When last we left our league it was catching it's breath after a rapidfire round 1 that saw swarms of great defenders being unleashed across the league.
(Cue article 12 hours from now: Last time we check in the NSFL was taking a breather after a round where a lot of great defenders had been unleashed on the world.)
Just like an 800 square mile area with less than 80,000 people in it being able to support a professional sports franchise, expecting the NSFL draft to pause for long is just not realistic. So onward we go to round 2.
YELLOWKNIFE WRAITH
FRANCOIS LAMEROUX
OL
As it turns out, this didn't work out for the Wraith. It made sense, it addressed a need, and it looked like a slam dunk. Unfortunately there was a red card on the play and the puck had to be dropped deep behind their own blue line. Francois was Franc-gone by the end of the season. What should have been a big win by every metric turned out not to be. Even before retiring, it was strongly stated by numerous people that Lameroux was a locker room problem. This was so bad in terms of luck that I'm going to be nice to the Wraith for the rest of this draft series.
BALTIMORE HAWKS
TREY WILLIE
WR
The team needed an offensive playmaker badly. They got one. Willie finished the season in the top 10 in both catches and yards, top 3 in yards per catch, and 1st in yards per kick return (among qualified players). This is kind of pick where you can drop a mic afterwards and no one can question you on it. Three Dicks (as no one calls him) is going to be a superstar in this league.
PHILADELPHIA LIBERTY
CLIFFORD ROVE
QB
A solid pick at a position of need. Rove led the Liberty offense competently, which is the most that a rational person can really hope for from a rookie. Obviously that exempts anyone from Philly, the dumpster fire of America. There is absolutely no reason why Rove should do anything other than improve on a solid rookie season. Nothing bad to say about this pick whatsoever.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
VASH ERIKSON
FS
Erikson never played a down for Arizona so it's difficult to judge the value of this pick. He was moved to Colorado in a trade that saw he and Mayran Jackson go to Colorado for Phillippe Carter, Big Bot, and a season 4 2nd round pick. Erikson is the only one of the four to still be on his team, after a rookie season where he finished top 20 in PDs. Arizona didn't win this but Colorado might have a bit.
YELLOWKNIFE WRAITH
EIDUR GUSTAVSSON
DT
Not a terrible pick, given his 8 sacks and knack for getting behind the line of scrimmage (according to his 2 safeties and a top 15 finish in tackles for loss). If he comes back in his second season and repeats that kind of performance, it will be difficult to fault the Wraith for a safe, solid pick. Strong teams are built on safe and solid.
ORANGE COUNTY OTTERS
EHRLICH BURNSMAN
RB
A candidate for rookie of the year. Someone who came in and replaced a star in Leroy Jenkins. Someone who finished with the most rushing touchdowns in the league. I mean....what more really needs to be said. He came in and delivered on exactly what they hoped for and more. This is another one of those underrated Otter rookie situations where they absolutely nailed the pick and they have a possible megastar going forward.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
CHARLIE LAW
TE
Prior to the draft he was extremely lightly regarded. Finished the year top 15 in catches and top 10 in touchdowns for the league. 3rd highest number of Pancake blocks among non o-linemen. Led the TE position in touchdowns. Caught more passes than the other 3 rookie tight ends combined. Has a ring. Currently a unanimous Pro Bowl selection. Sometimes drunkenly writes articles the occasional person thinks are funny. The Outlaws seem okay with this pick.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
ARCHETYPE SCHMARCHETYPE
OL
The offensive line was a position of need. He filled it fairly well and only gave up 2 sacks his rookie year. Seems to have fallen off a bit at this point, though. That could drop the long term value of this pick. Call it a conditional win that can turn into a loss quickly.
So who won the 2nd round? Hard to say. Baltimore, Orange County, and Arizona can all be argued due to the offensive contributions of their selections. Philly could pull ahead in the long term as Rove develops. I leave it up to you to decide.
GRADED
(Cue article 12 hours from now: Last time we check in the NSFL was taking a breather after a round where a lot of great defenders had been unleashed on the world.)
Just like an 800 square mile area with less than 80,000 people in it being able to support a professional sports franchise, expecting the NSFL draft to pause for long is just not realistic. So onward we go to round 2.
YELLOWKNIFE WRAITH
FRANCOIS LAMEROUX
OL
As it turns out, this didn't work out for the Wraith. It made sense, it addressed a need, and it looked like a slam dunk. Unfortunately there was a red card on the play and the puck had to be dropped deep behind their own blue line. Francois was Franc-gone by the end of the season. What should have been a big win by every metric turned out not to be. Even before retiring, it was strongly stated by numerous people that Lameroux was a locker room problem. This was so bad in terms of luck that I'm going to be nice to the Wraith for the rest of this draft series.
BALTIMORE HAWKS
TREY WILLIE
WR
The team needed an offensive playmaker badly. They got one. Willie finished the season in the top 10 in both catches and yards, top 3 in yards per catch, and 1st in yards per kick return (among qualified players). This is kind of pick where you can drop a mic afterwards and no one can question you on it. Three Dicks (as no one calls him) is going to be a superstar in this league.
PHILADELPHIA LIBERTY
CLIFFORD ROVE
QB
A solid pick at a position of need. Rove led the Liberty offense competently, which is the most that a rational person can really hope for from a rookie. Obviously that exempts anyone from Philly, the dumpster fire of America. There is absolutely no reason why Rove should do anything other than improve on a solid rookie season. Nothing bad to say about this pick whatsoever.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
VASH ERIKSON
FS
Erikson never played a down for Arizona so it's difficult to judge the value of this pick. He was moved to Colorado in a trade that saw he and Mayran Jackson go to Colorado for Phillippe Carter, Big Bot, and a season 4 2nd round pick. Erikson is the only one of the four to still be on his team, after a rookie season where he finished top 20 in PDs. Arizona didn't win this but Colorado might have a bit.
YELLOWKNIFE WRAITH
EIDUR GUSTAVSSON
DT
Not a terrible pick, given his 8 sacks and knack for getting behind the line of scrimmage (according to his 2 safeties and a top 15 finish in tackles for loss). If he comes back in his second season and repeats that kind of performance, it will be difficult to fault the Wraith for a safe, solid pick. Strong teams are built on safe and solid.
ORANGE COUNTY OTTERS
EHRLICH BURNSMAN
RB
A candidate for rookie of the year. Someone who came in and replaced a star in Leroy Jenkins. Someone who finished with the most rushing touchdowns in the league. I mean....what more really needs to be said. He came in and delivered on exactly what they hoped for and more. This is another one of those underrated Otter rookie situations where they absolutely nailed the pick and they have a possible megastar going forward.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
CHARLIE LAW
TE
Prior to the draft he was extremely lightly regarded. Finished the year top 15 in catches and top 10 in touchdowns for the league. 3rd highest number of Pancake blocks among non o-linemen. Led the TE position in touchdowns. Caught more passes than the other 3 rookie tight ends combined. Has a ring. Currently a unanimous Pro Bowl selection. Sometimes drunkenly writes articles the occasional person thinks are funny. The Outlaws seem okay with this pick.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS
ARCHETYPE SCHMARCHETYPE
OL
The offensive line was a position of need. He filled it fairly well and only gave up 2 sacks his rookie year. Seems to have fallen off a bit at this point, though. That could drop the long term value of this pick. Call it a conditional win that can turn into a loss quickly.
So who won the 2nd round? Hard to say. Baltimore, Orange County, and Arizona can all be argued due to the offensive contributions of their selections. Philly could pull ahead in the long term as Rove develops. I leave it up to you to decide.
Code:
804 words
GRADED