03-09-2020, 03:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-09-2020, 04:08 AM by thevoicelesscreator.)
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]S21 NSFL Draft Grades
Written by Michael Magic[/div]
My favourite time of the year has come and gone! I love the Draft because it always generates so many stories. Player stories, team stories, draft drama, it has it all. This year, like every year, there are teams with great draft showings, and then teams with absolutely awful drafts. Of course, this is all speculation. Only time will tell what the fate of the players will be. But nonetheless, do I ever love speculating. Without further ado, here are my S21 NSFL Draft Grades!
San Jose Sabercats (A+)
The San Jose Sabercats are the beneficiaries of great draft prep, picking up both the 2nd and 4th overall pick in the draft. Last season, the Sabercats defense stank. There is no gentle way to put it. They couldn’t stop anything. And I think I’m comfortable saying that they fixed that right away.
Otis Allen going #2 was just one place higher than I had him in my mock draft. Defensive tackle was big need for a lot of teams, and Allen was the best one in this draft by quite some distance. The Sabercats get to patch up their interior DL, and on top of that they denied the Liberty a chance at taken Allen, who they really needed.
With #4 they took HeHateMe PickSix, yet another big need. Having a solid cornerback will be a significant move towards taking away threats on the field, and PickSix was the best of the cornerbacks by a country mile. They could not afford to miss him, and they did exactly what they needed to do taking him at 4OA.
Leon McDavid at #12 surprised me for several reasons. I had McDavid going earlier in my mock draft, and the SaberCats had a big need at defensive end. However, with Blackstone gone (it was a long shot that he would be there at 12 to begin with), and with 9-year vet Jorel Tuck set to hit regression big time next year, they decide to pick up his successor earlier rather than later.
Passing on a DE at 12OA didn’t end up hurting them, because at 22OA they picked up Chip Otle, and absolute steal. There may have been some pressure from the Liberty, who picked up DE Jeff Personsacker at #21, but I would be surprised if they had planned to wait any longer to address pass rusher. The second-best DE in the draft, I’m still not sure how he fell to 22, but the Sabercats do well by picking him up here.
At #32 they pick up the running back Rando Cardrissian – yet another steal. With Tyerucker being on the outs with the coaching staff after just a year with the team, it became apparent that the Sabercats needed to find a primary halfback. Cardrissian is coming off an excellent rookie year in the DSFL where he was in the conversation for best running back. He now comes into the Sabercats and will help them create a one-two punch with Tyerucker.
42 is the only pick that the Sabercats had to turn to best available talent, which makes sense given it was the last round in the draft. Renaud Haugland (TE) will likely become trade bait for the Sabercats, who will dangle them in front of teams in desperate need of tight ends. Look for this one to pay off in the next draft (if he can make the team).
Austin Copperheads (A)
It’s downright silly to see how much the Copperheads have gotten better in this draft. The reigning Ultimus champions are priming themselves for another run at the trophy, and they most certainly did not half to sacrifice their future to do so.
In my mock draft, I had the Copperheads reaching to file a big need, drafting defensive tackle Riles McTackle at tenth overall. That’s exactly what they did, passing on Rapid Eagle (DT) to do so. It’s impossible to say what happened between them. According to Copperheads GM Carlito Crush, it was McTackles proven history that made the difference. “I went to Ohio State, so I know the coaching staff there very well. They heaped praise upon McTackle, which it's always good getting that info from those you trust”.
With back-to-back picks, the Copperheads then took Holden Summers, the second-best linebacker in this draft, at 11OA, filling a rather large gap in their secondary. As per GM Crush, the pick was an easy one, especially after getting McTackle. “We knew that Holden Summers would be there (at 11OA)… Summers and McTackle have a bit of a history together, so the thinking was we'd get those Big Ten boys (Summers went to the University of Minnesota) together on the same squad in the hopes that they'd add to our locker room and that they'd push each other”. Summers wasn’t on my top 10, but he was very close. He will be a fantastic addition to the Copperheads linebacker core, which just got significantly younger with the pick-up of Gregor McGregor via trade with Baltimore this offseason.
Then we drop down all the way to pick #40, where they pickup an essential player in cornerback Jeremy Quellers. We can expect to see him playing in a nickel role for the Copperheads, which at #40, is great value. At 50OA, Mr. Irrelevant, also known as Tree Gelbman (TE), will help the Austin fill the role of second TE. While it’s unlikely we’ll see Gelbman get a ton of playing time, it opens up the 2 TE package for the Copperheads, which allows them to be that much more dangerous.
Overall great draft by the team. It’s scary to see how much better they’ve gotten, after WINNING the Ultimus. Expect big things from them this year.
Yellowknife Wraiths (B+)
Man, it just seems like the Wraiths cannot beat the Copperheads in very much this season. They just short of them in the draft as well. But I am personally very excited for the Wraith’s draft class this year.
Douglas Quaid being picked up by the Wraiths at 9 just seems like grand larceny. I had the man in my mock draft at 2OA, so to see him fall to ninth? The Wraiths scored big on this one. However, it does seem likely that Quaid will either be playing in the DSFL, or in a very minor role in the Wraith in his first year. That secondary is just LOADED with talent. But it does seem like Quaid will be the eventual successor to 15-year veteran Danny Grithead, who is entering his last season
At 19, they make a bit of a reach taking kicker Dougie Smalls. But when you consider the Wraiths have been kicks from 3 Ultimus’? This makes a lot of sense. Smalls has a rocket for a leg and has a hard-nosed work ethic. A reach for sure, but when you have as much talent as the Wraiths, why risk losing you man if you can just grab him?
And if the Wraiths hadn’t gotten enough value out of picking up Douglas Quaid, they then take the best athlete on the draft board, Dax Frost, at 29OA! Now, I have my reservations about Frost. I think he’s a selfish player, and he’s a very unproven running back. But going to the Wraiths here feels right. He was the best talent on the board, and he’s coming into a system that can afford to be without his services for a year. They’ll send him to the DSFL and let him get some much-needed snaps at RB. By S22, he’ll be ready to make the impact that many have speculated he could have.
Last but not least, they pick up safety John Bois at 39OA. Yet another developmental pick, its very unlikely Bois will see field time in the NSFL this year. However, with Lightsout Lewis entering his final year with the team, Bois is likely being groomed as his heir.
Chicago Butchers (B)
The Butchers set the prime example of value this draft. Despite only having three picks for the draft, they easily made the most out of them.
Coming into the draft, the Butchers desperately needed to address the tight end situation. I, and many others, predicted that they would fix that problem with the sixth overall pick, taking Osiris Firestorm-Fjord. They did exactly what they needed to do and got their man just where they wanted him.
At pick 20, the swiped easily one of the most dynamic players coming into the draft. How wide receiver Jerome Davis fell to 20, I’ll never know. But I do know that the Butchers decided to end his free fall and add him to what is a very dangerous wideout core. Look for them to offload some older talent to make room for Davis on the starting lineup.
At #30 is one of the picks of this draft I don’t love. The Butchers take Perry Tucker Junior (LB), someone they are likely hoping to groom to take over a starting position next year. However, if we look at the holes in their defense last year, there were better options available. I have no doubts that Tucker Jr. will be a fantastic addition to the Butchers rapidly aging secondary eventually. But if they were looking to get better in the coming season, this wasn’t the pick.
Baltimore Hawks (B):
The Baltimore Hawks got a lot of value out of this draft. But they’re also one of the deeper teams that did not find success in the last season. It’s hard to say if they players they’ve drafted this year will give them that talent, but only time will tell.
Which is a bit of them for the Hawks, as they would draft for the future with their first pick at 5th overall, taking dynamic wide receiver Chris Kross. With Brock Landers retiring, the hawks found themselves on the market for another wide receiver. They found him in Chris Kross, who is also likely going to be the heir to Errol Maddox when he eventually regresses. While Kross is a great player, I feel like this was a big miss for the Hawks. While Maddox is entering his 10th season, the team already has a primary #2 WR, which means Kross will likely be taking #3 WR snaps. That just isn’t good enough for the 5th overall pick. They also passed on both Immanuel Blackstone, and Douglas Quaid, players that could have been that missing piece in the Hawks secondary.
At 15th overall, they take defensive tackle Sardine Beaner. I want to say this was a home run, but as a team that needed a defensive tackle something desperately, Beaner feels slightly like a consolation price. The 5th defensive tackle off the board, and the 3rd in the round respectively, the Hawks took Beaner after Eagle and Miller went 13OA and 14OA. Good pick, unfortunate situation.
Then we skip all the way down to 36 where the Hawks took linebacker Gregor McGregor, filing that gap in their secondary. However, as good as that pick was, it’s what happened almost right after that makes this pick so great. The Copperheads would later send veteran linebacker Sandip Bakshi, and a 6th round pick to Baltimore for the rookie. This is a huge win for the Hawks, who stack their secondary to win this year.
The fifth round would see the Hawks pick 3 players. They would take quarterback Chika Fujiwara at 41OA. Fujiwara will likely be the eventual starter for the Hawks, as Corvo Havran is bogged down by father time. 41 is a great place to take her, and she gets some much-needed development time in the DSFL.
Defensive end Matt Hole would go at 45OA and will likely be an understudy to a rapidly aging Hawks pass rushing core. At 49 OA, the Hawks take running back Rick Skuff, the best available talent at the pick. It’s unlikely Skuff will ever make the Hawks and could end up as trade bait down the line.
All in all, a decent draft for the Hawks with the trade of Gregor McGregor. If that had not happened, it would have been less than decent.
Colorado Yeti (B)
The Colorado Yeti have some of the best value picks this draft and have a decent number of players that should make an immediate impact. Given their already talented team, the Yeti took the draft as an opportunity to build on their strengths.
Picking at #7 OA, the take the best defensive end in the draft, and my #2 overall player, Immanuel Blackstone. I love Blackstone, and he is a very talented player. For him to fall to #7 is criminal. But for him to go to the Colorado Yeti is scary for everyone. The Yeti have what is likely the best DL in the league right now. And they just added Blackstone to that. Fantastic pick.
At 17 OA, they add cornerback Rotticus Scott. Now this is a bit of a reach. The Yeti have a great secondary, and an elite squad of cornerbacks. It’s obvious that Scott will be the slot in for Axel Hornbacher, who is entering his 10th season and likely nearing the end of his career. However, that means that Scott will have play in the DSFL for another year. And in terms of value at #17, they could have done a lot better.
Something the Yeti also were looking at adding was WR3, and with the 27th overall pick, they did exactly that, picking up WR Red Arrow. As the 4th best WR in the draft, taking him at 27 OA is great. He will make an immediate addition to an already loaded Yeti receiving core.
Going to 31, they pick up John Smirh, who entered the draft as one of the better kicker prospects, and left as an elite defensive tackle prospect. This one caught everyone off guard. If Smirh had committed to the change pre-pick, its likely he would have gone higher. However, because the Yeti were able to convince the pudgy punter to move from kicking balls to kicking butts, they get one of the better surprises of this draft. Smirh will likely line up beside Bubba Thumper this season and have a lot to learn. However, if this pans out, the Yeti have the best DL for years to come.
The last pick of the draft for Arizona came at pick 37, where they picked up another wide receiver in Alyx Sabor. While unlikely to compete with Red Arrow, Sabor is more likely going to be the #3 when James Bishop eventually retires.
Orange County Otters (B-):
It’s not often that you have the first OA pick and draft as poorly as the Otters have here. I gave them a B-, because the amount of talent they did manage to add to their team. However, if I were Otters management, I see this nothing more than an F.
At number 1 Overall of the S21 NSFL draft, the Orange County Otters take Prince Vegeta. He was my #1 player coming into the draft, and it’s gratifying to see him taken at that, if nothing just for the honour of it. However, in terms of fit, I think this wasn’t the one. Prince Vegeta is a great run tracking safety, and very good at hitting very hard. However, what the Otters needed is a safety that could stop the pass as well as the run. While Vegeta is capable of it, it would actively take away from his skillset to play him in a role that forces him into a pass coverage role more often than not.
With Doofus Jimbo “retiring”, and Gary Lazer-Eyes moving into the defensive end position, Tyrone Biggums will have to slide into the Free Safety role to accommodate Vegeta, or he will have to play that role himself. Either way, it doesn’t match. Great player, bad pick.
With the 13th pick of the draft, the Otters took defensive tackle Rapid Eagle. This is one the pick that I did like. Eagle is a very hard-working player, and he will be a starter on week one.
With the 23rd pick, the Otters would end up taking Wide Reciever Remon Kurisuto. They lost Tyler Oles to retirement this offseason, and Kurisuto will make a great 3rd receiver. My main gripe is that Jerome Davis was taken only four picks higher than this. With two picks in the 3rd round, if I see Davis hanging around 18, 19, 20, I’d trade up and get him. The margin between the two is quite high in Davis’ favour, and having him taken 4 picks before is a little more salt in the wound.
Just three picks later, the Otters take Larry Longshot, defensive end. I can see the logic here. With Mbanefo entering what is likely his last year, the Otters likely wanted to add a developmental prospect to the team and did so with Longshot. I have several gripes with this pick as well. First off, the Otters are NOT short on DE talent. They have depth in the bushels. What they do lack is actual skill in the position. If you ask me whether I’d take 3 back up defensive ends, or 1 starter, I’d pick the starter every time. Perhaps Longshot can be that in time. However, this feels like a reach and a miss. Secondly, if they really wanted a defensive end prospect, Chip Otle was taken 22nd overall by the San Jose Sabrecats. After seeing Jeff Personsacker go off the board at 21, they had to have known Chip Otle wasn’t too far behind. I’m not saying that San Jose would have actually traded them the pick, but you have to think the 23rd and 46th pick likely would have gotten them up one spot to take Chip Otle.
At 35OA, the Otters take Ryan Scott, a linebacker they desperately need to help fill out the secondary. Great pick at face value, but this a straight miss. Perry Tucker Jr went at 30 overall, which they could have taken at 25OA, and Gregor McGregor went 36OA (who was almost immediately flipped to the Yellowknife Wraiths an immense amount of value).
And finally, at 46OA, Orange County take offensive lineman Douglas Quail. While this is a great developmental player, the Otters needed to get good, or at least better soon. Quail wont be an impact player next year, that is certain. Down the line, for sure, but for the Otters who have done nothing but pick subpar? This wasn’t good enough.
Arizona Outlaw (C+):
The Outlaw are a team on the up and up. They hit a grand slam with quarterback Jay Cue, but now they need to build around him. Coming into the draft, there were A LOT of needs.
However, their offense saw some success with Cue behind the wheel last year, so it was defense that became the focus of their early draft. Being without a first-round draft pick in this defensive heavy draft really hurt the Outlaw. But they would make up some ground by taking defensive tackle Pete “Plop” Miller at 14OA. Miller was the 4th DT off the boards, and the Outlaw really didn’t want to chance waiting. It’s a good thing they didn’t because the Hawks also took a DT at 15OA. Less than stellar pick overall, but given the state of the board, it was a great choice by management.
Just two picks later at 16th overall, the Outlaw would take Trevor Mouseman (linebacker). While not elite just quite yet, the Outlaw are likely hoping that Mouseman can grow into that elite linebacker they have been looking years for. Decent pick for decent value here.
At #24, the Outlaw take running back Baby Yoda. This one is simple. Arizona need a proper RB2. Last year the position was given to a tight end who surprised everyone with how well he did. But yeah, good pick up here for sure.
Moving to 34OA, we have out first real “miss” for the Outlaw. They take defensive tackle Juane Arc. Given how deep the DT pool for Arizona is, adding another mediocre tackle will do little to help them win. At 43, they take Atlas Quin, another miss. Same situation as Arc as well. The Outlaw are swamped with mediocre talent at the position, and Quin is another body on the growing pile.
Oddly enough, Jackmerius Tacktheritrix is possibly a great addition to the team. The Outlaw defense has struggled to produce a star pass rusher for some time now. However, at 44OA, Tacktheritrix might be that player. If he does pan out, the pick will look genius. If he doesn’t, he joins the long list that is failed experiments in Arizona.
And finally, but oddly enough, the Outlaw take quarterback George O’Donnell in the draft. This one is an odd one. Jay Cue is obviously the future for Arizona and will be for a long time. However, at 47 overall this is likely a value pick. Should O’Donnell pan out, the Outlaw can flip him for some major capital down the road.
Philadelphia Liberty (F):
Last year was a tough year to be a Liberty fan. Unfortunately, after their showing at the draft, it doesn’t look like this year will be a good year for them either.
Picking at number 3, they provided us with the first reach of the draft, taking running back Juniped Catfish as an RB3. You heard that right. 3rd overall, RB3… Now that’s not to say Catfish is not a great player, but the Liberty have so many needs, that taking an RB3 with their first pick feels downright wasteful. Someone like Douglas Quaid, or if they really wanted to be nasty, HeHateMe PickSix.
To make it worse, their next pick was 18 picks after. At 21 OA they went very far out of their way to pick defensive end Jeff Personsacker. If they wanted a DE, why not take Immanuel Blackwell at 3OA, and take an RB at 21? Instead, they have Jeff, who will be in a DSFL jersey for the foreseeable future. Awful pick, terrible reach.
At #25, they select OL Simon Tremblay. I think this is a great pick and had Tremblay as one of my best players coming into the draft. Unfortunately, in this context, Tremblay wasn’t the right pick. The Liberty have other holes they needed to fill at 25 OA, and Tremblay is more of a very future pick.
And their last pick at #33 is kicker Lefty Louis. Let me remind you that they just drafted a very good kicker last year. Louis will likely be draft bait, but I cannot foresee the Liberty ever getting more than what they drafted him for in return.
If I were in a Liberty jersey this season, I’d probably start looking for liberty from that sometime soon. Especially if you have any interest in winning.
New Orleans Second Line (F):
I’m not sure what New Orleans GM’s were on, or what they were thinking, but this draft should be seen nothing more than a disaster for them. There really isn’t too much to salvage here.
At #8 overall, the Second Line take the 5th ranked defensive end, Dofus Jumbo Jr. While Jumbo Jr’s father has tight connections in the NSFL, it doesn’t warrant a reach of this magnitude. While the Second Line could certainly use a defensive end, Jumbo Jr. is most certainly not NSFL ready. While this might pan out in a could season, the Second Line are geared to win NOW, and this pick is a massive miss.
They continue that trend of building for the future at pick 18, where they take running back Ed Barker. On paper, it looks like a decent pick, but in reality, the Second Line have the best one-two RB combo in the league. Ed Barker will never see real playing time in New Orleans. Big swing, big miss.
Moving to 28, they finally address a need in tight end, only to reach over Reynaud Haugland and take Rainer Wolfcastle instead. If the two were close in skill, it would make sense, but Haugland is by far the better player. Good idea, very bad reach.
Keeping to their very confusing them, the Second Line would take linebacker Ugarth the Dissector at #38. This one is a little more understandable. With Johnny Slothface set to retire after this season, Ugarth is likely the replacement there. At 38, its hard to call anything a reach. But the Hawks would take Gregor McGregor just two picks prior (something that New Orleans very well could have traded into), and then flipped him for massive gains. This isn’t a miss per say, just not great.
And just when you though it couldn’t get worse, they take ANOTHER running back at #48 in Tequila Sunrise. Much like Barker, its unlikely Sunrise will ever see a snap in New Orleans. Even at #48, this is a bad pick.
Written by Michael Magic[/div]
My favourite time of the year has come and gone! I love the Draft because it always generates so many stories. Player stories, team stories, draft drama, it has it all. This year, like every year, there are teams with great draft showings, and then teams with absolutely awful drafts. Of course, this is all speculation. Only time will tell what the fate of the players will be. But nonetheless, do I ever love speculating. Without further ado, here are my S21 NSFL Draft Grades!
San Jose Sabercats (A+)
The San Jose Sabercats are the beneficiaries of great draft prep, picking up both the 2nd and 4th overall pick in the draft. Last season, the Sabercats defense stank. There is no gentle way to put it. They couldn’t stop anything. And I think I’m comfortable saying that they fixed that right away.
Otis Allen going #2 was just one place higher than I had him in my mock draft. Defensive tackle was big need for a lot of teams, and Allen was the best one in this draft by quite some distance. The Sabercats get to patch up their interior DL, and on top of that they denied the Liberty a chance at taken Allen, who they really needed.
With #4 they took HeHateMe PickSix, yet another big need. Having a solid cornerback will be a significant move towards taking away threats on the field, and PickSix was the best of the cornerbacks by a country mile. They could not afford to miss him, and they did exactly what they needed to do taking him at 4OA.
Leon McDavid at #12 surprised me for several reasons. I had McDavid going earlier in my mock draft, and the SaberCats had a big need at defensive end. However, with Blackstone gone (it was a long shot that he would be there at 12 to begin with), and with 9-year vet Jorel Tuck set to hit regression big time next year, they decide to pick up his successor earlier rather than later.
Passing on a DE at 12OA didn’t end up hurting them, because at 22OA they picked up Chip Otle, and absolute steal. There may have been some pressure from the Liberty, who picked up DE Jeff Personsacker at #21, but I would be surprised if they had planned to wait any longer to address pass rusher. The second-best DE in the draft, I’m still not sure how he fell to 22, but the Sabercats do well by picking him up here.
At #32 they pick up the running back Rando Cardrissian – yet another steal. With Tyerucker being on the outs with the coaching staff after just a year with the team, it became apparent that the Sabercats needed to find a primary halfback. Cardrissian is coming off an excellent rookie year in the DSFL where he was in the conversation for best running back. He now comes into the Sabercats and will help them create a one-two punch with Tyerucker.
42 is the only pick that the Sabercats had to turn to best available talent, which makes sense given it was the last round in the draft. Renaud Haugland (TE) will likely become trade bait for the Sabercats, who will dangle them in front of teams in desperate need of tight ends. Look for this one to pay off in the next draft (if he can make the team).
Austin Copperheads (A)
It’s downright silly to see how much the Copperheads have gotten better in this draft. The reigning Ultimus champions are priming themselves for another run at the trophy, and they most certainly did not half to sacrifice their future to do so.
In my mock draft, I had the Copperheads reaching to file a big need, drafting defensive tackle Riles McTackle at tenth overall. That’s exactly what they did, passing on Rapid Eagle (DT) to do so. It’s impossible to say what happened between them. According to Copperheads GM Carlito Crush, it was McTackles proven history that made the difference. “I went to Ohio State, so I know the coaching staff there very well. They heaped praise upon McTackle, which it's always good getting that info from those you trust”.
With back-to-back picks, the Copperheads then took Holden Summers, the second-best linebacker in this draft, at 11OA, filling a rather large gap in their secondary. As per GM Crush, the pick was an easy one, especially after getting McTackle. “We knew that Holden Summers would be there (at 11OA)… Summers and McTackle have a bit of a history together, so the thinking was we'd get those Big Ten boys (Summers went to the University of Minnesota) together on the same squad in the hopes that they'd add to our locker room and that they'd push each other”. Summers wasn’t on my top 10, but he was very close. He will be a fantastic addition to the Copperheads linebacker core, which just got significantly younger with the pick-up of Gregor McGregor via trade with Baltimore this offseason.
Then we drop down all the way to pick #40, where they pickup an essential player in cornerback Jeremy Quellers. We can expect to see him playing in a nickel role for the Copperheads, which at #40, is great value. At 50OA, Mr. Irrelevant, also known as Tree Gelbman (TE), will help the Austin fill the role of second TE. While it’s unlikely we’ll see Gelbman get a ton of playing time, it opens up the 2 TE package for the Copperheads, which allows them to be that much more dangerous.
Overall great draft by the team. It’s scary to see how much better they’ve gotten, after WINNING the Ultimus. Expect big things from them this year.
Yellowknife Wraiths (B+)
Man, it just seems like the Wraiths cannot beat the Copperheads in very much this season. They just short of them in the draft as well. But I am personally very excited for the Wraith’s draft class this year.
Douglas Quaid being picked up by the Wraiths at 9 just seems like grand larceny. I had the man in my mock draft at 2OA, so to see him fall to ninth? The Wraiths scored big on this one. However, it does seem likely that Quaid will either be playing in the DSFL, or in a very minor role in the Wraith in his first year. That secondary is just LOADED with talent. But it does seem like Quaid will be the eventual successor to 15-year veteran Danny Grithead, who is entering his last season
At 19, they make a bit of a reach taking kicker Dougie Smalls. But when you consider the Wraiths have been kicks from 3 Ultimus’? This makes a lot of sense. Smalls has a rocket for a leg and has a hard-nosed work ethic. A reach for sure, but when you have as much talent as the Wraiths, why risk losing you man if you can just grab him?
And if the Wraiths hadn’t gotten enough value out of picking up Douglas Quaid, they then take the best athlete on the draft board, Dax Frost, at 29OA! Now, I have my reservations about Frost. I think he’s a selfish player, and he’s a very unproven running back. But going to the Wraiths here feels right. He was the best talent on the board, and he’s coming into a system that can afford to be without his services for a year. They’ll send him to the DSFL and let him get some much-needed snaps at RB. By S22, he’ll be ready to make the impact that many have speculated he could have.
Last but not least, they pick up safety John Bois at 39OA. Yet another developmental pick, its very unlikely Bois will see field time in the NSFL this year. However, with Lightsout Lewis entering his final year with the team, Bois is likely being groomed as his heir.
Chicago Butchers (B)
The Butchers set the prime example of value this draft. Despite only having three picks for the draft, they easily made the most out of them.
Coming into the draft, the Butchers desperately needed to address the tight end situation. I, and many others, predicted that they would fix that problem with the sixth overall pick, taking Osiris Firestorm-Fjord. They did exactly what they needed to do and got their man just where they wanted him.
At pick 20, the swiped easily one of the most dynamic players coming into the draft. How wide receiver Jerome Davis fell to 20, I’ll never know. But I do know that the Butchers decided to end his free fall and add him to what is a very dangerous wideout core. Look for them to offload some older talent to make room for Davis on the starting lineup.
At #30 is one of the picks of this draft I don’t love. The Butchers take Perry Tucker Junior (LB), someone they are likely hoping to groom to take over a starting position next year. However, if we look at the holes in their defense last year, there were better options available. I have no doubts that Tucker Jr. will be a fantastic addition to the Butchers rapidly aging secondary eventually. But if they were looking to get better in the coming season, this wasn’t the pick.
Baltimore Hawks (B):
The Baltimore Hawks got a lot of value out of this draft. But they’re also one of the deeper teams that did not find success in the last season. It’s hard to say if they players they’ve drafted this year will give them that talent, but only time will tell.
Which is a bit of them for the Hawks, as they would draft for the future with their first pick at 5th overall, taking dynamic wide receiver Chris Kross. With Brock Landers retiring, the hawks found themselves on the market for another wide receiver. They found him in Chris Kross, who is also likely going to be the heir to Errol Maddox when he eventually regresses. While Kross is a great player, I feel like this was a big miss for the Hawks. While Maddox is entering his 10th season, the team already has a primary #2 WR, which means Kross will likely be taking #3 WR snaps. That just isn’t good enough for the 5th overall pick. They also passed on both Immanuel Blackstone, and Douglas Quaid, players that could have been that missing piece in the Hawks secondary.
At 15th overall, they take defensive tackle Sardine Beaner. I want to say this was a home run, but as a team that needed a defensive tackle something desperately, Beaner feels slightly like a consolation price. The 5th defensive tackle off the board, and the 3rd in the round respectively, the Hawks took Beaner after Eagle and Miller went 13OA and 14OA. Good pick, unfortunate situation.
Then we skip all the way down to 36 where the Hawks took linebacker Gregor McGregor, filing that gap in their secondary. However, as good as that pick was, it’s what happened almost right after that makes this pick so great. The Copperheads would later send veteran linebacker Sandip Bakshi, and a 6th round pick to Baltimore for the rookie. This is a huge win for the Hawks, who stack their secondary to win this year.
The fifth round would see the Hawks pick 3 players. They would take quarterback Chika Fujiwara at 41OA. Fujiwara will likely be the eventual starter for the Hawks, as Corvo Havran is bogged down by father time. 41 is a great place to take her, and she gets some much-needed development time in the DSFL.
Defensive end Matt Hole would go at 45OA and will likely be an understudy to a rapidly aging Hawks pass rushing core. At 49 OA, the Hawks take running back Rick Skuff, the best available talent at the pick. It’s unlikely Skuff will ever make the Hawks and could end up as trade bait down the line.
All in all, a decent draft for the Hawks with the trade of Gregor McGregor. If that had not happened, it would have been less than decent.
Colorado Yeti (B)
The Colorado Yeti have some of the best value picks this draft and have a decent number of players that should make an immediate impact. Given their already talented team, the Yeti took the draft as an opportunity to build on their strengths.
Picking at #7 OA, the take the best defensive end in the draft, and my #2 overall player, Immanuel Blackstone. I love Blackstone, and he is a very talented player. For him to fall to #7 is criminal. But for him to go to the Colorado Yeti is scary for everyone. The Yeti have what is likely the best DL in the league right now. And they just added Blackstone to that. Fantastic pick.
At 17 OA, they add cornerback Rotticus Scott. Now this is a bit of a reach. The Yeti have a great secondary, and an elite squad of cornerbacks. It’s obvious that Scott will be the slot in for Axel Hornbacher, who is entering his 10th season and likely nearing the end of his career. However, that means that Scott will have play in the DSFL for another year. And in terms of value at #17, they could have done a lot better.
Something the Yeti also were looking at adding was WR3, and with the 27th overall pick, they did exactly that, picking up WR Red Arrow. As the 4th best WR in the draft, taking him at 27 OA is great. He will make an immediate addition to an already loaded Yeti receiving core.
Going to 31, they pick up John Smirh, who entered the draft as one of the better kicker prospects, and left as an elite defensive tackle prospect. This one caught everyone off guard. If Smirh had committed to the change pre-pick, its likely he would have gone higher. However, because the Yeti were able to convince the pudgy punter to move from kicking balls to kicking butts, they get one of the better surprises of this draft. Smirh will likely line up beside Bubba Thumper this season and have a lot to learn. However, if this pans out, the Yeti have the best DL for years to come.
The last pick of the draft for Arizona came at pick 37, where they picked up another wide receiver in Alyx Sabor. While unlikely to compete with Red Arrow, Sabor is more likely going to be the #3 when James Bishop eventually retires.
Orange County Otters (B-):
It’s not often that you have the first OA pick and draft as poorly as the Otters have here. I gave them a B-, because the amount of talent they did manage to add to their team. However, if I were Otters management, I see this nothing more than an F.
At number 1 Overall of the S21 NSFL draft, the Orange County Otters take Prince Vegeta. He was my #1 player coming into the draft, and it’s gratifying to see him taken at that, if nothing just for the honour of it. However, in terms of fit, I think this wasn’t the one. Prince Vegeta is a great run tracking safety, and very good at hitting very hard. However, what the Otters needed is a safety that could stop the pass as well as the run. While Vegeta is capable of it, it would actively take away from his skillset to play him in a role that forces him into a pass coverage role more often than not.
With Doofus Jimbo “retiring”, and Gary Lazer-Eyes moving into the defensive end position, Tyrone Biggums will have to slide into the Free Safety role to accommodate Vegeta, or he will have to play that role himself. Either way, it doesn’t match. Great player, bad pick.
With the 13th pick of the draft, the Otters took defensive tackle Rapid Eagle. This is one the pick that I did like. Eagle is a very hard-working player, and he will be a starter on week one.
With the 23rd pick, the Otters would end up taking Wide Reciever Remon Kurisuto. They lost Tyler Oles to retirement this offseason, and Kurisuto will make a great 3rd receiver. My main gripe is that Jerome Davis was taken only four picks higher than this. With two picks in the 3rd round, if I see Davis hanging around 18, 19, 20, I’d trade up and get him. The margin between the two is quite high in Davis’ favour, and having him taken 4 picks before is a little more salt in the wound.
Just three picks later, the Otters take Larry Longshot, defensive end. I can see the logic here. With Mbanefo entering what is likely his last year, the Otters likely wanted to add a developmental prospect to the team and did so with Longshot. I have several gripes with this pick as well. First off, the Otters are NOT short on DE talent. They have depth in the bushels. What they do lack is actual skill in the position. If you ask me whether I’d take 3 back up defensive ends, or 1 starter, I’d pick the starter every time. Perhaps Longshot can be that in time. However, this feels like a reach and a miss. Secondly, if they really wanted a defensive end prospect, Chip Otle was taken 22nd overall by the San Jose Sabrecats. After seeing Jeff Personsacker go off the board at 21, they had to have known Chip Otle wasn’t too far behind. I’m not saying that San Jose would have actually traded them the pick, but you have to think the 23rd and 46th pick likely would have gotten them up one spot to take Chip Otle.
At 35OA, the Otters take Ryan Scott, a linebacker they desperately need to help fill out the secondary. Great pick at face value, but this a straight miss. Perry Tucker Jr went at 30 overall, which they could have taken at 25OA, and Gregor McGregor went 36OA (who was almost immediately flipped to the Yellowknife Wraiths an immense amount of value).
And finally, at 46OA, Orange County take offensive lineman Douglas Quail. While this is a great developmental player, the Otters needed to get good, or at least better soon. Quail wont be an impact player next year, that is certain. Down the line, for sure, but for the Otters who have done nothing but pick subpar? This wasn’t good enough.
Arizona Outlaw (C+):
The Outlaw are a team on the up and up. They hit a grand slam with quarterback Jay Cue, but now they need to build around him. Coming into the draft, there were A LOT of needs.
However, their offense saw some success with Cue behind the wheel last year, so it was defense that became the focus of their early draft. Being without a first-round draft pick in this defensive heavy draft really hurt the Outlaw. But they would make up some ground by taking defensive tackle Pete “Plop” Miller at 14OA. Miller was the 4th DT off the boards, and the Outlaw really didn’t want to chance waiting. It’s a good thing they didn’t because the Hawks also took a DT at 15OA. Less than stellar pick overall, but given the state of the board, it was a great choice by management.
Just two picks later at 16th overall, the Outlaw would take Trevor Mouseman (linebacker). While not elite just quite yet, the Outlaw are likely hoping that Mouseman can grow into that elite linebacker they have been looking years for. Decent pick for decent value here.
At #24, the Outlaw take running back Baby Yoda. This one is simple. Arizona need a proper RB2. Last year the position was given to a tight end who surprised everyone with how well he did. But yeah, good pick up here for sure.
Moving to 34OA, we have out first real “miss” for the Outlaw. They take defensive tackle Juane Arc. Given how deep the DT pool for Arizona is, adding another mediocre tackle will do little to help them win. At 43, they take Atlas Quin, another miss. Same situation as Arc as well. The Outlaw are swamped with mediocre talent at the position, and Quin is another body on the growing pile.
Oddly enough, Jackmerius Tacktheritrix is possibly a great addition to the team. The Outlaw defense has struggled to produce a star pass rusher for some time now. However, at 44OA, Tacktheritrix might be that player. If he does pan out, the pick will look genius. If he doesn’t, he joins the long list that is failed experiments in Arizona.
And finally, but oddly enough, the Outlaw take quarterback George O’Donnell in the draft. This one is an odd one. Jay Cue is obviously the future for Arizona and will be for a long time. However, at 47 overall this is likely a value pick. Should O’Donnell pan out, the Outlaw can flip him for some major capital down the road.
Philadelphia Liberty (F):
Last year was a tough year to be a Liberty fan. Unfortunately, after their showing at the draft, it doesn’t look like this year will be a good year for them either.
Picking at number 3, they provided us with the first reach of the draft, taking running back Juniped Catfish as an RB3. You heard that right. 3rd overall, RB3… Now that’s not to say Catfish is not a great player, but the Liberty have so many needs, that taking an RB3 with their first pick feels downright wasteful. Someone like Douglas Quaid, or if they really wanted to be nasty, HeHateMe PickSix.
To make it worse, their next pick was 18 picks after. At 21 OA they went very far out of their way to pick defensive end Jeff Personsacker. If they wanted a DE, why not take Immanuel Blackwell at 3OA, and take an RB at 21? Instead, they have Jeff, who will be in a DSFL jersey for the foreseeable future. Awful pick, terrible reach.
At #25, they select OL Simon Tremblay. I think this is a great pick and had Tremblay as one of my best players coming into the draft. Unfortunately, in this context, Tremblay wasn’t the right pick. The Liberty have other holes they needed to fill at 25 OA, and Tremblay is more of a very future pick.
And their last pick at #33 is kicker Lefty Louis. Let me remind you that they just drafted a very good kicker last year. Louis will likely be draft bait, but I cannot foresee the Liberty ever getting more than what they drafted him for in return.
If I were in a Liberty jersey this season, I’d probably start looking for liberty from that sometime soon. Especially if you have any interest in winning.
New Orleans Second Line (F):
I’m not sure what New Orleans GM’s were on, or what they were thinking, but this draft should be seen nothing more than a disaster for them. There really isn’t too much to salvage here.
At #8 overall, the Second Line take the 5th ranked defensive end, Dofus Jumbo Jr. While Jumbo Jr’s father has tight connections in the NSFL, it doesn’t warrant a reach of this magnitude. While the Second Line could certainly use a defensive end, Jumbo Jr. is most certainly not NSFL ready. While this might pan out in a could season, the Second Line are geared to win NOW, and this pick is a massive miss.
They continue that trend of building for the future at pick 18, where they take running back Ed Barker. On paper, it looks like a decent pick, but in reality, the Second Line have the best one-two RB combo in the league. Ed Barker will never see real playing time in New Orleans. Big swing, big miss.
Moving to 28, they finally address a need in tight end, only to reach over Reynaud Haugland and take Rainer Wolfcastle instead. If the two were close in skill, it would make sense, but Haugland is by far the better player. Good idea, very bad reach.
Keeping to their very confusing them, the Second Line would take linebacker Ugarth the Dissector at #38. This one is a little more understandable. With Johnny Slothface set to retire after this season, Ugarth is likely the replacement there. At 38, its hard to call anything a reach. But the Hawks would take Gregor McGregor just two picks prior (something that New Orleans very well could have traded into), and then flipped him for massive gains. This isn’t a miss per say, just not great.
And just when you though it couldn’t get worse, they take ANOTHER running back at #48 in Tequila Sunrise. Much like Barker, its unlikely Sunrise will ever see a snap in New Orleans. Even at #48, this is a bad pick.