Post by MGB01 on Jul 13, 2022 17:28:43 GMT -5
1. Columbus: Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State
Usually the first pick of an expansion team would be either a quarterback or pass protector, but with no real bigtime prosepcts here the Capitols make their first-ever rookie draft pick the Doak Walker award winner. Plus, what he did to Michigan last year makes him an honorary citizen of Columbus for life
2. San Diego: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
So the Mission follow with the other of the top two backs available. With Eric Bieniemy returning to where he began his professional career, this makes all the more sense
3. Seattle: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
When the Reign kick off, it'll be just short of a year since Ojabo tore his Achilles. With Mike Zimmer, who was the first head coach in team history, returning to lead the Reign again, Ojabo makes sense here, and can fit in either a 4-3 or a 3-4
4. Birmingham: John Metchie, WR, Alabama
Metchie has the playmaking ability and should be long healed from his torn ACL, which should offset any dismissal of the pick as just being for drawing purposes
5. Los Angeles: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
Not only do the Xtreme stay home for the second straight year and take an edge rusher, but effectively telgraphed this pick by not re-signing Josh Sweat and letting Casey Toohill go in the expansion draft, meaning Jackson would start right away
6. Tampa Bay: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
This will be the fourth straight year the Sharks have gone offense from the SEC in the first round (Drew Lock, D'Andre Swift, Elijah Moore, Pickens)
7. St. Louis: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
The Stallions need upgrades on the offensive line but those go with the return to 100% of David Bakhtiari, so they go with a potential game-changer on the back end in Brisker, who would replace Kyzir White
8. Dallas: James Cook, RB, Georgia
The Lonestars didn't trade for Phillip Lindsay, which would dramatically have helped a running game that slogged to just over three yards per carry even with OROY Javonte Williams, so they draft his partner.
9. San Antonio: Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
Genard Avery and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are free agents, and odds are against the Stampede retaining both. Plus Cameron Wake, as expected, retired so the Stamps will look at developing new potential starters, with Bonitto joining 2021's second round pick Joseph Ossai
10. Carolina: Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
The Colonels tried to ride with B.J. Finney but he went on IR with back issues. So Jurgens is the pick here and should start from day one
11. New York: Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Robinson is the surprise pick, as while the Hitmen are set with similar players (Jamison Crowder, Joe Horn), Robinson could see action in the backfield as well, where the Hitmen were totally ambushed in 2022, losing their top three backs to knee injuries
12. San Francisco: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
The Demons were the latest team to learn that 30s A.J. Green is hardly the early 20s version. Marcell Ateman and Allen Lazard are nice, but neither have the explosiveness of Watson, the one the Demons have been looking for since DeSean Jackson was traded
13. Orlando: Joshua Paschal, DE, Kentucky
Whether Da'Shawn Hand stays or goes in free agency the Rage need to restock the cupboard after Anthony Zettel retired
14. Washington: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
While offensive upgrades should be had after the defense historically carried the Glory this year, they could go here with a corner to pair up with Trevon Diggs and keep the defense strong on the back end
15. Chicago: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Enforcers gave it their best in the playoffs, but couldn't overcome the tragic late-season loss of Jaylon Ferguson. So Mafe, who could be the next in a long line of great Enforcer edge rushers, steps in here.
16. Kansas City: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Don't put it past the Monarchs to go with another edge rusher or offensive playmaker (if available), but they're also always looking to shore up at corner, as Levi Wallace and Devante Bausby both had interesting first halves of the season before straightening out. Plus if this holds both KC teams will have taken the two UW corners with their first pick
Usually the first pick of an expansion team would be either a quarterback or pass protector, but with no real bigtime prosepcts here the Capitols make their first-ever rookie draft pick the Doak Walker award winner. Plus, what he did to Michigan last year makes him an honorary citizen of Columbus for life
2. San Diego: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
So the Mission follow with the other of the top two backs available. With Eric Bieniemy returning to where he began his professional career, this makes all the more sense
3. Seattle: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
When the Reign kick off, it'll be just short of a year since Ojabo tore his Achilles. With Mike Zimmer, who was the first head coach in team history, returning to lead the Reign again, Ojabo makes sense here, and can fit in either a 4-3 or a 3-4
4. Birmingham: John Metchie, WR, Alabama
Metchie has the playmaking ability and should be long healed from his torn ACL, which should offset any dismissal of the pick as just being for drawing purposes
5. Los Angeles: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
Not only do the Xtreme stay home for the second straight year and take an edge rusher, but effectively telgraphed this pick by not re-signing Josh Sweat and letting Casey Toohill go in the expansion draft, meaning Jackson would start right away
6. Tampa Bay: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
This will be the fourth straight year the Sharks have gone offense from the SEC in the first round (Drew Lock, D'Andre Swift, Elijah Moore, Pickens)
7. St. Louis: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
The Stallions need upgrades on the offensive line but those go with the return to 100% of David Bakhtiari, so they go with a potential game-changer on the back end in Brisker, who would replace Kyzir White
8. Dallas: James Cook, RB, Georgia
The Lonestars didn't trade for Phillip Lindsay, which would dramatically have helped a running game that slogged to just over three yards per carry even with OROY Javonte Williams, so they draft his partner.
9. San Antonio: Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
Genard Avery and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are free agents, and odds are against the Stampede retaining both. Plus Cameron Wake, as expected, retired so the Stamps will look at developing new potential starters, with Bonitto joining 2021's second round pick Joseph Ossai
10. Carolina: Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
The Colonels tried to ride with B.J. Finney but he went on IR with back issues. So Jurgens is the pick here and should start from day one
11. New York: Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Robinson is the surprise pick, as while the Hitmen are set with similar players (Jamison Crowder, Joe Horn), Robinson could see action in the backfield as well, where the Hitmen were totally ambushed in 2022, losing their top three backs to knee injuries
12. San Francisco: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
The Demons were the latest team to learn that 30s A.J. Green is hardly the early 20s version. Marcell Ateman and Allen Lazard are nice, but neither have the explosiveness of Watson, the one the Demons have been looking for since DeSean Jackson was traded
13. Orlando: Joshua Paschal, DE, Kentucky
Whether Da'Shawn Hand stays or goes in free agency the Rage need to restock the cupboard after Anthony Zettel retired
14. Washington: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
While offensive upgrades should be had after the defense historically carried the Glory this year, they could go here with a corner to pair up with Trevon Diggs and keep the defense strong on the back end
15. Chicago: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Enforcers gave it their best in the playoffs, but couldn't overcome the tragic late-season loss of Jaylon Ferguson. So Mafe, who could be the next in a long line of great Enforcer edge rushers, steps in here.
16. Kansas City: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Don't put it past the Monarchs to go with another edge rusher or offensive playmaker (if available), but they're also always looking to shore up at corner, as Levi Wallace and Devante Bausby both had interesting first halves of the season before straightening out. Plus if this holds both KC teams will have taken the two UW corners with their first pick