With the biggest draft class in league history complete we take a look at how the Philadelphia Liberty did this draft. The Liberty finished the season with a 3-10 record being last in the league. However, because of the expansion teams coming in the Liberty are sitting with the 3rd overall pick instead of 1st overall. The Liberty also made a trade earlier in the season to acquire a 2nd 1st round pick while also adding a 2nd. The biggest need for the Liberty is in their secondary as their CB1 Edmondov Emoji was taken in the expansion draft and their CB2 Julian McMorris retired at the end of last season. That just leaves Stuart Little as their only CB. Their safeties include Richard D'Attoria V and Lamont Mckinnie who has also announced this is his last season in the league. Other than Offensive Line the Liberty's Offense is very young and there are no glaring holes as they have 3 very capable receivers, a young QB with Pheonix while also having a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield with Future HoF'er Sam Torrenson and Fuzzy Dotson.
Round 1-3rd overall:
Matt "Son of Havoc" Cross- Safety Norfolk Seawolves
77 Tackles 1 FF 1 sack 3 INTS 3PD'S and 1 TD
Matt Cross was one of the top safeties in this draft class, a playmaking Safety out of Norfolk has great speed for tracking the ball when it's in the air and reads plays very nicely making him a threat in the passing game while also coming up in the run game. Cross is going to become a staple of the Liberty D and be the next leader as D'Attoria starts to regress.
Round 1- 4th overall:
Brandon Booker CB Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
61 tackles 1 FF 2 INT 11 PD
So again I cant stress this enough, Philly needs a lot of help in the secondary. Booker is immediatley the CB1 in Philly with the lose of Emoji and the retired McMorris. Booker finds himself on a team that is committed to making him CB1 right off the bat. He had a great season in Myrtle Beach and was a highly touted rookie in the class. When it came down to it, Philly had him listed above all other CB's and is hoping he makes an immediate impact.
Round 2- pick 18th overall
Wesley Eriksen Safety Norfolk Seawolves
56 tackles 4 sacks 2 INTS 3 PD and 1 TD
The top Safety pairing in the DSFL are coming to the same NSFL team. Here the Liberty snag Matt Cross' teammate Eriksen. Eriksen fills a need for the Liberty while also being a great Lr presence. Eriksen is a Safety that isnt afraid of getting into the box and playing in the backfield. Eriksen provides a great boost in the secondary with Cross and their future looks very bright.
Round 5 Pick 60th overall:
Jonathon Altidore CB Myrtle Beach
111 tackles 1 FR 1INT 4 PD
Yes I know what everyone is thinking... 111 tackles for a CB must mean people catch the ball against him a lot. Now let me tell you why you're wrong. The DSFL is a very run heavy league as opposed to the NSFL. Altidore showed he is not just great in coverage but he is also good getting off blocks and stopping the run. Altidore is reuniting with Booker as the CB's of the future in Philly. Also, yeah I know another player in the secondary.
Round 6 pick 63 overall
Spike Suzuki LB Norfolk Seawolves
134 Tackles 2 TFL 1 FR 1 PD
The Liberty keep adding to their Defense by taking Suzuki here in the 6th round. Suzuki was a big part of the Norfolk Defense along with Cross and Erisken. Suzuki is a speedy LB that can pressure the QB but also track down speedy RB's in the run game. Suzuki is going to be turned to to help in the pass rush as Franchy was taken in the expansion draft leaving a hole on the DL specifically an edge rusher.
Round 7 pick 75 overall:
Mario Von Pebbles DE Minnesota Grey Ducks
28 Tackles 8 TFL 4 Sacks
Ok well I want to thank all of the other teams for leaving a 241 TPE DE for us in ROUND 7!!!!!! This pick could very well be one of the biggest draft steals ever in the league. Von Pebbles is a pass rusher but due to the depth in Minnesota he lined up at DT a lot not really being able to showcase what he can do off the edge. He is going to get the chance in Philly to show off the pass rushing skills. He has a bright future ahead.
Round 7 pick 80 overall
Donatello Arrabiata TE London Royals
32 catches 260 yards 1 TD 10 Pancakes
Arrabiata doesnt have the sexiest of stats but his 10 pancakes in the run game stand out. Arrabiata is going to be a good complement to Blocksdale JR in a few seasons and will allow philly to use more 2 TE sets. Arrabiata is someone who likes to do damage around the goal line so watch out for Pa passes and other tricky things to get him the football.
Round 8 Pick 94 overall
Suleiman Ramza QB Norfolk Seawolves
72/121 649 yards 3 TD's 4 INTS
I know what everyone is thinking... "Philly has a young QB in Pheonix why draft another?" Well it's called a back up plan. Brock Pheonix is our future and theres no arguing that. However, Ramza is a great LR guy and can get things done on the field. As a Mobile QB he can make nothing into something. Once he gets his opportunity I believe he is going to light the league on fire no matter where or when his opportunity comes.
Round 9 pick 99 overall
J.B Apollo RB Myrtle Beach
265 Carries 1267 Yards 5 TD's
With Torrenson entering regression next season Philly is looking at bringing someone on who can start to lighten his workload once the regression smacks him hard in 3-4 seasons. Apollo had a tremendous season in Myrtle Beach with over 1200 yards on the ground. Apollo can be a huge grave in a few seasons but for now will be Myrtle beach's top RB fkr a few seasons until he is summoned to the big leagues
Round 10 pick 111 overall
Tristan Gronlie DT London Royals
31 tackles 1 FF 1 FR 3 sacks
Gronlie is is a big strong DT who slipped under a lot of radars for fear that he has gone IA. Well a few hours before the draft he popped in and has claimed to be very committed to the league. So along with Von Pebbles falling to the 7th and Gronlie here in the 10, Philly has snagged the future of their DL in the 7th and 10th round. Gronlie has a bright future ahead and could potentially be the best 10th round pick ever in the league.
Round 10 pick 116
Alexander Hamilton II CB portland Pythons
85 tackles 2 FF 1 FR 4 INTS 6 PD's
Philly adds their 3rd CB and 5th member of the secondary in this draft. Hamilton had a solid season in Portland snagging 4 INTS quickly proving QB's nedd to avoid him. A lot like Altidore he was able to make a difference in the run game as well. If Hamilton has 1 or 2 more solid seasons in Portland he will be ready for the move to Philly and become a real threat in the secondary.
Round 1-3rd overall:
Matt "Son of Havoc" Cross- Safety Norfolk Seawolves
77 Tackles 1 FF 1 sack 3 INTS 3PD'S and 1 TD
Matt Cross was one of the top safeties in this draft class, a playmaking Safety out of Norfolk has great speed for tracking the ball when it's in the air and reads plays very nicely making him a threat in the passing game while also coming up in the run game. Cross is going to become a staple of the Liberty D and be the next leader as D'Attoria starts to regress.
Round 1- 4th overall:
Brandon Booker CB Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
61 tackles 1 FF 2 INT 11 PD
So again I cant stress this enough, Philly needs a lot of help in the secondary. Booker is immediatley the CB1 in Philly with the lose of Emoji and the retired McMorris. Booker finds himself on a team that is committed to making him CB1 right off the bat. He had a great season in Myrtle Beach and was a highly touted rookie in the class. When it came down to it, Philly had him listed above all other CB's and is hoping he makes an immediate impact.
Round 2- pick 18th overall
Wesley Eriksen Safety Norfolk Seawolves
56 tackles 4 sacks 2 INTS 3 PD and 1 TD
The top Safety pairing in the DSFL are coming to the same NSFL team. Here the Liberty snag Matt Cross' teammate Eriksen. Eriksen fills a need for the Liberty while also being a great Lr presence. Eriksen is a Safety that isnt afraid of getting into the box and playing in the backfield. Eriksen provides a great boost in the secondary with Cross and their future looks very bright.
Round 5 Pick 60th overall:
Jonathon Altidore CB Myrtle Beach
111 tackles 1 FR 1INT 4 PD
Yes I know what everyone is thinking... 111 tackles for a CB must mean people catch the ball against him a lot. Now let me tell you why you're wrong. The DSFL is a very run heavy league as opposed to the NSFL. Altidore showed he is not just great in coverage but he is also good getting off blocks and stopping the run. Altidore is reuniting with Booker as the CB's of the future in Philly. Also, yeah I know another player in the secondary.
Round 6 pick 63 overall
Spike Suzuki LB Norfolk Seawolves
134 Tackles 2 TFL 1 FR 1 PD
The Liberty keep adding to their Defense by taking Suzuki here in the 6th round. Suzuki was a big part of the Norfolk Defense along with Cross and Erisken. Suzuki is a speedy LB that can pressure the QB but also track down speedy RB's in the run game. Suzuki is going to be turned to to help in the pass rush as Franchy was taken in the expansion draft leaving a hole on the DL specifically an edge rusher.
Round 7 pick 75 overall:
Mario Von Pebbles DE Minnesota Grey Ducks
28 Tackles 8 TFL 4 Sacks
Ok well I want to thank all of the other teams for leaving a 241 TPE DE for us in ROUND 7!!!!!! This pick could very well be one of the biggest draft steals ever in the league. Von Pebbles is a pass rusher but due to the depth in Minnesota he lined up at DT a lot not really being able to showcase what he can do off the edge. He is going to get the chance in Philly to show off the pass rushing skills. He has a bright future ahead.
Round 7 pick 80 overall
Donatello Arrabiata TE London Royals
32 catches 260 yards 1 TD 10 Pancakes
Arrabiata doesnt have the sexiest of stats but his 10 pancakes in the run game stand out. Arrabiata is going to be a good complement to Blocksdale JR in a few seasons and will allow philly to use more 2 TE sets. Arrabiata is someone who likes to do damage around the goal line so watch out for Pa passes and other tricky things to get him the football.
Round 8 Pick 94 overall
Suleiman Ramza QB Norfolk Seawolves
72/121 649 yards 3 TD's 4 INTS
I know what everyone is thinking... "Philly has a young QB in Pheonix why draft another?" Well it's called a back up plan. Brock Pheonix is our future and theres no arguing that. However, Ramza is a great LR guy and can get things done on the field. As a Mobile QB he can make nothing into something. Once he gets his opportunity I believe he is going to light the league on fire no matter where or when his opportunity comes.
Round 9 pick 99 overall
J.B Apollo RB Myrtle Beach
265 Carries 1267 Yards 5 TD's
With Torrenson entering regression next season Philly is looking at bringing someone on who can start to lighten his workload once the regression smacks him hard in 3-4 seasons. Apollo had a tremendous season in Myrtle Beach with over 1200 yards on the ground. Apollo can be a huge grave in a few seasons but for now will be Myrtle beach's top RB fkr a few seasons until he is summoned to the big leagues
Round 10 pick 111 overall
Tristan Gronlie DT London Royals
31 tackles 1 FF 1 FR 3 sacks
Gronlie is is a big strong DT who slipped under a lot of radars for fear that he has gone IA. Well a few hours before the draft he popped in and has claimed to be very committed to the league. So along with Von Pebbles falling to the 7th and Gronlie here in the 10, Philly has snagged the future of their DL in the 7th and 10th round. Gronlie has a bright future ahead and could potentially be the best 10th round pick ever in the league.
Round 10 pick 116
Alexander Hamilton II CB portland Pythons
85 tackles 2 FF 1 FR 4 INTS 6 PD's
Philly adds their 3rd CB and 5th member of the secondary in this draft. Hamilton had a solid season in Portland snagging 4 INTS quickly proving QB's nedd to avoid him. A lot like Altidore he was able to make a difference in the run game as well. If Hamilton has 1 or 2 more solid seasons in Portland he will be ready for the move to Philly and become a real threat in the secondary.