2026
Once again it's time for the XFL's annual 1st round draft review. Like always, my review is based solely on my personal opinions based on my personal weights and applying a what would I do philosophy to each pick.
Since this is just my opinion, it's done in fun and absolutely not 100% right. Like anyone reviewing something, it will have a personal slant so I hope nobody feels "insulted" or "attacked" if I give you a bad grade.
Enough of that, let's begin!
1.1 Texas
CB David Peterson 30/92
5' 11" 178 lbs
Ohio State
An absolute future lockdown corner with elite speed and cover skills. The only concern is his size, can his frame hold up in the XFL for the long run?
Grade A
1.2 Kansas City
WLB Joshua Sterling 47/88
6' 1" 227 lbs
Auburn
Sterling is an undersized backer with elite speed at the position and a well rounded complete skill set to play either inside or outside backer.
Grade A
1.3 Texas
CB Arthur Fair 29/84
5' 11" 212 lbs
Florida State
Texas grabs their 2nd defensive back with the 3rd pick. Fair could play opposite Peterson to create a young dynamic pair of corners but scouts see him as a better safety. Texas has veteran corner Brinkman who can play CB2 which would open up Fair to move to SS where the team lacks a starter or depth.
Grade A
1.4 Kansas City
WR Don Rose 36/89
5' 11" 196 lbs
Tulane
Rose has incredible hands and route running skills and comes out of college fairly polished. While he doesnt have elite speed, he is still above average and shows quick acceleration off the line.
Grade A
1.5 Texas
RB John Taylor 40/81
5' 11" 221 lbs
Washington State
This is Texas's 3rd pick in the top 5 and it seems like they reached a little for this selection. Taylor was seen by scouts as the 2nd or 3rd best back in the draft and projected him to go somewhere in the middle to end of the 1st round. Also an odd choice considering the next pick, RB Melvin Shaw was still available and graded much higher across the board.
Grade C
1.6 Denver
RB Melvin Shaw 43/95
5'11 209 lbs
Grambling
Denver must have been ecstatic to put this name in for the the 6th pick. Shaw is a physical specimen with elite size, speed, acceleration and strength. His potential is through the roof but if only reaches 75-80% of his potential, he will be a dominant player in this league.
Grade A+
1.7 Seattle
RDE Gerald Kline 40/86
6' 4" 292 lbs
Eastern Michigan
A great combination of size, strength and speed coupled with both run stopping and pass rush potential make him a great defensive lineman. He has the size that scouts believe may best suit him to play Defensive Tackle
Grade A
1.8 Oakland
MLB Brian Swift 39/82
6' 1" 250 lbs
Florida State
The 2nd player from Florida State taken is a complete linebacker with elite speed at a great size. His intelligence and football I.Q. make him a prime candidate to wear the green dot and call the defense.
Grade A
1.9 Montana
CB Vernon Anderson 33/79
6' 0" 214 lbs
Notre Dame
Anderson has great size and speed with potential elite man coverage skills. Scouts believe he lacks the bump and run skills to be an elite cornerback and see him better suited as a safety. SS 35/86
Grade A
1.10 Philadelphia
C David Campbell 51/88
6' 4" 300 lbs
Stephen F. Austin
The 1st offensive lineman taken is the best center in the draft and quite possibly the best offensive lineman in the draft period. He has incredible size and strength for a center with fully developed snapping skills. His blocking skills means he can play anywhere on the line.
Grade A
1.11 Chicago
QB Louis Richardson 33/85
6' 1" 229 lbs
Washington
The top quarterback in the draft falls to 11 in the first round. Scouts love his intelligence, arm strength and quick release as pro ready. He has the potential to develop his vision and accuracy to become an elite QB in the league.
Grade A
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-
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
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
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
