2031
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.
Grade A+
1.2
Cincinnati Defenders
FS Efrain Waters 41/93
6' 1" 203 lbs
Arkansas State
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.
Grade A
1.4
Toronto Titans
WR Adolph Warren 34/87
5' 9" 201 lbs
Michigan
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.
Grade A
1.5
Houston Roughnecks
QB Lee Huber 34/81
6' 1" 210 lbs
Alabama
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.
Grade A-
1.8
Daytona Beach Bull Sharks
RB Wendell Nehring 31/89
5' 10" 207 lbs
Notre Dame
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.
Grade A-
1.12
Miami Nemisis
CB John Garcia 34/80
5' 11" 194 lbs
Colorado
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.
Grade A
1.13
KC Chaos
RG Kurt Adams 29/86
6' 3" 313 lbs
Nebraska
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.
Grade A-
1.14
Seattle Barbarians
DT Douglas Colombo 39/83
6' 3" 297 lbs
Nebraska
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.
Grade D
1.19
Brooklyn Hitmen
CB Leon Phillips 39/81
6' 0" 198 lbs
Notre Dame
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.
Grade A-
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.
Grade B+
1.25
Oakland Outlaws
WR Miguel McAfee 28/64
5' 11" 193 lbs
Arkansas
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.
Grade A-
1.27
Dakota Blizzard
RB Carlton Smith 31/79
5' 10" 203 lbs
Miami
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.
Grade A
