02-29-2020, 04:28 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-03-2020, 10:22 AM by Fordhammer.)
After weeks of anticipation, scouting and evaluations the season 21 NSFL draft has finally wrapped up. With some surprises and some not so much, below is my instant analysis and grades for every Round 1 pick.
Round 1 Pick 1 - Orange County Otters
Prince Vegeta - Safety - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
No big surprise with the first overall pick the Otters go ahead and select Prince Vegeta. This has been the most popular pick for the first overall selection since the Otters traded up with the Chicago Butchers because of his connection with cornerback Kacey Dream who was his teammate and GM in the DSFL. The Otters did not have an immediate need at defensive back and could have used a defensive lineman instead but instead went for the best player available. Prince Vegata was the class leader in TPE earned with 259 and is coming off a record breaking season in Myrtle Beach. In the DSFL this past season Vegeta racked up 129 tackles, the most by a defensive back in DSFL history, along with 3 interceptions, 7 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble.
Grade: B+
Round 1 Pick 2 - San Jose Sabercats
Otis Allen - Defensive Tackle - Portland Pythons
Otis Allen was a bit of a surprising pick to go 2nd overall to the Sabercat, although he is deserving of the spot. Allen an active player gaining 230 TPE was the best defensive tackle of the class. The surprise is more so that the Sabercats already have a couple of good defensive tackles under roster in Freezer Riposte (957 TPE) and Brayden Ennis (682 TPE). Allen is coming off a DSFL season with 33 tackles, 12 for a loss, 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble and could be a candidate to be sent back down to DSFL with the DTs in front of him in SJS.
Grade: B
Round 1 Pick 3 - Philadelphia Liberty
Juniped Catfish - Running Back - Norfolk Seawolves
Wow did this pick come out of nowhere...I’m not sure there was a single mock draft in the pre-draft process that saw this one coming. The Liberty selected Juniped Catfish, the fourth ranked running back by TPE with 179 heading into the draft. Catfish rushed for 1,094 yards on 226 carries with 9 TDs last season for Norfolk, but the more important role was behind the scenes. Juniped quickly rose up the ranks for the Seawolves from a mere rookie, to team captain and now the Co-General Manager of the team. It's these characteristics that are why Catfish could turn out to be a gem instead of a reach as many may see the pick right now. However because of the players available over him and the Liberty not needing a RB especially this high I can’t grade this pick too highly yet.
Grade: C+
Round 1 Pick 4 - San Jose Sabercats
HeHateMe PickSix - Cornerback - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
With their second selection of the first round the Sabercats do address their need at defensive back taking the top corner of the draft HeHateMe PickSix who earned 211 TPE. PickSix was a force to be reckoned with shutting down opposing wide receivers last season with 5 interceptions, 35 tackles, 19 pass deflections. While his loud personality might have scared some teams away can’t be PickSix’s play on the field can’t be ignored.
Grade: A
Round 1 Pick 5 - Baltimore Hawks
Chris Kross - Wide Receiver - Kansas City Coyotes
The Hawks didn’t go for a bigger need with this pick but instead are looking at the future when selecting Kross with the 5th overall pick. The Hawks have a good passing game built around Havran, Maddox and Landers for the time being. However as Maddox gets older and regresses Kross can have an opportunity to step in. Kross was the class best wide receiver with 226 TPE and had a solid DSFL season with 43 receptions for 622 yards and 2 touchdowns. A good fit for the Baltimore Hawks.
Grade: B+
Round 1 Pick 6 - Chicago Butchers
Osiris Firestorm-Fjord - Tight End - Portland Pythons
Butchers go for the best tight end by TPE in Osiris Firestorm-Fjord with their pick after trading down with the Otters. Tight End was definitely the Butcher’s weakest link offensively last season and Firestorm-Fjord will be looking to plug that up. He earned 226 TPE last season while accruing 38 receptions for 258 yards and a touchdown. The stats definitely seem lower than ideal for his TPE but Portland’s offense had a hard time getting anything going last season so he should look to be a better player in the NSFL.
Grade: A
Round 1 Pick 7 - Colorado Yeti
Immanuel Blackstone - Defensive End - Tijuana Luchadores
The fall for Blackstone finally ends at pick 7. A player many people had mocked to go first overall in the draft due to the Otters need on the defensive trenches. The Yeti fill a spot on the edge opposite Steco Ocewilder (468 TPE) with the best defensive lineman of the class. Blackstone earned 241 TPE in a season where he had a monster season. Blackstone had 71 tackles, 22 for a loss and 9 sacks for Tijuana last season capped off with a DLOTY trophy. The Yeti are getting a huge steal here at pick 7.
Grade: A+
Round 1 Pick 8 - New Orleans Second Line
Dorfus Jimbo Jr - Defensive End - Norfolk Seawolves
First off let start with #ScorpSux. Now that we got that outta the way I gotta say this was the most surprising pick of the first round. Jimbo Jr is the 5th ranked defensive end by TPE in the class. He has missed out one some TPE due to late point tasks or not meeting word requirements. While this union is no surprise because of his connection to the Second Line GM especially with NO needing someone across from Ben Tu'inukuafe (453 TPE), the selection cae much earlier than anticipated. Jimbo Jr had only 146 TPE last year getting 32 tackles, 15 for a loss with 6 sacks for Norfolk. While like Juniped Jimbo is a Co-GM of Norfolk, I still believe this to be the biggest reach in the draft.
Grade: C-
Round 1 Pick 9 - Yellowknife Wraiths
Douglas Quaid - Linebacker - Kansas City Coyotes
Douglas Quaid was a solid pick by the Wraiths here with the ninth pick of the draft. I expected Quaid to possibly go higher to another team in need of a linebacker. Quaid was the draft class’ top linebacker by TPE with 210 and had a great season for the Coyotes in the DSFL. Quaid racked up 144 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and an interception showing lots of versatility. He joins a great linebacker group in YKW with Maurice Virtanen (738 TPE) and Alex Selich - LB (782 TPE).
Grade: B
Round 1 Pick 10 - Austin Copperheads
Riles McTackle - Defensive Tackle - Kansas City Coyotes
Austin had a big need at defensive tackle and gets their guy here with the last selection of the first round getting Riles McTackle. McTackle was the 4th best defensive tackle in the class by TPE with 184. The copperheads choosing McTackle in this loaded DT group is a bit of a risk football wise but clearly they believe he is a good fit for their team and locker room. McGiles had 23 tackles with 7 sacks and 1 forced fumble last season for the Coyotes and will look to improve upon those in the NSFL with the defending champs.
Grade: B-
Round 1 Pick 1 - Orange County Otters
Prince Vegeta - Safety - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
No big surprise with the first overall pick the Otters go ahead and select Prince Vegeta. This has been the most popular pick for the first overall selection since the Otters traded up with the Chicago Butchers because of his connection with cornerback Kacey Dream who was his teammate and GM in the DSFL. The Otters did not have an immediate need at defensive back and could have used a defensive lineman instead but instead went for the best player available. Prince Vegata was the class leader in TPE earned with 259 and is coming off a record breaking season in Myrtle Beach. In the DSFL this past season Vegeta racked up 129 tackles, the most by a defensive back in DSFL history, along with 3 interceptions, 7 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble.
Grade: B+
Round 1 Pick 2 - San Jose Sabercats
Otis Allen - Defensive Tackle - Portland Pythons
Otis Allen was a bit of a surprising pick to go 2nd overall to the Sabercat, although he is deserving of the spot. Allen an active player gaining 230 TPE was the best defensive tackle of the class. The surprise is more so that the Sabercats already have a couple of good defensive tackles under roster in Freezer Riposte (957 TPE) and Brayden Ennis (682 TPE). Allen is coming off a DSFL season with 33 tackles, 12 for a loss, 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble and could be a candidate to be sent back down to DSFL with the DTs in front of him in SJS.
Grade: B
Round 1 Pick 3 - Philadelphia Liberty
Juniped Catfish - Running Back - Norfolk Seawolves
Wow did this pick come out of nowhere...I’m not sure there was a single mock draft in the pre-draft process that saw this one coming. The Liberty selected Juniped Catfish, the fourth ranked running back by TPE with 179 heading into the draft. Catfish rushed for 1,094 yards on 226 carries with 9 TDs last season for Norfolk, but the more important role was behind the scenes. Juniped quickly rose up the ranks for the Seawolves from a mere rookie, to team captain and now the Co-General Manager of the team. It's these characteristics that are why Catfish could turn out to be a gem instead of a reach as many may see the pick right now. However because of the players available over him and the Liberty not needing a RB especially this high I can’t grade this pick too highly yet.
Grade: C+
Round 1 Pick 4 - San Jose Sabercats
HeHateMe PickSix - Cornerback - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
With their second selection of the first round the Sabercats do address their need at defensive back taking the top corner of the draft HeHateMe PickSix who earned 211 TPE. PickSix was a force to be reckoned with shutting down opposing wide receivers last season with 5 interceptions, 35 tackles, 19 pass deflections. While his loud personality might have scared some teams away can’t be PickSix’s play on the field can’t be ignored.
Grade: A
Round 1 Pick 5 - Baltimore Hawks
Chris Kross - Wide Receiver - Kansas City Coyotes
The Hawks didn’t go for a bigger need with this pick but instead are looking at the future when selecting Kross with the 5th overall pick. The Hawks have a good passing game built around Havran, Maddox and Landers for the time being. However as Maddox gets older and regresses Kross can have an opportunity to step in. Kross was the class best wide receiver with 226 TPE and had a solid DSFL season with 43 receptions for 622 yards and 2 touchdowns. A good fit for the Baltimore Hawks.
Grade: B+
Round 1 Pick 6 - Chicago Butchers
Osiris Firestorm-Fjord - Tight End - Portland Pythons
Butchers go for the best tight end by TPE in Osiris Firestorm-Fjord with their pick after trading down with the Otters. Tight End was definitely the Butcher’s weakest link offensively last season and Firestorm-Fjord will be looking to plug that up. He earned 226 TPE last season while accruing 38 receptions for 258 yards and a touchdown. The stats definitely seem lower than ideal for his TPE but Portland’s offense had a hard time getting anything going last season so he should look to be a better player in the NSFL.
Grade: A
Round 1 Pick 7 - Colorado Yeti
Immanuel Blackstone - Defensive End - Tijuana Luchadores
The fall for Blackstone finally ends at pick 7. A player many people had mocked to go first overall in the draft due to the Otters need on the defensive trenches. The Yeti fill a spot on the edge opposite Steco Ocewilder (468 TPE) with the best defensive lineman of the class. Blackstone earned 241 TPE in a season where he had a monster season. Blackstone had 71 tackles, 22 for a loss and 9 sacks for Tijuana last season capped off with a DLOTY trophy. The Yeti are getting a huge steal here at pick 7.
Grade: A+
Round 1 Pick 8 - New Orleans Second Line
Dorfus Jimbo Jr - Defensive End - Norfolk Seawolves
First off let start with #ScorpSux. Now that we got that outta the way I gotta say this was the most surprising pick of the first round. Jimbo Jr is the 5th ranked defensive end by TPE in the class. He has missed out one some TPE due to late point tasks or not meeting word requirements. While this union is no surprise because of his connection to the Second Line GM especially with NO needing someone across from Ben Tu'inukuafe (453 TPE), the selection cae much earlier than anticipated. Jimbo Jr had only 146 TPE last year getting 32 tackles, 15 for a loss with 6 sacks for Norfolk. While like Juniped Jimbo is a Co-GM of Norfolk, I still believe this to be the biggest reach in the draft.
Grade: C-
Round 1 Pick 9 - Yellowknife Wraiths
Douglas Quaid - Linebacker - Kansas City Coyotes
Douglas Quaid was a solid pick by the Wraiths here with the ninth pick of the draft. I expected Quaid to possibly go higher to another team in need of a linebacker. Quaid was the draft class’ top linebacker by TPE with 210 and had a great season for the Coyotes in the DSFL. Quaid racked up 144 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and an interception showing lots of versatility. He joins a great linebacker group in YKW with Maurice Virtanen (738 TPE) and Alex Selich - LB (782 TPE).
Grade: B
Round 1 Pick 10 - Austin Copperheads
Riles McTackle - Defensive Tackle - Kansas City Coyotes
Austin had a big need at defensive tackle and gets their guy here with the last selection of the first round getting Riles McTackle. McTackle was the 4th best defensive tackle in the class by TPE with 184. The copperheads choosing McTackle in this loaded DT group is a bit of a risk football wise but clearly they believe he is a good fit for their team and locker room. McGiles had 23 tackles with 7 sacks and 1 forced fumble last season for the Coyotes and will look to improve upon those in the NSFL with the defending champs.
Grade: B-
Quote:1240 Words