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Its that time again for my annual 1st round draft review. I got busy with the Hall of Fame inductees today but I will be working on this over the next 24 hours. Like always, this review is solely based on my opinion and my player weights combined with each teams needs. It's all meant to be fun so please don't take any comment or grade personally.
1.1 Montana Grizzlies FS Michael Delrosario 46/93 5' 11" 206 lbs Ohio State
The consensus #1 overall pick is a cant miss defensive back who should become a lockdown cornerback in this league.
Waters has all the physical attributes to become elite in the league if he can make the jump from a small college program to the XFL. Just like the 1st overall pick, he should become a CB in the league, at least in training camp with safety as a possible fall back position if things don't go well.
Grade A
1.3 Atlanta Dominators LDE Robert Ware 34/89 6' 3" 277 lbs Hawaii
Another cant miss prospect who should start from day 1 at either RDE or LDE. His combination of size, incredible strength along with speed and quickness make him an elite run stopper with good pass rush ability.
What he lacks in size at 5' 9", he more then makes up for with elite speed and quickness. He has a chance to become a top receiver in the league with great hands, courage and route running ability but some scouts worry about ball security due to his diminutive size.
The first quarterback comes off the board with the 5th pick. Huber has great vision and ability to look off a defense coupled with high level pass accuracy. Scouts view him as just slightly above average in intelligence and arm strength and worry at 6' 1" will struggle with batted ***** at the line of scrimmage. With QB Burt Thompson nearing the end of his career, Huber has a chance to learn from a veteran before becoming the guy.
Grade A
1.6 Arizona Wranglers MLB Brian Phillip 36/84 6' 1" 248 lbs North Carolina
Arizona takes a MLB with intelligence, strength and speed all at elite levels. Phillip should quickly become the captain of the defense and wear the green dot. He has a chance to be very special with no clear weakness other then what scouts view as below average quickness.
Grade A
1.7 Memphis Maniacs C George Douglas 37/86 6' 2" 286 lbs Michigan
This Center from Michigan has all the ability to play Center in the XFL but some scouts think he could be even better at LG. Memphis is in the process of rebuilding their offensive line and Douglas should help them wherever he lands.
Daytona takes a chance on this running back out of Notre Dame with the nickname "bowling ball". Scouts view his upside as elite level but some question if he can translate his success in college to the XFL. He shined at the combine with good, not elite speed and quickness, good strength and high-end intelligence. If he has a great camp, he got become a star, only time will tell.
Grade B+
1.9 Vancouver Vandals RB Joe Narvez 35/84 5' 11" 227 lbs Utah
Vancouver takes this big running back out of Utah. He has near elite speed and quickness to go along with his 227 pound frame. If he can succeed in training camp, he could eventually become a bell cow back with his size allowing him to absorb the wear and tear.
Grade B+
1.10 Washington Warriors RDE Charles Licata 45/82 6' 4" 276 lbs UCLA
Washington takes this polished defensive end from UCLA who has incredible wing span and the elite strength to put it to use. Scouts like his ability to seal the edge and be a run stuffer but believe he lacks the speed and quickness to be much of a pass rusher.
Grade B
1.11 Los Angeles Challengers WR Keith Sandoval 38/88 6' 1" 197 lbs Missouri
LA lands this wide receiver out of Missouri with the 10th overall pick. He has nice size at 6' 1" and his combination of speed and quickness should make him a potential starter in the XFL. With a good training camp and if he reaches his full potential, he could become a WR1.
Miami takes the 3rd defensive back of the draft with the 12th pick. While he isn't known for being a physical tackler, he has the speed, quickness and man cover skills to become a great man to man cover corner in this league. He can hold his own with the bump and run, he excels as a speed cover cover which makes him perfect as a slot corner.
Considering the KC Chaos have a solid offensive line with a hole at RG makes this a pick which clearly fills a need. With their LT aging, Adams has the ability to eventually slide over if a few seasons.
The second straight 300 pounder coming out of Nebraska is drafted by Seattle. Colombo is a bit undersized to play nose tackle but he has elite strength and should be a solid run stopper. He has surprising speed and quickness for his size and could be a three down DT with some ability to create a pass rush.
Grade B+
1.15 New York Empire CB Steve Smith 33/82 5' 10" 185 lbs Washington
New York takes a gamble on the fastest player in the draft. His speed is world class and will make the team based on that speed alone. If he can translate his coverage skills from college to the XFL, he could become a dominant lock down corner.
Grade A
1.16 New England Crusaders C Joe Tuma 41/80 6' 2" 268 lbs Oklahoma State
A skilled snapper who is slightly undersized for the pro level, New England is gambling they can bulk him up and he improves in camp with his blocking skills. He should make the team as a long snapper but New England is hoping for much more out of this 1st round pick.
Grade B-
1.17 Tampa Bay Fireballs CB Fransico Erickson 37/82 5' 11" 186 lbs Eastern Illinois
Tampa Bay is gambling this undersized cornerback out of a small college program can improve his cover skills enough to take advantage of his elite speed. Scouts see his potential and he has enough to start in the XFL if everything plays out in training camp.
Grade B+
1.18 Michigan Wolverines MLB Alexander Maple 30/62 6' 0" 257 lbs Syracuse
A murmur ran through the draft room after this selection. Scouts had to shuffle papers and grab their tablets to find info on Maple. Most scouts view him as a potential defensive end if he can gain enough weigth. His strength is off the charts and he has great quickness but if he bulks up to play defensive end, he will lose speed which is already below average. If he stays at MLB, he is a one dimensional run stopper since he has zero coverage skills.
Brooklyn takes this fast cornerback out of Notre Dame. He showed elite bump and run ability in college and if he can improve his man cover skills could become a starter in the XFL.
Grade B+
1.20 Gem City Gangsters CB David Madsen 27/74 6' 0" 181 lbs Weber State
The scouts for Gem City dug deep with this "gem" out of Weber State. Madsen has elite speed and although he is diminutive in stature, he loves to punish receivers. His hard hitting style and speed could make him a great FS if the Gangsters move him from CB.
1.21 Pittsbutgh Blitzkreieg WR William White 31/71 6' 1" 203 lbs Bethune Cookman
Pittsburgh takes the first player ever to be drafted out of Bethune Cookman. A historically all black college in Daytona Beach Florida. White has the elite speed to be a slot reciever and adds elite returner skills to the team.
Grade A
1.22 Washington Warriors LT James Froelich 26/93 6' 3" 320 lbs Maryland
Washington uses their 2nd 1st round pick on the offensive line. Froelich rates as one of the best offensive lineman in the draft and can play anywhere but center.
Grade A
1.23 Saint Paul Punishers CB David Jones 33/77 5' 11" 209 lbs UCLA
The Punishers select the 2nd player from UCLA in the 1st round. Jones is a technique corner who lacks high-end speed but makes up for it with his good cover and tackling skills.
Grade B+
1.24 Providence Islanders FS David Saulters 37/74 6' 1" 205 lbs Penn State
Saulters is a defensive back with good speed and quickness and the ability to be versatile and play FS, SS or CB for the Islanders.
McAfee is a raw talent with near elite speed and acceleration. If he can translate his talents to the XFL, he should contribute on offense for Oakland.
Grade B
1.26 Vegas Black Aces SLB Arthur Taylor 35/76 6' 0" 233 lbs Memphis
Vegas selects this pass rush outside linebacker out of Memphis. He uses his speed and quickness to get to the quarterback. A move to the WLB in the XFL makes sense but he does have some pass cover skills.
Dakota selects a young speedy back to add to the offense as they try to make one more run for the title with QB Randal Cunningham. Smith's speed will play in the league but he has a wide range of the level of talent he will bring to the table.
Grade B
1.28 Buffalo Skull Crushers WR Samuel Baker 28/64 6' 1" 227 lbs Acorn State
Baker looks like a quality running back with elite speed. Buffalo has a long history of getting the most out of this type of player.
Grade A
1.29 Denver Extreme C Orlando Chamberlin 37/86 6' 2" 283 lbs Towson State University
With C Eugene Jones entering his 15th season, Denver looks to find his successor with this true center. He is a good short and long snapper with decent speed and blocking skills.
Grade B+
1.30 Philadelphia Slayers RB Basil Buker 32/81 5' 10" 220 lbs Aleganey State
Philly selects a big back out of a small football program to add some depth in the backfield. Scouts see him as an average back with average speed, acceleration and strength. In an aging backfield where the next youngest running back is entering his 7th season, Buker should get some snaps in his first season.
Grade C
1.31 Zehlendorf Zecken LG Gary Montgomery 29/85 6' 2" 325 lbs UCLA
The third player from UCLA to go in the 1st round is an offensive lineman. Montgomery will challenge for one of the starting guard positions on a fairly young offensive line.
Grade A-
1.32 Los Angeles Challengers TE Vernon Sanchez 32/93 6' 3" 254 lbs Central
The last pick of the 1st round is this Tight end who scouts had rated as a top 20 talent. Some off the field issues dropped him in the draft but selecting him at #32 is a steal for this up and coming roster.
I was torn between the two Davids....fs Saulters and cb Jones....I have two young safeties or I would've went with Saulters....hoping that Jones has a decent camp and will make the better CB.
As always...great job cj....I appreciate the extra work you put into your leagues.
Last edited 9/04/2020 8:18 pm
Re: 2031 Annual 1st round draft review
by
raidergreg69
@
9/04/2020 3:38 pm
I almost took Vernon Sanchez but my top 3 CB are old, so I went with need. I would have likely turned Sanchez into a RB.
