DEFENSIVE END
Moving to the opposite side of the field, edge rushers are extremely useful in a lot of ways. Defensive ends could be great pass rushers that disrupt the offense on passing plays, or could be extremely important for setting the edge on run defense to force runners inside to the crowd. In this class, there is not a lot of debate to be had here, with a clear top dog and then a small debate for second.
1. Ioe Torrent, DAL
240 TPE, $39,609,599 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 32 Tackles, 8 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR, 5 Sacks
Torrent is a pretty obvious top defensive end here. Torrent has the TPE compared to the others in the class, the biggest and best bank. He has put out media and podcasts on an extremely regular basis, and considering it doesn’t appear to be slowing down, Torrent is likely among the best players in the entire draft. He has all the makings of an absolute superstar, and could be the first defensive lineman off the board if teams fall in love with him in pre-draft interviews.
When it came to the statistical season, Torrent had a successful run of things as a rookie. His five sacks are a great start, and eight tackles for loss show a great ability to break through tough blocking assignments by DSFL teams. It isn’t the biggest season, only 32 tackles doesn’t look like much. But when you were as strong and dominant as Torrent, you start to see teams move the ball in the other direction from you. He didn’t get a lot of opportunity to get tackles. He did have seven missed tackles on the season, but that still shows how little he was targeted by the offense. That, however, is yet another big talent of his, influencing the offense’s decision making and play-calling. It takes a special talent to be able to make the offense bend to them, and Torrent has that ability.
There isn’t much to say here, realistically. If there was a debate of any kind, it would be whether Torrent is the best defensive lineman in the draft, which is a possible debate to have. He is far and away the best defensive end in the draft, and so it wasn’t really difficult to slot him here, and there isn’t much more to say after that.
2. Rocco Blade, POR
177 TPE, $13,350,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 25 Tackles, 6 TFL, 3 FF, 0 FR, 7 Sacks
Here is where you could have a debate at defensive end, between Blade and the next player on the list here. Blade is somebody who joined slightly later, just a little bit after the draft. It shouldn’t be much difference, but can have a small effect. He has been on fire, though. He’s earned at a good rate, and seems to be in line to be a high-end player. His bank is solid and growing as he’s a graphics person. That fact will also help to raise his stock and ultimately is the difference in my decision to put him here. There isn't much difference in TPE between him and the third defensive end on the list, while his bank is slightly better and he has the added benefit of being somebody able to do graphics for a team. He should have great value to a team.
Statistically speaking, Blade is very different from Torrent. Torrent is a strong, physical kind of player. Blade is more of a speed rusher. When the ball gets snapped, Blade is trying to perfectly time to get around instead of get through the blocker. So while you may see guys like Torrent that can blow an offensive lineman back, Blade is more likely to use swim moves and spins to try and get the offensive lineman off balance or turning. This gives his opening to break through, and he’s been spectacular with it, being able to get seven sacks on the season is a big feat! Similar to Torrent, his tackles are low, though he has no missed tackles at all. He just wasn’t that consistently targeted, and that’s fine. He was able to force three fumbles, although he wasn’t the one to recover any, that is incredible to be able to do. All in all, Blade looks like a great talent who has the explosiveness to break up plays before they even begin.
Blade to me is the second defensive end off the board in the draft, the question being when. He could sneak into the later first round, though I think I’ll bank on him being more likely to be taken in the second.
3. Stewart Hellraiser, NOR
179 TPE, $10,391,340 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 16 Tackles, 7 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Sack
The debate continues here. Hellraiser has been good, and is similar to Blade in that he joined slightly after the draft. He’s been earning consistently, and his bank is solid. He has done media somewhat regularly, enough at least to be able to comfortably train for a while. It is at this point that I recognize this is the only position so far where pedigree hasn’t come into play at all. This is just about what I can see at this snapshot moment of brand new users. Hellraiser looks like somebody who is capable of being a centerpiece of a defense down the line, and should a big target for teams in need of defensive line help.
Analyzing his play, on the other hand, is remarkable. His defensive statistics don’t look that great, only the one sack, only sixteen tackles. However, as more of a power rusher, he definitely fits the bill of somebody that is disruptive to an offense’s blocking scheme. What is he most remarkable about him is his adaptability. He is the only defensive end who has non-defensive statistics. He produced 2 pancake blocks, and I have no idea what he was doing out there. He also had 10 catches for 109 yards, and produced a first down on seven of his catches! That is wild to think about, they put a defensive end out there, I assume in do-or-die situations, and they actually used him in the passing game?! That is unheard of. I could see the big body bruiser being a fullback or even running the ball himself for short gains, but to have him run a route and go for a catch and run is ballsy. It turns out, he’s capable of it and that is an incredible feat.
Hellraiser looks likely to be a second round pick to me, but teams could fall in love with his personality and jump a bit earlier on him. He has the talent to be a superstar in the league, and I have no doubt he should be a great pick-up for whoever is able to snag him in that later position.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
While edge rushers get all the hype and credit, the defensive tackles are the ones that are putting in some hard work. Lining up to the inside, they take on the toughest blocking, trying to plug holes before a running back can find them and trying to get the quarterback’s pocket to narrow in quickly. They don’t get a lot of credit, but what they do can be game changing.
1. Konstantin Selich, KCC
259 TPE, $41,169,624 Bank, 2 Former Players (Max TPE 1217, Min TPE 116)
Defensive Statistics: 7 Tackles, 1 TFL
With only two defensive tackles in this draft, Selich is the clear-cut number one. The debate to have with Selich is whether he is the best defensive lineman in the draft, or if that title goes to Torrent. To me, Selich is the best. He has a strong bank, and is tied for the second highest TPE in the entire class. He has the pedigree, though you don’t know exactly what you’re getting from him considering he had a player flame out well before this point. Realistically, things happen and sometimes you lose track. He came back strong and his recent player was a stud, and in this case we should see another one here. There is a debate, because of Torrent’s great work ethic, but the debate is not that strong currently as Selich stands atop that mountain.
That is where things get interesting statistically, because well, Selich didn’t really put up much. After being a waiver pick up last season he put up 17 tackles in just 4 games for Bondi Beach. However, after being drafted to Kansas City, he struggled to find playing time. He started only 2 games for the team, and while he played in all 14, he only put up 7 tackles and one for a loss. It seems Kansas City didn’t know how to highlight him, and so for someone casually scrolling statistics, they wouldn’t think much of him. However, he's an incredibly strong player who has the ability to set the tone for the defense right out of the gate with his aggressive first step and strong hands. Hopefully we can see more out of him next season, but this was definitely a tough situation for him.
Nonetheless, thankfully, statistics don’t matter much when it comes to the draft. It’s about the process, and Selich follows that process well. He may not be the biggest addition for a team, considering his role as a general manager in the SHL, but he will be an incredible earner who should make a quick impact once he’s called up.
2. Dominos Pizzaman, BBB
218 TPE, $4,735,900 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 47 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
Pizzaman looks to be a fine option at defensive tackle, but is going to land at second here because it just is difficult to match up to Selich. That doesn’t mean anything bad for Pizzaman, who I think is going to be a fine player. He has good TPE numbers, and his bank is passable. He could probably use a little more of a buffer, but he should be fine. He has been doing graphics it appears, which can bump up his value a bit as that’s easy money to accrue. He’s a new user who has done well, and definitely will be targeted in the earlier parts of the draft, he just needs some time to get to where he needs to be.
The statistics are what I expected for Selich, to be honest. While Selich had trouble finding the field, Pizzaman had no problems making his way out there. His 47 tackles are clearly the best among defensive linemen in the draft, and he was able to blow up a play with a tackle for loss. That’s really what you want to see out of a defensive tackle. Pizzaman is built a bit differently from most defensive tackles, as he’s more speed based. He may not bulldoze his way through some blockers, but he could finesse his way around a bit. That can make for interesting situations as the leader of the run defense, setting the tone for it. However, he has found good success with it by getting his tackle for loss and also managing to break through the pocket to get a sack. Pizzaman is definitely talented, and is a unique kind of talent.
Pizzaman should be a second round pick, in my eyes. Maybe a team really needs defensive linemen and sees Selich and Torrent already gone and goes for it. As long as he continues his work on graphics and really builds up that bank, there is no limit for what Pizzaman could do and I fully expect to see him making his way up the ISFL leaderboards in the not too distant future.
LINEBACKERS
While quarterbacks are the play callers and tone setters for the offense, Linebackers are effectively the same for the defense. They’re the ones relaying information around the field, making sure everyone is in position and being the direct match-up to the quarterback. They have possibly the toughest job of all, having to be the primary run stuffers, but also covering increasingly athletic running backs and tight ends, or even slot receivers at times. It’s a difficult job, but somebody has to do it.
1. Sheriff Woody, TIJ
258 TPE, $109,604,352 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 1372)
Defensive Statistics: 82 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 Sacks, 2 INT, 7 PD, 1 Defensive TD
Quite possibly the top prospect in this draft, Woody has everything needed. He is just off from the TPE leaders, literally one behind a tie for second place. He has the third highest bank in the class, and it is a massive bank as well being over 100-million. He has the pedigree of having a previous superstar player in the league who played for the maximum number of seasons allowed. This is just a no-brainer of a ranking for the linebacker position, and the only debate to be had is whether Woody is the top prospect overall, and the case is pretty good.
Meanwhile, in terms of play, it is hard to see anybody who played better than Woody this season. He was 12th in the league in tackles. He was able to blow up plays behind the line of scrimmage, and he was an absolute menace in pass defense. His ability to break up passes, force interceptions and even be a challenge for blocking assignments who could force his way through to the quarterback with ease is unrivaled in the class. Woody is by far one of the most polished athletes we’ve seen in this class, and looks perfectly aligned to become one of the best players in ISFL history. He has all the talent in the world, not to mention his leadership and ability to engage in every form of the game.
Put everything together, and Woody is as good of a prospect as I could imagine in this draft. He seems to be the most sure thing that could be in this draft, and I am extremely impressed. The question of where he ranks in the total draft board will be interesting, as he is a good option for the top spot.
2. Dont Draft, POR
201 TPE, $17,746,996.00, 3 Former Players (Max TPE 1490, Min TPE 508)
Defensive Statistics: 73 Tackles, 2 FF, 1 INT, 8 PD
The message of the name cannot be more clear, though it could definitely be a troll as I don’t know this user at all to understand their sense of humor. With that in mind, I’m not here to rank whether they’ll be drafted, I’m focused on their current numbers and how they would rank against one another. In this case, it is pretty clear that Draft is the second-best linebacker without considering the name predicament. He has the second most TPE of the linebacker group, he has the second highest bank as well. He has the pedigree, appears to be a former general manager from what I can tell, and had a max earning career with one of his players. That is a lot to go off of, and if Woody wasn’t so spectacular, and the name so off-putting, this could actually be a debate at the top.
On the field, Draft was a great player with a high number of tackles. However, he did show struggles to a degree with run defense, as he appeared unable to break through the line and get plays broken up early. He seems like more of a wait and see kind of player, letting the play move into him. That can be fine if you're lined up with the right group around you of aggressors to drive that play into you. However, in this sense, he is giving up ground that way. He has a lot of talent and ability, he just needs to get more aggressive on the field and he could light up the DSFL with ease.
Considering the name, I don’t anticipate seeing him drafted, or at least not very early. However, if we just look at the facts of his earning, past players and bank, he would probably be a late second round pick at the very least if not for it. I don’t know him well, and so we will see what happens, but it is at the least interesting to watch for.
3. LaCarpetron Dukemarriot, MINN
174 TPE, $2,200,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 78 Tackles, 8 TFL, 2 FF, 2 FR, 7 Sacks, 1 INT, 4 PD
Dukemarriot should be higher on this list, and could be if he had a bit more bank to his credit. He is a fine earner with TPE, somebody who does predictions and training, but it doesn’t appear has done a single actual point task. He has a very low bank, and looks likely to have to rely more heavily on contract money than anything else. He has put in graphics at one point, but only that once. That kind of earning just doesn’t jump off the page from the rest of this class, and that’s where even though he’s a fine earner, he falls to third here in the linebacker class.
In statistical terms, Dukemarriot had a fantastic season in Minnesota. He fell just thirteenth in tackles, which is just shy of how Sheriff Woody landed. His tackles for loss and sacks shows his incredible ability to drive through the offensive line and give himself a shot at blowing up plays before they even materialize. He doesn’t have as much of an ability in the passing game as Woody did, but he definitely shows the ability to learn it. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him develop into a superstar, but it will take some serious work to accomplish. He is likely to be more of an outside linebacker in the future, as he is so significantly talented with breaking blocks and pushing through to break up plays.
Like I’ve pointed out above, Dukemarriot is a fine piece that just isn’t doing everything needed. He has a good base, getting regular updates in. He just needs to focus on point tasks and work on building that bank as much as he can. He likely goes later in the draft, my assumption being it will be in the third or possibly even later. However, he has an opportunity to turn things around if he just puts in some elbow grease.
4. Hex Aqua-Key'Kiann, DAL
152 TPE, $6,499,999 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 570)
Defensive Statistics: 86 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 FF, 8 PD
I typically lean toward that pedigree of a successful former player when ranking these people, but Hex has lower TPE to the point that I think it makes up that difference. His bank is limited, and he doesn’t really appear as somebody who will be building that up much. He has the pedigree of having a player that was successful, at least to a degree. Ultimately, he just needs the commitment of consistent updating, and doing his point tasks, and with it he should be able to find his way shooting up this board and up in the draft.
On the field, Hex was a solid player. He leads all draftees in tackles with his 86, and had a fine number of tackles for loss to show an ability to get through blockers. His eight passes defended shows an aptitude of some kind for the passing game. Ultimately, he looks like just an unfinished product. He was able to knock passes down, but he couldn’t catch them. He could break through the line, but he couldn’t get the quarterback at any point. He had a lot of tackles, but where are they happening can be just as important as how often they’re happening. It is important to be able to take people down, but it’s equally important to take them down quickly.
Hex looks like somebody who could make a great player, and at the very least should be a useful piece to a team that needs bodies and some cap help. I have no doubt this will end up perfectly fine, and I could easily see Hex as the known quantity going before Dukemarriot in the draft. Ultimately, you know what you’re getting, it may not be spectacular, but it is a fine player.
SECONDARY
I know this could be seen as a cop out, but I am combining cornerbacks and safeties into one category. The reason being that their roles ultimately overlap to a degree. Sure, some safeties are more likely to be run defense based, similar to linebackers, but ultimately corners and safeties are almost exclusively going to be for pass defense if the people in front of them do their jobs well. In an increasingly pass friendly world, these positions are extremely vital.
1. Miles Weperom, S, NOR
273 TPE, $17,698,600 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 66 Tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 Sacks, 1 INT, 3 PD, 2 Blocked P/XP/FG
This was a surprisingly difficult decision to make. It should be simple, you look at Weperom and he has the top TPE in the class by a fairly large margin. He has a strong bank, and has done a fair amount of media as well as podcast recently. The only thing that we don’t know with him, and I may be wrong on this, is the pedigree that some others have. Ultimately, this seems like a no brainer as the top prospect in the draft, but it instead became a difficult debate. I can guarantee that Weperom is going to go early in the draft, it’s just a debate of where.
To look at the statistics, Weperom was a very strong player this season. Able to play in just about every capacity, Weperom was able to generate as part of the pass rush, as part of pass coverage, and even drove back on run defense well as the last line of defense. He was remarkable on the field, and that ultimately culminates in being the only player I’ve seen so far to have blocked a punt, extra point or field goal. The ability to block something like that is amazing. The only players I know of to be able to do that kind of thing are guys like the Watts, or Troy Polamalu. Weperom is a truly gifted player who produced in a bunch of ways, and as he continues to develop and evolve, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him become a superstar and hall of famer at the ISFL level.
Weperom faces some steep challenges at the top of the draft boards, including Selich and Woody above. However, he seems pretty much guaranteed to go in the top of the draft at some point.
2. Jason Garciaparra, CB, KCC
256 TPE, $136,124,202 Bank, 2 Former Player (Max TPE 1414, Min TPE 514)
Defensive Statistics: 56 Tackles, 1 FF, 3 INT, 13 PD, 1 Defensive TD
This is where the debate laid for the secondary, between a safety and a corner for who has supremacy. Ultimately, the debate stems from Garciaparra’s massive bank, the largest in the draft, and the pedigree there of previously having a 1400 TPE player. While Weperom is higher in TPE, that is a lot to make up, and I think he has. Ultimately, this is a reasonable battle. Does Garciaparra actually belong as the top player in the secondary? I think that is a reasonable debate to have, the money and pedigree is worth looking at and can even argue that this is the best player in the draft as well.
Statistically speaking, you can see that Garciaparra was pretty shut down. His 13 passes defended was ironically 13th in the league this season. He was able to get three interceptions, and specifically he had one pick six which is pretty remarkable. He is one of only fourteen players to get a defensive touchdown this season in the DSFL. The tackles are rarely that good for corners, mostly by the nature of their position. They’re not there to let them catch it and tackle them, they’re meant to be stopping them from ever getting their hands on it. Garciaparra was great in large part due to being able to keep his man from getting his hands on the ball.
This is one of the toughest debates to have, Garciaparra has a lot going for him and so for a team that needs help on the defensive side, he could be the best player possible to pick. It will be a real debate at the top pick to go between Weperom, Garciaparra, Woody or Selich. All of them are fantastic at their jobs, and each one will be worth the price.
3. The Laz, CB, POR
238 TPE, $42,025,303 Bank, 2 Former Players (Max TPE 1332, Min TPE 779)
Defensive Statistics: 62 Tackles, 1 FF, 3 INT, 26 PD
On to the next tier down, Laz is clearly not among the very best, but is still a great option in the secondary in this draft. His bank is great, and definitely will keep him afloat for a long period. His TPE is fine, he isn’t really a max earner, but is keeping up well enough. That relates back to his pedigree, where you can see that he’s previously had a near max earning player and another that was still a good player. Ultimately, you can assume the worst case scenario in getting Laz is that he’ll be a very good player for you, and the best case is that he’ll be great.
On the field, Laz was fantastic. His 26 passes defended was tied for second in the DSFL last season. He was great in pass coverage, with his multiple interceptions and ability to keep the ball out of the hands of his man. He also was the primary return man for Portland, and had pretty good numbers there with nearly 20 yards per kick return and a fine 6 yards per punt return. He was as shutdown as it gets, though his tackles show he definitely got targeted somewhat frequently. It is clear Laz should become a superstar at the ISFL level, being able to create a black hole for offenses on one half of the field, and he made strides toward it this season.
Laz is going to be a great pick up, the second cornerback off the board most likely and somebody I could see going in the first round easily. He has the TPE, the bank and the pedigree to be a high pick if it weren’t that this was such a great draft at the top. He should be a high-end piece for whatever team manages to draft him, and will be a great target to have.
4. Fuzzy George, S, MINN
207 TPE, $117,529,106 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 683)
Defensive Statistics: 34 Tackles, 1 Sack, 7 Passes Defended
What a massive bank. George is definitely the second best safety in the draft, but is the clear fourth on the combined list of corners and safeties. He has the money to be a highly effective player for a long, long time. He hasn’t been the best in terms of updating consistently, and could definitely use some work. However, he’s kept up fine, and should be a good addition to any team considering the big bank he has to make up the difference in TPE with some of the class. He has made a good player before, and should be able to do it again. It ultimately will come down to his commitment levels to get to a high level.
It was an unfortunate season for George. When it comes to statistics, he was put in a difficult position of being on the same team as two other great safeties in Jacob Raske and Tim Soulja. Because of that, he only started in nine games and didn’t really put up a lot of counting stats. He’s still a great player with a lot of speed. He just didn’t have much opportunity to show the talent he has. He had one sack, and defended a good seven passes. He just needed to get more of a chance to rack up those stats. Next season should be a big one for him, and we should see him really explode at that point. For some it will be surprising to see such a big jump, but for those paying attention, the groundwork has been laid for a while.
George is a great option for teams in need of a player in the secondary missing out on the top two. Laz should go before him, but George as a safety could be seen with different value, especially with his bank. George should come out of this draft as one of the best safeties and have no issue becoming a very good, maybe even great player. I anticipate him going in the early second round, though a team could jump for him earlier.
5. Owen Reed, CB, MINN
193 TPE, $8,863,996 Bank, 2 Former Players (Max TPE 806, Min TPE 291)
Defensive Statistics: 58 Tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 Sack, 3 INT, 13 PD
Reed is our next step tier down. I really appreciate this about the secondary position, it’s pretty clear how everyone stacks up against each other after the top two and makes it fairly easy to set their ranks. Reed in this case has a fine bank, nothing spectacular, but good enough to suffice for a little bit. He has fine pedigree, with a good player in his past but also one that kind of busted earlier in his career. If he maintains some consistency in updating, he should be a fairly low risk pick for whatever team is willing to take that leap.
On the field, Reed is of a unique breed. He was a rare corner who was able to time the blitz to his advantage and get to the quarterback in spite of an inherent weakness to that play. It doesn’t take much to stop it, but Reed was able to force his way through. Meanwhile, he was still good in pass coverage, equaling Garciaparra in passes defended and interceptions. It seems as though Reed just has a higher compete level than some, and his hands are like bricks. He was able to push through pretty hard, and with the number of forced fumbles he had, he was great at forcing turnovers. It seemed anybody that lined up against him just couldn’t hold their will to his, and that is a spectacular talent to have.
At this point, Reed seems like a fine pick up for a team in need of help in pass coverage. He should make a good player at the least, and be a worthwhile pick in the second round. I don’t know that he’ll be early second, but at some point in that round I think he may be taken just thanks to the pedigree and having a fine bank to consistently earn with.
6. Richard Mansher, S, DAL
169 TPE, $7,200,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 46 Tackles, 2 FF, 1 FR, 4 Sacks, 2 INT, 4 PD, 1 Defensive Touchdown, 2 Blocked P/XP/FG
Once again a clear TPE drop, less bank, and now a play without any pedigree of good earning in the past. Mansher is probably going to be a fine player in the league, but is clearly a lower option from the secondary. He was someone that I believe was a later addition to the class, and so has done well to earn what he could. However, he has yet to produce any media or graphics, which is a concern to have. His bank is okay at this point, but he will need to put in a bit of effort to set himself apart at some point. For now, he should be alright to work with contract money and keep himself afloat for the interim, but I hope to see more out of him soon.
Mansher was an impressive player this season, with basically all-around counting stats. He had an incredible four sacks, which for a safety is a difficult play style to maintain. He still managed to be fine in pass coverage, getting a pick six, defending four passes and being an all-around nuisance to offenses. He seems to be one of the more athletic defensive players in the draft, and has a lot of potential to be a superstar in the future when he makes it to the ISFL. His ability in all levels of the defense is commendable, and shows really well for him for that long-term.
He isn’t really a great prospect, isn’t bad though. Mansher is able to be a great pick up in the later stages of the draft, and somebody that may be able to be really competitive. He may be a really great player in the future, but it will take some work as contract money only takes you so far. We will see where that takes him, but for now he is clearly sixth in the secondary rankings.
7. Savior Hawkins, CB, LON
129 TPE, $5,451,210 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 75 Tackles, 3 FF, 3 INT, 28 PD
As I continue to say, the players in the secondary have set themselves perfectly apart in some ways. Hawkins is another step here, with a fine amount of TPE but showing that he definitely has been struggling along the way. His money is fine, he has done some media and podcasts to build that up. Unfortunately, he went around a month since updating until recently coming back around. Hopefully he sticks, but he looks unlikely to considering his previous lack of activity. Only time will tell, though.
Statistically, it is remarkable to look at Hawkins and realize that he was basically inactive and realize how good of a player he was. He led the league in passes defended and was among the best in tackles as well. He showed a proficiency, and seems very good at building a player, at least at the DSFL level. He just needs to keep pushing himself to the next level and considering the great work he’s done, and the foundation he’s laid, he has a good opportunity to become a superstar in this league. It just takes some hard work and elbow grease.
I don’t anticipate seeing Hawkins get taken early on. He will probably be grabbed by a desperate team in the late rounds, but he has an opportunity now to take that as a chip on his shoulder and make himself into a true star. He has some money, he’s been building his bank. If he pushes himself, he’ll be great. If not, he’ll bust out fairly quickly. It’s up to him, though I wouldn’t bet on teams taking much of a risk.
8. Ripoff Cheesebrand, S, LON
102 TPE, $8,623,450 Bank, 0 Former Players
Defensive Statistics: 23 Tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT, 6 PD
Cheesebrand was another later addition to the class, and one who has seen some success in terms of building up the bank a little. He has a better bank than a couple of people ahead of him. The issue here is that he just hasn’t been consistent in updating at all. He has yet to complete an actual point task, just doing the predictions, and seems to be kind of hit or miss with doing his weekly training either. He needs consistency to really get himself to stand out in this class, and otherwise he may just slip by the wayside. Hopefully he can find that consistency soon.
There isn’t a lot statistically to go over here. He’s lower in just about every category, and a big part of that is that he only play 10 games. He isn’t going to light the world on fire, to say the least. He was fine in pass coverage, and managed to get an interception which is great. He just didn’t have much in terms of being able to stand out yet. If he finds his consistency in updating and building himself up, he could get himself to a level to be more of a stand out player.
Cheesebrand needs work, he’s a project pick for sure. I won’t be expecting to hear his name until the late stages of the draft, if at all. He could use a lot of time and will take a lot of effort to turn out into something great. The opportunity is there to be a great player, it is just up to him to take it.
PUNTER/KICKER
The last category I have to rank has only two players in it, and it seems fairly clear cut. This is all about field position and those crucial points you need to seal away games. A timely field goal can win you a game, a missed extra point can lose it. Kickers don’t get a lot of credit for the work they do, but they do get a lot of blame if it goes wrong.
1. Levy Tate, K/P, MINN
141 TPE, $10,500,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Kicking Statistics: 44/48 XPM, 13/23 FGM (56.5%), Long 52 Yards
Punting Statistics: 83 Punts, 42.7 Yard Avg, 30 Inside the 20, Long 60 Yards
The higher bank, the higher TPE. The only thing that Tate doesn’t have over his competition is the pedigree of a former successful player. He has been good with updating, not spectacular, but you only need so much out of a kicker. He won’t be the point breaking a team in the long run at this pace, as long as he continues to earn he should be fine. He has the bank needed to be able to consistently keep pace with his class, and just needs to commit to doing the point tasks regularly to be viable long term.
Statistically, Tate is a good player. He struggled a good bit on field goals, as the 56% mark is not ideal, but it is a difficult thing to get down I’m sure. He seems like more of a punter, he had the long ball there and got a large number of them inside the 20. He’s a great player for pinning the other team deep, but he isn’t the best for scoring points yet. That should come with time and patience, though.
Tate is the top kicker in the draft for me, but it isn’t the most clear-cut thing in the world. Realistically between the two, if you’re debating for a kicker, you’re just taking whoever fits your locker room best most likely.
2. JJ Jay Jay-Jaymison Jr., K/P, DAL
123 TPE, $9,159,031 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 463)
Kicking Statistics: 51/51 XPM, 21/29 FGM (72.4%), Long 52 Yards
Punting Statistics: 75 Punts, 43.1 Yard Avg, 30 Inside the 20, Long 57 Yards
The ultimate Jay isn’t that far off in bank, doesn’t have that much lower TPE and has some pedigree, though it’s limited. He didn’t make an absolute superstar of a player in the past, but he did have something there that resembles a successful first player. He should be a fine piece for any team to target in the draft, ultimately. If he gets consistent on doing tasks, he should find no problems sticking with a team long term and being able to survive off the contract enough to surpass his previous best.
Looking on the field, Jay-Jaymison was remarkable by comparison. He hit a better majority of his field goals, and didn’t miss a single extra point. His punts went further on average, and he matched Tate in the amount pinning inside the 20. Jaymison seems like the real deal, able to do all sorts of things really. He should be a great kicker at the next level, considering all of this.
There isn’t a lot to say about a kicker really. This is a matter of opinion like many others. The two are interchangeable to me, and both are expected to go later in the draft. They will come around, and both seem primed to be contributors to teams for a long time. They could use some work, they’re kind of project picks to my eye, but I think for their role they do just fine.
When I set out on this journey, I had the idea that I may do an overall big board. However, what I’ve realized is that football just doesn’t lend itself to that kind of methodology. Working my way positionally helped me to better define the differences and can show that realistically the needs of the team can better dictate who is the top prospect or not. For many it may be Sheriff Woody, but for some it could be Miles Weperom. It may even be someone like Dustin Parmelee on some boards, in spite of me having him second in his position, because it was such a difficult and tight battle there that it isn’t so cut and dry.
This has been an eye opener to a degree, and it is definitely something that will help guide my understanding on decision making. I will say once again, I am still learning this league and so I may have missed somebody along the way, or I may have just been unknowledgeable about somebody who as a user doesn’t fit a certain place or fits perfectly in another. I will continue to work on this personally, but at least for now I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the journey as much as I have.
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Thank you if you read through all of this, I feel so sorry for causing that. If you skipped through and are upset with your ranking, I apologize for that as well. Hopefully it is all understandable and best of luck to everyone in the draft.
