Welcome everyone, everywhere to the best part of the year. It is TIME to get into draft season and you need not fret nor fear the darkness and misinformation age any longer. Stevie B is back. It’s time to help you figure out what each team is planning on doing in the upcoming NSFL draft. I’m gonna go team by team in roder and help you understand what they need and where they’re most likely to put all those sexy little eggs. And as always, I’m gonna use my many eyes and ears to help me out because I am the best at this. So let’s get right into it because this isn’t a Clayman article and I’m not here to masturbate myself. Oh you don’t remember Clayman? What about Westin? Frayless? Tomo? Really? None of them? Well, would you look at that? Let’s get drafting. Obviously we have some time between now and the draft itself and any number of trades, free agency signings, or other moves could affect what happens. For now though, come look with the best there is into the near future of the NSFL.
#1 Orange County Otters
Needs:
Orange County got this pick in a swap with Chicago, who gets Orange County’s natural 6th pick after a trade that ultimately did not work out as Chicago had hoped in my professional opinion. With D-Line badly wounded and needing some serious firepower, this is far and away the glaring hole OCO needs to fill. Couple that with us already knowing from previous highly skilled reporting that they’re going defensive and it gets narrowed down very easily. Their secondary is fine and the LB core can wait a bit so it comes down to one of two D-Line candidates. Immanuel Blackstone and Otis Allen. Both look to be studs but one has a slight advantage. A mentor with NSFL ties. For that reason…..
Prediction:
Immanuel Blackstone
DE
Tijuana Luchadores
#2 San Jose Sabercats
Needs:
With several hit and miss drafts, these Cats are simply in need of talent. With defense having been such an issue last season (giving up a league high 423 points, more than anyone during the 13 game era save the two expansion teams who gave up 428 each during their inaugural seasons) they should look to that side of the ball and pick a winner. They are in position to trade back for the right fofer as they have enough holes that a more shotgun approach could work. But if they don’t you can fully expect a BPA strategy here. And that BPA is almost without question going to be either DT Otis Allen or S Jeffrey Lavert. If this was their only pick I could see them going D-Line but with another selection at #4 they can afford to go a different direction with comfort that they’ll still have options. They can go big, sexy, and bold.
Prediction:
Jeffrey Lavert
S
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#3 Philadelphia Liberty
Needs:
A young but stacked offense means Philly is also likely to go defensive. Unlike those picks in front of them D-Line isn't as pressing of a need for a team that’s built a solid one already, but they could still round it out. They could also take someone in the secondary where they need a youth movement. They’re thinnest at LB but it’s a deep position. With all that in mind and the way I see the draft falling before them, they have some options they could go to. They’d have taken Lavert in a heartbeat if he’d been here but that dream was dashed. DT Otis Allen seems possible but there are D-Line players aplenty here. There may in fact be fewer high level secondary players to pick from. S Matt Murphy and CB HeHateMe PickSix are both very viable options in the secondary. For a team that has to consider that it doesn’t own a 2nd round pick Philly has to get this right or it’s basically a loss for them. They could be a potential trade down candidate due to that. If not, they have to go with need over want.
Prediction:
Matt Murphy
S
Minnesota Grey Ducks
#4 San Jose Sabercats
Needs:
They just got Lavert at #2 and now can easily clean up the back end of this two part manuever and shore up their line.
Prediction:
Otis Allen
DT
Portland Pythons
#5 Baltimore Hawks
Needs:
They just lost solid WR Brock Landers to retirement. DE Fabricio Balderi is out the door in free agency with no guarantees of returning. TE Earl Sauce is also gone it would seem. The core isn’t young anymore and the future just isn’t there at the moment. Baltimore is in a big big need of talent. They’re in a position to go BPA or trade back. WR Chris Kross could make them jump to replenish their offensive firepower as Havran begins to age. On the other side of the ball secondary is probably their lowest concern besides QB (for the moment) so I would expect a defender to be in the front 6. You have LB Douglas Quaid who feels like a Baltimore guy. Don’t discount the plausible D-Line choices of Sardine Beaner or Pete Miller either. It’s really about where Baltimore wants to focus the next few seasons. I think they want to load more weapons.
Prediction:
Chris Kross
WR
Kansas City Coyotes
#6 Chicago Butchers
Needs:
Well the team famously needs a lot of things right now. They do however possess a solid QB and WR grouping. Ryan Leaf Jr famously has position switched to RB for the upcoming season. LB is more or less stable currently. Secondary is a vast hole of emptiness currently however. I think it’s likely they turn their attention to this part of the team. Given the talent dropoff from this point and their limited resources, I think Chicago makes the obvious pick in this scenario.
Prediction:
HeHateMe PickSix
CB
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#7 Colorado Yeti
Needs:
Colorado is one of the most complete teams in the league just entering its prime. They don't really have needs per se. Just things that would be convenient. They have an absolutely deadly offense that honestly can’t even fit more targets at the moment. The defense is solids to very good all the way across. They very well could broker a trade back or out. They could also pick up a D-Line player and put them to good use if they so choose and Pete Miller and Sardine Beaner are both there for the picking. Miller looks ever so slightly like the better prospect.
Prediction:
Pete Miller
DT
Norfolk Seawolves
#8 New Orleans Second Line
Needs:
Not many that a draft can solve. Defense is solid all the way around. Running game is tight with Toriki and Gump. They possess one of the best young TE’s in recent history. What they need is a bigtime WR to pair with Jed Podolak in case Bender B Rodriguez is really gone. If he stays they have the luxury of grabbing a player to stash and develop. This could be the moment for CB turned RB Dex Frost. Or LBs Douglas Quaid and Holden Summers could be the pick of the future of an aging LB core. They have a lot of directions they can go. Given that Frost previously expressed a willingness to play WR in addition to RB he could easily slide into that role and he’s a big talent. I expect Nola will sing sweet words to him to make it happen.
Prediction:
Dex Frost
RB
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#9 Yellowknife Wraiths
Needs: The team has built itself into three straight Ultimus appearances but they are beginning to show their age. This is a team that can potentially compete for another year or two before it starts to really show. They do have a small bit of youth on the way. TE Blake Gregg is a big motor guy about to come up and join the offense and give Bigsby another target that solidifies the offense for the moment. The back 7 is in solid enough shape for the moment that they can turn their attention to the D-Line and with the way the draft has gone up until now, it’s highly likely they move on the best remaining D-Line player available. Never let it be said that the Wraiths rest on their laurels.
Prediction:
Sardine Beaner
DT
Minnesota Grey Ducks
#10 Austin Copperheads
Needs: Fresh off of the first Ultimus win in franchise history, the Copperheads are looking very solid all over. Offensively they’re set and defensively they’re solid in the back 7. One more D-Lineman would likely round them out as they begin the quest to repeat. They could also trade back as they have that kind of luxury. Assuming the pick remains in place I see them zeroing in on a D-Line player of their own, as this is a position the team historically likes to address. With John-Caleb Bradburton plateauing early and Grayson Kuusela on his last legs before retirement, this pick seems easy. The new GM Carlito Crush lives up to his name and crushes it here.
Prediction:
Riles McGiles
DT
Kansas City Coyotes
A defensive heavy draft pool that creates a lot of opportunity for teams to shore up their hard to reach places. This is the first mock draft of the season and you can bet that your boy Stephen will be on top of any changes that may affect this. Keep an eye out for a few additional dark horses to slide up the board as well. Look out for defenders like LB Douglas Quaid, LB Holden Summers, and DT Rapid Eagle to possibly improve their stocks enough to change the order. Until next time, I’m Stephen B Smitfter. Stay informed.
#1 Orange County Otters
Needs:
Orange County got this pick in a swap with Chicago, who gets Orange County’s natural 6th pick after a trade that ultimately did not work out as Chicago had hoped in my professional opinion. With D-Line badly wounded and needing some serious firepower, this is far and away the glaring hole OCO needs to fill. Couple that with us already knowing from previous highly skilled reporting that they’re going defensive and it gets narrowed down very easily. Their secondary is fine and the LB core can wait a bit so it comes down to one of two D-Line candidates. Immanuel Blackstone and Otis Allen. Both look to be studs but one has a slight advantage. A mentor with NSFL ties. For that reason…..
Prediction:
Immanuel Blackstone
DE
Tijuana Luchadores
#2 San Jose Sabercats
Needs:
With several hit and miss drafts, these Cats are simply in need of talent. With defense having been such an issue last season (giving up a league high 423 points, more than anyone during the 13 game era save the two expansion teams who gave up 428 each during their inaugural seasons) they should look to that side of the ball and pick a winner. They are in position to trade back for the right fofer as they have enough holes that a more shotgun approach could work. But if they don’t you can fully expect a BPA strategy here. And that BPA is almost without question going to be either DT Otis Allen or S Jeffrey Lavert. If this was their only pick I could see them going D-Line but with another selection at #4 they can afford to go a different direction with comfort that they’ll still have options. They can go big, sexy, and bold.
Prediction:
Jeffrey Lavert
S
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#3 Philadelphia Liberty
Needs:
A young but stacked offense means Philly is also likely to go defensive. Unlike those picks in front of them D-Line isn't as pressing of a need for a team that’s built a solid one already, but they could still round it out. They could also take someone in the secondary where they need a youth movement. They’re thinnest at LB but it’s a deep position. With all that in mind and the way I see the draft falling before them, they have some options they could go to. They’d have taken Lavert in a heartbeat if he’d been here but that dream was dashed. DT Otis Allen seems possible but there are D-Line players aplenty here. There may in fact be fewer high level secondary players to pick from. S Matt Murphy and CB HeHateMe PickSix are both very viable options in the secondary. For a team that has to consider that it doesn’t own a 2nd round pick Philly has to get this right or it’s basically a loss for them. They could be a potential trade down candidate due to that. If not, they have to go with need over want.
Prediction:
Matt Murphy
S
Minnesota Grey Ducks
#4 San Jose Sabercats
Needs:
They just got Lavert at #2 and now can easily clean up the back end of this two part manuever and shore up their line.
Prediction:
Otis Allen
DT
Portland Pythons
#5 Baltimore Hawks
Needs:
They just lost solid WR Brock Landers to retirement. DE Fabricio Balderi is out the door in free agency with no guarantees of returning. TE Earl Sauce is also gone it would seem. The core isn’t young anymore and the future just isn’t there at the moment. Baltimore is in a big big need of talent. They’re in a position to go BPA or trade back. WR Chris Kross could make them jump to replenish their offensive firepower as Havran begins to age. On the other side of the ball secondary is probably their lowest concern besides QB (for the moment) so I would expect a defender to be in the front 6. You have LB Douglas Quaid who feels like a Baltimore guy. Don’t discount the plausible D-Line choices of Sardine Beaner or Pete Miller either. It’s really about where Baltimore wants to focus the next few seasons. I think they want to load more weapons.
Prediction:
Chris Kross
WR
Kansas City Coyotes
#6 Chicago Butchers
Needs:
Well the team famously needs a lot of things right now. They do however possess a solid QB and WR grouping. Ryan Leaf Jr famously has position switched to RB for the upcoming season. LB is more or less stable currently. Secondary is a vast hole of emptiness currently however. I think it’s likely they turn their attention to this part of the team. Given the talent dropoff from this point and their limited resources, I think Chicago makes the obvious pick in this scenario.
Prediction:
HeHateMe PickSix
CB
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#7 Colorado Yeti
Needs:
Colorado is one of the most complete teams in the league just entering its prime. They don't really have needs per se. Just things that would be convenient. They have an absolutely deadly offense that honestly can’t even fit more targets at the moment. The defense is solids to very good all the way across. They very well could broker a trade back or out. They could also pick up a D-Line player and put them to good use if they so choose and Pete Miller and Sardine Beaner are both there for the picking. Miller looks ever so slightly like the better prospect.
Prediction:
Pete Miller
DT
Norfolk Seawolves
#8 New Orleans Second Line
Needs:
Not many that a draft can solve. Defense is solid all the way around. Running game is tight with Toriki and Gump. They possess one of the best young TE’s in recent history. What they need is a bigtime WR to pair with Jed Podolak in case Bender B Rodriguez is really gone. If he stays they have the luxury of grabbing a player to stash and develop. This could be the moment for CB turned RB Dex Frost. Or LBs Douglas Quaid and Holden Summers could be the pick of the future of an aging LB core. They have a lot of directions they can go. Given that Frost previously expressed a willingness to play WR in addition to RB he could easily slide into that role and he’s a big talent. I expect Nola will sing sweet words to him to make it happen.
Prediction:
Dex Frost
RB
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
#9 Yellowknife Wraiths
Needs: The team has built itself into three straight Ultimus appearances but they are beginning to show their age. This is a team that can potentially compete for another year or two before it starts to really show. They do have a small bit of youth on the way. TE Blake Gregg is a big motor guy about to come up and join the offense and give Bigsby another target that solidifies the offense for the moment. The back 7 is in solid enough shape for the moment that they can turn their attention to the D-Line and with the way the draft has gone up until now, it’s highly likely they move on the best remaining D-Line player available. Never let it be said that the Wraiths rest on their laurels.
Prediction:
Sardine Beaner
DT
Minnesota Grey Ducks
#10 Austin Copperheads
Needs: Fresh off of the first Ultimus win in franchise history, the Copperheads are looking very solid all over. Offensively they’re set and defensively they’re solid in the back 7. One more D-Lineman would likely round them out as they begin the quest to repeat. They could also trade back as they have that kind of luxury. Assuming the pick remains in place I see them zeroing in on a D-Line player of their own, as this is a position the team historically likes to address. With John-Caleb Bradburton plateauing early and Grayson Kuusela on his last legs before retirement, this pick seems easy. The new GM Carlito Crush lives up to his name and crushes it here.
Prediction:
Riles McGiles
DT
Kansas City Coyotes
A defensive heavy draft pool that creates a lot of opportunity for teams to shore up their hard to reach places. This is the first mock draft of the season and you can bet that your boy Stephen will be on top of any changes that may affect this. Keep an eye out for a few additional dark horses to slide up the board as well. Look out for defenders like LB Douglas Quaid, LB Holden Summers, and DT Rapid Eagle to possibly improve their stocks enough to change the order. Until next time, I’m Stephen B Smitfter. Stay informed.