Hello, I noticed our resident nuisance and shit stirrer, Archon, decided to make a Draft Grade thread. I was excited to read it until I realized it was just another shitpost to promote himself and not an actual assessment of the draft. Will this guy ever be anything but a complete narcissistic jerk?
So, I figured to be fair, I'd actually make a Draft assessment that took logic and bias out of the picture. Without further ado:
Spector's Draft Grades
1. - Antonio Sandoval
He's the top offensive lineman and deserving of a first round pick. But given other talent in this draft, 1st overall was a reach. And consider they traded up to get him, it makes me like the pick less. Sure, you can argue at 4, he might not have been there. But why trade up to #1? You were fairly certain that he wasn't going to the Outlaws at 1, so deal with San Jose only and grab the #2. But what was done was done.
Grade:B+
2. - Godfrey King
Had they had the 1st overall pick and not been paid to move back 1 spot, they still would have drafted King. This sort of thing is why the Outlaws are the #1 team and always the team to beat. Not only did they get the guy they wanted all along, they got paid to take him. King is a solid DT who will anchor this line for years and likely hoist many Ultimus Cups.
Grade:A+
3. - Brice Boggs
Getting the top TPE guy in the draft at #3 was a great deal. Boggs would fit in on any defense and might be the piece that the Wraiths need to get back to the top of the NSFC. Almost every early projection had him going 1st overall and even after the trade there was speculation that Colorado wanted him. Yeti mistakes makes for Wraiths success.
Grade:A
4. - Benson Bayley
Benson Bayley has been the most active rookie since he stepped into the NSFL, and his activity paid off with a 4th overall pick. He's a smart guy who looks like he'll be a team leader. Just the kind of person these Sabercats need in their locker room going forward. After 2 years of disappointment, the locker room is filling up with guys trending in the positive direction. Only knock here is there were higher TPE guys that are active, like Ricardo and Trey Willie.
Grade:A-
5. - Iyah Blewitt
Taking a kicker in the first round kinda sucks but without a second round draft pick, and knowing he'd not fall to the 3rd, they had to reach. San Jose needed a kicker, and one who will be around for years. It's just a damned shame that the cats had to use their other 1st rounder on a kicker.
Grade:C
6. - Julian O'Sullivan
A bit of a shock that they did not take Ricardo here, given that he was a great locker room guy and very active player. However,m O'Sullivan fills the void left by the retirement and arrest of Franklin Harris Sr. Julian is the brother of CB Kristoffer O'Sullivan and has been a very active member of the community. They will be an important part of the Otters defense for quite some time.
Grade:A-
7. - Ricardo Sandoval
The Otters standout was taken by the Hawks and was a solid pickup. Ricardo single handedly can change the dynamic of a locker room. On the field he's going to grow into one of the best run stopping Defensive Tackles this league will ever have. A definite steal at 7.
Grade:A+
8. - Franklin Harris Jr.
We all knew he was going to be drafted early, just not this early. Harris should pick up right where his father left off. Being a strong player who picks up the game fast and quickly ascends the defensive stat sheets. Playing for his father's competitor may divide fans of Sr. but Jr. will fight to step out of his father's shadow. A lot of upside in this pick.
Grade:B+
9. - Francois Lameroux
Despite the shenanigans pulled on the forums, Archon is a frequent poster and will likely develop into a great OL. However there is concerns among many how long it takes until he aggravates team mates and GMs with his incessant trolling. If he can tow the line and be good with the team, it's a solid pick.
Grade:B+
10. - Trey Willie
The best WR in the draft is taken. Only reason this talent fell so far was because WR isn't a top need for most teams. Even on the Hawks, he's likely to start the season as the 3rd WR but with diligence, he can become the second starting WR by the post season rolls around. Downside here is they did not address a true need.
Grade:B
11. - Clifford Rove
I'm not going to knock on Clifford Rove. But I highly question taking him here. The Liberty did not have a 1st round pick. They have a LOT of holes to fill. There were a LOT more guys on the board who were active and filled needs. Taking a QB who is behind Christ in TPE seems like a bit of a stretch for round 2. They could have waited until round 3 for him. I don't like this pick at all.
Grade:D
12. - Vash Erikson
Another solid pick by the champs. Not surprising. Erikson isn't day 1 ready but he'll be starting by the end of the season most likely. He probably could have gone a pick before and been a much bigger impact but he lands on a team with a few holes in their secondary and will help fill that out.
Grade:B
13. - Eidur Gustavsson
A good pickup. After taking Boggs 3rd overall, they address the other side of their line with Gustavsson. Prior to the draft the Wraits D-Line was rather shaky at end, but this pick pretty much ensures they won't need to addess it for a long time. A great pickup.
Grade:A
14. - Erlich Burnsman
Not a lot of people called this but Burnsman replaces Vick Bowers. Burnsman is a speed back which compliments Jenkins as a Power Back. There might have been some more pressing needs, but Burnsman's activity wouldn't have let him fall much farther. A great player but maybe they could have addressed a bigger need.
Grade:C
15. - Charlie Law
Tight End wasn't a deep class this year, and it wasn't the most pressing need for the Outlaws, but if Law can remain active, he'll pass Tkachuk on the depth chart sooner rather than later. A good pick up.
Grade:B
16. - Archetype Smarchetype
I still think this is a terrible name. But OL is never a bad choice, and A. Smarchy could be a huge steal at the end of the 2nd round. There's still a lot of talent out there at this point and grabbing him here was a solid bet. Outlaws had 5 picks in the first 2 rounds, and none were bad picks.
Grade:B-
I'll end it here because after this it's just picking who is active still. So, here's an actual analysis and not someone who rains on every pick aside from his own. If anything I'm overly critical of my own team, but it's out of love.
(1280 words)
GRADED
So, I figured to be fair, I'd actually make a Draft assessment that took logic and bias out of the picture. Without further ado:
Spector's Draft Grades
1. - Antonio Sandoval
He's the top offensive lineman and deserving of a first round pick. But given other talent in this draft, 1st overall was a reach. And consider they traded up to get him, it makes me like the pick less. Sure, you can argue at 4, he might not have been there. But why trade up to #1? You were fairly certain that he wasn't going to the Outlaws at 1, so deal with San Jose only and grab the #2. But what was done was done.
Grade:B+
2. - Godfrey King
Had they had the 1st overall pick and not been paid to move back 1 spot, they still would have drafted King. This sort of thing is why the Outlaws are the #1 team and always the team to beat. Not only did they get the guy they wanted all along, they got paid to take him. King is a solid DT who will anchor this line for years and likely hoist many Ultimus Cups.
Grade:A+
3. - Brice Boggs
Getting the top TPE guy in the draft at #3 was a great deal. Boggs would fit in on any defense and might be the piece that the Wraiths need to get back to the top of the NSFC. Almost every early projection had him going 1st overall and even after the trade there was speculation that Colorado wanted him. Yeti mistakes makes for Wraiths success.
Grade:A
4. - Benson Bayley
Benson Bayley has been the most active rookie since he stepped into the NSFL, and his activity paid off with a 4th overall pick. He's a smart guy who looks like he'll be a team leader. Just the kind of person these Sabercats need in their locker room going forward. After 2 years of disappointment, the locker room is filling up with guys trending in the positive direction. Only knock here is there were higher TPE guys that are active, like Ricardo and Trey Willie.
Grade:A-
5. - Iyah Blewitt
Taking a kicker in the first round kinda sucks but without a second round draft pick, and knowing he'd not fall to the 3rd, they had to reach. San Jose needed a kicker, and one who will be around for years. It's just a damned shame that the cats had to use their other 1st rounder on a kicker.
Grade:C
6. - Julian O'Sullivan
A bit of a shock that they did not take Ricardo here, given that he was a great locker room guy and very active player. However,m O'Sullivan fills the void left by the retirement and arrest of Franklin Harris Sr. Julian is the brother of CB Kristoffer O'Sullivan and has been a very active member of the community. They will be an important part of the Otters defense for quite some time.
Grade:A-
7. - Ricardo Sandoval
The Otters standout was taken by the Hawks and was a solid pickup. Ricardo single handedly can change the dynamic of a locker room. On the field he's going to grow into one of the best run stopping Defensive Tackles this league will ever have. A definite steal at 7.
Grade:A+
8. - Franklin Harris Jr.
We all knew he was going to be drafted early, just not this early. Harris should pick up right where his father left off. Being a strong player who picks up the game fast and quickly ascends the defensive stat sheets. Playing for his father's competitor may divide fans of Sr. but Jr. will fight to step out of his father's shadow. A lot of upside in this pick.
Grade:B+
9. - Francois Lameroux
Despite the shenanigans pulled on the forums, Archon is a frequent poster and will likely develop into a great OL. However there is concerns among many how long it takes until he aggravates team mates and GMs with his incessant trolling. If he can tow the line and be good with the team, it's a solid pick.
Grade:B+
10. - Trey Willie
The best WR in the draft is taken. Only reason this talent fell so far was because WR isn't a top need for most teams. Even on the Hawks, he's likely to start the season as the 3rd WR but with diligence, he can become the second starting WR by the post season rolls around. Downside here is they did not address a true need.
Grade:B
11. - Clifford Rove
I'm not going to knock on Clifford Rove. But I highly question taking him here. The Liberty did not have a 1st round pick. They have a LOT of holes to fill. There were a LOT more guys on the board who were active and filled needs. Taking a QB who is behind Christ in TPE seems like a bit of a stretch for round 2. They could have waited until round 3 for him. I don't like this pick at all.
Grade:D
12. - Vash Erikson
Another solid pick by the champs. Not surprising. Erikson isn't day 1 ready but he'll be starting by the end of the season most likely. He probably could have gone a pick before and been a much bigger impact but he lands on a team with a few holes in their secondary and will help fill that out.
Grade:B
13. - Eidur Gustavsson
A good pickup. After taking Boggs 3rd overall, they address the other side of their line with Gustavsson. Prior to the draft the Wraits D-Line was rather shaky at end, but this pick pretty much ensures they won't need to addess it for a long time. A great pickup.
Grade:A
14. - Erlich Burnsman
Not a lot of people called this but Burnsman replaces Vick Bowers. Burnsman is a speed back which compliments Jenkins as a Power Back. There might have been some more pressing needs, but Burnsman's activity wouldn't have let him fall much farther. A great player but maybe they could have addressed a bigger need.
Grade:C
15. - Charlie Law
Tight End wasn't a deep class this year, and it wasn't the most pressing need for the Outlaws, but if Law can remain active, he'll pass Tkachuk on the depth chart sooner rather than later. A good pick up.
Grade:B
16. - Archetype Smarchetype
I still think this is a terrible name. But OL is never a bad choice, and A. Smarchy could be a huge steal at the end of the 2nd round. There's still a lot of talent out there at this point and grabbing him here was a solid bet. Outlaws had 5 picks in the first 2 rounds, and none were bad picks.
Grade:B-
I'll end it here because after this it's just picking who is active still. So, here's an actual analysis and not someone who rains on every pick aside from his own. If anything I'm overly critical of my own team, but it's out of love.
(1280 words)
GRADED
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