#1 - || Ricky Ramero - LB - 260 TPE
The Yeti open off with the #1 overall pick in the draft. Their offense is pretty well set for the future, so I think they will look to address the defense with this pick. There are multiple directions they can go here as they have openings on the defensive line, the linebacker unit, and the secondary. However, I think they simply choose to take the best player available and select Ricky Ramero. Ramero is the highest TPE player in the draft regardless of position and will find a nice fit on the Yeti defense as he joins Johnathan Saint and Haruki Ishigawa to form a great linebacker corps and gives the Yeti a young defensive centerpiece who will be able to grow into one of the future leaders of their defense. The Yeti are putting together a strong core for the future and will able to add another future stud with this pick.
#2 - || William Harrison - S - 207 TPE
The Second Line will have the second pick in the draft as they hope to add a difference maker to their up and coming squad in hopes of making a playoff push next season. The Second Line are putting together a strong roster now and will have the chance to supplement it nicely with this high pick. A hole in their defense recently opened up with the trade of Jaylon Broxton to Orange County with his agent becoming their new GM. This leaves an opening at safety which fits nicely with one of the top prospects in this draft, William Harrison, projecting as a future elite safety. Harrison will complete the New Orleans secondary and provide them with a player who can both help them out immediately and become an important part of the future of their defense.
#3 - || Brad Pennington - QB - 233 TPE
The SaberCats have an important pick to make here as they appear to be starting a rebuild now and will look for a player to build the next generation of their team around. The SaberCats have a need at the most important position with Chris Orosz retiring as they now no longer have a starter at quarterback for next season. Luckily, Brad Pennington will likely be available at this pick. Pennington will be able to start right away for the Sabercats. He will likely see some growing pains starting as a true rookie but in a few years will be able to develop into a franchise quarterback and should be reaching his prime around the time the SaberCats finish their rebuild and have talent to surround him with. The SaberCats get their rebuild started off on the right foot as they find their quarterback of the future and the future leader to build their offense around.
#4 - || Chad Pennington - LB - 223 TPE
The Hawks will look for a difference maker to help get them back to the playoffs after missing out two seasons in a row. They elect to take the second Pennington off the board by selecting Chad Pennington. Pennington is a top linebacker prospect who will be able to make a nice impact on the Hawks' defense. He'll add another skilled player to an already strong defense and will also give the Hawks a nice player to build around for the future. The Hawks are able to take the highest TPE player off the board here and get somebody who should be a nice fit to the team as well both for now and as a future building block.
#5 - || Childish Gambino - DE - 166 TPE
With Childish Gambino still on the board at this pick, the Wraiths are happy to add him to their defense. Defensive end is becoming a premium position with the scarcity of defensive linemen in the NSFL. With Jayce Tuck and Ricky Maddox both entering regression this season, the Wraiths need to add youth to their defensive line so being able to add a top defensive line prospect in Gambino is a great pick for them. He could potentially see some playing time for the Wraiths this season depending on what scheme they run or could have an extra season to develop in the DSFL but either way would be a great building block for the future Wraiths' defense.
#6 - || Viggo Squanch - WR - 178 TPE
With their second pick in the first round, the SaberCats look to add another key building block for the future. After selecting their quarterback of the future with the #3 pick, they look to give Pennington a weapon to throw to by selecting Squanch here. They take the only receiver in this draft class and obtain a young weapon to grow alongside Pennington and set their passing attack up for the future. There is some uncertainty with this pairing as Squanch has stated that the SaberCats did not contact him prior to the draft but I don't think they pass on the opportunity to pair a young receiver with their newly drafted quarterback so they will draft Squanch and find a way to make it work to set up a dynamic offense for the future.
#7 - || Ben Horne - LB - 142 TPE
The Second Line also have a second pick in the first round and they elect to use this pick to select linebacker Ben Horne. This doesn't fit a particular need, but Horne looks to be the best player on the board at this selection. The Second Line's linebacker group is a bit crowded right now but adding a fourth linebacker gives them the option to run a 3-4 and allows them to look towards the future. Sharpei will begin regressing next season and O'Sullivan will begin regressing the season afterward, so it will be helpful for the Second Line to start adding some youth at linebacker now so that they will have somebody already ready to step up as the others age. Horne should develop into a great player and will be a good piece on the Second Line defense going forward though he may need a little time in the DSFL before he is ready to make an impact at the NSFL level.
#8 - || Brock Weathers III - LB - 139 TPE
The Liberty make the final selection of the first round and opt to bring in Brock Weathers III. Adding Weathers may not help the Liberty in their immediate ambitions to repeat as champions, but he will be an important addition to the future of their defense. Their linebackers are starting to get old with Jaylon Lee regressing this season and with Perry Tucker and Micah Hendrix starting to regress next season. Drafting Brock Weathers III gives the Liberty a young linebacker that they can start to develop now who will make the transition easier as their other linebackers get old. He will likely spend his first season in the DSFL, but within a season or two, he will be ready to be an impact player on the Liberty and will be one of their key defensive players going forward in the future.
The Yeti open off with the #1 overall pick in the draft. Their offense is pretty well set for the future, so I think they will look to address the defense with this pick. There are multiple directions they can go here as they have openings on the defensive line, the linebacker unit, and the secondary. However, I think they simply choose to take the best player available and select Ricky Ramero. Ramero is the highest TPE player in the draft regardless of position and will find a nice fit on the Yeti defense as he joins Johnathan Saint and Haruki Ishigawa to form a great linebacker corps and gives the Yeti a young defensive centerpiece who will be able to grow into one of the future leaders of their defense. The Yeti are putting together a strong core for the future and will able to add another future stud with this pick.
#2 - || William Harrison - S - 207 TPE
The Second Line will have the second pick in the draft as they hope to add a difference maker to their up and coming squad in hopes of making a playoff push next season. The Second Line are putting together a strong roster now and will have the chance to supplement it nicely with this high pick. A hole in their defense recently opened up with the trade of Jaylon Broxton to Orange County with his agent becoming their new GM. This leaves an opening at safety which fits nicely with one of the top prospects in this draft, William Harrison, projecting as a future elite safety. Harrison will complete the New Orleans secondary and provide them with a player who can both help them out immediately and become an important part of the future of their defense.
#3 - || Brad Pennington - QB - 233 TPE
The SaberCats have an important pick to make here as they appear to be starting a rebuild now and will look for a player to build the next generation of their team around. The SaberCats have a need at the most important position with Chris Orosz retiring as they now no longer have a starter at quarterback for next season. Luckily, Brad Pennington will likely be available at this pick. Pennington will be able to start right away for the Sabercats. He will likely see some growing pains starting as a true rookie but in a few years will be able to develop into a franchise quarterback and should be reaching his prime around the time the SaberCats finish their rebuild and have talent to surround him with. The SaberCats get their rebuild started off on the right foot as they find their quarterback of the future and the future leader to build their offense around.
#4 - || Chad Pennington - LB - 223 TPE
The Hawks will look for a difference maker to help get them back to the playoffs after missing out two seasons in a row. They elect to take the second Pennington off the board by selecting Chad Pennington. Pennington is a top linebacker prospect who will be able to make a nice impact on the Hawks' defense. He'll add another skilled player to an already strong defense and will also give the Hawks a nice player to build around for the future. The Hawks are able to take the highest TPE player off the board here and get somebody who should be a nice fit to the team as well both for now and as a future building block.
#5 - || Childish Gambino - DE - 166 TPE
With Childish Gambino still on the board at this pick, the Wraiths are happy to add him to their defense. Defensive end is becoming a premium position with the scarcity of defensive linemen in the NSFL. With Jayce Tuck and Ricky Maddox both entering regression this season, the Wraiths need to add youth to their defensive line so being able to add a top defensive line prospect in Gambino is a great pick for them. He could potentially see some playing time for the Wraiths this season depending on what scheme they run or could have an extra season to develop in the DSFL but either way would be a great building block for the future Wraiths' defense.
#6 - || Viggo Squanch - WR - 178 TPE
With their second pick in the first round, the SaberCats look to add another key building block for the future. After selecting their quarterback of the future with the #3 pick, they look to give Pennington a weapon to throw to by selecting Squanch here. They take the only receiver in this draft class and obtain a young weapon to grow alongside Pennington and set their passing attack up for the future. There is some uncertainty with this pairing as Squanch has stated that the SaberCats did not contact him prior to the draft but I don't think they pass on the opportunity to pair a young receiver with their newly drafted quarterback so they will draft Squanch and find a way to make it work to set up a dynamic offense for the future.
#7 - || Ben Horne - LB - 142 TPE
The Second Line also have a second pick in the first round and they elect to use this pick to select linebacker Ben Horne. This doesn't fit a particular need, but Horne looks to be the best player on the board at this selection. The Second Line's linebacker group is a bit crowded right now but adding a fourth linebacker gives them the option to run a 3-4 and allows them to look towards the future. Sharpei will begin regressing next season and O'Sullivan will begin regressing the season afterward, so it will be helpful for the Second Line to start adding some youth at linebacker now so that they will have somebody already ready to step up as the others age. Horne should develop into a great player and will be a good piece on the Second Line defense going forward though he may need a little time in the DSFL before he is ready to make an impact at the NSFL level.
#8 - || Brock Weathers III - LB - 139 TPE
The Liberty make the final selection of the first round and opt to bring in Brock Weathers III. Adding Weathers may not help the Liberty in their immediate ambitions to repeat as champions, but he will be an important addition to the future of their defense. Their linebackers are starting to get old with Jaylon Lee regressing this season and with Perry Tucker and Micah Hendrix starting to regress next season. Drafting Brock Weathers III gives the Liberty a young linebacker that they can start to develop now who will make the transition easier as their other linebackers get old. He will likely spend his first season in the DSFL, but within a season or two, he will be ready to be an impact player on the Liberty and will be one of their key defensive players going forward in the future.