Maui Wailiki had a very interesting ISFL draft day. There were a lot of moving pieces leading up to draft day, including trades, position switches, and free agent signings that ended up changing how the draft would come to look. Maui Wailiki was coming into the draft as an OL but stated he was going to play as a DE at the pro level, and that he wanted an immediate call up. Only a few teams could meet those demands, and one of those teams, SJS, was where everyone suspected Maui was going to go to. SJS then switched one of their safeties to DE, filling that need, and then many suspected Maui would actually fall to 11. No one even thought that Honolulu would consider taking Maui 1OA, but in fact, it was a tough decision. It made sense, as Maui was one of the top prospects in the draft, probably the top one if not for his immediate call up request. He played a not so flashy position and was a max earner who provided instant value to any team. He won MDM in the DSFL and was very active and could help jumpstart any LR, which is what happened to the team that drafted him, Baltimore. He may end up being the biggest steal of the draft at 11, as Baltimore drafts a franchise defensive lineman.
I was drafted among what could very possibly down as the greatest (or, if we're being a little more humble, top 5) draft class in the history of this league. There are so many excellent players, and even more excellent users behind those players, that came from the Season 25 draft. Leading up to the draft, I was scouted by every ISFL team (except NOLA but I'm totally not still salty about it or anything), and while I would've been happy to go to any team save for 1-2 of them, there were definitely some destinations that I thought were both more likely and more appealing than others. When draft day finally rolled around, I was super excited both to see my friends and DSFL teammates get drafted, and to finally see where my own player went. One of my fondest league memories to this day is sitting in the Dallas locker room's voice chat with my teammates on draft night and having our own draft party. I was picked in the second round by one of the three teams I had really been hoping to go to, the Orange County Otters, and much to my surprise, they traded up to draft me! I had no idea there were multiple teams trying to leapfrog each other to draft me, and it still makes me feel honored and warm and fuzzy and shit. Since being drafted by the Otters I've had an amazing time getting to know new pals in the league and I couldn't have asked for a better home for Richard Leaking.
Tsuyu Asui was taken in the 3rd round of the S27 ISFL draft by the Philadelphia Liberty. For me, I was mostly expecting to go late due to my past issues despitemyhigh TPE and super active status. So when I was drafted didn't really make me angry. I was a bit surprised Baltimore didn't take me due to my render but still. Though I will admit it was very anxiety inducing watching the names go by not knowing if my name will be called sooner or later. I was in the voice chat of the London Royals locker room hanging out with other draftees and teammates watching the draft when my name was called with a lot of anticipation until I was finally picked.
I really didn't have much of a preference for who drafted me besides no Honolulu. I just wanted to be drafted by a great group of friendly users. I was pretty familiar with the Philly GMs so I knew they were great guys. Luckily the rest of the locker room were pretty friendly and they even respected my decision to stay down another season with London. Overall my draft night was very fun and I am very satisfied with where I am in Philly.
There was a lot of hype surrounding the S25 draft. Obviously I learnt a lot about the way things work in between the tim from my original DSFL draft to the big one. I'd played pretty well in a strong Ultimus winning London side, involved in about 75% of the plays behind a couple of top LBs. Add to that I'd pretty much max earned available TPE, apart from some lousy season picks and fantasy showing.
So confidence was high, but I wasnt getting carried away. Scouting checks had gone well, and I'd jotted down some thoughts on possible destinations and draft picks based on those. Unfortunately I've deleted that notepad file now, but there were a few repeated names on there. I got taken at 36, middle of the third round. I'd gone at 77 in the DSFL draft so I must have been doing something right at least. Now I'll be honest, I didn't expect to be heading to Arizona. Not that they aren't a great place to play football. I just thought that I may have been taken a couple picks earlier, that the picks Arizona had and my draft stock wouldn't quite line up. But hey, they did and I plan on spending the rest of my career here.
Saleem Spence was one of the many talented prospects in attendance for the Season 28 ISFL Draft, live from the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County. Spence was dressed to the nines in the usual kinda flashy and sharp but still fairly ridiculous rookie suit off the rack from Fabricland.
While Spence was projected as a Top 10 talent by some rogue draft boards, Spence was under no illusions of him being picked quickly, and settled in for a long wait to hear his name called. Unsurprisingly, Luke Quick, Chunt The Badger, and Bayley Cowabunga had their names called ahead of him. Sam The Onion Man was then taken ahead of him in a bit of a surprise to Orange County, presumably due to Orange County falling in love with him in interviews. Chicago and New Orleans passed on Spence to some surprise, and then Spence started getting a little confused wondering where he was gonna go. To his surprise, it turned out to be Sarasota. Sarasota was thought to be set at Wide Receiver to a degree, but saw enough potential in Spence to move up and make a trade for him, giving up 42 overall and a 2nd rounder next year for the 31st pick, beating several other teams to the queue. Spence did do an okay interview with management though, and hit it off right away with Sarasota stars Raphtalia Chan and Michael Witheblock at mini-camp. Spence headed back to Portland for this season though, fulfilling a post-DSFL draft verbal commitment with the Portland Pythons management group. Spence is still very optimistic about his future with the Sailfish though, and hopes to win a title from them during his callup some Season 29. Player Agent of Wide Receiver Saleem Spence - Saleem Spence Player Profile: https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...?tid=28380 Saleem Spence Update Thread: https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...?tid=28552
My last draft experience was S22’s ISFL Draft. I was taken in the first round, eighth overall by the Colorado Yeti – a highly contentious pick that only a few insiders were aware of the possibility of. My time in Minnesota had shown that I was a highly talented user. Though because of my team-centric work, only the peoples in Minnesota’s War Room was ever really aware. As such, the teams I was on the radar for in the first round was Colorado, and Yellowknife. As it would happen, Yellowknife ended up with a later pick than Colorado, and I was taken by them instead. I was thrilled to be going to Colorado, earned a first season call-up, and was an essential part in the team that worked behind the scenes of the S22 Championship Winning Yeti. I would then end up going on to GM the Yeti for two seasons – an enjoyable and revealing experience. That was me the user, and to be honest – that’s how it’s always been. My player, Mo Mamba Magic, is not a bad player – I’m actually the 2nd highest TPE OL at the start of S28. But it’s been an inglorious career for Mo, because it’s always been about the user – me. Mo Magic didn’t go eight overall, thevoicelesscreator the user did. And I’m oaky with that
Ah yes, the S23 draft. Leading up to this draft I was still max earning and spoke to a lot of teams to anticipate where I could end up and for help with my mock draft. I knowingly sacrificed some draft stock as I told teams I would likely get very busy with school (which I have) and slow down with earning. However, it’s best to be honest and give teams a reasonable idea of what to expect. Heading into the draft I was expecting myself to either go 2nd to Baltimore, 5th to Philadelphia, or 7th to Sarasota. Going 2nd was more of an outside shot as I didn’t feel I had come off as someone worthy of that spot in this draft. Realistically it was 5 or 7 in my mind. Current S23 TPE leader Tyler Montain went to Baltimore at 2nd overall, though he has found his way to Austin over the years. Philadelphia selected Tycker Om with their 5th overall who has unfortunately become a bust free agent. Finally at 7th overall Sarasota selected none other than myself, Son Goku. I was uncertain of the team at the time as they were still new but I’m very glad I ended up here. It’s been a great career so far and there’s a reasonable chance of me being a Sailfish lifer. I wouldn’t consider myself a steal that early (only Om picked above me would be considered a bust) but I would say I’ve provided very fair value expected of that pick.
PickSix II fell in the draft during draft day because of his contract demands. Clearly a first round talent, he kept dropping on the draft boards as teams tried to figure out a way how to get PickSix II into their lineup while still being cap compliant. Because of this, he went in the 2nd round of the ISFL draft to the Chicago Butchers. Chicago was a team that did not need immediate help at the cornerback position, however with their star duel threat CBs hovering near the end of their peaks, Chicago wanted to draft a game changer that still upheld the high standards of the secondary that the Butchers boast.
PickSix II was contacted by several teams who had tremendous interest in bringing him onboard their teams, but one team, San Jose did not contact him at all. This was surprising to PickSix II as his father won two championships with the Sabercats and PickSix II wanted to play for his father's old team. However, he has since found a home as the team's Nickleback in Chicago and has established himself as a rookie that works hard and earns his playing time starting along side a truly vaunted defense for this season. Most would say, Chicago got an absolute steal of a player in PickSix II in the 2nd round of the ISFL draft. 226 words |
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