2044 1st round draft review

As always....this is for fun, based on my player weights and my opinion....at no time am I attempting to insult or pick on anyone's pick instead I try to adlib and make it amusing. I rank every position entering the draft and grade accordingly. It doesnt make me right or wrong just like Mel Kiper jr. who never apologized for any of his endless mistakes.....so enjoy

MULTIPLE 1ST ROUNDERS
Providence 3
Memphis 3
Los Angeles 2
Vegas 2
Texas 2

NO 1ST ROUNDERS
Indiana
Buffalo
Dakota
Orlando
Philadelphia
Carolina
Atlanta


2044 1.1
Los Angeles
SLB Frank Gilbert 38/91
Vol 34
6' 1" 237 lbs
Arizona

Los Angeles waste no time in selecting the consensus top pick in the draft. Gilbert was the captain of the national champion Arizona football team. He led the nation's top college defense where his speed, run defense & pass coverage made him a dominant defender. Experts feel he can easily transition to the XFL.

Grade A+++

2044 1.2
New York
WR Lester Griffith 39/83
Vol 20
6' 0" 207 lbs
Arizona

Griffith was the top receiver on the national championship team and scouts love his full receiving skills but some question if he has the elite speed needed to dominate in the XFL. A solid pick but definately a reach at #2 overall.

Grade B+

2044 1.3
Seattle
DT Brian Manning 38/92
Vol 64
6' 4" 296 lbs
Arizona State

Seattle takes the #1 DT in the draft class. Manning has a solid combination of size, strength & speed but taking a DT this early seems like a reach.

Grade A

2044 1.4
Daytona
MLB Vernon Wilson 33/85
Vol 42
6' 1" 235 lbs
Boston College

Wilson may have been the top LB in past drafts but #1 pick Gilbert set the bar even higher this draft. Wilson has all the skills of Gilbert but lacks the elite speed Gilbert brings to the position. Despite the lack of speed, Wilson is still a great pick with great potential.

Grade A+

2044 1.5
Zehlendorf
CB Stevie McLaughlin 34/87
Vol 66
6' 1" 190 lbs
Utah

Zehlendorf takes the 3rd ranked CB in this draft with the 5th overall pick and 1st CB selected. McLaughlin has elite cover skills but lacks the elite speed of CBs Robertson & Cook who are ranked the top 2 CBs in this draft.

Grade A

2044 1.6
New England
CB Jason Robertson 38/93
Vol 80
5' 10" 186 lbs
Wisconsin

New England wasted no time in taking the top rated CB in the draft after Seattle skipped over him to take McLaughlin. There were some concerns about off the field issues which may have hurt his draft status and made the selection more risky in some eyes but Roberstson has elite speed along with elite cover skills which could make him a future star.

Grade A+

2044 1.7
Memphis
CB Kevin Eastham 37/82
Vol 74
6' 0" 202 lbs
Michigan

Eastman was rated the best FS in the draft and he can play anywhere in the secondary. He has great speed and quality cover skills especially off the ball cover skills which made him a top safety prospect.

Grade A

2044 1.8
Tampa Bay
WR Jamar Quick 44/82
Vol 4
6' 0" 199 lbs
North Carolina

Quick was 1 of 3 WRs ranked at the top of the draft. He has elite, game changing speed and the size to use it. He is definately more of a slot reciever since he hasn't shown great blocking, route running or the ability to get off the jam at the line of scrimmage. Still, Quick will live up to his name and make plays in the XFL.

Grade A

2044 1.9
Brooklyn
WR Bruce Johnson 46/85
Vol 32
5' 11" 200 lbs
Illinois

Brooklyn lands the 2nd of 3 WRs rated at the top of the draft. Johnson lacks the elite speed of Quick but still has great speed along with a complete set of reciever skills which should make him a WR1 or WR2 in the XFL.

Grade A+


2044 1.10
Texas
SS Albert Dipietro 37/76
Vol 78
5' 10" 206 lbs
Maryland

Texas lands the best SS in the draft according to most draft experts. Dipietro isn't necessarily elite at any one thing but he is a player whose sum of all his skills make him a great player. He was part of a Maryland defense who fell short to Arizona in the national championship game and scouts believe he can bring that skill, leadership & energy to the XFL & Texas.

Grade A-

2044 1.11
Saint Paul
WR Clifford Davis 44/85
Vol 54
5' 11" 198 lbs
Maryland

The 2nd of 3rd Maryland players goes in the 1st round and it's one of the 3 WRs ranked at the top of the draft class. Davis is a solid combination of speed, quickness and receiving skills and has a chance to become a top target in the XFL.

Grade A

2044 1.12
Miami
DT John Green 38/83
Vol 22
6' 3" 296 lbs
Miami

Miami takes local DT Green with the 12th overall pick. While Green wasn't considered an elite talent, he is a prototypical nose tackle with good size & elite strength to demand a double team at the point of attack.

Grade B+

2044 1.13
Kansas City
C Jonathan Rosas 35/84
Vol 4
6' 4" 279 lbs
Southern California

Kansas City lands the Rimington award winner, C Rosas with the 13th overall pick. Rosas has the size, strength and intelligence to lead the offensive line for years to come. He has elite run blocking skills and pass blocks well enough to get the job done in the XFL.

Grade A-

2044 1.14
Washington
TE Donald Dean 37/86
Vol 46
6' 5" 258 lbs
Grambling

Washington takes this big bodied athlete out of a smaller program who scouts see as a versatile player. He could remain at TE or even transition to FB or RB in the XFL. It's his blocking abilities plus ball handling & receiving skills that make him such a versatile & valuable addition to any team.

Grade A

2044 1.15
Montana
WR McKinley Rivera 41/81
Vol 94
5' 9" 174 lbs
Maryland

Montana takes the 3rd player from Maryland in the top 15 and he is a raw WR with immense potential. If they can harness & mold his talents and turn him into a polished WR, Montana may have landed themselves a future star.

Grade A

2044 1.16
Toronto
WR Daniel Bailey 48/80
Vol 72
6' 0" 201 lbs
Arizona State

Toronto ownership is currently looking to sell the team but they ended up drafting this WR/RB with the 16th overall pick. While he mainly played WR in college, scouts think he could successfully transition to more of a HB in the XFL.

Grade A

2044 1.17
Memphis
WR Erin Pena 47/82
Vol 96
6' 1" 187 lbs
Wyoming

Memphis has become a dominate francise but they have the misfortune of playing in the same division as 3× defending Champ Atlanta. They used their 2nd of 3 1st round picks on another WR and as the other 31 teams in the XFL can attest, they maximize the passing game regardless of QB or WR. If Pena develops like he has the potential to do, it becomes even more difficult for defenses to slow them down.

Grade A-

2044 1.18
Providence
CB Pedro Moore 32/76
Vol 44
6' 3" 227 lbs
Arizona State

Providence uses their 1st of 3 1st rounders on an undersized LB or large DB, depending on how you look at him. If Moore transitions to DB, he should gain speed as his slims down but with still have the versatility to play LB or in the secondary.

Grade A

2044 1.19
Vegas
WR Matthew Schupp 35/75
Vol 46
5' 10" 216 lbs
Hawaii

Vegas has had 2 straight down seasons even though they made the postseason in both. They use their 1st of 2 1st round picks on a WR. Schupp wasn't rated at a 1st round talent entering the draft but while he lacks high-end speed, he does have solid receiving skills.

Grade B

2044 1.20
Cincinnati
WLB Carlos Smith 36/79
Vol 56
6' 2" 236 lbs
Stanford

Cincinnati started 2043 hot but faded down the stretch so they use their 1st rounder on a college LB who they plan on making into a DB. He should lose some weight and gain speed and become a versatile defensive player able to play LB or DB.

Grade A

2044 1.21
Los Angeles
CB Bernard Jernigan 39/81
Vol 36
5' 11" 182 lbs
Southern California

Los Angeles suffered through a miserable 2043 season but the fan base is encouraged by the mid-season arrival of a new owner. They had the #1 overall pick in this draft and selected the consensus #1 talent in the draft with LB Gilbert. They use their 2nd 1st rounder to further improve the defense by selecting a quality CB who should start immediately.

Grade A-

2044 1.22
Oakland
CB Jerry Cook 39/83
Vol 100
6' 0" 197 lbs
South Carolina

Oakland takes what some scouts believe to be the 2nd or 3rd best CB in the draft. It's a gamble that this former track star who played just 1 year of college football can transition to the XFL but there is no denying his elite speed which will easily transition to the XFL. If Oakland can unlock his potential in training camp, he could become a future ALLPRO CB.

Grade A+

2044 1.23
Providence
CB William Barnett 31/77
Vol 96
6' 0" 199 lbs
Indiana

Providence uses their 2nd 1st round pick on a 2nd CB in Barnett. The gamble comes from Barnett's continued academic probations he went through during his 3 years at Indiana. If Providence can get him up to speed in the class room then maybe on the field he can excel. Scouts love him at safety but the combine sent up from red flags when he was given written test and he scored very low.

Grade B

2044 1.24
Gem City
RDE Fred Ridenhour 35/80
Vol 48
6' 4" 279 lbs
Washington

Gem City lands the best pure pass rusher/defensive end in the draft in Ridenhour. He has the prototypical size, strength and speed to be an edge rusher in the XFL while also sealing the edge versus then run.

Grade A

2044 1.25
Memphis
RB Wilbert Henderson 34/78
Vol 76
6' 0" 215 lbs
St. Cloud State

Memphis uses their 3rd 1st rounder on yet another WR/RB. The question isn't if Henderson can play but rather how many weapons does Memphis really need for the league's top passing offense.

Grade A

2044 1.26
Providence
WLB Robert Emery 28/73
Vol 32
6' 5" 271 lbs
Louisville

Providence makes it 3 for 3 on 1st round defensive selections as they take a big LB to go with there 2 CBs. Don't let Emery's size fool you because he has elite cover skills and if he can lose some weight plus gain some speed he can become another defensive playmaker.

Grade A

2044 1.27
Texas
WR Stephen Powell 41/80
Vol 2
5' 10" 195 lbs
Auburn

Texas used their 1st pick on defense and this 2nd pick on offense as they select the best remaining WR with the 27th pick. Powell is solid across the board just not elite in any one area plus he has the potential to run the ball making him a versatile player for the offense.

Grade A

2044 1.28
Vancouver
FS Alexander Black 32/75
Vol 92
5' 11" 214 lbs
Hawaii

Vancouver had a breakout year where they secured the #1 seed in the AXC so they didn't pick until 28th where they selected safety Black. He lacks elite speed by scouts love his overall cover skills. The question becomes can he make a successful transition from Hawaii to the XFL and find success in a league build on speed which he clearly lacks.

Grade B

2044 1.29
Houston
RB Tracey Lopez 36/75
Vol 40
5' 9" 212 lbs
Eastern Kentucky

Houston has come close in the past 5 seasons, losing 3 AXC Conference Championship games in that span. Subsequently, they have picking at the bottom of the 1st round in that span and it's hard to land a difference maker who can get them over the top. This year, they take this fireplug RB out of a smaller program. He has the potential to become a playmaker on the offense if he can live up to his potential.

Grade A

2044 1.30
Arizona
WR Charles Mobley 38/78
Vol 64
6' 0" 206 lbs
Kentucky

Arizona has been on the verge of greatness the past 2 seasons but they have fallen short in the postseason. They land a college WR who could potentially become a top reciever in the XFL. While he lacks elite speed on recieving skills, he is solid across the board plus he is an elite blocker which makes him a valuable 3 down playmaker.

Grade A

2044 1.31
Pittsburgh
WR Roberto Parks 40/79
Vol 32
5' 11" 201 lbs
UCLA

Pittsburgh can within 1 win of winning it all last season and they use the 31st pick on a WR. Parks has near elite speed, incredible quickness and a very raw set of receiving skills. If Pittsburgh can harness his potential in camp and get the most out of him, it could be the addition they need to take that final step.

Grade A-

2044 1.32
Vegas
TE Vincent Day 32/79
Vol 48
6' 4" 269 lbs
Nebraska

Vegas makes a late trade with Atlanta for this year's 1st, 2nd & 3rd round picks. Vegas uses the 2nd 1st rounder on a TE out of Nebraska. Day is known for his blocking and having elite receiving skills despite lacking any significant speed. How will Vegas use him in their offense remains to be seen but clearly they decided to go all in this season by acquiring the extra draft picks.

Grade B