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Re: 2026 1st round draft reviewI gtn4

By Cjfred68 - League Admin
9/27/2019 6:31 pm
1.12 Miami
RDE Steven Adams 37/86
6' 3" 250 lbs
Washington State

Adams has the speed, quickness and strength combination to become a great edge rusher either at right or left end. He adds the potential to be a run stopper that can seal the edge and create contain.

Grade B+

1.13 Washington
LDE William Plath 38/79
6' 3" 280 lbs
North Carolina

Plath has unique size and strength to become an elite run stopping end with the speed to also rush the passer. His skill set is better at RDE 32/82 but his speed plays at LDE as well.

Grade B+

1.14 Los Angeles
TE John Brubaker 36/94
6' 4" 260 lbs
Washington State

The 2nd player out of Washington State taken is TE Brubaker. He has unique size, strength and speed but he is a raw talent. It will be interesting to see where LA plays him as he can play TE, FB, OL, RB or even WR. While he may be best suited for either TE or FB, a move to RB and subsequent weight lose could increase his speed and make him a dynamic runner. Versatile, raw and worth the gamble.

Grade A-

Re: 2026 1st round draft reviewI gtn4

By Cjfred68 - League Admin
9/28/2019 5:56 am
1.15 Carolina
CB James Kinight 31/72
6' 0" 204 lbs
Tennessee

The DB has tremendous speed and good intelligence but his coverage skills are average at best. Scouts view him as a natural at safety, FS 35/78, SS 36/78.

Grade B+

1.16 Cincinnati
WR Paul Ballard 32/85
6' 0" 196 lbs
Akron

Scouts view Ballard as a very polished route runner with great hands and the ability to get off the line of scrimmage quickly. His only downside is his speed which is average at best. Still he should be a great possession receiver who moves the chain and a redzone threat.

Grade A-

1.17 Houston
RG Luciano Bell 37/83
6' 6" 309 lbs
Michigan State

Houston traded down out the #1 overall pick to obtain multiple 1st round picks. They use the 1st of those to address the offensive line with Bell. Scouts love his blocking technique and his size and speed gives him the ability to play either tackle or guard position. He isnt the strongest lineman but his blocking skills and high intelligence make him a potential high end player anywhere he plays on the line.

Grade A

1.18 St. Paul
SLB Lawrence Sepulveda 36/74
6' 1" 256 lbs
Colorado

An outside pass rusher at linebacker in college, scouts love his all around potential to transition to MLB 30/77 in the pros. He showed great potential as both a run stopper and in pass coverage at times.

Grade B+

1.19 Providence
RDE Andrew Quinonez 35/75
6' 1" 267 lbs
Oregon

A run stuffing defensive end with good speed to occasionally rush the passer, Quinonez is the 3rd defensive lineman taken in the 1st round.

Grade B

1.20 New England
MLB Matthew Garcia 39/87
5' 11" 256 lbs
Maryland

A player who scored well at the combine in all his measurables, had his stock grow in the weeks leading up to the draft. Considered a raw talent by scouts with tremendous upside. If he can live up to his potential, he could be a steal at #20 in the draft.

Grade A-

1.21 Houston
QB Lloyd Valencia 36/81
6' 0" 207 lbs
MIT

Houston uses their 2nd 1st rounder to select the 2nd highest rated QB in the draft. Coming out of a small football program and a little undersized, scouts love his arm, release, intelligence and legs. He has the potential to have decent pass accuracy, vision and a good ability to look off the defense. Has the potential to develop into an above average to good starting QB in the league.

Grade A

Re: 2026 1st round draft reviewI gtn4

By Cjfred68 - League Admin
9/28/2019 6:06 am
1.22 Vancouver
FS Howard Gonzales 38/82
6' 0" 221 lbs
Arizona State

Scouts view Gonzalez as a raw talent with exceptional skills at playing in space. If he can reach his potential, he could be a great pick at safety this late in the 1st round.

Grade A-

1.23 Texas
WR James Shepherd 33/77
5' 9" 194 lbs
Texas Christian

Texas uses their 4th pick in the 1st round to select an undersized receiver with incredible quickness. Scouts see him as a potential slot reciever who can use his acceleration and route running to get open in space.

Grade B+

1.24 Carolina
CB James Fletcher 35/76
5' 8" 187 lbs
Nebraska

Carolina selects another defensive back with their 2nd 1st round pick. Fletcher has decent speed and coverage skills and scouts project him as either a CB2 or slot corner in the league.

Grade B

Re: 2026 1st round draft reviewI gtn4

By Cjfred68 - League Admin
9/28/2019 2:08 pm
1.25 Brooklyn
LDE Wayne Reed 33/71
6' 6" 277 lbs
Syracuse

Reed is a fantastic run stopping defensive end. Scouts see him at RDE 33/80 where he will seal the edge and help in run stopping. He has good speed but his pass rush skills arent that advanced to play LDE.

Grade B+

1.26 Gem City
SLB Herman Matte 35/82
6' 0" 243 lbs
Missouri

This backer out of Missouri has the raw talent and potential to play outside linebacker but scouts like his upside at MLB 31/83 where his intelligence, run stopping and coverage skills can blossom. He lacks the speed on the outside to be a consistent pass rusher.

Grade A-

1.27 Buffalo
LT Gary Collier 32/82
6' 2" 291 lbs
Mississippi

Collier has the size and strength to play tackle and comes from a pass heavy college program. He lacks the raw run blocking skills to be a complete tackle but has versatility to play anywhere on the line including center.

Grade B

1.28 Dakota
SLB Toney Mitchell 37/83
6' 1" 236 lbs
Acorn State

Dakota traded into the 1st round to grab this linebacker. Coming out of a small school, Mitchell has some raw talent and the potential to become a starter. Dakota needed some youth at the position and the linebacker room is getting old.

Grade B-

1.29 Denver
CB Charles Davis 30/75
5' 11" 204 lbs
Pittsburgh

Davis has good speed and decent coverage skill potential but scouts like him at FS 35/81 where he can make plays in space.

Grade B

1.30 Tampa Bay
LG Charles Shapiro 39/80
6' 2" 295 lbs
Texas

The guard out of Texas has decent size and good strength to play either good position but scouts like him at LG. Another player with raw talent that needs to develop.

Grade B

1.31 Milwaukee
WR Maurice Scruggs 30/76
6' 1" 203 lbs
Louisiana State

Scruggs has good size but lacks high end speed at reciever. Scouts like his quickness and short burst acceleration to create separation on quick passes. He is a raw talent that will need to develop and grow at the next level.

Grade B

1.32 Arizona
SLB Melvin Johnson 36/75
6' 2" 244 lbs
Illinois

Johnson is a raw athlete who scouts view as a tweener. He can play with his hand in the dirt on the line or stand up and play backer. It will be interested to see where Arizona plans on using him and if he can develop his skills in the pros.

Grade B

Re: 2026 1st round draft reviewI gtn4

By Cjfred68 - League Admin
9/28/2019 2:11 pm
Another XFL 1ST ROUND DRAFT REVIEW is in the books. Another great year of 1st round selections. I didn't agree with every pick but I didnt see anybody swing and miss with a non 1st round potential talent drafted.

Good luck to all in camp with these 1st rounders