Post by MGB01 on May 22, 2023 14:35:40 GMT -5
We continue where we left off two weeks ago
1. Columbus: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Brian Flores simply can't take anymore of Kydalate Slonesfeld, so he'll simply keep the #1 pick and take Levis, who flawed as he might be, at least gets to step into an offense that welcomes (which can't be understated) back Breece Hall. The Caps will be huge players (they'll have to be) in free agency to prep themselves to give Levis the best shot at shaking his label.
Previously: Levis to Tampa in a trade
2. Birmingham: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
The Ken Dorsey offense hasn't really gotten off the ground in 2023, and he will correctly deduce that it all starts up front, where Matt Skura, at best a 30-year old average starter, helms the interior. Like the other expansion teams they've also gotten burned depending on veteran castoffs like Julie'n Davenport, Quinton Spain, and Brandon Shell up front but they started the process last year drafting Darian Kinnard and Luke Tenuta (both have started games this year), now they'll go inside for their next piece.
3. New York: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Seems that defensive back would a little ridiculous considering the Hitmen's #1 problem, but with Levis already gone Ron Rivera looks around and sees the Monarchs' all-world secondary and decides, two years after being decimated in free agency, to rebuild one of his own. Of course Branch isn't Xavier McKinney at this point, but what he is is an upgrade over Will Parks and Cody Davis--the starters before Davis was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
4. St. Louis: Steve Avila, OG, TCU
The Stallions are stuck in a hard place (no rock in sight) with David Bakhtiari, as he's already missed two starts in what was supposed to be his for-real comeback year but the hit from releasing him would cause serious cap damage. In the meantime they'll work on other places along the line and go with another road-grader in Avila, their third straight interior lineman in the first round after Creed Humphrey and Luke Goedeke.
5. San Diego: Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
With 2024 marked as the debut of the Malik Willis show it's either this or an interior offensive lineman like John Michael Schmitz or O'Cyrus Torrence, but with the Mission getting absolutely buried in their losses and the tandem of Brandon Facyson and Darius Phillips scaring no one the best corner on the board is the pick.
6. Dallas: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Nick Harris had plenty of question marks at center even before he went on IR with a knee injury. In the Lonestars' biggest game of the season (at KC) they were down to starting UFA Xavier Newman-Johnson, more guard than center, with Adam Redmond out. So Schmitz, a makeup for just missing out on Creed Humphrey two years ago (Stallions took him the pick before), will step in on day one and will lock up the position for the next few years.
7. San Antonio: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
Jalen Hurts simply needs playmakers around him or you're going to have all-XFL performances one week followed by average-to-lottery the next. The Stampede couldn't depend on Dez Bryant anymore, and Miles Sanders almost certainly won't be back so that creates a need. Mingo fills it almost perfectly with RB-size, route-running, ball-tracking and contested catch ability
Previously: Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame (to Chicago)
8. Kansas City (from Tampa Bay): Derick Hall, DE, Auburn
Quite simply Hall is the kind of smaller quicker edge rusher the Monarchs have always excelled with, plus he offers plenty against the run as well.
Previously: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
9. Seattle: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
The Reign youth movement on D, a catalyst in their second half run, continues as they add a tall nose tackle after striking gold with David Ojabo and Micheal Clemons in the 2022 draft.
10. Washington: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Bailey Zappe era has begun, now it's up to the Glory to supply him with playmakers. The best tight end on the board will replaced the oft-injured Irv Smith at tight end.
11. Orlando: O'Cyrus Torrance, OG, Florida
The Rage stay put and get their guy anyway. Orlando moved Kevin Dotson over to the left side in the offseason but had to watch that blow up when Jamarco Jones missed the first eight games of the season on IR. Even since there's still questions about how he can hold up as a starter, so before they entertain the notion of moving Dotson back to the right side they keep a serious meanie in-state and can go ahead and plug him in there.
12. Chicago: Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame
Unlike in the first version of this mock the Enforcers can stay put and get their guy. Not much has changed, the Enforcers have a middle-of-the-pack 32 sacks, and still just the one from an edge rusher.
Previously: B.J. Ojulari, LB, LSU (to San Antonio)
13. Los Angeles: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
The best value pick of the first round as Mauch can play anywhere on the offensive line, although, even with Charles Leno and Jawaan Taylor both set for free agency, the obvious first destination is at right guard, with the Xtreme then kicking Damien Lewis over to left.
14. San Francisco: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Demons cover themselves in the possibility that Zach Allen leaves this summer. Much like Allen he can kick inside to tackle where needed, so this would be a great value pick for Doug Pederson as well.
15. Carolina: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
No doubt this is a prep for Hunter Renfrow leaving in free agency, as Mims is effectively the same type of receiver and also returns punts--where he averaged 11.8 per return in his three years at OU.
Previously: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
16. Kansas City: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Gotta give it to the Monarchs, even after their victory in San Francisco in week 11 one of the first things that came to mind was that they really tried to draft Cade Otton, but San Francisco beat them to it. So they'll take LaPorta and team him with Jake Ferguson (the one they did draft) with Harrison Bryant as a third TE option.
1. Columbus: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Brian Flores simply can't take anymore of Kydalate Slonesfeld, so he'll simply keep the #1 pick and take Levis, who flawed as he might be, at least gets to step into an offense that welcomes (which can't be understated) back Breece Hall. The Caps will be huge players (they'll have to be) in free agency to prep themselves to give Levis the best shot at shaking his label.
Previously: Levis to Tampa in a trade
2. Birmingham: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
The Ken Dorsey offense hasn't really gotten off the ground in 2023, and he will correctly deduce that it all starts up front, where Matt Skura, at best a 30-year old average starter, helms the interior. Like the other expansion teams they've also gotten burned depending on veteran castoffs like Julie'n Davenport, Quinton Spain, and Brandon Shell up front but they started the process last year drafting Darian Kinnard and Luke Tenuta (both have started games this year), now they'll go inside for their next piece.
3. New York: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Seems that defensive back would a little ridiculous considering the Hitmen's #1 problem, but with Levis already gone Ron Rivera looks around and sees the Monarchs' all-world secondary and decides, two years after being decimated in free agency, to rebuild one of his own. Of course Branch isn't Xavier McKinney at this point, but what he is is an upgrade over Will Parks and Cody Davis--the starters before Davis was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
4. St. Louis: Steve Avila, OG, TCU
The Stallions are stuck in a hard place (no rock in sight) with David Bakhtiari, as he's already missed two starts in what was supposed to be his for-real comeback year but the hit from releasing him would cause serious cap damage. In the meantime they'll work on other places along the line and go with another road-grader in Avila, their third straight interior lineman in the first round after Creed Humphrey and Luke Goedeke.
5. San Diego: Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
With 2024 marked as the debut of the Malik Willis show it's either this or an interior offensive lineman like John Michael Schmitz or O'Cyrus Torrence, but with the Mission getting absolutely buried in their losses and the tandem of Brandon Facyson and Darius Phillips scaring no one the best corner on the board is the pick.
6. Dallas: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Nick Harris had plenty of question marks at center even before he went on IR with a knee injury. In the Lonestars' biggest game of the season (at KC) they were down to starting UFA Xavier Newman-Johnson, more guard than center, with Adam Redmond out. So Schmitz, a makeup for just missing out on Creed Humphrey two years ago (Stallions took him the pick before), will step in on day one and will lock up the position for the next few years.
7. San Antonio: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
Jalen Hurts simply needs playmakers around him or you're going to have all-XFL performances one week followed by average-to-lottery the next. The Stampede couldn't depend on Dez Bryant anymore, and Miles Sanders almost certainly won't be back so that creates a need. Mingo fills it almost perfectly with RB-size, route-running, ball-tracking and contested catch ability
Previously: Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame (to Chicago)
8. Kansas City (from Tampa Bay): Derick Hall, DE, Auburn
Quite simply Hall is the kind of smaller quicker edge rusher the Monarchs have always excelled with, plus he offers plenty against the run as well.
Previously: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
9. Seattle: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
The Reign youth movement on D, a catalyst in their second half run, continues as they add a tall nose tackle after striking gold with David Ojabo and Micheal Clemons in the 2022 draft.
10. Washington: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Bailey Zappe era has begun, now it's up to the Glory to supply him with playmakers. The best tight end on the board will replaced the oft-injured Irv Smith at tight end.
11. Orlando: O'Cyrus Torrance, OG, Florida
The Rage stay put and get their guy anyway. Orlando moved Kevin Dotson over to the left side in the offseason but had to watch that blow up when Jamarco Jones missed the first eight games of the season on IR. Even since there's still questions about how he can hold up as a starter, so before they entertain the notion of moving Dotson back to the right side they keep a serious meanie in-state and can go ahead and plug him in there.
12. Chicago: Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame
Unlike in the first version of this mock the Enforcers can stay put and get their guy. Not much has changed, the Enforcers have a middle-of-the-pack 32 sacks, and still just the one from an edge rusher.
Previously: B.J. Ojulari, LB, LSU (to San Antonio)
13. Los Angeles: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
The best value pick of the first round as Mauch can play anywhere on the offensive line, although, even with Charles Leno and Jawaan Taylor both set for free agency, the obvious first destination is at right guard, with the Xtreme then kicking Damien Lewis over to left.
14. San Francisco: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Demons cover themselves in the possibility that Zach Allen leaves this summer. Much like Allen he can kick inside to tackle where needed, so this would be a great value pick for Doug Pederson as well.
15. Carolina: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
No doubt this is a prep for Hunter Renfrow leaving in free agency, as Mims is effectively the same type of receiver and also returns punts--where he averaged 11.8 per return in his three years at OU.
Previously: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
16. Kansas City: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Gotta give it to the Monarchs, even after their victory in San Francisco in week 11 one of the first things that came to mind was that they really tried to draft Cade Otton, but San Francisco beat them to it. So they'll take LaPorta and team him with Jake Ferguson (the one they did draft) with Harrison Bryant as a third TE option.