08-21-2019, 07:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-22-2019, 05:58 PM by Modern_Duke.)
Norfolk Seawolves
Total Class: 17
First Pick: DT Bjorn Ironside (1)
Norfolk did not surprise anyone with making Bjorn Ironside the first overall pick. Norfolk's first surprise came in trading back into the first round to take running back and queen of the draft class Marcella Toriki. Norfolk gave up (8), which went on to become DT Trae Bacon, and a first round pick in next year's draft in order to secure Toriki. From there, Norfolk began to build up it's defense, taking 5 defensive players over its next 6 picks, including Jimjam Flimflam at (32), the second safety off the board after Pete Parker went to the Marshals at (3).
In the back half of the draft, Norfolk made another surprise pick, making Charlie Day the first kicker/punter drafted at (49), one pick before Prospect Bowl standout Baxter Frost. Other highlights and potential sleepers include OL Samuel Bakhtiari (61) and the defensive back combo of S Nicholas Grimmer (85) and CB Noah Grimmer (82).
Summary: It's a whole lot easier to turn a team around if you have a strong defense, so I like the focus on defense in the early rounds. The SeaWolves did a good job of getting top talent at several positions, but I can't help but think they may have been better off going for quantity over quality.
Grade: B+
Palm Beach Solar Bears
Total Class: 17
First Pick: CB Stuart Little IV (2)
With the second overall pick, the Solar Bears picked up Stuart Little IV, technically still a rookie but one with more experience than the majority of the draft class. Some naysayers have questioned the acquisition of TE Zach Hall at (14), I like the pick. In this run-heavy league, a tight end that can handle blocking assignments in addition to contributing to the passing game can be extremely valuable. Palm Beach's front office must have been paying close attention to the Prospect Bowl, as the Solar Bears notably several stand-out performers from the exhibition series, including the running back duo of Jake Utler (7) and Charles Allen (43), K Baxter Frost at (50), and Prospect Bowl MVP LB Matt Ammons (19), who notably had back-to-back 15 tackle games, as well as forcing the deciding turnover in the Prospect Bowl Championship. On the other hand, QB Phillip Helmet struggled with efficiency during the Prospect Bowl, but became the second signal caller drafted at (38).
Summary: Similar to Norfolk, I like some of what of Palm Beach did, including making an effort build up it's offensive line, but they may have been better served in trading back a few times to pick up some more selctions.
Grade: B
San Antonio Marshals
Total Class: 19
First Pick: S Pete Parker (3)
[bias] I mean, what is there to say other than "wow"? This could very well be a perfect class.[/bias] Your friendly neighborhood free safety Pete Parker was another rookie with experience, which paid off for him with a first round selection. From there, the Marshals took the first receiver of the board with Tyrone Biggums (9), the first defensive end with Mike Franchet (15), and the first offensive lineman with Footballer Blockerman (21). DE Fabricio Baldari went at (27) to set the edge opposite of Franchet. [bias] At (28), San Antonio traded a future pick to jump back into the fifth round and pick up a player who could be the steal of the draft, Louisiana Purchase. Purchase seems poised to unquestionably shut down any and all opposing receivers.[/bias] Tight end Steco Ocewilder (39) looks to be a big threat in the passing game this season. The Marshals also went with the popular double running back picks, in Mathias Hanyadi at (33) and the deceptively named Ruff Ruff at (45).
The second half of the draft started all about building the defense, with 5 straight defensive players picked from (51) to (75), including Prospect Bowl standout performer, LB Chico De La Agua, and another nice pick at (69) in Jack Mahoff.
Summary: San Antonio did an unbelievable job of acquiring several potential superstars and filling every imaginable hole in the depth chart. Frankly, I don't see a single missed opportunity here.
Grade: A+
Kansas City Coyotes
Total Class: 17
First Pick: LB Maurice Virtanen (4)
I have laid praise on other teams for building through their defense, but Kansas City took that philosophy to an extreme. In the first half of the draft, the Coyotes took 6 defensive players in the first 46 picks, and did not take an offensive player until (40) in TE Kreboktaflons Kwemen.
I like the pickup of running back Orien Drake at (52), which could be good value for that draft slot. Kicker Diego Espinosa was picked up at (58) but was shipped off minutes later to Portland for later picks, one of which (71) was also used on a kicker, Lucky Dickerson, who has been trying to overcome a poor performance for the Pomona Mongoose in the Prospect Bowl playoffs.
Summary: Kansas City made some savy moves, particularly in the back half of the draft. However, this grade would probably be a little higher with a more well-rounded first half
Grade: C+
Portland Pythons
Total Class: 11
First Pick: QB Jay Cue (5)
Portland's draft night was just as much about the trades as it was the players picked. The Pythons did not wait long to pick up the phones, as right after first round QB Jay Cue was taken at (5), they jumped right back on the clock, picking up (6) from Tijuana and a third round pick in next year's draft in exchange for five total picks, most notably their first rounder next year. Even more shockingly, Portland kept wheeling and dealing, trading (6) right away to Norfolk in exchange for (8), which ended up being DT Trae Bacon, and picking up a first rounder in next year's draft to replace the one given up to Tijuana early. Simple enough, right?
Well, Portland wasn't done yet. After Tijuana took WR Jake Watson at (11), the two teams made another deal, with Portland picking up Watson in exchange for (17) and running back Ben Bortboy. Later in the draft, the Pythons picked up kicker Diego Espinosa, again via trade.
Summary: When all was said and done, Portand ended up with by far the smallest rookie class. They managed to get 3 of the first 11 players picked, but was the price too high?
Grade: C+
Tijuana Luchadores
Total Class: 23
First Pick: WR Jake Watson (11) *Traded to POR* / LB Thudd Kassel (12)
After the heavy trading action detailed above, the first player retained by Tijuana was LB Thudd Kassel (12), who almost immediately threatened a holdout, demanding to play with comrade TE Zach Hall (14). Not the kind of first impression Tijuana was hoping for, but apparently the sides smoothed things over the next day, and Kassel will reportedly report to camp on time.
Tijuana used the extra picks acquired from Portland to immediately fill out the wide receiver corps, with Bender B. Rodriguez (17), Jesse Jackson (24), and Alexander Ryan (30) all taken in quick succession. Interestingly, Tijuana traded out of (28) which was used on CB Louisiana Purchase. Will this be regarded as the biggest mistake of the draft? Time will tell that the answer is, assuredly, yes. In other frivolities, the Luchadores took five consecutive tight ends to cap off their draft class, including Mr. Irrelevant Bill Bono (105).
Summary: After the trades with Portland, Tijuana compiled the largest draft class. However, almost half of the players picked up were offensive skill position players. One has to ask if this was the best use of all that draft capital.
Grade: B
Total Class: 17
First Pick: DT Bjorn Ironside (1)
Norfolk did not surprise anyone with making Bjorn Ironside the first overall pick. Norfolk's first surprise came in trading back into the first round to take running back and queen of the draft class Marcella Toriki. Norfolk gave up (8), which went on to become DT Trae Bacon, and a first round pick in next year's draft in order to secure Toriki. From there, Norfolk began to build up it's defense, taking 5 defensive players over its next 6 picks, including Jimjam Flimflam at (32), the second safety off the board after Pete Parker went to the Marshals at (3).
In the back half of the draft, Norfolk made another surprise pick, making Charlie Day the first kicker/punter drafted at (49), one pick before Prospect Bowl standout Baxter Frost. Other highlights and potential sleepers include OL Samuel Bakhtiari (61) and the defensive back combo of S Nicholas Grimmer (85) and CB Noah Grimmer (82).
Summary: It's a whole lot easier to turn a team around if you have a strong defense, so I like the focus on defense in the early rounds. The SeaWolves did a good job of getting top talent at several positions, but I can't help but think they may have been better off going for quantity over quality.
Grade: B+
Palm Beach Solar Bears
Total Class: 17
First Pick: CB Stuart Little IV (2)
With the second overall pick, the Solar Bears picked up Stuart Little IV, technically still a rookie but one with more experience than the majority of the draft class. Some naysayers have questioned the acquisition of TE Zach Hall at (14), I like the pick. In this run-heavy league, a tight end that can handle blocking assignments in addition to contributing to the passing game can be extremely valuable. Palm Beach's front office must have been paying close attention to the Prospect Bowl, as the Solar Bears notably several stand-out performers from the exhibition series, including the running back duo of Jake Utler (7) and Charles Allen (43), K Baxter Frost at (50), and Prospect Bowl MVP LB Matt Ammons (19), who notably had back-to-back 15 tackle games, as well as forcing the deciding turnover in the Prospect Bowl Championship. On the other hand, QB Phillip Helmet struggled with efficiency during the Prospect Bowl, but became the second signal caller drafted at (38).
Summary: Similar to Norfolk, I like some of what of Palm Beach did, including making an effort build up it's offensive line, but they may have been better served in trading back a few times to pick up some more selctions.
Grade: B
San Antonio Marshals
Total Class: 19
First Pick: S Pete Parker (3)
[bias] I mean, what is there to say other than "wow"? This could very well be a perfect class.[/bias] Your friendly neighborhood free safety Pete Parker was another rookie with experience, which paid off for him with a first round selection. From there, the Marshals took the first receiver of the board with Tyrone Biggums (9), the first defensive end with Mike Franchet (15), and the first offensive lineman with Footballer Blockerman (21). DE Fabricio Baldari went at (27) to set the edge opposite of Franchet. [bias] At (28), San Antonio traded a future pick to jump back into the fifth round and pick up a player who could be the steal of the draft, Louisiana Purchase. Purchase seems poised to unquestionably shut down any and all opposing receivers.[/bias] Tight end Steco Ocewilder (39) looks to be a big threat in the passing game this season. The Marshals also went with the popular double running back picks, in Mathias Hanyadi at (33) and the deceptively named Ruff Ruff at (45).
The second half of the draft started all about building the defense, with 5 straight defensive players picked from (51) to (75), including Prospect Bowl standout performer, LB Chico De La Agua, and another nice pick at (69) in Jack Mahoff.
Summary: San Antonio did an unbelievable job of acquiring several potential superstars and filling every imaginable hole in the depth chart. Frankly, I don't see a single missed opportunity here.
Grade: A+
Kansas City Coyotes
Total Class: 17
First Pick: LB Maurice Virtanen (4)
I have laid praise on other teams for building through their defense, but Kansas City took that philosophy to an extreme. In the first half of the draft, the Coyotes took 6 defensive players in the first 46 picks, and did not take an offensive player until (40) in TE Kreboktaflons Kwemen.
I like the pickup of running back Orien Drake at (52), which could be good value for that draft slot. Kicker Diego Espinosa was picked up at (58) but was shipped off minutes later to Portland for later picks, one of which (71) was also used on a kicker, Lucky Dickerson, who has been trying to overcome a poor performance for the Pomona Mongoose in the Prospect Bowl playoffs.
Summary: Kansas City made some savy moves, particularly in the back half of the draft. However, this grade would probably be a little higher with a more well-rounded first half
Grade: C+
Portland Pythons
Total Class: 11
First Pick: QB Jay Cue (5)
Portland's draft night was just as much about the trades as it was the players picked. The Pythons did not wait long to pick up the phones, as right after first round QB Jay Cue was taken at (5), they jumped right back on the clock, picking up (6) from Tijuana and a third round pick in next year's draft in exchange for five total picks, most notably their first rounder next year. Even more shockingly, Portland kept wheeling and dealing, trading (6) right away to Norfolk in exchange for (8), which ended up being DT Trae Bacon, and picking up a first rounder in next year's draft to replace the one given up to Tijuana early. Simple enough, right?
Well, Portland wasn't done yet. After Tijuana took WR Jake Watson at (11), the two teams made another deal, with Portland picking up Watson in exchange for (17) and running back Ben Bortboy. Later in the draft, the Pythons picked up kicker Diego Espinosa, again via trade.
Summary: When all was said and done, Portand ended up with by far the smallest rookie class. They managed to get 3 of the first 11 players picked, but was the price too high?
Grade: C+
Tijuana Luchadores
Total Class: 23
First Pick: WR Jake Watson (11) *Traded to POR* / LB Thudd Kassel (12)
After the heavy trading action detailed above, the first player retained by Tijuana was LB Thudd Kassel (12), who almost immediately threatened a holdout, demanding to play with comrade TE Zach Hall (14). Not the kind of first impression Tijuana was hoping for, but apparently the sides smoothed things over the next day, and Kassel will reportedly report to camp on time.
Tijuana used the extra picks acquired from Portland to immediately fill out the wide receiver corps, with Bender B. Rodriguez (17), Jesse Jackson (24), and Alexander Ryan (30) all taken in quick succession. Interestingly, Tijuana traded out of (28) which was used on CB Louisiana Purchase. Will this be regarded as the biggest mistake of the draft? Time will tell that the answer is, assuredly, yes. In other frivolities, the Luchadores took five consecutive tight ends to cap off their draft class, including Mr. Irrelevant Bill Bono (105).
Summary: After the trades with Portland, Tijuana compiled the largest draft class. However, almost half of the players picked up were offensive skill position players. One has to ask if this was the best use of all that draft capital.
Grade: B