07-02-2019, 09:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-10-2019, 02:55 PM by Fordhammer.)
First things first: I'd like to thank all y'all reading this for your support. These articles have been receiving a ton of love, and I cannot express enough how appreciative I am of that. This has been an incredible draft class to be a part of, and I am fortunate to be entering the league at the time I am, so that I could have the privilege of covering this crop of players for y'all. Special thanks are in order for @KillaScrilla (Action Jackson), who hijacked my first presser and showed me exactly how enjoyable this media thing can be; @KillKillKill (Honda Edmond), who pieced together multiple signature graphics for me, giving me time to mass produce articles instead of trying to teach myself photoshop; and @SabaDonutMan (Saba Donut), who encouraged me to craft this piece in particular. Also, of course, I especially want to thank @Duilio05 (Taco MacArthur) and @shadyshoelace (Stringer Bell) for giving my boy Bubba a new home in the DSFL, it is an absolute privilege to be a Marshal.
Now, without any further ado...we're back again, this time to take a peek at the draft that was, and hopefully offer some thoughtful insight into each pick of the draft, this time starting from the top!
1. Ashley Owens, RB, San Antonio Marshals: I had Owens rated as my number two running back headed into the draft, but not because I expected him to go second among running backs; I absolutely knew this kid had what it took to be one of the first players off the board. I do still feel that Joe Bobgarter is the most DSFL-ready back in the class, but Owens shouldn't read that as a sign of disrespect. Bobgarter is built to be a fullback, a role which Owens would be ill-suited for, because Owens is looking to do more than play blocker and occasionally power the ball up the middle. Quite frankly, I consider Owens to be the most complete halfback in the class; he's got plenty of speed, he's got just enough power, and he's got hands that he can use to his advantage. Expect Owens to be on the field almost every offensive down for the Marshals, and maybe for kick returns, too.
2. Dexter Banks II, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: Oddly enough, I had Banks as my number two wide receiver headed into the draft; there must be something about the underdogs in my articles that catches people's attention. I can tell you exactly what the Coyotes saw in this kid: speed. He is faster than almost every other receiver in the class, and he no doubt intends to be a step ahead of every corner he faces on the field. I still might have leaned towards Max Lovote here, but I can still appreciate the choice by the Coyotes to draft an exciting prospect for the top of their depth chart, again possibly both for offense and special teams.
3. Jordan Andrews, CB, Tijuana Luchadores: Andrews was the top corner on my draft board, so this pick, at face value, appears to have broken my chain of number two guys going early...except, I rated defensive backs as a whole, and Andrews was number two on that list. GMs, I applaud you for spurning my suggestions like this; it shows the lot of you are free thinkers, and I can get behind that. I have no doubts that Andrews is going to be among the most solid, if not the most solid, defensive backs in the draft; he has the speed to go toe-to-toe with just about any wide receiver opposite him, the hands to snag an interception or two, and the tackling ability to bring down anybody who happens to beat him to the ball. Also, although he's less likely to be the return specialist, Andrews may find a place on the special teams unit all the same.
4. Saba Donut, WR, Portland Pythons: Donut, by the numbers, was a mid-tier wide receiver on my draft board, and if that was all I had to look at, this pick would absolutely feel like a reach to me. But, there is much more to Donut than the numbers suggest. This kid has heart, and he'll absolutely be one of the hardest working players both on and off the field, especially after announcing that he and his brother (alongside several other interested parties) will be forming a brand for apparel, accessories, and media (and probably more with time). I have zero doubts this kid is already a favorite in the Python locker room, and paired with Action Jackson, the Pythons will have a difficult offense to gameplan for, especially through the air.
5. Jordan McCann, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: McCann once again ranked around the middle of this wide receiver class on my draft board, and this time, I didn't see quite as much of his body of work, so especially given what they traded for the opportunity to draft him, I think the Luchadores may have reached a bit for McCann. Obviously, the GMs believe that this is a guy who fits into their grand plan though, and although I'm guessing they may have been blinded just a touch by his speed, I'm guessing they did their homework, and they feel McCann will fit into their locker room and into their starting rotation.
6. Tyron Brackenridge, S, Kansas City Coyotes: I had Brackenridge as my number two safety in this class, but choosing between the safeties took quite a bit of hair-splitting on my end, so any safety the Coyotes chose here would have felt like an excellent pick. Brackenridge is easily the hardest hitting of the bunch, so this pick also shows the Coyotes' priorities on the defensive side of the ball for this coming season. Brackenridge isn't going to be pulling down picks as often as anybody else in this class of defensive backs, but he will stop ball carriers dead in their tracks, and he's recently started working on his locker room presence, so this is a great pick for the Coyotes.
7. Takeda Okura, S, San Antonio Marshals: Okura was my lowest rated safety available in this draft, but I am still incredibly stoked that I have the opportunity to play with this guy. He moves faster than any other defensive back in the class, and he can keep his motor going all game, so expect this kid to be making plays all over the field, quite possibly even on special teams for the Marshals. He also seems like an enjoyable character to have in the locker room, even if he's a little bit spotty from time to time.
8. A.C. Payton, S, Portland Pythons: I cannot express enough how much I like this group of safeties; this might be the best position group in the class. It was wise of the Pythons to snatch this kid while they had the chance; if they hadn't, I would have counted on the Luchadores taking the kid at eleven. I had Payton rated as the top safety in the draft; obviously, he fell to number three, but I think he'll take that in stride. This is an opportunity for Payton to prove the doubters wrong, and with his play-making ability, I fundamentally believe Payton can rise to the occasion.
9. Bubba Thumper, DT, San Antonio Marshals: I'll be honest with you: I don't have much to say about this pick. A tear came to my eye when I saw that Bubba was off the board this early, and I hope he can deliver in the DSFL at a level that gets him off the board this early in the NSFL draft when he makes the transition, but I don't want to get too deep into discussing the kid's talent. I'll let him prove himself on the field.
10. Max Lovote, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: I had Lovote as the top available wide receiver on my draft board, so to see him slip to ten was a bit surprising. I'm guessing a lower speed rating scared some teams, and that meant the Coyotes were able to swoop in and snag both of my top two wide receivers, which bodes extremely well for their passing game this season. If I didn't already know who my steal of the draft was, this would be a strong candidate; expect big things from the Banks-Lovote tandem in Kansas City.
11. Honda Edmond, TE, Tijuana Luchadores: So close, yet so far away. I'll be honest with y'all, I'm devastated that I won't be sharing a locker room with Edmond (although thankfully, he did still agree to get my a new signature graphic, and it is absolutely tight). This guy leaves just a little to be desired in terms of his physicality; he's smaller than the other tight ends who were available, and he's neither as strong nor as fast as Biletnikoff. However, what he lacks in physicality, he makes up for with excellent technique; his blocking is leagues ahead of either competitor, and he can catch better, too. I won't say I'm rooting for him to do well in Tijuana while I'm on San Antonio's payroll, but I do expect great things from this guy, and I hope we can share a locker room some day in the future, because he's a great player and a great person to have around.
12. Mervin Leonard, CB, Portland Pythons: This was the number two corner on my draft board, and lo and behold, Leonard was the second corner gone in the draft. Leonard might not seem like a sexy pick, as the only player who didn't graduate high school, but his speed and agility are among the best at his position, so he figures to be a factor no matter who he finds himself facing, especially given the players he'll be working against on the practice field. This was a nice pick for the Pythons, and they figure to be good both in and against the passing game this season.
13. Tyrone Baker, LB, San Antonio Marshals: I'm not going to lie, even for my own team; this pick feels like a reach. I totally understand why the GMs went this way: Baker has speed on par with some of the fastest offensive weapons in the class, and that figures to be a factor in preventing big plays, especially in the running game. However, Baker was dead last on my list of line backers, so unless the GMs saw an element to his locker room presence that I missed, this has to have been a reach, especially given how cool the linebacker class as a whole was received. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
14. Julian McMorris, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: The Coyotes were hungry for wide receivers, and McMorris was the third they selected in their first four picks. If they intend to keep him at wide receiver, this smells strongly of reaching; my guess is that they intend for this kid to make the transition to tight end, because he won't draw much playing time if he has to compete with Banks and Lovote in the wide receiver rotation. He does, however, have decent potential as a receiving tight end, and that figures to be the key to getting him playing time, which should in turn give him opportunity to improve. Who knows; maybe he'll shape up to be a solid wide receiver option by the NSFL draft. Or, maybe he'll embrace the tight end role and move up via that path. Only time will tell.
15. Octavius Godspeed, RB, Tijuana Luchadores*: My understanding is that Godspeed was ultimately traded to the Coyotes, and the Luchadores will be receiving Ducky Donut in return (whether more was agreed upon is unclear). Regardless of where he plays, Godspeed figures to be hot to handle, with speed unmatched by any player in the class. He's not as complete a player as Owens, and honestly, trading him for Donut figures to be an even deal if the two show similar work ethic, but I believe that Godspeed should be able to do ridiculous things in Kansas City. This trade figures to pay dividends for the Coyotes, if the GMs can keep Godspeed focused on improving his game.
16. Kicky Bobby, K, Portland Pythons: I had Kicky Bobby as the number three kicker on my draft board, but my guess is that this pick has less to do with his measurables, and more to do with the fact that a team in need of a kicker (as all teams are in the DSFL) saw a character they liked for their locker room, and drafted him. I actually like the gamble of taking a kicker so early in the draft; having somebody who can make kicks consistently matters in a game where one missed extra point can be the difference between sweet victory and bitter defeat, so this reads as a Roberto Aguayo-esque gamble by the Pythons, and I think it could very well pay off for them better than Aguayo did for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
17. Jim McMahon, QB, San Antonio Marshals: I had McMahon as the better quarterback in the class, and he has certainly appeared to be the better locker room guy, which is why the Marshals jumped at this opportunity. It feels like they may have done so just a hair early, but given what he brings to the table, they should be glad to have a promising young prospect at a critical position. I am confident that McMahon will give the Marshal GMs reason to breathe easy the moment he takes the field.
18. Brayden Ennis, DT, Kansas City Coyotes: If you're reading this, @[Buttersqauch], thank you for being a good sport. Ennis going at eighteen absolutely obliterated my defensive line ratings, and they don't get better from here. This is largely due to the fact that most defensive line prospects aren't particularly good locker room guys this season, and Ennis, despite ratings that didn't strike me as favorable at a glance, is a great locker room guy. He fell in the draft due to GM concerns about his work ethic, but those proved to be a fluke, as he's now back and better than ever after a quiet offseason. Best of luck to this guy in Kansas City.
19. Willie Woodson, CB, San Antonio Marshals: Apparently, unlike my defensive linemen, I had my corners pegged for exactly what they are. Woodson was third on my draft board for corners, and to my great surprise, he went third among corners on draft day (this, as you know by now, is a common trend for corners on my draft board). Woodson isn't an exceptional player in any respect, except that he'll be on the field for just about every defensive snap. That alone is reason to believe we'll see improvement from Woodson, assuming his work ethic matches his motor.
20. Shane Masters, DT, Portland Pythons: Masters was my top rated defensive tackle, second among defensive linemen; he found himself falling closer to the second mark than the first, as third of both off the board. Masters, like both Thumper and Ennis, is no slouch in the locker room, so this projects to be a solid pick for the Pythons, who waited until this late in the draft to shore up their run defense. Masters may struggle as the top guy on the defensive line, but I believe with time he'll find his stride, and compete with Ennis and Thumper to be a top defensive lineman in the DSFL this season.
21. Landebert Strauss, K, San Antonio Marshals: The Marshals didn't wait long after seeing Bobby fall to the Pythons to snag themselves a new leg, and I'm personally of the opinion that although he lacks the same character as Bobby, Strauss is the best kicker in the draft, so this feels like a good gamble for the Marshals. Strauss's balanced approach to kicking means that the Marshals should feel comfortable with his ability to kick both accurately and from decent range, so don't expect too many misses from the foot of Strauss this season.
22. Ducky Donut, RB, Kansas City Coyotes*: As mentioned above, Donut is headed to Tijuana in exchange for Octavius Godspeed; despite the speed advantage the Coyotes are gaining, I think there's a real chance that the Luchadores got the better end of the deal, as Donut has the motor to play every snap. Also of note: Ducky is the brother of number four pick Saba Donut, and their new brand is already gaining good traction in the league, so maybe this will spark better locker room presence from Ducky, who hasn't shown as much of that as GMs desire.
23. Jackson Valadez, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: In hindsight, I feel bad for Valadez; the kid should be thrilled to have gone to the Luchadores here, but his moment was overshadowed by the clamor of the fans for Action Jackson to be drafted. Valadez is no slouch, either; I had him ranked just behind Jackson, at fourth among wide receivers, i.e. in the better half of prospects at the position. Tijuana should look forward to having a solid option in their locker room, especially given the chip on his shoulder after his thirty seconds of fame were lost behind the cries for a player who might be a newfound rival.
24. Action Jackson, WR, Portland Pythons: I am not the first to say it, nor will I be the last, so I will try to be the loudest: THIS IS THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT. Jackson was the third receiver on my draft board, but he slipped all the way to seventh among them in the draft, ahead of only a pair of players who pose serious concerns in regards to their work ethic and locker room presence. Valadez may have a spark to get him started, but Jackson, who figures to be a huge red zone factor for the Pythons, should feel a flame beneath him going into this season.
25. Ronald Watkins, LB, San Antonio Marshals: The Marshals doubled down on linebackers before anybody else could snag a single one, an odd choice given, as I noted earlier in this piece, a distinct feeling of unease among GMs about this season's linebacker prospects. And that's not even the most interesting part of the decision: the Marshals first took the fastest linebacker prospect, then doubled down on play-maker value over a balanced approach, taking the best linebacker hands in the draft in the Watt. Watkins has shown better locker room presence than the other linebackers in the draft, so hopefully with time he and/or Baker will develop into exactly the type of player the Marshals were looking for with these picks.
26. Joe Bobgarter, RB, Kansas City Coyotes: Please repeat after me: fullback lives matter. I had Bobgarter ranked as my top running back, knowing damn well he might go dead last among them, because he is, in my opinion, the must DSFL-ready back in the bunch. Bobgarter figures to be an effective fullback for the Coyotes, a position of undersold importance, especially in a league where running the ball can work wonders. Expect Godspeed to be grateful he's running behind a guy like Bobgarter.
27. Jason Carver, LB, Tijuana Luchadores: I believe this is where GMs started simply searching for signs of life in the players they were drafting; obviously positions of need still mattered, but at this point in the night, nobody was expecting the next hall of famer. Carver, despite not being my top linebacker left available at this point in the draft, was a solid snag for the Luchadores, if he can keep active.
28. Koda Adok, CB, Portland Pythons: Four for four on corners, people. I'll take that as a win. If Adok shows signs of life, so too should the Pythons, as he's a solid corner with a balanced approach to playing the game.
29. Bishop Berrian, CB, San Antonio Marshals: And five for five, a perfect night in the cornerback rankings for yours truly. Unfortunately, this was probably another reach for the Marshals, as Berrian doesn't boast impressive measurables, leaving the Marshal GMs relying on his work ethic to give them a solid corner at this stage in the draft.
30. Michael Locatelli, K, Kansas City Coyotes: The Coyotes were smart not to wait for the last kicker of the draft, but taking Locatelli here is gambling that his work ethic improves to a point they're comfortable with, as Locatelli has the worst leg strength of the class's kicker prospects.
31. Balec Taylor, DT, Tijuana Luchadores: I actually think I had Taylor hovering around fourth among defensive line prospects, and here he is as the fourth defensive lineman off the board; however, he distinctly did not go second among defensive tackle prospects, a sign that teams question his commitment. If he shows he can handle this league, Taylor is the strongest defensive line prospect heading into the league this season, so he figure to be a handful in the trenches.
32. Daniel Glisack, LB, Portland Pythons: Glisack, again, is not the top linebacker I had available at this point in the draft; however, this time, I'm chalking it up as an L for Portland, gambling on the work ethic of a player whose measurables leave a lot to be desired.
33. Bryce Molnar, WR, San Antonio Marshals: I did have Molnar rated above both McMorris and Grimly, but to see him fall to eighth among receivers due to questions about his locker room presence is unsurprising. He is the third fastest receiver in the class, though, so even if his work ethic leaves a lot to be desired, he has the potential to contribute something, and this is far from the worst pick the Marshals could have made at this point.
34. Brennen Biletnikoff, TE, Kansas City Coyotes: In terms of physicality, Biletnikoff currently looks to be the best tight end in the draft class; however, his technique is poor, and his work ethic is lacking as well. Plus, I peg Julian McMorris as a player who could transition to tight end, so this is an odd pick for the Coyotes, to say the least.
35. Joshua Jones, K, Tijuana Luchadores: This was for sure a reach from the Luchadores, the only team that had not yet taken a kicker. Especially with questions about Jones's work ethic, they could have left him for their final pick of the draft, despite the fact that he has the strongest leg of this year's kicker prospects.
36. Daniel Woodenhead, RB, Portland Pythons: The Pythons were wise to wait this long to settle for the class's lowest-ranking running back. Woodenhead has many questions surrounding his commitment, and his measurables are unspectacular, so the Pythons will undoubtedly be looking to their new receiver crop to carry the freight on offense.
37. Albert Garrett, DE, San Antonio Marshals: The least traditional defensive end went first among defensive ends, but the Marshals left him for the second to last round of the draft; this could be an interesting pick, if concerns about Garrett's locker room presence don't rear their ugly head.
38. Nate Oliver, LB, Kansas City Coyotes: Oliver was my top-rated linebacker, but concerns about his commitment caused his draft stock to plummet. If he gets to work soon, the Coyotes may have a great pick here; otherwise, Oliver figures to be a filler option on the depth chart.
39. LilCringer Kendrick, OL, Tijuana Luchadores: Nobody doubted the Luchadores would grab the only offensive line prospect in the draft; whether this is a good pick or not, it is certainly a fun one, and I applaud Dugan for committing to the wall.
40. Michael Brown, DE, Portland Pythons: Brown is the strongest defensive end in the class, so based on that alone, this late-round flier makes sense for the Pythons; beyond that, concerns about Brown's work ethic and lackluster measurables will probably leave Brown warming the bench in Portland.
41. Dallas Decker, DE, San Antonio Marshals: I had Decker as my top defensive end prospect; in fact, I had him as my top defensive line prospect. This is quite the slip from that, but lack of locker room presence and concerns about work ethic left Decker slipping. If, by some miracle, both Garrett and Decker turn themselves around, the trio of Thumper, Garrett, and Decker figures to be an interesting one.
42. Franky LaFleur, QB, Kansas City Coyotes: That LaFleur fell this far in the draft in a league starved for good quarterbacks is telling of how the GMs feel about LaFleur; expect him to be unimpressive if he plays, emphasis on the if.
43. Kyle Grimly, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: I had Grimly last among wide receivers in this class, so to see him slip this far in a loaded receiver class is unsurprising. The Luchadores obviously hope he comes to life at some point, but his commitment suggests it is not meant to be.
44. Michael Doud, TE, Portland Pythons: Mr. Irrelevant, indeed. Doud is unimpressive at his position, and has concerns about locker room presence, work ethic, and commitment. The Pythons drafted a couple of excellent receiving options in this draft; Doud does not figure to be one of them.
Now, without any further ado...we're back again, this time to take a peek at the draft that was, and hopefully offer some thoughtful insight into each pick of the draft, this time starting from the top!
1. Ashley Owens, RB, San Antonio Marshals: I had Owens rated as my number two running back headed into the draft, but not because I expected him to go second among running backs; I absolutely knew this kid had what it took to be one of the first players off the board. I do still feel that Joe Bobgarter is the most DSFL-ready back in the class, but Owens shouldn't read that as a sign of disrespect. Bobgarter is built to be a fullback, a role which Owens would be ill-suited for, because Owens is looking to do more than play blocker and occasionally power the ball up the middle. Quite frankly, I consider Owens to be the most complete halfback in the class; he's got plenty of speed, he's got just enough power, and he's got hands that he can use to his advantage. Expect Owens to be on the field almost every offensive down for the Marshals, and maybe for kick returns, too.
2. Dexter Banks II, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: Oddly enough, I had Banks as my number two wide receiver headed into the draft; there must be something about the underdogs in my articles that catches people's attention. I can tell you exactly what the Coyotes saw in this kid: speed. He is faster than almost every other receiver in the class, and he no doubt intends to be a step ahead of every corner he faces on the field. I still might have leaned towards Max Lovote here, but I can still appreciate the choice by the Coyotes to draft an exciting prospect for the top of their depth chart, again possibly both for offense and special teams.
3. Jordan Andrews, CB, Tijuana Luchadores: Andrews was the top corner on my draft board, so this pick, at face value, appears to have broken my chain of number two guys going early...except, I rated defensive backs as a whole, and Andrews was number two on that list. GMs, I applaud you for spurning my suggestions like this; it shows the lot of you are free thinkers, and I can get behind that. I have no doubts that Andrews is going to be among the most solid, if not the most solid, defensive backs in the draft; he has the speed to go toe-to-toe with just about any wide receiver opposite him, the hands to snag an interception or two, and the tackling ability to bring down anybody who happens to beat him to the ball. Also, although he's less likely to be the return specialist, Andrews may find a place on the special teams unit all the same.
4. Saba Donut, WR, Portland Pythons: Donut, by the numbers, was a mid-tier wide receiver on my draft board, and if that was all I had to look at, this pick would absolutely feel like a reach to me. But, there is much more to Donut than the numbers suggest. This kid has heart, and he'll absolutely be one of the hardest working players both on and off the field, especially after announcing that he and his brother (alongside several other interested parties) will be forming a brand for apparel, accessories, and media (and probably more with time). I have zero doubts this kid is already a favorite in the Python locker room, and paired with Action Jackson, the Pythons will have a difficult offense to gameplan for, especially through the air.
5. Jordan McCann, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: McCann once again ranked around the middle of this wide receiver class on my draft board, and this time, I didn't see quite as much of his body of work, so especially given what they traded for the opportunity to draft him, I think the Luchadores may have reached a bit for McCann. Obviously, the GMs believe that this is a guy who fits into their grand plan though, and although I'm guessing they may have been blinded just a touch by his speed, I'm guessing they did their homework, and they feel McCann will fit into their locker room and into their starting rotation.
6. Tyron Brackenridge, S, Kansas City Coyotes: I had Brackenridge as my number two safety in this class, but choosing between the safeties took quite a bit of hair-splitting on my end, so any safety the Coyotes chose here would have felt like an excellent pick. Brackenridge is easily the hardest hitting of the bunch, so this pick also shows the Coyotes' priorities on the defensive side of the ball for this coming season. Brackenridge isn't going to be pulling down picks as often as anybody else in this class of defensive backs, but he will stop ball carriers dead in their tracks, and he's recently started working on his locker room presence, so this is a great pick for the Coyotes.
7. Takeda Okura, S, San Antonio Marshals: Okura was my lowest rated safety available in this draft, but I am still incredibly stoked that I have the opportunity to play with this guy. He moves faster than any other defensive back in the class, and he can keep his motor going all game, so expect this kid to be making plays all over the field, quite possibly even on special teams for the Marshals. He also seems like an enjoyable character to have in the locker room, even if he's a little bit spotty from time to time.
8. A.C. Payton, S, Portland Pythons: I cannot express enough how much I like this group of safeties; this might be the best position group in the class. It was wise of the Pythons to snatch this kid while they had the chance; if they hadn't, I would have counted on the Luchadores taking the kid at eleven. I had Payton rated as the top safety in the draft; obviously, he fell to number three, but I think he'll take that in stride. This is an opportunity for Payton to prove the doubters wrong, and with his play-making ability, I fundamentally believe Payton can rise to the occasion.
9. Bubba Thumper, DT, San Antonio Marshals: I'll be honest with you: I don't have much to say about this pick. A tear came to my eye when I saw that Bubba was off the board this early, and I hope he can deliver in the DSFL at a level that gets him off the board this early in the NSFL draft when he makes the transition, but I don't want to get too deep into discussing the kid's talent. I'll let him prove himself on the field.
10. Max Lovote, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: I had Lovote as the top available wide receiver on my draft board, so to see him slip to ten was a bit surprising. I'm guessing a lower speed rating scared some teams, and that meant the Coyotes were able to swoop in and snag both of my top two wide receivers, which bodes extremely well for their passing game this season. If I didn't already know who my steal of the draft was, this would be a strong candidate; expect big things from the Banks-Lovote tandem in Kansas City.
11. Honda Edmond, TE, Tijuana Luchadores: So close, yet so far away. I'll be honest with y'all, I'm devastated that I won't be sharing a locker room with Edmond (although thankfully, he did still agree to get my a new signature graphic, and it is absolutely tight). This guy leaves just a little to be desired in terms of his physicality; he's smaller than the other tight ends who were available, and he's neither as strong nor as fast as Biletnikoff. However, what he lacks in physicality, he makes up for with excellent technique; his blocking is leagues ahead of either competitor, and he can catch better, too. I won't say I'm rooting for him to do well in Tijuana while I'm on San Antonio's payroll, but I do expect great things from this guy, and I hope we can share a locker room some day in the future, because he's a great player and a great person to have around.
12. Mervin Leonard, CB, Portland Pythons: This was the number two corner on my draft board, and lo and behold, Leonard was the second corner gone in the draft. Leonard might not seem like a sexy pick, as the only player who didn't graduate high school, but his speed and agility are among the best at his position, so he figures to be a factor no matter who he finds himself facing, especially given the players he'll be working against on the practice field. This was a nice pick for the Pythons, and they figure to be good both in and against the passing game this season.
13. Tyrone Baker, LB, San Antonio Marshals: I'm not going to lie, even for my own team; this pick feels like a reach. I totally understand why the GMs went this way: Baker has speed on par with some of the fastest offensive weapons in the class, and that figures to be a factor in preventing big plays, especially in the running game. However, Baker was dead last on my list of line backers, so unless the GMs saw an element to his locker room presence that I missed, this has to have been a reach, especially given how cool the linebacker class as a whole was received. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
14. Julian McMorris, WR, Kansas City Coyotes: The Coyotes were hungry for wide receivers, and McMorris was the third they selected in their first four picks. If they intend to keep him at wide receiver, this smells strongly of reaching; my guess is that they intend for this kid to make the transition to tight end, because he won't draw much playing time if he has to compete with Banks and Lovote in the wide receiver rotation. He does, however, have decent potential as a receiving tight end, and that figures to be the key to getting him playing time, which should in turn give him opportunity to improve. Who knows; maybe he'll shape up to be a solid wide receiver option by the NSFL draft. Or, maybe he'll embrace the tight end role and move up via that path. Only time will tell.
15. Octavius Godspeed, RB, Tijuana Luchadores*: My understanding is that Godspeed was ultimately traded to the Coyotes, and the Luchadores will be receiving Ducky Donut in return (whether more was agreed upon is unclear). Regardless of where he plays, Godspeed figures to be hot to handle, with speed unmatched by any player in the class. He's not as complete a player as Owens, and honestly, trading him for Donut figures to be an even deal if the two show similar work ethic, but I believe that Godspeed should be able to do ridiculous things in Kansas City. This trade figures to pay dividends for the Coyotes, if the GMs can keep Godspeed focused on improving his game.
16. Kicky Bobby, K, Portland Pythons: I had Kicky Bobby as the number three kicker on my draft board, but my guess is that this pick has less to do with his measurables, and more to do with the fact that a team in need of a kicker (as all teams are in the DSFL) saw a character they liked for their locker room, and drafted him. I actually like the gamble of taking a kicker so early in the draft; having somebody who can make kicks consistently matters in a game where one missed extra point can be the difference between sweet victory and bitter defeat, so this reads as a Roberto Aguayo-esque gamble by the Pythons, and I think it could very well pay off for them better than Aguayo did for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
17. Jim McMahon, QB, San Antonio Marshals: I had McMahon as the better quarterback in the class, and he has certainly appeared to be the better locker room guy, which is why the Marshals jumped at this opportunity. It feels like they may have done so just a hair early, but given what he brings to the table, they should be glad to have a promising young prospect at a critical position. I am confident that McMahon will give the Marshal GMs reason to breathe easy the moment he takes the field.
18. Brayden Ennis, DT, Kansas City Coyotes: If you're reading this, @[Buttersqauch], thank you for being a good sport. Ennis going at eighteen absolutely obliterated my defensive line ratings, and they don't get better from here. This is largely due to the fact that most defensive line prospects aren't particularly good locker room guys this season, and Ennis, despite ratings that didn't strike me as favorable at a glance, is a great locker room guy. He fell in the draft due to GM concerns about his work ethic, but those proved to be a fluke, as he's now back and better than ever after a quiet offseason. Best of luck to this guy in Kansas City.
19. Willie Woodson, CB, San Antonio Marshals: Apparently, unlike my defensive linemen, I had my corners pegged for exactly what they are. Woodson was third on my draft board for corners, and to my great surprise, he went third among corners on draft day (this, as you know by now, is a common trend for corners on my draft board). Woodson isn't an exceptional player in any respect, except that he'll be on the field for just about every defensive snap. That alone is reason to believe we'll see improvement from Woodson, assuming his work ethic matches his motor.
20. Shane Masters, DT, Portland Pythons: Masters was my top rated defensive tackle, second among defensive linemen; he found himself falling closer to the second mark than the first, as third of both off the board. Masters, like both Thumper and Ennis, is no slouch in the locker room, so this projects to be a solid pick for the Pythons, who waited until this late in the draft to shore up their run defense. Masters may struggle as the top guy on the defensive line, but I believe with time he'll find his stride, and compete with Ennis and Thumper to be a top defensive lineman in the DSFL this season.
21. Landebert Strauss, K, San Antonio Marshals: The Marshals didn't wait long after seeing Bobby fall to the Pythons to snag themselves a new leg, and I'm personally of the opinion that although he lacks the same character as Bobby, Strauss is the best kicker in the draft, so this feels like a good gamble for the Marshals. Strauss's balanced approach to kicking means that the Marshals should feel comfortable with his ability to kick both accurately and from decent range, so don't expect too many misses from the foot of Strauss this season.
22. Ducky Donut, RB, Kansas City Coyotes*: As mentioned above, Donut is headed to Tijuana in exchange for Octavius Godspeed; despite the speed advantage the Coyotes are gaining, I think there's a real chance that the Luchadores got the better end of the deal, as Donut has the motor to play every snap. Also of note: Ducky is the brother of number four pick Saba Donut, and their new brand is already gaining good traction in the league, so maybe this will spark better locker room presence from Ducky, who hasn't shown as much of that as GMs desire.
23. Jackson Valadez, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: In hindsight, I feel bad for Valadez; the kid should be thrilled to have gone to the Luchadores here, but his moment was overshadowed by the clamor of the fans for Action Jackson to be drafted. Valadez is no slouch, either; I had him ranked just behind Jackson, at fourth among wide receivers, i.e. in the better half of prospects at the position. Tijuana should look forward to having a solid option in their locker room, especially given the chip on his shoulder after his thirty seconds of fame were lost behind the cries for a player who might be a newfound rival.
24. Action Jackson, WR, Portland Pythons: I am not the first to say it, nor will I be the last, so I will try to be the loudest: THIS IS THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT. Jackson was the third receiver on my draft board, but he slipped all the way to seventh among them in the draft, ahead of only a pair of players who pose serious concerns in regards to their work ethic and locker room presence. Valadez may have a spark to get him started, but Jackson, who figures to be a huge red zone factor for the Pythons, should feel a flame beneath him going into this season.
25. Ronald Watkins, LB, San Antonio Marshals: The Marshals doubled down on linebackers before anybody else could snag a single one, an odd choice given, as I noted earlier in this piece, a distinct feeling of unease among GMs about this season's linebacker prospects. And that's not even the most interesting part of the decision: the Marshals first took the fastest linebacker prospect, then doubled down on play-maker value over a balanced approach, taking the best linebacker hands in the draft in the Watt. Watkins has shown better locker room presence than the other linebackers in the draft, so hopefully with time he and/or Baker will develop into exactly the type of player the Marshals were looking for with these picks.
26. Joe Bobgarter, RB, Kansas City Coyotes: Please repeat after me: fullback lives matter. I had Bobgarter ranked as my top running back, knowing damn well he might go dead last among them, because he is, in my opinion, the must DSFL-ready back in the bunch. Bobgarter figures to be an effective fullback for the Coyotes, a position of undersold importance, especially in a league where running the ball can work wonders. Expect Godspeed to be grateful he's running behind a guy like Bobgarter.
27. Jason Carver, LB, Tijuana Luchadores: I believe this is where GMs started simply searching for signs of life in the players they were drafting; obviously positions of need still mattered, but at this point in the night, nobody was expecting the next hall of famer. Carver, despite not being my top linebacker left available at this point in the draft, was a solid snag for the Luchadores, if he can keep active.
28. Koda Adok, CB, Portland Pythons: Four for four on corners, people. I'll take that as a win. If Adok shows signs of life, so too should the Pythons, as he's a solid corner with a balanced approach to playing the game.
29. Bishop Berrian, CB, San Antonio Marshals: And five for five, a perfect night in the cornerback rankings for yours truly. Unfortunately, this was probably another reach for the Marshals, as Berrian doesn't boast impressive measurables, leaving the Marshal GMs relying on his work ethic to give them a solid corner at this stage in the draft.
30. Michael Locatelli, K, Kansas City Coyotes: The Coyotes were smart not to wait for the last kicker of the draft, but taking Locatelli here is gambling that his work ethic improves to a point they're comfortable with, as Locatelli has the worst leg strength of the class's kicker prospects.
31. Balec Taylor, DT, Tijuana Luchadores: I actually think I had Taylor hovering around fourth among defensive line prospects, and here he is as the fourth defensive lineman off the board; however, he distinctly did not go second among defensive tackle prospects, a sign that teams question his commitment. If he shows he can handle this league, Taylor is the strongest defensive line prospect heading into the league this season, so he figure to be a handful in the trenches.
32. Daniel Glisack, LB, Portland Pythons: Glisack, again, is not the top linebacker I had available at this point in the draft; however, this time, I'm chalking it up as an L for Portland, gambling on the work ethic of a player whose measurables leave a lot to be desired.
33. Bryce Molnar, WR, San Antonio Marshals: I did have Molnar rated above both McMorris and Grimly, but to see him fall to eighth among receivers due to questions about his locker room presence is unsurprising. He is the third fastest receiver in the class, though, so even if his work ethic leaves a lot to be desired, he has the potential to contribute something, and this is far from the worst pick the Marshals could have made at this point.
34. Brennen Biletnikoff, TE, Kansas City Coyotes: In terms of physicality, Biletnikoff currently looks to be the best tight end in the draft class; however, his technique is poor, and his work ethic is lacking as well. Plus, I peg Julian McMorris as a player who could transition to tight end, so this is an odd pick for the Coyotes, to say the least.
35. Joshua Jones, K, Tijuana Luchadores: This was for sure a reach from the Luchadores, the only team that had not yet taken a kicker. Especially with questions about Jones's work ethic, they could have left him for their final pick of the draft, despite the fact that he has the strongest leg of this year's kicker prospects.
36. Daniel Woodenhead, RB, Portland Pythons: The Pythons were wise to wait this long to settle for the class's lowest-ranking running back. Woodenhead has many questions surrounding his commitment, and his measurables are unspectacular, so the Pythons will undoubtedly be looking to their new receiver crop to carry the freight on offense.
37. Albert Garrett, DE, San Antonio Marshals: The least traditional defensive end went first among defensive ends, but the Marshals left him for the second to last round of the draft; this could be an interesting pick, if concerns about Garrett's locker room presence don't rear their ugly head.
38. Nate Oliver, LB, Kansas City Coyotes: Oliver was my top-rated linebacker, but concerns about his commitment caused his draft stock to plummet. If he gets to work soon, the Coyotes may have a great pick here; otherwise, Oliver figures to be a filler option on the depth chart.
39. LilCringer Kendrick, OL, Tijuana Luchadores: Nobody doubted the Luchadores would grab the only offensive line prospect in the draft; whether this is a good pick or not, it is certainly a fun one, and I applaud Dugan for committing to the wall.
40. Michael Brown, DE, Portland Pythons: Brown is the strongest defensive end in the class, so based on that alone, this late-round flier makes sense for the Pythons; beyond that, concerns about Brown's work ethic and lackluster measurables will probably leave Brown warming the bench in Portland.
41. Dallas Decker, DE, San Antonio Marshals: I had Decker as my top defensive end prospect; in fact, I had him as my top defensive line prospect. This is quite the slip from that, but lack of locker room presence and concerns about work ethic left Decker slipping. If, by some miracle, both Garrett and Decker turn themselves around, the trio of Thumper, Garrett, and Decker figures to be an interesting one.
42. Franky LaFleur, QB, Kansas City Coyotes: That LaFleur fell this far in the draft in a league starved for good quarterbacks is telling of how the GMs feel about LaFleur; expect him to be unimpressive if he plays, emphasis on the if.
43. Kyle Grimly, WR, Tijuana Luchadores: I had Grimly last among wide receivers in this class, so to see him slip this far in a loaded receiver class is unsurprising. The Luchadores obviously hope he comes to life at some point, but his commitment suggests it is not meant to be.
44. Michael Doud, TE, Portland Pythons: Mr. Irrelevant, indeed. Doud is unimpressive at his position, and has concerns about locker room presence, work ethic, and commitment. The Pythons drafted a couple of excellent receiving options in this draft; Doud does not figure to be one of them.