Here’s my mock draft for the upcoming NSFL S12 draft! I’m assuming that the draft order won’t change at the time of this posting and that players do not position switch. In my evaluation I reviewed: positions of need, player activity, player history, overall TPE earned to date.
San Jose Sabercats
#1 Overall: Freezer Riposte - DT @Mavfatha
With a league worst 1-13 record, the Sabercats get the privilege of selecting first. They have a great offense having drafted key players in positions of importance so I don’t see them selecting another receiver or even tight end since Brannigan is serviceable in that role. Their biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. Even though ckroyal is coming back with Trey Stalley, I believe their biggest need will be defensive lineman. To me, Mavfatha is easily the number one pick in this draft since he hasn’t missed a beat ever since he created in this league, has proven history in the PBE, is a DFSL GM, and a DT! Active defensive lineman are always in demand here and Riposte checks all the boxes for me as an undeniable #1 overall talent.
Baltimore Hawks
#2 Overall: Hike Mughes - CB @jaskins811
Switching Gambino to quarterback after trading Applehort won’t impact them too much as they’ll still have Mbanefo, Hendrix, and Joshua up-front so I don’t see the Hawks looking for a lineman. They are still in prime position to stay on top of the NSFC conference and much like San Jose, they have great offensive talent coming into the draft. They will lose Blocksdale as a starting corner so I see them picking up Hike Mughes here. He’s been a consistent TPE earner in his first DSFL season and has a great build with a high ceiling. Jaskins811 also has good history with the league and I think he’d be a solid choice at number 2. You know he’ll be active and he fits a position of great need.
Arizona Outlaws
#3 Overall: Dick Wizardry - RB @AdamS
With the great Reg Mackworthy retiring after spending 11 seasons with the Outlaws, there is an immediate need to fill his legendary shoes. The Outlaws are fortunate this season since there are a number of great runningback prospects to choose from and many from veteran users. In evaluating their roster and offense, I think an ‘All-Purpose’ back will be better suited for their scheme so I would select Dick Wizardry. He has just 1 less TPE than the top RB, Danielsson, and a long career with his last player. Given Asipi’s propensity to recreate, I would go with the conservative choice here in AdamS. With him, you know you’ll get at least 8 seasons of activity if he maintains the same kind of interest that he had in Charlie Law.
Philadelphia Liberty
#4 Overall: Luke Smyles - DE @Symmetrik
The Liberty will lose Eli Kamaka to retirement and Andre Bly has signed with the Wraiths, so the team will look to fulfill either of these positions with their first pick in the draft. Despite losing Bly, they already have a great backfield with young active players so I see them looking for a defensive lineman here. Assuming Riposte is off the board by now, I would select Luke Smyles at number 4 overall. He’s another veteran user with a great track record in this league along with being one of the top earners in this draft class. Smyles and Weathers III will make a formidable defense up front with Curtis Saul charging up the center.
Colorado Yeti
#5 Overall: Errol Maddox - WR @PigSnout
A big trade in the beginning of the season and some key personnel changes haven’t stopped the Yeti from making the playoffs, but they struggled last season ranking last in all defensive categories. Like many other teams, they will look to bolster that defense with some activity since they are starved for young defensive talent. However, this team is also lacking receiving talent with Aaron retiring and North regressing hard. I will go out on a limb to say that this team may look to draft one of the top 2 wide receiving prospects. Maddox is another player with proven history and is the top overall TPE player in this draft class. He’ll probably hit the 100 speed cap in his NSFL rookie season and would provide McCormick a superb option to go along with Miller and North. Again, this is assuming that all other teams are drafting based on positions of need and that no players will be switching positions at the time of this draft.
Orange County Otters
#6 Overall: James Bishop - WR @Bwestfield
Ah the good ol’ Otters of Orange County. As the draft goes on, it gets harder to evaluate teams and their positions of need as we near the top teams. Given his history with the Otters and if he’s available at this point, I can see the Otters picking up James Bishop with the number 6th overall. The Otters certainly have their dynamic duo in Crush and Atwell, but Bishop would give them another receiving option and the potential to shift Crush or Atwell over to play tight end on occasion. He won 3 Ultimus championships with the team and spent a solid 10 seasons with them before retiring. This pick would make Timeconsumer happy.
Baltimore Hawks
#7 Overall: Arbin Asipi III - RB @DeathOnReddit
The Hawks are fortunate enough to pick again in this stacked draft class. After filling their defensive need with the second overall pick, I think the Hawks will shift to pick up Asipi here with their second pick in the first round. Antonio Summer makes a great addition to the team with Taylor retiring and Asipi can play the Fullback role here in Baltimore to really open up the routes for Summer to utilize his Speed Back archetype to its fullest capability. Based on my evaluation of their team and possible offensive schemes, I think Asipi would help the Hawks become the premier offense in the league.
New Orleans Second Line
#8 Overall: Aksel Danielsson - RB @JSS
If by now, the other 2 runningbacks have been selected then I believe Second Line would go with Aksel Danielsson. He’s a speed back archetype who recreated after going inactive with his previous player, but JSS is a top TPE earner in this draft class with every indication of sticking through to see his NSFL career flourish. With Smallwood retired, Danielsson becomes the easy choice for NOLA and he ensures that their team remains one of the best in the league for seasons to come. NOLA has amazing depth almost across the board so I see them picking up Danielsson to ensure that they stay competitive on the offensive side of the ball.
San Jose Sabercats
#1 Overall: Freezer Riposte - DT @Mavfatha
With a league worst 1-13 record, the Sabercats get the privilege of selecting first. They have a great offense having drafted key players in positions of importance so I don’t see them selecting another receiver or even tight end since Brannigan is serviceable in that role. Their biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. Even though ckroyal is coming back with Trey Stalley, I believe their biggest need will be defensive lineman. To me, Mavfatha is easily the number one pick in this draft since he hasn’t missed a beat ever since he created in this league, has proven history in the PBE, is a DFSL GM, and a DT! Active defensive lineman are always in demand here and Riposte checks all the boxes for me as an undeniable #1 overall talent.
Baltimore Hawks
#2 Overall: Hike Mughes - CB @jaskins811
Switching Gambino to quarterback after trading Applehort won’t impact them too much as they’ll still have Mbanefo, Hendrix, and Joshua up-front so I don’t see the Hawks looking for a lineman. They are still in prime position to stay on top of the NSFC conference and much like San Jose, they have great offensive talent coming into the draft. They will lose Blocksdale as a starting corner so I see them picking up Hike Mughes here. He’s been a consistent TPE earner in his first DSFL season and has a great build with a high ceiling. Jaskins811 also has good history with the league and I think he’d be a solid choice at number 2. You know he’ll be active and he fits a position of great need.
Arizona Outlaws
#3 Overall: Dick Wizardry - RB @AdamS
With the great Reg Mackworthy retiring after spending 11 seasons with the Outlaws, there is an immediate need to fill his legendary shoes. The Outlaws are fortunate this season since there are a number of great runningback prospects to choose from and many from veteran users. In evaluating their roster and offense, I think an ‘All-Purpose’ back will be better suited for their scheme so I would select Dick Wizardry. He has just 1 less TPE than the top RB, Danielsson, and a long career with his last player. Given Asipi’s propensity to recreate, I would go with the conservative choice here in AdamS. With him, you know you’ll get at least 8 seasons of activity if he maintains the same kind of interest that he had in Charlie Law.
Philadelphia Liberty
#4 Overall: Luke Smyles - DE @Symmetrik
The Liberty will lose Eli Kamaka to retirement and Andre Bly has signed with the Wraiths, so the team will look to fulfill either of these positions with their first pick in the draft. Despite losing Bly, they already have a great backfield with young active players so I see them looking for a defensive lineman here. Assuming Riposte is off the board by now, I would select Luke Smyles at number 4 overall. He’s another veteran user with a great track record in this league along with being one of the top earners in this draft class. Smyles and Weathers III will make a formidable defense up front with Curtis Saul charging up the center.
Colorado Yeti
#5 Overall: Errol Maddox - WR @PigSnout
A big trade in the beginning of the season and some key personnel changes haven’t stopped the Yeti from making the playoffs, but they struggled last season ranking last in all defensive categories. Like many other teams, they will look to bolster that defense with some activity since they are starved for young defensive talent. However, this team is also lacking receiving talent with Aaron retiring and North regressing hard. I will go out on a limb to say that this team may look to draft one of the top 2 wide receiving prospects. Maddox is another player with proven history and is the top overall TPE player in this draft class. He’ll probably hit the 100 speed cap in his NSFL rookie season and would provide McCormick a superb option to go along with Miller and North. Again, this is assuming that all other teams are drafting based on positions of need and that no players will be switching positions at the time of this draft.
Orange County Otters
#6 Overall: James Bishop - WR @Bwestfield
Ah the good ol’ Otters of Orange County. As the draft goes on, it gets harder to evaluate teams and their positions of need as we near the top teams. Given his history with the Otters and if he’s available at this point, I can see the Otters picking up James Bishop with the number 6th overall. The Otters certainly have their dynamic duo in Crush and Atwell, but Bishop would give them another receiving option and the potential to shift Crush or Atwell over to play tight end on occasion. He won 3 Ultimus championships with the team and spent a solid 10 seasons with them before retiring. This pick would make Timeconsumer happy.
Baltimore Hawks
#7 Overall: Arbin Asipi III - RB @DeathOnReddit
The Hawks are fortunate enough to pick again in this stacked draft class. After filling their defensive need with the second overall pick, I think the Hawks will shift to pick up Asipi here with their second pick in the first round. Antonio Summer makes a great addition to the team with Taylor retiring and Asipi can play the Fullback role here in Baltimore to really open up the routes for Summer to utilize his Speed Back archetype to its fullest capability. Based on my evaluation of their team and possible offensive schemes, I think Asipi would help the Hawks become the premier offense in the league.
New Orleans Second Line
#8 Overall: Aksel Danielsson - RB @JSS
If by now, the other 2 runningbacks have been selected then I believe Second Line would go with Aksel Danielsson. He’s a speed back archetype who recreated after going inactive with his previous player, but JSS is a top TPE earner in this draft class with every indication of sticking through to see his NSFL career flourish. With Smallwood retired, Danielsson becomes the easy choice for NOLA and he ensures that their team remains one of the best in the league for seasons to come. NOLA has amazing depth almost across the board so I see them picking up Danielsson to ensure that they stay competitive on the offensive side of the ball.