2041 annual 1st round draft review

It's once again that time where he review every 1st round pick with comments and a grade. It's done for entertainment purposes but it's my opinion based on my 5 years of playing experience using my player weights.

It's not meant to offend and I'm wrong alot...check the 2041 Hall of Fame (John Taylor) and see that I own up to my mistakes just as much as I pat my own back when I'm right...again 2041 Hall of Fame (Brad Hamlin). Of course getting the #1 overall pick right isn't that impressive.

Anyway enjoy, don't get offended if I bash your pick, it probably means the player is destined for greatness!

2041 1.1
Atlanta
MLB Kevin Tefft 34/91
Vol 22
5' 11" 248 lbs
Illinois

Atlanta made the playoffs last season for the 1st time in 12 seasons and they have 4 picks in the first 12 of the 1st round. They use the 1st pick to select a cant miss MLB to captain their defense. Tefft is a complete backer who can stuff the run plus has the speed and cover skills to stay on the field on 3rd down.

Grade A+

2041 1.2
Daytona
CB Michael Whitmore 33/93
Vol 54
5' 11" 198 lbs
Ohio State

Daytona takes this potential CB1 with their top pick. He has the speed and quickness to become elite along with the potential cover skills to lock down 1 side of the field. Daytona improved slightly over the past 3 seasons and their defense ranked 20th overall including a 5th ranked pass defense which means they are strengthening their strength.

Grade A+

2041 1.3
Seattle
SS Joseph Post 28/87
Vol 50
6' 0" 187lbs
Clemson

Seattle has missed the playoffs for 9 straight seasons and they had the 32nd ranked offense & defense last season so they need help everywhere. If Post was the best available player available at #3 is questionable but his potential isn't. Concerns about his size had scouts drop his draft stock but clearly Seattle saw enough to make him the 3rd overall pick. Scouts also see him switching to CB in the XFL so it will he interesting to see what plans Seattle has for him.

Grade A-

2041 1.4
Brooklyn
WR Harold Caldwell 32/88
Vol 10
6' 0" 208lbs
Southern California

Brooklyn has finished under .500 for 4 straight seasons and they have needs all over the field so they select this complete WR to help their 30th ranked offense. Caldwell has great potential but lacks the elite speed that several other receivers in the draft have. Time will tell if this was the best WR in this draft.

Grade A

2041 1.5
New York
CB George Gauthier 33/83
Vol 0
5' 9" 204lbs
Jackson State

New York has missed the playoffs in 20 of the last 21 seasons but did make it 2 seasons ago. If they want to make it to the postseason in 2 of the last 3 seasons, they need to hit on this year's draft picks. Despite coming out of a small college program, Gauthier is considered one of the safer picks in the 1st round. His diminutive size doesn't limit his hard hitting style but concerns exist if he can cover larger WRs and moving to safety could be an option.

Grade A

2041 1.6
Atlanta
CB Todd Smith 41/79
Vol 10
6' 1" 203lbs
Ohio State

Despite having the number 2 defense last season, Atlanta uses its 2nd of 4 1st round picks on another defensive player. This Buckeye is a solid cover corner but scouts see his high end potential as just short of elite. A safe pick with a lower ceiling but higher floor where it comes to potential.

Grade A

2041 1.7
Memphis
WR James Fain 30/83
Vol 10
6' 0" 189lbs
Georgia Tech

Two Yellow Jackets were elected to the Hall of Fame today and Fain becomes the next Yellow jacket to get drafted in the 1st round. Fain has world class speed and the courage to go up and get it. He needs to bulk up some which could slow him down a bit but his speed plays in the XFL and Fain should be a playmaker.

Grade A+

2041 1.8
Atlanta
RB Larry Bello 30/79
Vol 4
5' 11" 251 lbs
UCLA

Atlanta finally addresses the offense with this giant back who scouts see as a bruising FB or large RB. Bello has a chance to be great and alot will depend on what weight he ends up at and what speed he reaches based on that weight. Regardless, his size and skills make him versatile where he could play anywhere from TE, FB, RB or WR based on what the team needs.

Grade A+

2041 1.9
Tampa Bay
WR Travis Hall 41/87
Vol 48
6' 0" 191lbs
Miami (Ohio)

After 3 straight division Titles, Tampa Bay had a down year and is looking to rebound in a division with always contending Carolina and a rising Atlanta. Last season, Tampa threw just 5 TD passes and they look to bolster their passing offense with this top 10 talent at WR. Hall has the potential to be a complete playmaker and it all depends on how Tampa uses him along with how well he develops.

Grade A

2041 1.10
Saint Paul
CB Robert Woodie 32/84
Vol 64
5' 10" 192lbs
Texas

Saint Paul made 9 straight playoffs including 3 straight Conference Championships before falling off the map the last 2 seasons. Woodie has great potential in cover skills but he has average speed at best and scouts viewed him as a late 1st round talent. If he hits, hopefully he can improve last seasons 17th ranked defense and help the team turn it around.

Grade A-

2041 1.11
Kansas City
MLB Gregory Chan 33/82
Vol 50
6' 0" 246 lbs
Ball State

Kansas City has missed the playoffs in 5 of the past 6 seasons despite finishing near .500 every season. They need to improve their 26th ranked defense and Chan is a complete MLB with great potential whose only downside is his speed which is still solid, just not elite.

Grade A

2041 1.12
Atlanta
WLB Daniel Ross 27/73
Vol 18
5' 9" 215lbs
Colorodo State

Atlanta's 3rd defensive pick out of their 4 1st round selections is an undersized LB out of Colorodo State. Scouts see him transitioning to safety in the XFL where he can use his elite speed to make plays for Atlanta's defense.

Grade A

2041 1.13
Miami
RDE Samuel Brumment 33/76
Vol 12
6' 5 " 275lbs
UCLA

Miami has went 6 straight seasons missing the postseason and not finishing above .500. They take a DE in a draft where scouts ranked no defensive linemen as 1st round talent. Brumment has the size to play defensive end in the XFL but he lacks superior strength or elite speed. He might have been available for Miami in the 2nd round so this is a reach pick.

Grade B-

2041 1.14
New England
C Daniel Thomas 45/91
Vol 98
6' 3" 286 lbs
Grand Valley State

Despite coming from a 2nd division football program, Thomas was considered by most scouts to be the best center in the draft. He has a great combination of size, speed, strength and intelligence plus he is already considered an elite pass blocker based on his college offense being pass heavy. If he can develop his run blocking skills, he could be a starter for New England for the next 10-15 years.

Grade A

2041 1.15
Zehlendorf
RG Stephen Ruvalcaba 40/93
Vol 84
6' 5" 311 lbs
North Carolina

Zehlendorf has missed the playoffs for 4 straight seasons but finished 2040 strong and just missed finishing .500 and making the postseason. They take Ruvalcaba, a Mexican who moved to the States during his senior year of high School and managed to get a scholarship to North Carolina based on raw size, strength and potential. Scouts believe he can develop into an ALLPRO talent anywhere on the offensive line but especially at LT where he pass blocking seems more advances then his run blocking. If he can make the transition to the XFL and can reach his full potential then Zehlendorf may have a steal at #15.

Grade A

2041 1.16
Carolina
WLB Anthony Mills 31/85
Vol 78
6' 2" 240 lbs
Boston College

Carolina has finished at least 8-8 in 14 of the last 15 seasons but has missed the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons. Their 1st player was elected into the Hall of Fame this year, a MLB and Mills has the chance to pick up the torch if he can live up to his potential. Mills has all the physical skills needed and it's just a matter of developing them at the next level.

Grade A

2041 1.17
Texas
SS Jeremiah Ashbrook 27/74
Vol 20
5' 10" 192 lbs
Florida A&M

Texas has missed the playoffs for 5 straight seasons despite never finishing worse then 7-9. They have been stuck in limbo and the hope is Ashbrook will improve their 25th ranked defense. Scouts question Ashbrook's size for safety but like his speed and cover skills to become a slot corner or if he excels, a starting corner.

Grade A-

2041 1.18
Houston
FS Delbert Bealer 30/68
Vol 24
5' 10" 215 lbs
Tennessee

Houston hasn't finished below .500 for 10 straight seasons but they missed the postseason last year at 8-8 in the ultra competitive AXC North. Bealer's draft stock rose during the combine with his elite speed and quickness was on display. While his coverage skills are average at best, he is a sure tackler and with his speed and quickness he could be the playmaker in the secondary Houston needs to get over the hump.

Grade A-


2041 1.19
Montana
SS Eddie Mayo 30/82
Vol 86
6' 1" 208 lbs
Wayne State

Scouts had Mayo ranked higher then Bealer or Ashbrook at safety despite him coming from an unknown football program in college. If he develops fully, he has a chance to be one of the top 2 to 3 safeties taken in this draft. He is a gamble but his speed, quickness, intelligence and abilities to play zone defense mean he will stick with the team even if he doesn't develop further.

Grade A


2041 1.20
Michigan
QB Matthew Whitney 37/80
Vol 14
6' 1" 226 lbs
Toledo

Michigan has made the playoffs in 2 of the last 3 seasons but QB Leonard Thompson has thrown 16 more interceptions then TDs during that time. The team signed veteran QB Joseph Delfacto to a 3 year contract which gives them time to develop Whitney who is the highest rated QB in this draft and considered a mid to late 1st round pick.

Grade A


2041 1.21
Toronto
LT Paul Freeman 41/93
Vol 74
6' 5" 319 lbs
Houston

Toronto has made the playoffs for 4 straight years behind a solid offensive line and Freeman can play anywhere but center. He has the potential to be the best offensive linemen in the draft and Freeman could anchor the line for the next 10-15 years.

Grade A+

2041 1.22
Oakland
C Drew Franco 32/85
Vol 16
6' 1" 284 lbs
Notre Dame

Franco was the consensus 2nd best center in the draft and Oakland clearly has need as they lost ALLPRO C Brian Johannsen to free agency where he signed with Philadelphia. While C Thomas was ranked the best center in the draft, Franco is considered a more solid & safer pick with less downside.

Grade A-

2041 1.23
Carolina
LDE Frank Pearson 26/78
Vol 10
6' 4" 256 lbs
Columbia

Carolina's 2nd pick in the 1st round is a head scratcher as they take a DE rated by scouts a 2nd or 3rd round talent. Pearson has some skills to seal tge edge versus the run but lacks the speed and quickness to be a true pass rushing threat.

Grade C


2041 1.24
Arizona
TE Christopher Hopkins 35/86
Vol 76
6' 3" 251 lbs
North Carolina State

Arizona made the postseason for the 1st time in 15 seasons last year and they used their 1st round pick to add a playmaker at TE to add to their 5th ranked offense. Hopkins has the potential and speed as a pass catcher to add a new element to an offense that got little to no production from their TEs last season.

Grade A


2041 1.25
Vancouver
WLB Frank Moulten 28/83
Vol 48
5' 11" 247 lbs
Washington

Vancouver has missed the playoffs for 3 straight seasons after winning their division in 2037. They added a LB to their defense who has some elite potential but lacks the elite speed needed to become a dominating force. Despite his limitations, if he can transition to the XFL, he should help improve their 23rd ranked defense.

Grade B


2041 1.26
Arizona
CB Daniel Winkel 35/75
Vol 98
5' 11" 184 lbs
Michigan

Arizona's 2nd pick in the 1st round is a defensive player from Michigan. He has good speed and Arizona hopes his coverage skills will improve coming from college. Winkel's speed should land him a roster spot but if he booms or busts in training camp will dictate his role, from special teamer to starter.

Grade B+


2041 1.27
Saint Paul
LDE Nicholas Cook 32/82
Vol 62
6' 4" 265 lbs
Texas A&M

The good news is Saint Paul took one of the best DEs in the 1st round, the bad news is no DEs where rated 1st round talents in this draft. Still this is Saint Paul's 2nd pick in the 1st round but neither was ranked 1st rounders by the scouts pre-draft. Only time will tell but the preliminary grades for Saint Paul's 2 1st rounders is low. Maybe Saint Paul knows something because we all know the scouts have been wrong in the past.

Grade C+

2041 1.28
Carolina
RT John Duncan 31/87
Vol 74
6' 3" 314 lbs
Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets are having a big day with 2 Hall of Famers enshrined and bow 2 players selected in the 1st round. Carolina's 3rd pick takes the roller-coaster ride back up as they select this high potential offensive lineman. He has size, strength, speed and extreme discipline and its just a matter of how his run & pass blocking development goes in the XFL.

Grade A

2041 1.29
Washington
RDE Raymond Livingston 29/78
Vol 36
6' 3" 286 lbs
Virginia

The mysterious run on DEs continue which speaks to the importance of edge rushers in the XFL despite the fact none of these DEs have elite speed. Livingston is a solid edge defender with decent quickness and size but his speed in below average to average at best.

Grade B

2041 1.30
Dakota
WR Paul Hoffman 29/69
Vol 36
6' 0" 190 lbs
Florida State

Dakota takes this receiver with elite speed to add some youth to their stable of playmakers as the team as a whole is aging.

Grade A-


2041 1.31
Gem City
RT Kevin Phillips 40/87
Vol 12
6' 4" 310 lbs
Nevada-Las Vegas

It's amazing that a cant miss offensive lineman with speed, strength and advanced pass blocking is available with the 31st pick. Phillips can play either guard or tackle at a high level and should become a 10 year starter almost immediately barring something unforseen.

Grade A


2041 1.32
Seattle
DT Arthur Nilsen 26/78
Vol 92
6' 1" 332 lbs
Michigan State

Amazingly the best defensive lineman in the draft goes 32nd overall and 5th among defensive lineman. He has world class strength and high-end speed for a DT and if he drops some weight and gains some speed, he could become a legimate edge rusher.

Grade A