05-03-2019, 07:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-04-2019, 09:44 AM by Fordhammer.)
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Ready to be graded (3101 words)
Double draft media
This season’s NSFL draft might be historic in terms of its sheer size and depth, but it still has one thing in common with drafts of the past. Each team has weaknesses in its roster, and unique problems that need to be solved. This draft, like every other draft before it, serves as a way for teams to address issues with their roster and to improve before the season begins. Some teams will be looking to add pieces to a championship squad, or find the missing piece that puts them on top this season. Other teams are in desperate need of talent, and are hoping to use this draft to find future franchise players. Whatever the case, this draft gives teams a chance to find some talent and increase their odds of winning it all next season, or even farther down the line. This article seeks to examine each team’s biggest needs ahead of the draft, and to potentially identify which players they might end up drafting. This is all speculation and opinion, so take everything that I say with a grain of salt. This article also won’t attempt to predict when each player might be drafted -- it simply hopes to identify players that the team might take at some point during the draft. So let’s get started with Part One!
Arizona Outlaws
Biggest Needs: Defensive line, secondary
The Outlaws certainly had a rough season, but the future is bright in Arizona, and not just because it’s a barren desert where the sun never stops shining. The team gave up a league-worst 523 points, including a 76-7 loss to Orange County. For context, the team with the second-most points allowed was Colorado with 442, which means Arizona had the worst defense in the league by an 81 point margin. So it’s obvious from a quick glance that Arizona will be looking to plug massive holes in their defensive lineup. And they’re in a great position to do it, too: they have 17 picks in this massive draft, including three picks in the fourth and fifth rounds each. They might look to deal some of those picks, but with the impressive talent present in this year’s draft, they’ll probably keep as many as possible and look to start a massive rebuild. Arizona’s new GM SwagSloth has overseen a rebuild before, helping Yellowknife get over the hump and win the Ultimus in Season 8, so this is a team that’s positioned to make a dramatic turnaround within the next few seasons. I suspect a lot of people are overlooking Arizona because of their poor showing last season, but those people are in for a big surprise.
Now let’s get specific. The biggest issue the Outlaws are currently facing is their atrocious defensive line, so I expect that’s where they’ll focus first. Arizona currently has three defensive ends on roster. Avery Woodham recently agreed to a team-friendly deal through Season 17, but the other two are inactive. One of those inactives has not yet been offered a contract for Season 15; could that be because Arizona is planning on drafting his replacement? Defensive tackle Jordan McCann is also an inactive who has not been offered a Season 15 contract, but Dingus Hunk looks poised to take his place. The Outlaws are set at linebacker: the team will be calling both Gekyume Stokeley and Leighton Lee up from the DSFL to play alongside Raymond Vans and A.J. Robertson. Stokeley and Lee are both Season 14 players, while Vans joined the league in Season 12. That makes for a very young core, and gives Arizona a fairly young core to build around. The Arizona secondary is in desperate need of a reboot, too. Out of five players (three cornerbacks and two safeties), only CB Hike Mughes and S Shannon Hobbs are under contract, and Hobbs’ contract is only for Season 15. With no corners or safeties available to call up, and a very talented group of defensive backs available in the draft, Arizona will almost certainly take a few players to help lock down the secondary.
When the dust settles, Arizona will have a defense largely composed of young players, which is exactly what a team deep in rebuild mode wants. Next season might be rough for the Outlaws as their new defense adjusts to the speed and intensity of the NSFL. But once the players hit their stride, the Outlaws defense could have the potential to carry the team to the Ultimus.
Potential Outlaws: Nero Alexander and Mick Moekr (DE), Ricardo Morris and Ryan Leaf Jr. (DT), Lucas Knight and Xerxes Ridley (CB), Walt Green and Logan Uchiha (S)
Austin Copperheads
Biggest Needs: Everything except running back
One of the reasons this draft is so important is because the league’s newest expansion teams get to participate. The players drafted to these franchises will have to spend another season in the DSFL while the Head Office puts the final touches on the expansion. But that’s not a bad thing at all. Austin’s draftees will spend next season in the DSFL; the capped rookies can simply bank TPE and eventually build their stats according to AdamS’ strategy, while the low TPE rookies get more time to get ready for the NSFL. All of this to say that when the Copperheads take the field in Season 16, they’ll be more than ready to compete with the established franchises.
With Dick Wizardry expected to be the team’s number one option at running back, it’s anyone’s guess as to who the team might draft. So this section of the article is less “speculation” on my part and more “throwing darts at a list of prospects.” AdamS wants to emphasize team chemistry, so I’d expect him to take players who are positive influences off the field. It’s good news for him, then, that this draft is full of players like that. Safeties Martavius Mack and Fatih Terim, linebacker Mo Berry, running back Forrest Gump, and wide receiver Nacho Varga are all the kind of players who could help establish a positive locker room attitude that is critical to this team’s future success. These players are all ready to compete at the NSFL level as well, so another season in the DSFL gives them a largely pressure-free environment in which to improve. Having experienced players (read: recreates) in this young locker room could also be a big boost for this team. Offensive linemen Brave Ulysses and Edmond Beaver-Dantes could bring that much-needed veteran presence. If Austin didn’t want to take two offensive linemen in one of the deepest drafts ever, though, they could go with quarterback Jay Longshaw.
Like I said earlier, the extra DSFL season that these Copperheads draftees will get is going to be a huge benefit for the team. Spending two seasons in the developmental league isn’t ideal for everyone (understandably), but the upshot is that this team will be dangerous from the moment they take the field. One also has to keep in mind the expansion draft that will occur next season, which will allow Austin to refine what is sure to be a fantastic roster. I’m looking forward to seeing what this team will do.
Potential Copperheads: Brave Ulysses and Edmond Beaver-Dantes (OL), Forrest Gump (RB), Nacho Varga (WR), Franklin Armstrong and Jay Longshaw (QB), Cameron Olsen (TE), Mo Berry (LB), Martavius Mack and Fatih Terim (S)
Baltimore Hawks
Biggest Needs: Offensive line, defensive tackle
With the addition of star running back Marquise Brown in last season’s free agency, Baltimore was the early favorite for the Season 14 Ultimus. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to realize their full potential, and were knocked out of the playoffs by Philadelphia. Speaking as someone whose heavily favored team was also upset in the playoffs, it’s hard to recover from a loss like that. But Baltimore should have an easy time regrouping and trying again next season. They finished the year with a record of 11-3, tied for best record in the league. The majority of their roster is under contract for the next several seasons, and they have an impressive number of send-downs (eight) ready to be called up. A number of their players did suffer the effects of regression this season, but the team is more than capable of weathering those blows. In other words, I don’t think that Baltimore will experience much of a slump next season, and I fully expect them to be in the hunt for the Ultimus in Season 15.
The problem (if you can call it that) is that Baltimore has very few “needs” coming into this draft. Quarterback Childish Gambino recently announced his retirement, but Baltimore has Corvo Havran ready to take the helm. Wide receiver Viggo Squanch and cornerback Andre Bly Jr. will both be retiring after this season as well. Baltimore has JN Nova ready to be called up, and I could see one of their three(!) DSFL safeties to make the switch to cornerback. Baltimore has planned ahead very well, so their biggest issue is not necessarily fixing their roster, but planning for the future. Thomas Clarke, an inactive, is one of the team’s two defensive tackles, so finding a replacement for him might be a good idea. Their second-string running back, Corey Trevor, is also inactive. Finding a quality backup for Brown (who will start regressing next season) would both give them a future starter and add to their impressive depth. Guys like Forrest Gump and Terry Taffy could be a great fit for this team, and both have the potential to be future stars in Baltimore. One interesting direction the team could go in would be to take an offensive lineman. With the $10,000,000 increase in the salary cap this season, the Hawks might opt to take the $4,500,000 that they usually put toward an OL bot and instead use that money for a quality lineman. That’s more of a long shot, but the team is in such a secure position that they could afford to take that gamble.
Baltimore may have had a heartbreaking end to their season, but they have a myriad of reasons to be happy about the future. Their situation is one that most teams in any sport would give a king’s ransom for: they’re fully equipped to compete for a title in the immediate future, and they have the pieces to remain competitive beyond that. This draft will only serve to improve their standing, and to (potentially) put them on top next season.
Potential Hawks: Ricardo Morris and Cale Clay (DT), Gregor Clegaine and Brave Ulysses (OL), Terry Taffy and Forrest Gump (RB)
Chicago Butchers
Biggest Needs: Everything except wide receiver
Much like fellow expansion team Austin, Chicago is looking to build their team from the ground up. It’s a challenging task, but Butchers GM To12143 is more than up to the task. He’s taken a different approach to scouting, posting a survey and inviting prospects to complete it. It makes his job a lot easier: let the players who might be interested in playing for an expansion team come to you, then you can pick and choose based on their responses. It’s a good way to scout a draft class of this size, especially as an expansion GM with plenty of other things on your plate. With plenty of roster spots available, and plenty of players waiting to fill them, To12143 certainly has his pick of potential stars to build a team with. But the ultimate question remains: who will Chicago take come draft day?
The ultimate answer, at this point, is “who the hell knows?” Kazimir Oles will be the team’s WR1, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t take more wide receivers to strengthen their passing game. Oles will also need someone to throw him the ball, so a solid quarterback needs to be high on the priority list (although, in fairness, a solid quarterback should be high on most team’s priority list). Franklin Armstrong is easily the best quarterback prospect in this draft, and would be a great fit for Chicago: the extra DSFL season would give him plenty of time to improve on an already impressive skill set, and Chicago would be able to focus on building the team around him. Chicago could also make use of wide receivers Nacho Varga, Rod Tidwell, Brock Landers, and Ahri Espeeyeeseetee to help take pressure off of Oles. Of course, the Butchers will need to have a solid running game if they want their passing to pay off, so a top-tier running back is crucial for them. Most existing teams will probably protect their best running backs in the expansion draft, so Chicago might take one now and work on developing him into a starter.
Speaking of the expansion draft, it’s important to remember that Chicago (and Austin) will probably be left with holes in their roster even after this year’s NSFL draft is over -- and might even leave some spots open intentionally. With the expansion draft and next season’s free agency lurking in the background, it’s impossible to say for sure how the expansion teams will approach this draft. They might make some moves that seem illogical, or not makes moves that seem obvious. Without knowing the thought processes of the expansion GMs, the draft class of these teams is difficult to predict. However, I’m confident that To12143 won’t…butcher...this draft, and I’m truly excited to watch them take the field in Season 16. (And, for what it’s worth, I really love the branding.)
Potential Butchers: Franklin Armstrong and Apollo Lange (QB), Ahri Espeeyeeseetee and Brock Landers (WR), Morgan Marshall and Forrest Gump (RB), Mo Berry and Guy Nikko (LB), Logan Uchiha (S), Xerxes Ridley (CB)
Colorado Yeti
Biggest Needs: Quarterback, defensive line, secondary
Oh man, the Colorado Yeti. Listen, the Yeti took a gamble. They made decisions and moves and put themselves in a position to win now (“now” being Season 13). The Yeti pushed for a championship and, sadly, they fell short. But that’s what’s required in the sports world if you want to win. You’ve got to be willing to make those bold choices and take those risks, because you don’t win championships without being a little daring. So you can’t fault them for trying to bring home an Ultimus -- they took a shot and it didn’t pan out. It happens. But the sim gods must have conspired with the draft gods, because Colorado gave up most of its Season 15 draft picks in order to make that championship run. And what they couldn’t have known at the time was how the Season 15 NSFL draft was going to look. Now, Colorado finds itself on the outside looking in at one of the largest and deepest drafts in league history, and it will have to take some more risks in order to get back in.
Colorado currently has eight picks in a twelve round draft. Half of those picks aren’t even Colorado’s: they own Baltimore’s first, seventh, and eighth round picks, and Arizona’s tenth round pick. Assuming the Yeti don’t acquire any more picks, they’ll have to make some careful decisions in order to maximize their draft. Their biggest need at the moment is at quarterback. With Micycle McCormick announcing that Season 15 will be his last, the Yeti need to figure out how they’re going to replace him. Position switches are always an option, but this draft gives Colorado the opportunity to get a quality replacement at an early stage of his career. Quarterback isn’t their only offensive need, though. Running back Mark Grau and wide receiver ShaDarrien LaMelllana are both inactive, and each has a $1,000,000 contract through the end of the season. Colorado would love to put that money toward players who will actually be present in the locke room. The Yeti also had an abysmal defensive showing last season, and their poor defensive line is certainly a major factor in that. Both defensive ends (Joey Sachs and Odell Marret) and their defensive tackle (Omar Wrong) are all inactives, and while their contracts are much more team friendly, every GM worth his or her salt would tell you that having active players is much more important. The lone bright spot of this defense (and, perhaps, the team as a whole) is their linebacker situation. Soupy McBrain and Logan Lejune are both Season 12 players who are under contract through Season 17. For an active player, McBrain is surprisingly low in TPE (155 at the time of this writing). Colorado could perhaps take a linebacker to either take McBrain’s spot or play alongside him and Lejune to strengthen the defense. In my opinion, though, the team would be better off using that pick for a cornerback. Beau Montgomery (also a Season 12 create who is locked up through Season 17) is currently playing next to a 130 TPE inactive, who will take a regression hit next season. The Yeti would immediately benefit from taking one of the many talented corners in this draft and using him to help shut down the secondary.
It’s true that the Yeti got horrifically unlucky this past season. Not only did they mortgage their short-term future for a title, they failed to even win the title. Now they have to regroup and look forward. They’re not in as much of a rebuild as Arizona is, but it’s close. The Colorado GM team is smart, though, and I will be shocked if there aren’t any trades involving Colorado over the next day or two. It might not seem like they have much going for them now, but it won’t take much for them to climb back up and start competing for a title again very soon. And maybe this time, they’ll manage to walk away with the trophy.
Potential Yeti: Apollo Lange and Jay Longshaw (QB), Forrest Gump and Terry Taffy (RB), Lo Mein (DE), Ryan Leaf Jr. (DT), David Le Kre and Xerxes Ridley (CB)