2030
This is my 10th year doing a recap/review of the 1st round if the XFL draft. My comments are meant for fun, based solely on my opinion, using my personal player weights and how I would use the player drafted. This doesn't make my opinion right nor am I the #1 authority but then again neither is Mel Kiper and he has made millions doing this for a living. I'm not out to upset or hurt anyone's feelings but I try to keep it honest so some will get a worse grade then others. With that being said, let's begin!
1-1
Miami Nemesis
CB Brad Hamlin 34/92
Vol 8
5' 10 174 lbs
Georgia Tech
I could nitpick about his height and weight but this guy is a monster and a no brainer at #1 overall.
Grade A+
1-2
Denver Extreme
WR Daniel Lewis 31/90
Vol 90
5' 11" 206 lbs
Oregon State
Maybe not the safest pick at #2 but he has the potential to be the complete package if camp goes well. I would feel much better if his speed were a tick higher and safer picks were still an option.
Grade A-
1-3
Montana Grizzlies
TE Justin Lewis 34/95
Vol 72
6' 3" 258 lbs
Southern California
This player could become an elite Tight End in the league, a brusing FB or even drop weight and become an every down RB with high end speed. Looking at Montana's roster and knowing they have a dominate TE already but no feature RB or FB, my guess is he will be transitioned to RB and become a work horse.
Grade A
1-4
Toronto Titans
TE Arthur Partridge 35/95
Vol 26
6' 4" 254 lbs
San Jose State
Toronto had to be tickled pink this player fell into their lap at #4. His breakdown is almost identical to the previous pick only with much more certainty he will develop at the next level. Like Montana, Toronto needs a featured RB and he will fill those shoes nicely.
Grade A+
1-5
Tampa Bay Fireballs
WLB Jonathan McCarty 42/80
Vol 64
6' 1" 239 lbs
California
Tampa Bay takes this pass rushing specialist with the 5th overall pick. His speed and quickness and well developed pass rushing ability combined with a talent for stripping the football make him a future star.
Grade A+
1-6
Memphis Maniacs
MLB Jared Garcia 34/71
Vol 4
6' 2" 256 lbs
Michigan
Our first shocker of the 1st round as this linebacker projected to go in the 2nd round comes off the board at #6. Memphis is clearly in a rebuild and dozens of available players would have helped this francise more.
Grade C-
1-7
Washington Warriors
TE Jose Cross 28/86
Vol 2
6' 3" 264 lbs
Fresno State
Washington takes a cant miss TE out of Fresno State. He is a complete player with decent size, speed, pass catching and blocking skills that is close to a finished project as comes out of college.
Grade A
1-8
Michigan Wolverines
TE Cleveland Whitehead 33/79
Vol 56
6' 3" 273 lbs
Missouri
Cleveland goes to Michigan as this very large TE out of college goes to the pros. While he has good hands and can play TE in the bigs, his limited speed would make him more of a blocking TE but scouts think he has the size and strength to move to Center where his proven snapping skills could make him a starter.
Grade A-
1-9
New York Empire
CB Anthony Holt 33/84
Vol 50
5' 10 " 179 lbs
Southern California
A future starter in the league who has the elite speed and decent all around cover skills to become a CB1 or CB2 in the league or to play the slot at a minimum.
Grade A
1-10
Atlanta Dominators
DT Forrest Rapp 38/89
Vol 98
6' 5"
310 lbs
Bowling Green
This is a giant of a man who possesses incredible speed and quickness for a man his size. Despite coming out of a small school and being somewhat of a project, his floor seems good enough with an incredible upside if he develops in camp.
Grade A
1-11
Los Angeles Challengers
RT David Adams 29/78
Vol 12
6' 6" 319 lbs
San Diego State
Another surprise as Adams was viewed as a 2nd rounder with 5-6 offensive lineman rated higher still on the board. He definately has the size and strength to play tackle but scouts have concern about his run blocking ability and wonder if he can be a solid starter in the league.
Grade C+
1-12
Saint Paul Punishers
WR John Marrero 32/79
Vol 54
5' 11" 193 lbs
Arizona State
This burner out of Arizona State may be the fastest wide receiver in the draft. He isnt a fully polished reciever but his speed will make him a playmaker in the league.
Grade A
1-13
Cincinnati Defenders
WLB Douglas Berger 36/83
Vol 64
6' 0" 234 lbs
Florida
Berger is a fast linebacker that can be used in pass coverage or as a blitzer. Being a bit undersized for a linebacker, he could be moved to safety which could make him faster with some weight lose. Interesting potential either way the team uses him.
Grade A-
1-14
Daytona Beach Bull Sharks
CB Joel Eaton 30/90
Vol 72
5' 11" 202 lbs
Arkansas
Eaton has the speed, quickness and IQ to be a starter in this league if he develops his cover skills in camp. He has great potential but he could end up a fringe starter if he doesnt fully develop. A risky pick with high upside.
Grade B+
1-15
Providence Islanders
CB William Powell 41/79
Vol 14
5' 8" 185 lbs
Arizona State
There is no doubting his speed, quickness and ability to cover man to man but his size leaves him a bit vulnerable to the bump and run from larger receivers. He might be best used in the slot where the bump and run issues aren't as big a concern. Mighty Mouse will start in this league!
Grade A
1-16
Arizona Wranglers
MLB Jose Solomon 37/77
Vol 66
6' 0" 247 lbs
Notre Dame
This linebacker from the Fighting Irish has high end speed for his size and decent enough cover skills to be a solid 3 down backer in the middle of the defense.
Grade B+
1-17
New England Crusaders
LG Robert Stanton 27/86
Vol 44
6' 4" 306 lbs
Georgia Tech
Rated as one of the top 2-3 complete offensive lineman in the draft by scouts, New England has to be ecstatic he fell to them at #17.
Grade A
1-18
Vancouver Vandals
FB Kevin Cook 32/69
Vol 30
5' 9" 257 lbs
Appalachian State
This sparkplug of a FB played mostly HB in college and scouts think he has a chance to drop some weight, gain some speed and be depth at running back. Time will tell.
Grade B
1-19
Texas Hold'em
WR Andrew Muldrow 34/84
Vol 58
6' 0" 191 lbs
Alabama
This Alabama prospect has a nice combination of speed, quickness and a willingness to fight for the ball in traffic. Concerns over his ball security have scared some owners away but he should make an impact.
Grade B
1-20
Zehlendorf Zecken
WR Loren Daniel 31/76
Vol 46
6' 2" 206 lbs
Kansas
Scouts love his size, speed and quickness at reciever plus he has the size to get some carries out of the backfield. A dual threat weapon whose speed will cause many defenses nightmares.
Grade A+
1-21
Brooklyn Hitmen
RB Henry H. Humphrey 34/80
Vol 54
5' 11" 215 lbs
Arkansas
Triple H is a prototypical running back with good speed, quickness and the ability to break tackles. He also has great hands for catching passes out if the backfield. If I wanted to nitpick, his speed is just under elite but he more than makes up for it with incredible quickness and acceleration.
Grade A
1-22
Seattle Barbarians
RDE Larry Roberts 45/82
Vol 42
6' 3" 260 lbs
Southern California
The 3rd Trojan (Traveler) taken in the 1st round and 6th from California schools in the 1st true defensive end. He has a nice combo of speed, quickness and incredible strength and should man one side of the defensive line for years to come.
Grade A
1-23
KC Chaos
WR Lewis Thompson 29/77
Vol 18
5' 11" 192 lbs
Texas
Scouts had Thompson as a 2nd round talent in most mock drafts and with several faster recievers with 1st round grades still available....experts are stretching their heads. At best, Thompson will become a quality possession reciever in a balanced offense but lacks the speed or quickness for the big play.
Grade C+
1-24
Denver Extreme
RG Robert Moody 33/88
Vol 70
6' 4" 302 lbs
Louisiana State
Many draft experts had Moody either 1st or 2nd on their draft boards for offensive linemen. His combination of great strength, speed and quickness make him a potential LT for years to come. Denver probably couldn't believe he fell to them especially after 2 other linemen were taken ahead of him. He had some off the field issues centered around his conditioning and the risk may have made him drop.
Grade A-
1-25
Pittsburgh Blitzkreieg
RB William Pearson 27/75
Vol 6
6' 0" 230 lbs
San Jose State
Pittsburgh selects yet another California prospect, this time a running back. Pearson looks to be a cant miss feature back who should gain speed with a slight weight loss to couple with a powerful running style.
Grade A
1-26
Philadelphia Slayers
RG Kenneth Howell 30/84
Vol 54
6' 3" 317 lbs
Clemson
The 4th offensive lineman taken in the 1st round can play either tackle or guard and has elite potential as a pass blocker, if he develops his run blocking enough, he will fit right into an already elite level offensive line.
Grade A-
1-27
Texas Hold'em
WR Rodolfo Morell 33/79
Vol 54
6' 0" 199 lbs
Alabama
Texas takes a 2nd WR in the 1st round to add to a stable of 5 young recievers all in their rookie or 2nd year with a 6th in year 4. This gives them 5 recievers rated in speed/acceleration of 87/88, 88/73, 76/87, 84/69, 84/91 and 86/81. Its clear with Randal Cunningham nearing retirement, Texas has plans on taking over the AXC South division for years to come.
Grade A
1-28
Dakota Blizzard
WR Derek Looney 33/78
Vol 82
5' 10" 185 lbs
Towson State
With Randal Cunningham nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, Dakota selects this undersized wide reciever from a small school with incredible speed and quickness. If he develops enough in camp, he could help Cunningham add to his career stats while making 1 final push for another title.
Grade A
1-29
Philadelphia Slayers
DT William Hice 32/79
Vol 62
6' 5" 269 lbs
Florida
This defensive tackle from Florida doesn't have the size to play in the middle in the XFL but he has the attributes to become a RDE in the league that seals the edge.
Grade B+
1-30
Oakland Outlaws
RB Benjamin Hamlett 36/74
Vol 26
5' 11" 213 lbs
Arizona State
Oakland adds a speedy running back to an already playoff caliber team. Hamlett should see a bulk of the carries on 1st and 2nd down due to his hands which are suspect in the passing game.
Grade A-
1-31
Los Angeles Challengers
DT Nathaniel Ponce 35/83
Vol 82
6' 3" 301 lbs
Penn State
LA adds a run stuffing defensive tackle with the 31st pick. He lacks the speed and quickness to get much pass rush during passing downs so he may be a rotational piece.
Grade B
1-32
Carolina Cobras
MLB Leroy Vanderpool 31/77
Vol 86
6' 1" 251 lb
Miami
The Champs land a linebacker with decent speed and advanced cover skills. Carolina really filled a need here as Vanderpool may start from day 1.
Grade A-
