Post by MGB01 on Apr 26, 2020 21:43:46 GMT -5
1. San Antonio Stampede: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Right now the Stampede are a mess, which might be an insult to messes, thanks to terrible injury luck and a series of missteps at the QB position. Hurts is nothing more than a dual-threat weapon that doesn't really have pocket accuracy, but is a playmaker (Stampede couldn't use any of those right?) and could thrive in the right system, now run by Joe Lombardi. What's more he can not only generate interest on the field, but for locals who have struggled to watch the Stampede this year.
2. Carolina Colonels: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
It's down to Higgins and D'Andre Swift, and while there are still questions as to whether Luke Falk is really the right guy in Kevin O 'Connell's offense, especially now that he takes the lead in 2021, it'll require a downfield size/speed threat who can win contested throws, especially since Falk's accuracy is still a question mark.
3. Los Angeles Xtreme: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
Now that the Xtreme have squeezed every last bit out of Pierre Garcon they can look to his replacement and pair him up with the returning Antonio Callaway, whose season was effectively wiped out due to a suspension. The Xtreme, who once used to hoard USC and UCLA players like they were the only two football-playing schools left, will like Pittman's size, route-running, and know-how to get to the endzone.
4. New York Hitmen: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
While Taylor Heinicke has become a convenient target for his less-than-stellar first year in Gotham, the fact is is that the Hitmen fortunes also started declining when they shipped LeSean McCoy to St. Louis in a cap move. Taylor can fill some of what Shady did for them and be paired up with Gus Edwards in the complementary role.
5. Chicago Enforcers: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Enforcers will likely lose Matt Judon in free agency so at first glance Darrell Taylor would make sense here as a replacement, but the Enforcers' top two sack guys in 2019 were Cameron Jordan and T.Y. McGill, and they haven't really recovered what they lost with McGill. Plus Jordan, 31 after the season, has dealt with more injuries through the years. Epenesa compares favorably, and playing the opposite end could develop into his successor over the next few years.
6. Washington Glory: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
The Glory will have reasons other than reuniting him with his brother--backup safety Mar'Sean, cornerback hasn't been a great spot for Washington this year. Nevin Lawson and Ryan Smith were both suspended to start the season, Leonard Johnson has been a so-so acquisition, Mike Ford has played well but the team would like someone better to pair with him in 2021. Diggs is a long, lanky cornerback who can play deep as well.
7. Dallas Lonestars: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
So much for Bob Stoops' first-year OL plan. Trent Brown was expected to leave but Daryl Williams was also a surprise departure, the Lonestars signed Marcus Gilbert only to see him get hurt in week 1 and go on IR. Oh and Kyle Allen has been sacked a league-high 33 times, and he didn't even play until week two when he replaced an injured Brandon Silvers. Cleveland didn't play against top competition at Boise State, but being in an up-tempo offense he certainly fits the bill for the Lonestars' modified Air Raid.
8. Tampa Bay Sharks: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Sharks are in much of the same boat with Drew Lock as Dallas is with Allen. But the Sharks have issues up and down the secondary not limited to Tony Jefferson's ACL/LCL tear: Jaylon Kearse is a free agent; Tre Flowers has been up and down; Jordan Miller was suspended to start the year; they went out and got erstwhile NFL drug bust Jalen Collins, that relationship predictably went south as he was eventually waived. McKinney, who can also play cornerback if needed, is a potential QB of the secondary that the Sharks can plug right in, meaning that they will likely let Kearse walk.
9. St. Louis Stallions: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
The aforementioned McCoy has been a tremendous boon for the Stallions as he and Brian Hoyer are due the lion's share of the credit for the Stallions' first year in St. Louis bordering on their first franchise trip to the playoffs since 2017 (as the Las Vegas Outlaws). McCoy, however, was planned as a one-year stopgap with Isaiah Crowell out from a torn ACL. Crowell doesn't really have the same dynamic McCoy does, but Dobbins fills that bill. Plus it'd be worth it to have Gus Johnson yell 'all day' after saying his name.
10. San Francisco Demons: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
The Demons dealt DeSean Jackson, and yet saw Kyle Lauletta grow into an even better QB in year two (credit due to Taylor Gabriel for coming out of nowhere). While the Demons get Hakeem Butler back after missing his rookie year with a hand injury they can't pass up a chance to draft yet another playmaker at wideout. Not only that, he can play a significant number of roles offensively.
11: Orlando Rage: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Gross-Matos will fit nicely into Kris Richard's scheme in Orlando which has a "rover" (Da'Shawn Hand) who lines up both inside and outside, and two smaller quicker ends (Brooks Reed and fellow PSU product Anthony Zettel). The Rage will have edge rusher D'Andre Walker returning after losing his rookie season to injury, which will limit Gross-Matos' snaps, but that should give him plenty of time to round into a finished product.
12. Kansas City Monarchs: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Should the Monarchs go wire-to-wire again, which would be truly legendary, they'll definitely go BPA, but there will be some needs going forward. They still allowed some big plays, especially at the beginning of the year when they had the Luke Falks and Kevin Hogans of the world gunning with them. Delpit has some tackling issues, but is great in coverage, can play both safety positions as well as corner, and with Tre Boston a free agent and Eric Reid battling an ankle injury the second half of the year is a solution there.
Right now the Stampede are a mess, which might be an insult to messes, thanks to terrible injury luck and a series of missteps at the QB position. Hurts is nothing more than a dual-threat weapon that doesn't really have pocket accuracy, but is a playmaker (Stampede couldn't use any of those right?) and could thrive in the right system, now run by Joe Lombardi. What's more he can not only generate interest on the field, but for locals who have struggled to watch the Stampede this year.
2. Carolina Colonels: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
It's down to Higgins and D'Andre Swift, and while there are still questions as to whether Luke Falk is really the right guy in Kevin O 'Connell's offense, especially now that he takes the lead in 2021, it'll require a downfield size/speed threat who can win contested throws, especially since Falk's accuracy is still a question mark.
3. Los Angeles Xtreme: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
Now that the Xtreme have squeezed every last bit out of Pierre Garcon they can look to his replacement and pair him up with the returning Antonio Callaway, whose season was effectively wiped out due to a suspension. The Xtreme, who once used to hoard USC and UCLA players like they were the only two football-playing schools left, will like Pittman's size, route-running, and know-how to get to the endzone.
4. New York Hitmen: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
While Taylor Heinicke has become a convenient target for his less-than-stellar first year in Gotham, the fact is is that the Hitmen fortunes also started declining when they shipped LeSean McCoy to St. Louis in a cap move. Taylor can fill some of what Shady did for them and be paired up with Gus Edwards in the complementary role.
5. Chicago Enforcers: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Enforcers will likely lose Matt Judon in free agency so at first glance Darrell Taylor would make sense here as a replacement, but the Enforcers' top two sack guys in 2019 were Cameron Jordan and T.Y. McGill, and they haven't really recovered what they lost with McGill. Plus Jordan, 31 after the season, has dealt with more injuries through the years. Epenesa compares favorably, and playing the opposite end could develop into his successor over the next few years.
6. Washington Glory: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
The Glory will have reasons other than reuniting him with his brother--backup safety Mar'Sean, cornerback hasn't been a great spot for Washington this year. Nevin Lawson and Ryan Smith were both suspended to start the season, Leonard Johnson has been a so-so acquisition, Mike Ford has played well but the team would like someone better to pair with him in 2021. Diggs is a long, lanky cornerback who can play deep as well.
7. Dallas Lonestars: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
So much for Bob Stoops' first-year OL plan. Trent Brown was expected to leave but Daryl Williams was also a surprise departure, the Lonestars signed Marcus Gilbert only to see him get hurt in week 1 and go on IR. Oh and Kyle Allen has been sacked a league-high 33 times, and he didn't even play until week two when he replaced an injured Brandon Silvers. Cleveland didn't play against top competition at Boise State, but being in an up-tempo offense he certainly fits the bill for the Lonestars' modified Air Raid.
8. Tampa Bay Sharks: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Sharks are in much of the same boat with Drew Lock as Dallas is with Allen. But the Sharks have issues up and down the secondary not limited to Tony Jefferson's ACL/LCL tear: Jaylon Kearse is a free agent; Tre Flowers has been up and down; Jordan Miller was suspended to start the year; they went out and got erstwhile NFL drug bust Jalen Collins, that relationship predictably went south as he was eventually waived. McKinney, who can also play cornerback if needed, is a potential QB of the secondary that the Sharks can plug right in, meaning that they will likely let Kearse walk.
9. St. Louis Stallions: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
The aforementioned McCoy has been a tremendous boon for the Stallions as he and Brian Hoyer are due the lion's share of the credit for the Stallions' first year in St. Louis bordering on their first franchise trip to the playoffs since 2017 (as the Las Vegas Outlaws). McCoy, however, was planned as a one-year stopgap with Isaiah Crowell out from a torn ACL. Crowell doesn't really have the same dynamic McCoy does, but Dobbins fills that bill. Plus it'd be worth it to have Gus Johnson yell 'all day' after saying his name.
10. San Francisco Demons: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
The Demons dealt DeSean Jackson, and yet saw Kyle Lauletta grow into an even better QB in year two (credit due to Taylor Gabriel for coming out of nowhere). While the Demons get Hakeem Butler back after missing his rookie year with a hand injury they can't pass up a chance to draft yet another playmaker at wideout. Not only that, he can play a significant number of roles offensively.
11: Orlando Rage: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Gross-Matos will fit nicely into Kris Richard's scheme in Orlando which has a "rover" (Da'Shawn Hand) who lines up both inside and outside, and two smaller quicker ends (Brooks Reed and fellow PSU product Anthony Zettel). The Rage will have edge rusher D'Andre Walker returning after losing his rookie season to injury, which will limit Gross-Matos' snaps, but that should give him plenty of time to round into a finished product.
12. Kansas City Monarchs: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Should the Monarchs go wire-to-wire again, which would be truly legendary, they'll definitely go BPA, but there will be some needs going forward. They still allowed some big plays, especially at the beginning of the year when they had the Luke Falks and Kevin Hogans of the world gunning with them. Delpit has some tackling issues, but is great in coverage, can play both safety positions as well as corner, and with Tre Boston a free agent and Eric Reid battling an ankle injury the second half of the year is a solution there.