2050 1st round draft review

***disclaimer***
I've been doing this 1st round draft review for over 25 seasons now and I base it solely on my opinion, my ratings and my knowledge of what works and what doesn't in MFN. I'm not the GOAT or know more then everyone but I do know a little bit about what works in MFN.

I do this for fun and I'm not attacking or taking shots at any owner or their picks but instead I'm giving my brutal honest evaluation much like Mel Kiper Jr who we all know doesn't know it all and gets it wrong alot.

Enjoy the review for what it is and if I give you a bad review and the player becomes an ALLPRO....by all means throw it in my face but be quick about it because I will did it myself when I'm wrong most of the time.

Anyway, just enjoy and don't get offended but comments and remarks are always welcome.
***disclaimer***

Not too soon after Miami beat Notre Dame in the NCAA National Championship game, we find out 2 players from each program go in the 1st round of the XFL draft including the first 2 picks from Miami

MULTIPLE PICKS
Los Angeles ×3
Philadelphia ×2
Atlanta ×2
Brooklyn ×2
Zehlendorf ×2

NO PICKS
Kansas City
Indiana
Buffalo
Daytona
Washington
Montana


1.1 Texas
FS Frank Nunez 31/86
Vol 14
5' 11" 208 lbs
Miami

The #1 overall pick comes out of the National Championship Miami Hurricanes in FS Nunez. He was the defensive captain for the Hurricanes and does everything perfectly in coverage. The only knock on him is he lacks elite or even very good sport which could hurt his chances of becoming a real playmaker in the XFL. Some scouts believe his perfect technique will make up for his high end speed but only time will tell.

Grade A

1.2 Saint Paul
RB Hubert Hernandez 35/80
Vol 16
6' 0" 223 lbs
Miami

Saint Paul selects the starting RB from the National Championship Miami Hurricanes. Hernandez was a battering ram back in college and most scouts see him having good success in the XFL despite lacking elite speed. His speed is still good and if he sheds a few pounds it should improve a bit. Safe pick but not a homerun as Hernandez is considered more of a double.

Grade A

1.3 New England
TE Joseph Reyes 37/83
Vol 10
6' 3" 244 lbs
Southern Methodist

With over a half dozen TEs graded as 1st round talents, it's no surprise the 1st TE comes off the board at the 3rd pick. Reyes is considered the safest of the TEs if not the one with the highest upside based solely on his speed being just average for the position. That's the only flaw you can find in his game as he does everything else at the elite level. New England has struggled for years to compete in the AXC East and Reyes should help the team improve without question.

Grade A

1.4 Oakland
FS James Harris 39/87
Vol 30
6' 0" 206 lbs
Tennessee

Oakland lands what some scouts considered the top defensive player in the draft in DB Harris. He has elite speed along with elite M2M and B&R skills to play anywhere in the secondary plus he is a willing tackler who can both rush the passer and stop the run if called upon. Thus is a homerun pick!

Grade A+

1.5 Atlanta
SS Fred Waite 36/88
Vol 26
6' 1" 202 lbs
Mississippi State

Atlanta's run of 8 straight XFL Titles came to an end last season and they will look to improve their defense with thus DB out of Mississippi State. While Harris who went #4 was considered the top DB in the draft, Waite was considered 1b instead of just 2nd overall. He is a bit slower then Harris but his overall coverage skills may be a hair better overall which should make him a potential elite starter in the XFL.

Grade A+

1.6 Los Angeles
CB Kevin Kangas 34/85
Vol 74
6' 1" 204 lbs
Ball State

Los Angeles has 3 1st rounders this draft and they use selection #1 on a DB as the run on defensive backs continues. Kangas is a hair slower than Waite who went before him in the draft but his overall coverage skills match up about the same. Kangas did have some issues in college with disciplinary suspensions which hurt his draft status a little but he still went 6th overall based on his overall potential. If he can reach that potential without stumbling up then he could become another elite DB in the XFL.

Grade A

1.7 Carolina
TE Leon Reynolds 37/78
Vol 26
6' 3" 235 lbs
Ohio State

Carolina has struggled to compete in the NXC South along side Atlanta, Memphis and Tampa Bay. They used the 7th overall pick to select the 2nd TE in the draft class. Most scouts believe this undersized college TE should transition to RB or even WR in the XFL. By dropping some weight, his speed will improve and his pass catching and ball carrying skills are already considered at the elite level. If Reynolds is handled right by Carolina, he could become an offensive playmaker for the Cobras.

Grade A+

1.8 Miami
RDE Anthony Figueroa 39/82
Vol 6
6' 4" 280 lbs
Mississippi State

Miami selects the first true defensive lineman in this draft. Figueroa played DE in college and did it very well there but he lacks the high-end speed to become an elite edge rusher in the XFL. If he remains at DE in the XFL, he will be a solid player with decent production but some scouts see him transitioning to DT in the XFL where he could become an ALLPRO level talent at the position. Whatever Miami decides, they have improved their defense with this pick.

Grade A

1.9 Toronto
WR Robert Knight 31/83
Vol 30
5' 11" 210 lbs
Arizona State

The first true WR doesn't go until 9th in the draft which is highly unusual but this year's draft class is thin at receiver. Knight is very good everywhere from his speed to his receiver skills but he is an elite ball carrier. He has the skill set to become a very good WR or the starting RB for Toronto so it's all about how the Titans use this versatile talent that will define his career.

Grade A+

1.10 Seattle
RB John Moffet 28/70
Vol 12
5' 11" 219 lbs
Northwestern

Seattle selects the first player not on the pre-draft projection of 38 1st round talents. Moffet has average speed for the position but has elite quickness. His ball carry skills is rated below average but he doesn't fumble and excels at breaking tackles. He does have a solid set of receiver skills but nothing is above average there either. His lack of speed and ball carry could hamper his ability to excel at RB but the scouts and I have been wrong before about players.

Grade B-

1.11 Pittsburgh
MLB Duncan Flynn 36/80
Vol 52
6' 2" 253 lbs
Wake Forest

Pittsburgh gets the draft back on track with selection of LB Flynn out of Wake Forest. He is the opidimy of a MLB, highly intelligent, disciplined and having a complete set of LBer skills all at above average to elite level. His speed is slightly above average but it can improve with so weight lose which he should begin immediately.

Grade A

1.12 Vegas
TE Aubrey Lawson 35/87
Vol 68
6' 3" 249 lbs
Notre Dame

Vegas has missed the postseason in 5 of the last 6 years and they have only won a combined 16 games the last 3 seasons. It's time to turn it around and the turnaround begins with the selection of TE Lawson. Lawson has elite talent with very good speed and if he can lose some weight then his speed can approach near elite which could make him a big playmaker for Vegas in the future. He can stay at TE and be great or he can play RB where he could become special. The decision belongs to Claymore and he will make the best decision for the francise.

Grade A

1.13 Zehlendorf
WLB Andrew Hall 33/72
Vol 48
6' 0" 238 lbs
Penn State

When the commissioner called Hall's name as the 13th pick there was a made scramble as all the pundits tried to find something on this LBer out of LB university. It's not that Hall was unknown but the deep dive wasn't done since most experts saw him as a 2nd round pick. Hall is very strong with great tackling, pass rush and run stopping skills but his IQ was graded below average along with his speed and M2M cover skills. Some scouts believed Hall might transition to be an undersized edge rusher but his speed would hurt him there too. It's a head scratcher based on the other LBer talent still on the board.

Grade B-

1.14 New York
RT Krisofer Foland 32/92
Vol 40
6' 5" 308 lbs
Temple

New York rights the ship with the 14th pick of the top offensive lineman in the draft. Foland has elite speed, size and discipline to go along with elite run & pass blocking skills. The only dig on Foland is his strength which is only above average, not elite level. He projects as a 10 year starter for New York anywhere on the offensive line except Center with a possible ALLPRO or 2 in his career.

Grade A

1.15 Los Angeles
WR Trevor Warrior 42/86
Vol 76
6' 1" 192 lbs
Acorn State

Los Angeles uses their 2nd of 3 1st rounders on a WR after taking a DB with their first selection. Warrior is just the second WR taken in the 1st round and despite some off the field issues in college, he has all the tools along with very good speed and elite quickness to become a top WR in the league. If he can put those issues in the past and has a good camp then LA can take that next leap to challenging Phoenix in the NXC West.

Grade A

1.16 Tampa Bay
SS Boyd Woods 35/84
Vol 58
6' 1" 215 lbs
Stevenson University

Tampa Bay takes just the 3rd DB in the 1st round in Woods. He played for a small college program but scouts love his overall pass coverage skills which all rate on the elite level. He does lack the elite speed to cover the top WRs in the XFL which means he could be better suited to playing SS or covering the other teams "possession receiver" instead of covering the other teams top playmaker. The transition from small college to the XFL has risk but if he makes a successful transition then he becomes a starter in the XFL based on his elite cover skills.

Grade A-

1.17 Philadelphia
LDE Robert Hyde 47/81
Vol 50
6' 4" 277 lbs
Brigham Young

Philadelphia has back to back picks and they select just the 2nd defensive lineman and 1st true edge rusher of the draft. Hyde has that elite combination of elite speed, good strength and great size to become a force at DE in the XFL. He has the skill set to become one of the greatest edge rushers in league history and should average double digit sacks for the next decade.

Grade A+

1.18 Philadelphia
FB John Hayes 25/79
Vol 4
6' 0" 239 lbs
Notre Dame

Philadelphia's second straight pick is on offense where they take a college FB who will transition to RB in the XFL. If he can lose around 20 pounds, he will approach elite speed and could become a top RB in the league. Philadelphia has made the postseason in 12 straight seasons and these 2 picks could lead to the next dozen seasons of making the postseason.

Grade A+

1.19 Memphis
SLB Tony Englert 32/69
Vol 16
6' 2" 225 lbs
Purdue

Memphis takes the 3rd LB in the 1st round but Englert wasn't one of the projected 38 1st rounders released by the scouts. He us undersized for the position and his speed is just average. His tackling, pass rush and M2M cover skills all rate as average with only his run defense being rated very good. Again, another head scratcher considering the other LBers still on the board rated much higher then him.

Grade C

1.20 Brooklyn
WR Jeremy Kavanaugh 38/82
Vol 58
6' 1" 184 lbs
Texas

Brooklyn made the postseason last year for the first time in 4 seasons and they have a new owner with alot of experience winning football games. On top of that they have 2 1st rounders in thus draft and they select a WR with their first pick. Scooter is an undersized WR with elite speed and strength who was known for being strong at catching the ball in traffic. He also showed elite ball carry skills in college which gives him the versatility to catch & run the ball.

Grade A+

1.21 Atlanta
MLB Nathanial Sapp 39/77
Vol 88
6' 0" 244 lbs
South Carolina

Atlanta uses their 2nd pick of the 1st round to also address their defense with a LB after taking a DB with the 5th overall pick. Sapp has above average speed for the position along with a complete LB skillset that grades as above average. He was suspended in college for using PEDs his junior season but bounced back in his senior season where he preformed clean. Atlanta hopes Sapp learned his lesson and can boom in camp instead of busting or testing dirty again.

Grade A-

1.22 Houston
MLB Keith Alison 33/72
Vol 98
5' 11" 250 lbs
Louisiana State

Houston also takes a LBer with the 22nd pick and while Alison wasn't on the final 38 list, he did make a few scouts alternate list. He has near elite speed for the position along with elite tackling but his pass rush, run defense and coverage skills all rank as average at best. If he can improve in training camp he could become an elite playmaker on defense but if he bust he will still find a home on defense and special teams.

Grade B+

1.23 Brooklyn
RB Dennis Harris 30/80
Vol 56
5' 11" 206 lbs
California

Brooklyn picks again and adds another offensive weapon in RB Harris. A thumper at RB in college with near elite speed who has an overall RB skill set rated at average or slightly above average. His speed and strength will play in the XFL and how he does in training camp will dictate if he becomes a starter or just quality depth at RB.

Grade A

1.24 Cincinnati
WR Garrett Santiago 35/79
Vol 16
6' 0" 204 lbs
Hawaii

The last 5 seasons, Cincinnati has won double digit games and been on the doorstep of winning a Championship including winning the AXC Conference Championship in 2047. They have had a top 5 offense in 4 of the last 5 seasons including the #2 offense last season. So obviously, Cincinnati adds another offensive playmaker in WR Santiago. He has very good speed, elite hands and B&R avoidance and is a great route runner. He should fit into an offensive loading with talent and he doesn't have to be the primary target which should allow him to play his game.

Grade A

1.25 Orlando
WLB Carl Stacey 41/81
Vol 90
6' 2" 243 lbs
Wisconsin

Orlando takes the 6th LB in the 1st round and they have to be thrilled that Stacey is still available at pick 25. He has good size, near elite speed, quickness and strength to go along with elite tackling, pass rush and run defense. He also has solid coverage skills at LB and can play either inside or outside LB. He did have issues with his grades in college and was put on academic probation several times in college which dropped his draft status. If he can beyond that mental issues he can become an elite playmaker in the XFL.

Grade A-

1.26 Gem City
MLB Johnie Evans 36/77
Vol 40
6' 0" 262 lbs
Florida

Another LBer goes 26th overall to Gem City. Like Orlando, they had to be excited to see Evans still on the board and jumped on the selection after a short debate in the war room. Evans has near elite speed and his size means he could drop some weight and get faster. Scouts live his M2M cover skills and he should cover RBs in the XFL which is a must in the league. If he drops weight and nears elite speed, he could be special!

Grade A+

1.27 Dakota
TE Zeigy Stardust 33/77
Vol 84
6' 4" 253 lbs
Alabama

Dakota has their future HOF QB retire and they fund themselves uncertain at QB for the first time in francise history. Despite the lose, they didn't take the top QB in the draft and instead adding another offensive playmaker in TE Branton. While he has elite speed, strength and intelligence along with prototypical size for TE, the pick is a risky one based on his 3 separate suspensions in college for failing drug test for recreational drugs, not PEDs. The drugs concerns were emphasized at the combine when he showed up after legally changing his name to Zeighy Stardust. If he can survive camp without burning out, he could become great but that's a big IF!!!

Grade B+

1.28 Providence
WR Henry Casey 32/77
Vol 56
5' 10" 204 lbs
Illinois

Providence has made the postseason and won double digit games the last 9 seasons. They have won at least 13 games in 5 of the last 6 seasons and won the NXC East the last 5 seasons. The problem is they lost 5 times to Atlanta in the postseason from 2043-2048. In 2049, they finally beat Atlanta in the postseason, snapping Atlanta's 26 game postseason winning streak then they promptly lost to Memphis the next week. They added a WR to last year's 5th ranked offense and 4th ranked pass offense. Casey is the heir apparent to WR Armstrong who is entering his 9th season. Casey has decent speed and solid receiver and ball carry skills.

Grade A-

1.29 Los Angeles
CB Roger Mattox 31/76
Vol 40
6' 0" 193 lbs
Westminister

Los Angeles uses their 3rd 1st rounder on another DB in Mattox. He has decent speed and solid coverage skills but scouts believe he has the talent to play LB in the XFL based on his tackling, pass rush and run defense skills. Irregardless, Mattox should find a home on LA's defense and could play both LB & DB depending on the defensive scheme.

Grade A-

1.30 Phoenix
C Robert Cortez 27/85
Vol 80
6' 3" 285 lbs
Virginia

Phoenix has made the postseason the last 10 seasons, winning the NXC West the last 9 seasons with at least 13 wins the last 9 seasons. It's been the postseason where Phoenix has fallen short, going 9-10 the last 10 seasons including four "1 & dones". They had the 4th ranked offense and 5th ranked defense so they went best player available and selected C Cortez out of Virgina. He has elite speed and is known for his pass blocking and he can play anywhere on the offensive line.

Grade A

1.31 Zehlendorf
RB James Saephan 34/78
Vol 16
5' 11" 213 lbs
UCLA

Zehlendorf uses their 2nd 1st rounder on another player not on the top 38 list released prior to the draft. They select RB Saephan from UCLA with the 31st pick. He has elite ball carry skills but his speed is average along with his ability to avoid fumbling. With RB Fultz still on the board, you have to wonder what the discussion was in the war room in Germany.

Grade B-

1.32 Vancouver
MLB Michael Matthews 33/70
Vol 92
5' 10" 243 lbs
Oklahoma

Vancouver, the defending XFL Champs use the 32nd overall pick to select a LB. They just won it all so I'm not gonna question the pick but Matthews has below average speed for his position. He does have elite tackling and pass rush skill along with elite strength so maybe Vancouver will move him to the defensive line and play him there even though he will be undersized. They are the Champs so they deserve the respect of not questioning why they chose a player no scouts thought was a 1st round talent.

Grade B