest mark in the tracking period. On FantasyPros, which uses a different scoring methodology (max 320 points), his best finish was 21st overall in 2021 with 178 points.

See his complete pick-by-pick breakdowns for each year on the individual year pages, or compare his accuracy against other analysts on the full leaderboard. You can also compare Lance Zierlein vs Daniel Jeremiah or any other analyst head-to-head.