October 14, 2015
The USFL offseason may not provide fans with weekly on-field action, but that does not mean that it is a down period, just one where the GMs and personnel teams get most of the press. Over the past 10 weeks we have seen the annual flurry of player movements all across the league, as well as between the NFL and the USFL. Trades, free agency, retirements, coaching hires, it has been a full fall so far, with more to come over the winter. We will, of course, provide you with all the big news out of the “hot stove” for USFL football, beginning with an unanticipated retirement, and working our way through all the player movements and two coaching hires this fall. We finish up with a preview of the upcoming January Collegiate Draft process, exploring possible landing spots for some of the top college players taking the field right now and preparing to turn pro. So, if you love USFL football, this is an edition not to miss, because there are a lot of moving pieces, and you want to know where your team lands in the offseason player movement dance.
Jonathan Stewart Surprises Stags with Retirement Announcement
August saw considerable retirements across the USFL player pool, but none more impactful or more surprising than the announcement from Portland Stags running back Jonathan Stewart. The three-time All-USFL halfback announced only weeks after Portland’s deep playoff run that he would step away from the game at the age of only 29. Stewart, having played 8 seasons in the USFL, announced that he was prioritizing his long-term health and wellbeing, and that while he loved the game of football, the physical toll of his position was a concern, one which had to take precedence over his commitment to team and his profession.
Stewart played all 8 seasons of his pro career with the Stags, rushing for 1,000 yards or more in all but one year, an injury-shortened 2009 campaign. He finished 2015 with 1,208 yards, placing him 5th among USFL backs, the third time he has finished the year as a Top 5 rusher in the league. Much of the Stags’ offense was designed to run through the bruising back and the threat of the run, so the loss of a back who was expected to have several more highly productive seasons in his future is a huge blow to the team, shaking up their entire offseason plan.
Portland now will have to prioritize the halfback position, with Javon Ringer already expected to depart in free agency, leaving only little used 3rd stringer Kevin Smith on the roster. The Stags had little time to pivot and explore free agent options, with Stewart making his announcement after the free agent period had opened and the top free agent back, Ryan Williams of Oakland, already off the board (see free agent roundup below). The top remaining back in the pool is either Texas’s Felix Jones, demoted to the 3rd string after the arrival of Marshawn Lynch, or Charlotte’s Ronny Hillman, another backup. Alternatively, Portland could try to land a back in the upcoming draft, but with no pro-prospect tailbacks in the protected pool of T-Draft schools for the Stags (Oregon, Oregon State, and Boise State), and with their selection not coming until pick number 26, the prospects of the Stags finding a potential first-year impact rusher in the first round, a player like Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott or Alabama’s Derrick Henry, are not very good. The Stags may well have to seek a major trade to either acquire the T-Draft rights to a top back or to move to a much more favorable position in the open draft.
While many around the league as well as on popular ESPN and EFN network shows were quick to support Stewart’s decision, citing the intense physical demands of the halfback position, one that often sees players fall off a production cliff as early as age 30, there was significant criticism of the timing of Stewart’s announcement and the predicament created for a Stags team that surprised many by claiming the Pacific Division crown with a season finale win over Oakland and then defeating the St. Louis Skyhawks to earn a spot in the Western Conference Finals. Portland, already dealing with a potential QB controversy as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s strong 2015 upended the planned transition to Oregon superstar draft pick Marcus Mariota, now face two major questions on their offense as they must decide how to move forward at both quarterback and halfback in the 2016 offseason.
While Jonathan Stewart’s late retirement notification has certainly been a buzz-worthy story over the past 6 weeks, his was hardly the only late announcement as several players, particularly from teams that ran deep into the playoffs, have made similar announcements. Among the August announcements were three other Portland Stag veterans, center Brad Meester, and both of the team’s strong safeties, 35-year-old Clifton Black and 34-year-old Terreal Bierria. Arizona, the league runner-up, also had multiple announcements, though the retirements of both punter Shane Lechler, the league’s All-USFL player at the position, and WR Domenic Hixon, are not expected to be quite as impactful as Portland’s losses.
Other later retirement announcements include Atlanta WR Javon Walker, Birmingham LB Nate Webster, Charlotte DT Ryan Sims, Chicago WR D’Juan Woods, and Michigan guard Vince Manuwai. While, in many cases, these departures were known within the teams’ personnel departments well before public announcements were made, the addition of retirements to each club’s free agent departures will, as always, prove a challenge to the GMs around the league.
Chicago Lands on Lovie
As expected, Chicago got the man they wanted, former Chicago Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith. Smith joined the Machine in August, declaring that he was happy to be back in Chicago and taking a couple of light-hearted jabs at the Bears and their ownership for letting him go after taking the club to the Super Bowl.
Smith inherits a Machine club that bottomed out this year, that has a major question marks at quarterback, and which has significant issues with their defense, despite the presence of MLB Brian Urlacher. The Machine have the first pick in the draft, and we expect QB to be the pick so Smith, who comes out of a defensive coaching background, will need to hire himself a “qb whisperer” to hep guide the rookie to success. He will likely leave the offense to his OC and spend his time trying to rebuild a once proud Chicago defense, just as he did with the NFL Bears.
Denver Heads North for Coaching Choice
The Gold are taking a chance that a coach with success in the Canadian League can translate that success to spring football in the USA. On August 28, the Gold introduced former Calgary Stampeder HC John Hufnagel as their next Head Coach. Hufnagel comes off 8 years in Calgary, where he had great success, winning two Grey Cups. These go along with a Super Bowl trophy as a member of the NY Giants coaching staff, and a Summer Bowl as a special teams assistant with the Federals way back in 1990.
Coach Hufnagel has big shoes to fill as longstanding coach Dick Jauron was not renewed this year when his contract expired despite having taken the Gold to the playoffs 6 times in his last 8 seasons. Jauron, now with ABC as part of their USFL broadcast team, is rumored to be awaiting the next NFL coaching cycle after not being considered for the jobs in Chicago and Ohio in this year’s USFL cycle. For Hufnagel the adjustment back to 4-down, 11-player football comes with a team that finished at 7-9, has a reputation for being frugal when it comes to player salaries, but one that has a stable QB situation with USC product Matt Leinart at the helm of the offense, and one of the best defensive players in the league with NFL import Von Miller on the D-line.
The USFL Free agent pool opened on August 1st with a flurry of activity in the first week, and with the NFL-USFL transfer window not opening until 2 weeks later, it gave USFL clubs the first opportunity to sort through the available talent and find players who might provide either star power or depth at key positions. The first official signing of the Free Agent period came only 1 hour into the open market within the USFL, when Tampa Bay announced the signing of Dallas WR Hank Basket. This opened the floodgates and within 48 hours more than 20 USFL players had found homes, either resigning with their 2015 clubs or finding a new home across the league. All in all over 45 players had signed new USFL contracts before the opening of the NFL-USFL transfer window, but, with a pool of nearly 300 players in free agency, the signings had just begun. We start our review of the USFL Free Agent Market with the in-league signings. Here is our list of the 15 most impactful signings made by USFL clubs in August and September.
15— Mark Clayton, WR, MEM Resigned
The Memphis Showboats are trying to put weapons around Eli Manning (and prospective T-Draft focus, Paxton Lynch), with Clayton being an important return to the WR group, along with another big WR signing appearing later on our list.
14— Corey Liuget, DT, WSH to BIR
The 25-year old “pressure tackle”, known for his penetrating run stops and QB pressures (4 sacks in 2015) moves from DC to Birmingham as the Stallions try to improve a D-line that gave up 99 yards per game rushing in 2015 but which struggled to put pressure on opposing QBs.
13— Austin King, BAL Resigned
The Blitz retain a key piece of the line which protects Big Ben by coming to terms on a 3-year deal with the 34-year-old King. Expect King to compete with 2015 backup Ryan Pontbriand for the starting position, despite King’s 16 games started this past season.
12— Olivier Vernon, DE, STL to BAL
After a major letdown in 2015, dropping from 13 sacks in 2014 to only 6 last year, Vernon did not enhance his value, but still found a buyer in the Baltimore Blitz. Baltimore, having lost Robert Quinn earlier in Free Agency, wanted a veteran DE presence, and Vernon wanted to try to return to his 10+ sack form with a defense known for its aggressiveness.
11— Mario Manningham, WR, DAL to OHI
The long-time Michigan Panther now joins his 2nd team in 2 years after a 1-year stint in Dallas that saw him catch only 37 passes on 48 targets, both career lows for the former Wolverine and Panther. After only a single season in Dallas, Manningham now joins an Ohio team that has a lot of questions on offense, including at the QB position.
10— L. J. Smith, TE, LA to CHA
The 33-year-old mainstay of an often-fluid Express receiver group now moves on, signing with the Monarchs for the next 2 seasons. Smith was underutilized in LA this year, losing targets and starts after the arrival of Jason Whitten in 2014. Smith, who has had multiple seasons of over 500 yards and more than 50 receptions, was limited to only 30 catches and 152 yards as the number two TE in LA’s offense. He now joins a Charlotte squad that has Brandon Pettigrew penciled in as the starter.
9— Hank Basket, WR, DAL to TBY
Dallas continues to hemorrhage receivers, with Basket, a major target for Johnny Manziel, now departing for Tampa Bay, where he hopes to duplicate the success of other veteran Bandit receiver signings like Randy Moss and Joey Galloway. Basket has a good shot at being the top target for the Bandits, with Santonio Holmes a pretty stable number two. What is not stable in Tampa Bay is the QB position, where Pat White finished the year out after a horrible start by Mark Sanchez.
8— Brandon Marshall, TEX to MEM
The first 2015 All-USFL player to change teams, Brandon Marshall parlayed a 52-catch, 1,159 yard, and 12 touchdown contract year into a very sweet 3-year, $13M contract with the Memphis Showboats. Marshall will likely compete with veteran possession receiver Mark Clayton for the top spot on the depth chart, but no matter the final ranking on the team’s roster, expect Marshall to again see 90 or more targets as Memphis adds more weapons.
7— Arron Sears, G, WSH to SDG
The big, bruising run blocker moves from leading Deuce McCallister into the 2nd line of defenses to now working on behalf of another fellow free agent (see number 1 below) in San Diego. Sears will almost certainly lock down the right guard position as the team’s dominant run-blocking lineman.
6— Reggie Bush, HB, LA Resigned
The Express have not gotten what they had hoped for from Bush in his first few years with the team, but there were games in 2015 where Bush showed that he still had the ability to make defenders miss and break plays. The Express get 2 more years in the new contract to see if Bush can rediscover the skills that made him a Heisman winner at USC.
5— Kevin Burnett, LB, HOU to WSH
After 11 years in Houston, Burnett, who had himself a 100 tackles season back in 2010 and who has been over 80 tackles each of the past 3 seasons, now moves to Washington, where he is very likely to shift to MLB from the strong side, lining up inside of Federals’ OLBs Alec Ogletree and D’Qwell Jackson.
4—Sam Bradford, QB, NJ to LA
We knew Bradford wanted out of New Jersey, but is moving to the LA Express really a step up? Andy Reid is certainly a quality coach, and he loves what Bradford can bring to an LA offense that really struggled in 2015, but does Bradford have enough weapons in LA to find success, or will he again be frustrated with the options around him. At least he has solid safety valve targets in Bush and TE Jason Whitten.
3— Jimmie Graham, TE, PIT to ARZ
This is a big one. When the league’s TD leader moves from one Summer Bowl contender to another, it is a big move. Graham instantly becomes David Carr’s best friend as the Wranglers look to implement more 2-TE formations to enhance both the run game and the short passing game for Carr. Graham, a 1,000 yard receiver in Pittsburgh, gets a huge financial winfall to move across the country to Phoenix, and will now line up with Daniel Graham in the an All-Graham TE group for the Wranglers.
2— Robert Quinn, DE, BAL to OHIO
Ohio was one of the worst pass pressure teams in the league last year, with Isaac Hilton and Kamerion Wemberly struggling to put on a pass rush without blitzers involved. Enter Robert Quinn, who will become the LE opposite Wemberley, and who toyed with 10+ sacks over the past 5 seasons in Baltimore. Expect Ohio to try to build a defense that requires fewer blitzes and to support Quinn to try to make a legitimate 15+ sack candidate out of the former Blitz end.
1—Ryan Williams, HB, OAK to SD
We knew after they traded Marshawn Lynch that San Diego had to address the HB position in the offseason. They did not hesitate to do so, signing Williams on the first day of the open signing period. Williams, who has rushed for 1,000 or more yards each of the past 3 seasons in Oakland, heads down the coast, where he will try to torment his former team 2 times a year. The 26-year old signed a 4-year deal worth nearly $22M to join San Diego, where he will be the clear lead back with Lamar Miller serving as a short yardage option behind him.
Other signings of note include:
FB Glen Smith (MGN to CHA)
C Andre Gurode (CHI to PHI)
DT DeMarcus Tyler (PHI to CHA)
G Carl Nicks (ATL to BIR)
SS Tyvon Branch (ATL to PIT)
WR Tiquan Underwood (SEA to DAL)
WR Jerrel Jernigan (CHI to MGN)
OT Xavier Fulton (CHAto OHI)
LB Cody Glenn (JAX to MGN)
WR Ben Obamanu (PIT to OHI)
QB Mike Flynn (SEA to WSH).
After two weeks of USFL clubs feeding at the Free Agent trough, the NFL got their chance, just as their preseason was cranking up, to add some last-minute talent to their teams’ rosters, and they did not hesitate to do so, signing over 20 USFL starters to new NFL contracts. Some of the signings were a bit of a surprise, like benched Tampa Bay QB Mark Sanchez joining the Philadelphia Eagles, or HB LeGarrett Blount leaving Las Vegas for the Tampa Bay Bucs. Others were pretty big blows to the USFL, such as DE Tamba Hali leaving the Machine to go to Baltimore in the NFL, or Denver’s man mountain Gabe Watson taking a 3-year deal to sign with the Green Bay Packers. Here, very quickly, is our list of the 20 biggest USFL to NFL signings before we talk about NFL talent coming to the spring out of the September Transfer Window.
QB Mark Sanchez Bandits to NFL Eagles
QB Terrelle Pryor Orlando to NFL Browns
HB LeGarrett Blount Las Vegas to NFL Bucs
HB J. J. Arrington Atlanta to NFL Cardinals
HB Shonn Greene Los Angeles to NFL Jets
WR Nate Washington Memphis to NFL Oilers
WR Malcolm Floyd Chicago to NFL Chargers
C Matt Birk Philadelphia to NFL Ravens
G Derrick Dockery San Diego to NFL Browns
DE Tamba Hali Chicago to NFL Ravens
DT Gabe Watson Denver to NFL Packers
DT Kyle Williams San Diego to NFL Bills
LB Cameron Wake Washington to NFL Dolphins
LB Barrett Rudd Orlando to NFL Bucs
LB DeMarcus Ware Michigan to NFL Cowboys
CB Duane Starks Las Vegas to NFL Packers
CB Nnambi Asomugha Baltimore to NFL 49ers
CB Marcus Truffant Los Angeles to NFL Jaguars
CB Ashton Youboty Ohio to NFL Bills
S Marviel Underwood San Diego to NFL Raiders
Some real talent on that list, including former All-USFL players like Nnambi Asomugha and DeMarcus Ware, and some big motor guys like DT Kyle Williams and LB Barrett Rudd.
As we have come to expect each year, the September Transfer Window produced more USFL to NFL jumps than vice versa. The USFL will have their chance to pluck from a deeper and richer pool of NFL talent in February, when the two leagues have their second offseason transfer slot. But that is not to say that we saw no new NFL imports this past September. Four players of note came over from the fall league to the spring.
DE Connor Barwin, upset by coaching decisions within the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, held out well into NFL camp, got his release and immediately signed with the Chicago Machine. Barwin had 14.5 sacks with Philadelphia in 2014, his best season by far after coming to the Eagles from the Oilers, but he was at constant odds with coaches, and now moves to Chicago, where he will likely line up opposite Jason Pierre-Paul as the Machine continue to prioritize the D-line and QB pressure under new head coach Lovie Smith.
LB Courtney Upshaw, another disgruntled hold out, refused to sign a deal with the NFL Ravens and got what he wanted by waiting, a lucrative 3-year deal to join Chicago as the Machine are getting very aggressive with their personnel moves after suffering through a 3-12-1 season in 2015. Lovie Smith is clearly pushing to add defenders to a defense that was among the league’s most generous in 2015.
TE Jack Doyle, a pretty solid receiver for the Colts and a decent blocker as well, will be joining the Denver Gold as a “low cost” signing for the club. Doyle failed to find a taker in the NFL free agency period and was rumored to be returning to Indianapolis, but waited long enough to get a better offer from the often frugal Gold.
Another lower cost, undervalued position player, fullback Zach Line, found a home in Memphis after leaving the New Orleans Saints. Memphis is hoping to use Line both as a path-clearer for Todd Gurley, their 2014 rookie star, and as an occasional safety valve receiver, a role he often played in New Orleans.
The trading block opened up during the USFL playoffs back in July, when Oakland sent SS Jordan Richards to Memphis for HB Knile Davis. That move stood alone for a couple of weeks but then the floodgates opened. With several teams, including Jacksonville, Denver, and Las Vegas, in real salary cap struggles, some quality players were shipped as a means of removing large salaries from each team’s salary pool, often to the detriment of those three teams as high end players were traded for draft picks or position depth. We also saw several teams make deals to try to improve key areas of weakness on the roster. While we have not seen any major movement in the draft order yet, particularly the key 1st round of the Open Draft, we expect those moves will come as we get closer to January’s draft. As we look over the past 10 weeks, here are, in our estimation, the 8 biggest trades of the fall, with a few honorable mentions as well.
Las Vegas sends LB Angelo Crowell to St. Louis
for CB E. J. Gaines and a 5th round pick.
The Vipers began the offseason with nearly $5M in salaries for 2016 over the league cap. That means a fire sale of higher priced talent, with draft picks and less expensive talent on the way in. In the first of several moves, the Vipers send 7-year veteran LB Angelo Crowell to the Skyhawks. Cowell, a 13-game starter for the Vipers who finished the year with 84 tackles and 5 sacks, could find himself at either strongside linebacker or even MLB with the Hawks. In return, Las Vegas gets a mid-round pick and CB E. J. Gaines, who could serve as either the nickel or a possible number 2 corner for the Vipers. More moves from Las Vegas will be on the way on our list.
Houston sends veteran SS Patrick Chung to Jacksonville
for DE Tim Crowder and HB Kiero Small.
Houston’s HB room gets a bit crowded with the addition of Small, which may indicate that one of their 2015 backs is on the way out of town. Tim Crowder projects as a swing end, playing either LE or RE behind starters Antwan Applegate and Dante Fowler. For Jacksonville, safety was a big concern this past year, so obtaining a veteran and All-USFL quality safety like Patrick Chung is a big upgrade. Houston felt that the 29-year old Chung was potential trade fodder due to the presence of 2014 draft pick Kenny Vaccaro as a very viable option at the position.
New Jersey sends WR Doug Baldwin to Las Vegas
for C Kory Lichtensteiger
Coach Turner is making some big waves with the New Jersey offense, with Sam Bradford leaving in free agency, another veteran, 5-year vet Doug Baldwin, now headed to Las Vegas. Baldwin’s rookie deal was extended in 2014, front-loaded, which made it possible for cash-strapped Las Vegas to afford his 2016 salary. In return, New Jersey gets a starting center with good athleticism in Lichtensteiger. With starter Ethan Albright retiring, this was a position of need for the Generals.
Portland sends DT Atiyyah Ellison to Denver
for OT Nate Solder
Speaking of need, Portland had to upgrade at RT, where Nate Potter was frequently the target of very effective bull rushes and stunts. With Michael Oher locked in at LT, the Stags went after a viable and more powerful RT. Denver’s Nate Solder fit the bill, and with Denver needing to clear some cap space, he was a good target, coming now to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for DE Atiyyah Ellison. The swap saves Denver about $500k over Solder, but they are still on the wrong side of the cap, so will need to clear more salary before the draft.
Denver sends HB LeMichael James to Portland
for guard Nathan Roush and a 6th round pick.
And Denver does just that, clearing $800k by sending HB LeMichael James to Portland. This was not a 4-player deal, just two deals made within about 2 weeks. The Stags reached back out to Denver after the Solder deal and started addressing their gap at HB by acquiring James, the odd man out as Denver tries to turn DeMarco Murray into a bell cow back. James is unlikely to be Portland’s only HB acquisition as he does not project to being a 3-down option for the Stags. As for Denver, they add some low cost depth at guard and pick up a late round draft pick in the deal.
Atlanta sends CB Brandon Boykin to New Jersey
for both HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston
It is rare to see the top cornerback on a team dealt, but Atlanta has depth at the position with the emergence of Darius Slay and Andre Woolfork. New Jersey gets themselves a bona fide starter in Boykin, and send away two players who were not happy with their rotational roles, HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston. Expect Gholston to get the chance to start opposite Chris Kelsay in Atlanta, while Ivory could be in a competition to start, depending on what Atlanta does in the draft to address the departures of both Steven Jackson (retirement) and J. J. Arrington (Free Agent to NFL).
Las Vegas sends guard Max Jean-Gilles and FS Ryan DeAngelo
to Orlando for FS Darnell Bing
A two-for-one that sends one of the best guards in the business to the Renegades for more safety help. Bing, the former starter in LA, had found himself losing the starting job to Deion Bush and now has a chance to reignite his career in the desert. Jean-Gilles, a 10-year veteran with the Vipers (Nashville Knights) is an immediate upgrade for the Renegades. At 32 and on the last year of his contract, expect Jean-Gilles to put in a monster year as he seeks what could be his last pro contract in 2017.
Dallas sends QB Jake Locker and OT Gary Gilliam to Baltimore
for QB Tyrod Taylor and LB Melvin Ingram in a 4-player deal.
The Renegades had been trying to find a buyer for Locker ever since they made Johnny Manziel the starter, but Locker’s contract was unwieldy and costly for a player that lost the starting job multiple times. But, with the club willing to pay off a portion of Locker’s remaining salary, they were able to find a taker in the Baltimore Blitz. Baltimore, after dealing with Vince Young’s injury issues, and seeking a QB who could play in an offense that was designed for pocket passer Ben Roethlisberger, found Locker to be a good fit. So, the former Cannon/Roughneck will be headed to Baltimore and Dallas receives a more mobile backup QB in Taylor, one who perhaps fits well in the Johnny Manziel mold, as well as veteran LB Melvin Ingram, a 4-year vet who had struggled to get starts with the Blitz.
Other trades over the past 2 ½ months saw HB Charles Sims leave Pittsburgh for Birmingham, exchanged for WR Chris Chambers; Ohio sent center Jamey Richard to Portland for LB Justin Durand; Jacksonville dumped more salary by sending CB Jaylen Watkins to Texas and G Arron Sears to San Diego, reaping a 3rd round pick in 2017 and LB Jordan Hicks in return. Finally, Michigan acquired some depth at CB by trading a 4th round pick in 2017 to Seattle for CB Tramon Williams.
With free agency in full swing, the next 2 months are likely to see more signings, perhaps some player trades, and even some movement in the draft order, but the big push in December will be to prepare for January’s Draft. It is a draft that has 3 quarterbacks projected as potential early picks, with a rare potential early pick QB who is not protected by any team in the T-Draft. As we look at the 28 USFL clubs, each has their needs, their wants, and their limitations. As they plan for the draft, some may need to make deals to move up, others may be willing to trade down, and, of course, there is also the possibility, as we see each year, of teams trading Territorial Draft picks to another club with a specific target in mind, often garnering significant upgrades in the Open Draft as a result. In this Draft Preview, we will go down the draft order from 1-28, focusing on each teams’ needs and what we see as the top 3 strategies they should consider as they approach the twin drafts, Territorial and Open, starting with the first pick in the draft, held by the Chicago Machine.
PICK 1—CHICAGO MACHINE (3-12-1)
Team Needs: QB, FS, WR, C, DE
Best Available Protected Player: With so many needs on the Machine roster, there is sure to be a couple of perfect fits in the T-Draft. We really like the idea of the Machine going after WR Will Fuller from Notre Dame as well as DE Jihan Ward of Illinois, and maybe even bolstering their HB group with Notre Dame’s C. J. Prosise.
Draft Plan 1: So much hinges on the Machine’s feel for Trevor Siemian. We think Option 1 has to be to pick a more certain option at QB, and that is likely Carson Wentz, an unprotected player from North Dakota State.
Draft Plan 2: But, what if Chicago likes Jared Goff better? Well, having the 1st overall pick in the Open Draft could be the perfect way to acquire Oakland’s T-Draft pick for Goff. Oakland is not really in the QB market, so we could see them being very happy to trade Goff’s rights to Chicago for a shot at the top non-QB in the draft at number one overall.
Draft Plan 3: What happens if Chicago is happy with Siemian, or if they add someone in free agency, like a Nick Foles, to be there in case Siemian flames out? Well, then this pick is wide open. They could go for defense with OSU linebacker Joey Bosa, or they could trade down just a few picks if someone else has eyes on Carson Wentz.
PICK 2—TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-12)
Team Needs: QB, CB, G, LB, P
Best Available Protected Player: The Bandits have a perfect fit for their need at cornerback in FSU’s Jalen Ramsey, a brash, outspoken, but very talented corner. They could also look at kicker Roberto Aguayo, who many are saying is the best kicker prospect in 4-5 years. No clear option at QB, though we could see the Bandits taking a run at Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott just as insurance if they cannot land Goff or Wentz in the Open Draft. With the 2nd pick in the draft, they may have a shot at Wentz if Chicago goes another direction.
Draft Plan 1: With the 2nd pick in the draft, Tampa is in a bit of a precarious situation. Option 1 is that they stand pat and hope that Chicago does not jump on Carson Wentz. But that is very risky, because both Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch are already likely off the board. This is the easiest plan, but not the one likely to solve their QB question.
Draft Plan 2: So, option 2 is to outbid Chicago (if Chicago likes Goff) and make a deal with Oakland to try to secure Goff in the T-Draft. Goff seems a better fit for the Mike Shula offense anyway, so this may really be option 1 in Tampa Bay’s mind.
Draft Plan 3: Last option, and one we think could actually be on the table: After failing with their signing of LA quarterback Mark Sanchez, the Bandits may be a little gun shy about going after a veteran, but there is a chance they could trade out of this pick to acquire Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Stags. Fitzie had a very good 2015 and that could attract Tampa Bay to him, and Portland is open to a good trade since Mariota is there, so a straight up player for 1st round pick swap could get the Bandits a QB.
PICK 3—LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (4-12)
Team Needs: DT, C, G, LB. TE
Best Available Protected Player: The Express have a need at center and USC may have a solution in Max Tuerk. They could also take a shot at QB Cody Kessler, but after acquiring Sam Bradford, that may not be as important a position for them. If not, how about more defenders like LBs Su’a Cravens (USC) or Joe Schubert (Wisconsin)?
Draft Plan 1: LA is not in the QB market, not after signing Bradford, and the 3 slot is likely not good enough to land one. So, what are they after? How about the best defensive player on the board. Depending how the T-Draft goes, that could be the LB they need in Georgia’s Leonard Floyd or OSU’s Darron Lee, but more likely it is a DT like Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins or UCLA’s Kenny Clark. Stand pat and take the best player at a position of need.
Draft Plan 2: LA could also be a team willing to drop down maybe as many as 4-5 spots for the right price. If Elliott or Henry are here at number 3 for a HB-needy team, we could easily see LA drop down to swap places with Philadelphia or Atlanta, both of whom covet a big back.
Draft Plan 3: Does LA really pick an O-lineman this early? Usually we see tackles as the only early first round linemen, and LA needs a guard or center. They could surprise us and take a very early pick for someone like Alabama center Ryan Kelly or Stanford guard Joshua Garnett, hoping that a Top 3 pick is enough to keep the interior lineman from jumping to the NFL.
PICK 4—JACKSONVILLE BULLS (5-11)
Team Needs: LB, SS, G, OT, P
Best Available Protected Player: The Gators often produce the core talent for the Bulls’ T-Draft, but this year Clemson also has some talent. We like S Keanu Neal from the Gators, but the Bulls are also high on two Clemson LBs, Kevin Dodd and Antonio Morrison.
Draft Plan 1: The Bulls need help at LB and at OT, so we see two easy choices with their 4th pick, Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley or Georgia LB Leonard Floyd. If both make it to the Open Draft, then the Bulls likely stand pat and take one of the two with the 4th pick.
Draft Plan 2: The other option we could see is for the Bulls to drop down a bit, since there are solidly 3-4 offensive tackles they could get if they stay in the top 12 selections. If they like all of them, then earning more picks by trading down could be very appealing.
Draft Plan 3: Finally, while far less likely, Jacksonville could go for a safety. The best choice is WVU’s Karl Joseph, but Florida’s Keanu Neal is also a possible pick. Problem is that neither seems like a Top 10 pick, so is this another trade down option? We would think so.
PICK 5—OHIO GLORY (5-11)
Team Needs: QB,SS, CB, LB, WR, OT
Best Available Protected Player: Ohio needs an option at QB, but there is not one in this draft, however, we could see the Glory try to trade their top T-Draft pick to a team in love with Buckeye HB Ezekiel Elliott, especially if it gives them a shot at either Goff or Wentz.
Draft Plan 1: The Glory are very likely heavily scouting Goff and Wentz, but can they afford to wait for the 5th pick and pray that somehow Wentz is available? That seems unlikely. So, what about a trade with Chicago? Move up from 5 to 1, get first crack at the NDSU quarterback. That is likely to be a very costly trade, but Ohio State has a lot of OSU talent protected, so maybe Chicago takes a shot at LB Joey Bosa by trading for the Glory’s top T-Draft selection.
Draft Plan 2: Option 2, they stand pat at QB, give Osweiler and Troy Smith another year and use this pick to land some secondary help. It is risky, but in only his 2nd year, we could see Coach Coughlin risk it to go after more defensive help. If they don’t go after CB Eli Apple in the T-Draft, that may be a sign that they think they can get either FSU’s Jalen Ramsey or Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves with the fifth pick.
Draft Plan 3: Ohio could be yet another team willing to trade down, especially if all 3 QBs are off the board by now. They likely won’t want to drop too far, but again, if there are HBs on the board, they could swap out of pick 5 and grab some more draft choices in later rounds.
PICK 6—MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (5-11)
Team Needs: QB, C, CB,LB,DT,SS,WR
Best Available Protected Player: We all know where Memphis’s focus is, Paxton Lynch, the athletic and mobile QB right there in their back yard at the U. of Memphis. Since they get 3 picks, they might also want to take a look at TE Hunter Henry, HB Jonathan Williams (both Razorbacks) or DT Robert Nkemdiche from Ole Miss, all worthy of some attention.
Draft Plan 1: Memphis hopes their future franchise QB is in the T-Draft, with Paxton Lynch. So we are taking them out of the QB race. That means that we are looking at one of many other positions at pick number 6. If it were us, even with their free agent signings, we would be looking for a topflight speed receiver. That could be Baylor’s Corey Coleman, Notre Dame’s Will Fuller, or TCU’s Josh Doctson.
Draft Plan 2: Coach Ryan is a defensive guy, though, so maybe WR is not the pick. What about pass rush? DE Joey Bosa is likely not going to be here, but we could see DeForest Buckner going unclaimed in the T-Draft. That would be a great option for Rex Ryan’s scheme.
Draft Plan 3: OK, let’s say that none of the receivers merit a Top 10 pick, and Buckner is off the board, then the next option is cornerback, so we are back again to Jalen Ramsey, Eli Apple, or Vernon Hargreaves with this pick.
PICK 7—PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-11)
Team Needs: HB, DT, C,DE,CB,FS
Best Available Protected Player: The Stars love DT Austin Johnson from Penn State, so we expect him to be their first pick. Now, do they go for another Nittany Lion in QB Christian Hackenberg, or do they perhaps try to trade that option away to a more QB-needy team?
Draft Plan 1: Philadelphia needs a halfback. That was so clear last year when their lack of a productive run game just devastated Jim Harbaugh’s offensive gameplan. So, the best option is for Philadelphia to trade away the 7 pick to get into the T-Draft and land either Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio Glory) or Alabama’s Derrick Henry (Birmingham). Neither the Glory nor the Stallions are really desperate for a back, so they both might be willing to trade away the pick to get a Top 10 Open Draft option.
Draft Plan 2: If the Stars cannot pull off a trade, perhaps no one does, and both Elliott and Henry drop to the Open Draft. Odds are that one of the two will be gone by now, but perhaps the other falls to pick 7. That seems possible, if risky for the Stars.
Draft Plan 3: If they whiff on both backs, then we expect Philadelphia will try to trade to the middle of the round, picking up perhaps an additional 2nd rounder, and in the 2nd round they then are in position to possibly land a backup option like Kenyan Drake, the other Bama back, or Notre Dame’s C. J. Prosise. Not optimal, but a solid fallback option if everything else fails.
PICK 8—SAN DIEGO THUNDER (6-10)
Team Needs: OT, LB, DT, G, TE
Best Available Protected Player: The Thunder have a lot of needs, and some of them line up very well with their newly acquired T-Draft school, UCLA. How about LB Myles Jack? DT Kenny Clark? OT Caleb Benenoch? Or even HB Paul Perkins? All would be welcomed to the Thunder quite readily.
Draft Plan 1: With Ryan Williams in the fold in free agency, the need for a HB disappears. So, that means OT is the primary need. Got to have someone to protect Joe Webb, assuming he has held his QB position. At pick 8 there are options. We expect Ronnie Stanley from Ohio State, Jack Conklin from Michigan, or Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss to be here as all three are potentially slipping out of the T-Draft.
Draft Plan 2: If none of the Big 3 tackles make it this far, then San Diego has to go to plan B, which could be BPA (Best Player Available). That seems odd for a Top 10 pick, but the Thunder have a lot of needs, a lot of areas to improve, so BPA may actually be a viable option for them.
Draft Plan 3: Last option, trade this pick and some others to get a shot at Goff. Seems unlikely, but it would be a high risk, high reward option for the Thunder. The problem is that Oakland is unlikely to want to see Goff in their division for the next decade.
PICK 9—ATLANTA FIRE (6-10)
Team Needs: DE, SS, HB, WR, P
Best Available Protected Player: LB Leonard Floyd from Georgia is the best talent on their board, but not a position of need. They could look at one of two wideouts in Georgia’s Malcolm Mitchell or South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper.
Draft Plan 1: Atlanta added William Gholston in trade with NJ, so maybe DE is no longer a priority. If that is true, then pick 9 could be a solid option for a safety. We really like Keanu Neal from Florida, assuming the Bulls don’t jump on him.
Draft Plan 2: If HB remains a priority, then perhaps the Fire put together some picks and trade up to get a shot at Elliott or Henry. They could even make a deal with Ohio to give the Glory two top 10 picks as they go after Elliott in the T-Draft. That would then allow Ohio to trade both picks to get a shot at Carson Wentz.
Draft Plan 3: If all else fails, there will be plenty of speedy wideouts here that Atlanta could latch onto. Josh Dotson or Laquon Treadwell would both be welcome targets for the Fire.
PICK 10—LAS VEGAS VIPERS (6-10)
Team Needs: OT, DT, FS, LB, CB
Best Available Protected Player: The Vipers are not getting much out of BYU or Utah this year, which is why the league has offered them a 4th school. They opted for Utah State, and the theory is that they are targeting Aggie LBs Nick Vigil and Kykler Fackrell.
Draft Plan 1: As much as Greg Roman is an offensive guy, we just think he needs to address the defense here. That could be DT, FS, LB, or CB, so he will have his pick. That means that we think best defensive player available (at least in those 4 spots) is the play here.
Draft Plan 2: What if they do go for offense? Well, OT is the obvious need (though many positions could be improved). Cody Pickett is mobile, but not so mobile as to not need a solid LT. so, if Tunsil or Conklin is here, the Vipers could make a wise pick and go for a protector for their QB.
Draft Plan 3: Back to defense. Yes, we listed 4 positions above that could be solid picks for the Vipers, but edge rushers are always in demand, so if somehow Buckner or Clemson’s Shaq Lawson are here, the temptation may be great to add more QB pressure.
PICK 11—NEW JERSEY GENERALS (6-10)
Team Needs: QB, G, OT, CB, WR
Best Available Protected Player: Another teamgranted a 4th school because of their limited pool form Rutgers, BC, and Syracuse. The Generals don’t see a lot in their 4 schools (Western Kentucky was their pick) but might take a shot at WKU tight end Tyler Higbee. WR Leonte Carroo from Rutgers might also be worth a flyer at least for depth.
Draft Plan 1: Does NJ have enough to offer to get into the QB race? Do they even want to? They could add a veteran free agent and hope that 2015 rookie Brett Hundley is as good as his Week 16 cup of coffee appearance seemed to indicate. If they go QB, that means trading this pick away, almost guaranteed.
Draft Plan 2: If they don’t go QB, well, then offensive line is the play. That could be a tackle like Tunsil, OSU’s Taylor Decker, or A&M’s Germain Ifedi.
Draft Plan 3: The third option is to take the best guard in the draft, assuming he is here, an that is Stanford’s Joshua Garnett. Not a sexy pick, but a definite position of need for the Generals, and one that will keep Maurice Jones-Drew happy.
PICK 12—DENVER GOLD (7-9)
Team Needs: DT, FS,CB, LB, SS
Best Available Protected Player: With the Gold we usually start with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and there is some talent there, like DT Maliek Collins, and OT Alex Lewis. They could also take a flyer on Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins, though that is not a position of immediate need.
Draft Plan 1: Denver is almost certainly going defense with this pick. It is just a question of which position, LB, CB, DT, or Safety? Let’s say that the LB crop has not been heavy so far, that means that Leonard Floyd, Darron Lee, or Kevin Dodd could be available, or at least 1-2 of them. LB is a good pick here.
Draft Plan 2: If the T-Draft takes away most of the linebackers, then we think cornerback is the next best option, with Apple, Hargreaves, or Houston’s William Jackson III as potential targets.
Draft Plan 3: What if Denver throws us a curveball? What would a curveball pick be? How about TE Hunter Henry? He would be a great target for Matt Leinart, but many Gold fans would be shaking their heads.
PICK 13—WASHINGTON FEDERALS (7-9)
Team Needs: LB, DT, G, WR, QB
Best Available Protected Player: The Federals are looking for depth from the T-Draft, failing to find any round 1 or 2 prospects in their pool. Depth could mean a player like Va Tech CB Kendall Fuller, LB Dadi Nicolas, or MTSU safety Kevin Byard, all developmental players who will likely see action on special teams.
Draft Plan 1: If Denver zigs and does not pick a LB, then the Feds almost certainly will. We have already listed several, but one darkhorse who could rise up the draft board is Alabama’s Reggie Ragland, if somehow he gets past the T-Draft.
Draft Plan 2: If the Feds just don’t see 1st round talent in the linebackers that are available, they could look for help on the interior line. That could be Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins or Mississippi State’s Chris Jones, both potential disruptors in the middle.
Draft Plan 3: It seems a very longshot, but David Garrard is not getting any younger. Could the Feds stretch a little and take a look at Christian Hackenberg? The Penn State project likely escape’s Philly’s T-Draft and could sit behind Garrard for a year or two. Seems a high price, but QB talent always seems to draw extra attention.
PICK 14—SEATTLE DRAGONS (7-9)
Team Needs: FS, CB, OT, QB, DT
Best Available Protected Player: Seattle is looking at a crop from U-Dub, Wash-State, and Montana that simply does not have anyone expected to go before round 4. So, that means they have neither a clear target nor much trade possibility. We think they will go for positional depth with players like Washington State guard Joe Dahl, Montana DE Tyrone Holmes, or UW LB Travis Feeney.
Draft Plan 1: Seattle’s biggest issues are in the secondary, so we think they look at corner or safety. Lots of options there, and some will certainly be on the board at pick 14. If one of them is Baylor’s Xavien Howard, we could see him being a very solid option for Coach Mitchell.
Draft Plan 2: Seattle, like the Federals, could also be thinking of the future and take a hard look at Hackenberg. Byron Leftwich takes a beating each year, and at 35 he is not the mobile escape artist he used to be.
Draft Plan 3: We are not sure what kind of market there is for Seattle to trade out of this position. Mid-Draft tends to be a bit of a no-man’s land for trades, but if someone wants to move up from the low 20’s, we could see Seattle taking that option if it garners them some more picks later on.
PICK 15—BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-8)
Team Needs: DT, HB, TE, LB, CB
Best Available Protected Player: The strong 2015 rookie group out of Alabama and Auburn is followed by a much more shallow pool, but one player stands out in a need position for the Stallions. Expect B’ham to make an effort to land LB Reggie Ragland from the Crimson Tide.
Draft Plan 1: We mentioned Sheldon Rankins and Chris Jones as top DT options, but Birmingham has one at Alabama as well in A’Shawn Robinson. If they don’t protect Robinson in the T-Draft, then we think they go DT here.
Draft Plan 2: This could be a position where TE does not seem too high. If Arkansas senior Hunter Henry is available, or if Austin Hooper from Stanford is not protected by the Invaders, we could imagine Coach Ellard looking for another target for his QB.
Draft Plan 3: We need to realize that this pick could be Birmingham’s second in the draft, allowing them to go BPA with the pick. Why? Because there is a lot of talent coming out of Alabama and we could easily see someone trading an earlier 1st rounder to Birmingham to get a shot at Derrick Henry, center Ryan Kelly, or LB Reggie Ragland.
PICK 16—DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (8-7-1)
Team Needs: LB, WR, DT, TE, FB
Best Available Protected Player: Not a great pool for the Roughnecks, but we do like a couple of prospects out of Baylor. How about CB Xavien Howard or DT Andrew Billings?
Draft Plan 1: Dallas lost 2 receivers from their top 4, so that is a position of need to be sure. Could they pass up someone like Corey Coleman, Josh Doctson, or William Jackson III if they are here? We don’t think so.
Draft Plan 2: Dallas also has needs at OLB, maybe even a greater need, so if they don’t see a WR who they think can contribute in year one, perhaps they go after a Darron Lee, Leonard Floyd, or Jaylon Smith.
Draft Plan 3: While Rashard Mendenhall is certainly the top back for the Roughnecks, we could see them wanting to shift to a 2-back system, so, while it is a longshot, it would not shock us if they look at Kenyan Drake or C. J. Prosise.
PICK 17—OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6)
Team Needs: HB, CB, TE,DE, LB
Best Available Protected Player: The Oakland Invaders have themselves an interesting problem. They have the consensus number one overall pick in Cal QB Jared Goff, but they have neither the need nor the cap room to sign him. So, the obvious choice is to wave the T-Draft pick out there and see who will pay the most to land the protected shot at Goff. Expect them to hear from Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Ohio, and likely many others. As for picking a player, there is deep talent in the pool. We like G Joshua Garnett, TE Austin Hooper, and LB Blake Martinez, all from Stanford.
Draft Plan 1: So much of what Oakland does depends on that Jared Goff pick. We think there is almost no chance that they let him slip out of the T-Draft without trading with someone for a top 3-5 pick. So, that puts Oakland in the Top 5, which means they have a real shot at a halfback to replace Ryan Williams.
Draft Plan 2: If they feel HBs are easier to find in later rounds, which some GM’s do, then they could also use whatever pick they acquire for Goff to land a defensive stud. That could be CB, LB or DE.
Draft Plan 3: How about this for a wild trade? Oakland and Ohio swap T-Draft picks so that Ohio gets a shot at Goff and Oakland gets a chance at DE Joey Bosa. Crazy improbable, but brilliant too.
PICK 18—MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6)
Team Needs: LB, WR, CB, DT, OT
Best Available Protected Player: The best player out of the Michigan/Michigan State combo is likely OT Jack Conklin from the Wolverines. He is a road grater of a tackle. The Panthers, who are not in the QB market, could also take offers from other teams for the chance to sign Spartan QB Connor Cook.
Draft Plan 1: We think Michigan looks at the departure of Hines Ward and goes wideout here. They loved Ward’s physicality, so perhaps a bigger receiver is the call. How about someone like Sterling Shephard from OU?
Draft Plan 2: If WR is not the play, then linebacker is the move. Ragland, UCLA’s Myles Jack, and Boise’s Kamalei Correa all seem good options at pick 18.
Draft Plan 3: Finally, offensive tackle could be an option if they just don’t like their choices at wideout. A&M’s Germain Ifedi could be a nice fit at RT for the Panthers.
PICK 19—HOUSTON GAMBLERS (12-4)
Team Needs: FS, LB, CB, DE, QB
Best Available Protected Player: The Gamblers really like CB Brandon Williams of A&M, but they should also take a long look at another Aggie, OT Germain Ifedi, projected as a 1st rounder if he makes it to the Open Draft.
Draft Plan 1: The Gamblers would love to see either Keanu Neal or Karl Joseph drop to this pick at safety. If one of them is here, expect that to be the pick.
Draft Plan 2: Like Michigan a pick ahead of them, LB is also a need area. Same names for the Gamblers as with the Panthers. Just a matter of who is still on the board.
Draft Plan 3: We think the Gamblers are counting on Colt McCoy stepping up when Matt Hasselbeck does choose to retire, but McCoy won’t wait forever, so perhaps a 3rd option is needed. That could be Hackenberg if he drops this far.
PICK 20—CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (9-7)
Team Needs: DE, DT, FS, HB, LB, OT
Best Available Protected Player: Charlotte has a need at DT and the T-Draft has a solution in Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler. La Tech was added as a 4th school for the Monarchs because of the small pool coming out of UNC and NC State, very fortuitous for the Monarchs to get a school that has a top talent in a position of need.
Draft Plan 1: Any of the top linebackers would be a good option for the Monarchs. That could be Correa, Ragland, LSU’s Deion Jones, or USC’s Su’a Cravens.
Draft Plan 2: The D-line also needs beefing up, so perhaps the best D-lineman on the board, either end or tackle. How about someone like Ole Miss’s Robert Nkemdiche?
Draft Plan 3: Halfback could also be a position of need, someone to either spell McFadden or to offer different skills. How about a speedy 3rd down back like DeAndrew Washington from Texas Tech?
PICK 21—ORLANDO RENEGADES (9-7)
Team Needs: OT, LB, FS, TE, QB
Best Available Protected Player: CB Artie Burns from Miami is the best player on the board from Orlando’s 3 protected schools (Miami, UCF, Purdue), so we could see them go for Burns even if CB is not a deep need. We also like Burns’s teammate, Miami safety Deon Bush, as a target, especially if Orlando sees him as a true Free Safety and not a tweener.
Draft Plan 1: The Renegades could go about 10 different directions here. Our first choice for them would be TE, especially if Hunter Henry somehow slips to this stage of the first round.
Draft Plan 2: Another option would be a tackle, especially a solid run-blocking right tackle to make Knowshon Moreno’s life a bit easier.
Draft Plan 3: If their top choices at TE and Tackle are gone, we could see Orlando drop down, perhaps to later in the round or even to the early 2nd round. It all depends on who is left on the board that seems like 1st round material.
PICK 22—TEXAS OUTLAWS (10-6)
Team Needs: SS, OT, CB, DE, WR
Best Available Protected Player: The Outlaws have some choices ahead of them after a shuffle in T-Draft schools gives them a shot at some OK State talent as well as Texas Tec. How about OT Le’Raven Clark from the Red Raiders? We also like HB DeAndre Washington, though that is not an immediate need. Another Red Raider who the Outlaws could add for depth is WR Jakeem Grant.
Draft Plan 1: With Brandon Marshall now in Memphis, the Outlaws will want a nice 2nd option behind Colston. Perhaps a middle-of-the-field underneath guy. How about Josh Doctson from nearby TCU?
Draft Plan 2: If Doctson is not there, a good 2nd option might be Pitt’s Tyler Boyd, a solid route runner who could prove a dangerous YAC option for Joe Flacco.
Draft Plan 3: With needs at safety and corner, the third option for Texas is the Best DB Available. All 4 slots in the secondary could be upgraded in some fashion, so that would be a shrewd decision if the WR options are not knocking anyone’s boots off.
PICK 23—ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (10-6)
Team Needs: LB, G, DT, FS, DE, K
Best Available Protected Player: The SkyHawks are in a similar position to Seattle, without a clear 1st or 2nd round pick in their pool. They like Indiana OT Jason Spriggs, and could take a flyer on another Hoosier, HB Jordan Howard as well.
Draft Plan 1: Look across the St. Louis defense and you see needs to improve. They play well as a team, but they need to get a playmaker. So, this is another situation where we think a BPA option, particularly on defense, makes sense.
Draft Plan 2: St. Louis could also be a team looking to move down and nab some picks. They won’t get choice options at pick 23, but they could drop to the 2nd round and perhaps pick up an extra 3rd rounder.
Draft Plan 3: We are going to throw a name at you. It would be a stretch pick, but we could see the Skyhawks falling in love with this guy. Robert Aguayo. Yup, a kicker. With Bironas gone, the Skyhawks need one, and Aguayo has been discussed as a generational talent. Would a team really jump on a kicker in the 1st round? Risky, but of all the “late pick” teams in the round, St. Louis would be the team to do it.
PICK 24—BALTIMORE BLITZ (13-3)
Team Needs: DE, WR, G, CB
Best Available Protected Player: The Blitz have several good options, including Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins, Maryland safety Sheldon Rankins, or, for a position of immediate need, how about Maryland’s athletic edge rusher, Yannick Ngakoue.
Draft Plan 1: If Baltimore feels that they have found their DE in the T-Draft with Ngakoue, then they will look at WR. We have listed many players so far, but one we have not is OSU’s Michael Thomas. Could you picture his deep ball skills matched with Big Ben’s arm? Scary.
Draft Plan 2: If the DE spot is still uncertain, then we think that is the pick. Robert Quinn is gone, so the Blitz have to try to find an answer. We like Illinois’ Jihad Ward and EKU’s Noah Spence if some of the earlier names are not available at 24.
Draft Plan 3: Cornerback is the third option that we could see the Blitz focus on, especially if one of the top 3-4 corners drops this far. If Hargreaves or William Jackson III is still on the board, the Blitz would likely opt for the secondary help.
PICK 25—PITTSBURGH MAULERS (13-3)
Team Needs: G, LB, SS, QB, TE
Best Available Protected Player: Sometimes the universe just decides to help a team out. Safety Shaun Taylor announces his retirement and the T-draft immediately provides the perfect replacement. West Virginia safety Karl Joseph could be a perfect fit for the Maulers. They might even double down and also pick his teammate, K. J. Dillon, just in case Boyd wants to hold out for the NFL.
Draft Plan 1: Let’s start with the boring, conservative choice. A guard like K-State’s Cody Whitehair or NC State’s Joe Thuney would be a solid, if uninspiring pick.
Draft Plan 2: Ok, now let’s get a bit more adventurous. What if the Maulers are not happy with Marcus Lattimore and Toby Gerhardt? They did rely awfully heavily on Andy Dalton last year, so how about a big bruising back with some moves, someone like Alabama’s Kenyan Drake or SJSU’s Tyler Ervin?
Draft Plan 3: Now let’s go really wild, Pittsburgh puts together a package, likely involving players and picks to get the T-Draft pick from their former division-mate, Ohio, and go after Ezekiel Elliott? Could you imagine Elliott in Pittsburgh with that offense? Yikes!!! But with Ohio and Pittsburgh now in different conferences, it would not be off the table just because they used to be division rivals.
PICK 26—PORTLAND (10-6)
Team Needs: HB, C, G, CB, OT
Best Available Protected Player: The Stags are now in HB focus mode, but their T-Draft provides no help. They could use the T-Draft mostly for depth and focus their attention on trying to move up in the draft somehow to get a shot at a strong HB candidate like Ezekiel Elliott or Derrick Henry. Someone might be open to a trade if Portland will let them take their first T-Draft pick for highly coveted DE DeForest Buckner from Oregon.
Draft Plan 1: In almost any other situation we would not image a team trading their 16-game, playoff caliber QB, but the Stags have huge money invested in Marcus Mariota, and they now have a huge need at HB, so we think they will make every effort to make a deal either with Ohio or Birmingham to get a shot at Elliott or Henry respectively.
Draft Plan 2: If neither the Glory nor the Stallions will help Portland out, then their best option may be to trade for a veteran HB, a trade that could involve this pick.
Draft Plan 3: Third option, keep the pick and use this pick and a 2nd rounder to draft two mid-range HBs hoping to sign both and get a clear starter out of the combo. Risky, to be sure, but if all else falls through, what other shot do they have?
PICK 27—ARIZONA WRANGLERS (12-4)
Team Needs: G, LB, WR, HB, P
Best Available Protected Player: Not a great pool this year for the Wranglers. ASU guard Christian Westerman is the highest rated and he is still only a 3rd-4th round prospect. Expect the Wranglers to build depth, particularly at LB, where they like the motor on Arizona’s Scooby Wright.
Draft Plan 1: We see Arizona as a pretty clear BPA candidate. They don’t need a lot of help in their starting lineup. But could use depth at several positions, so it makes sense they might just wait and see who has slid furthest.
Draft Plan 2: The second strategy Arizona could employ is to look for a team willing to trade down. The Wranglers have more picks than needs, so they could combine this pick with a mid-range one or two and launch themselves up the board in the first round. But for whom?
Draft Plan 3: Finally, the Wranglers could go the opposite direction, moving down. Again, they have plenty of picks, so they really don’t need more, but they might move down if they could get a pick in the early 2nd round and perhaps 1-2 in the 2017 draft.
PICK 28—NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (13-3)
Team Needs: G, OT, C, LB, CB
Best Available Protected Player: The Breakers are licking their chops over the LSU class this year, with several players aligning perfectly with roster spots the Breakers would like to either fill or improve. Whether it is LB Deion Jones, CB Rashard Robinson, or OT Jerald Hawkins, there is a lot for the Breakers to pursue. The problem, of course, is signing these well-known talents.
Draft Plan 1: If they stay put, the pick is likely on the offensive line. They have needs at center, guard and tackle, so they can play the waiting game and see who lands at this spot.
Draft Plan 2: New Orleans is a prime option for a team to move into the 1st round for a 2nd early pick. They likely could get the Breakers to drop down for a mid-range 2nd rounder, since there is a deep pool at the key O-line positions for New Orleans to bank on.
Draft Plan 3: Finally, this could be a spot for a stretch pick. We could see the Breakers try to add a slot receiver or a scatback to pair with their current roster of talent. It is a stretch to be sure, but it sure would be fun to see someone like Tyler Boyd or Michael Thomas join the Breakers’ receivers group.
We will be back in late January with our Draft Recap, a preview of the 2nd NFL-USFL Transfer Window, all the latest trades, free agent moves, and a special feature, our Top 5 Lists for 2016, citing the best coaches, players, and traditions in the USFL. It's all coming this January as we ramp back up for the 34th season of USFL Football on EFN, your home for the USFL, and the best news show in the business, This Week in the USFL.
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