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+---- Thread: *Possible Landing Locations - AJ Lattimer (/showthread.php?tid=13208)
*Possible Landing Locations - AJ Lattimer - TeyonSchavari - 04-30-2019
[Ready for grading - 696 words]
The NSFL draft is only days away, and there is a lot of speculation over who will end up where. Mock drafts are as divisive as they have ever been since the NSFL's foundation. It seems near impossible to predict where any of these players will go, and in what round for that matter. There are only a few sure-fire candidates that will go in the first round somewhere, but the rest could fall to as low as the 3rd. Today, let's put AJ Lattimer under the microscope as we explore the possible landing locations and draft placement.
For Lattimer, it is most likely that he will not be a first round pick, even with two expansion teams added into the mix. Fellow defensive tackle Ricardo Morris is likely to be the first DT taken in the draft, and very well may go in the first round. Lattimer, however, has been rated as the second most sought-after DT by many of the media experts and is projected as a 3rd-5th round pick, although some have him going as late as the sixth.
Lattimer has been a steady TPE earner since coming into the league as the 45th pick of the DSFL draft, amassing 214 TPE along the way. He has proven to be an active player and hard worker, earning Pro Bowl honors and winning the Ultimini as a member of the Portland Pythons. It is rumored that plenty of teams have shown interest in drafting Lattimer, so let's take a look at the most likely landing destinations of this intriguing prospect.
Arizona Outlaws The Arizona Outlaws are coming off of a down year, to put it nicely. This team has a lot of needs, but luckily they have the draft capital to make a turnaround and be competitive very quickly. It has been rumored that they are looking to bolster their front 7, specifically on the defensive line, so using a early-mid round pick on a DT would make sense. Depending on how things play out, we could see the Outlaws calling Lattimer's name with either the 32nd pick in the draft or in their picks between 40 & 42.
Yellowknife Wraiths The Wraiths finished below 500 last year, but do have some promising talent which gives them a potentially positive outlook for the coming years. They have some good pieces on their defensive line, but a solid DT would tie it all together. However, if they really want Lattimer, they will need to take a shot using their 24th or 34th pick, as it is unlikely he will be available when they pick again in the sixth.
Colorado Yeti It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that this team is in rebuild mode for the next couple season. With the retirement of Micycle McCormick coming soon, and a lack of star power, there are a lot of positions that need to be filled by this draft class. Because of this, it is uncertain whether the Yeti will want to use an early-mid round pick on an up-and-coming DT. However, if their are enamored by Lattimer, they would most likely to be looking to grab him with their 31st or 37th pick.
Orange County Otters On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have Otters, who have bred a winning culture as a franchise in the NSFL. This team is very talented, and doesn't have the most needs of the teams in the draft. However, there is a small chance that they will be looking for a developmental project on the defensive line. Lattimer could be just what they want if he begins to fall in the draft, and he could fall right into their lap with their 48th pick.
Of course, this is all speculation at this point, but these teams would be the most likely to take a chance on this young tackle. Regardless, it will be exciting to see where all of the players go and what guys these teams will get to look forward to having in the coming seasons. Hopefully everyone is a good fit in their future organizations. Good luck to all of the prospects!
*Possible Landing Locations - AJ Lattimer - Bigred1580 - 04-30-2019
Great write up! Hope you have an enjoyable draft night!