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S25 Expansion Mock Draft: Sabotage Edition
Whew! Man, I have to say it is not fun having torn tendons in your hand, especially when every moment playing Krunker prolongs the recovery. But I’m back on the mend, it’s been almost a month and I needed something good to jump back with and what more dramatic and exciting than expansion? First off, congratulations to the brats and hoagies for their respective successful bids --- many wish they could run a team, a select group earn the opportunity, but only a few manage to do it properly.
Now the main subtext of every expansion is synonymous on a universal level: depth dilution and talent dispersion. You know, every time there’s an explosion in the player pool, adding more teams, at least in the ISFL, isn’t necessary. Perhaps if we created more incentive to be linemen, fullbacks, or corners ---- I should stop, I really don’t want more competition at my position right now. Or you know, add some extra DSFL teams and higher TPE cap so every team isn’t running Power/Balanced 30 and trying to juggle 2-3 QB’s every season --- okay, let’s get back on track.
Most mock drafts are following the traditional route: siphon away the best players to build a winner as fast as possible which is the feasible and often logical approach, but what if I told you there’s an alternate path? A path less traveled that looks like a brand new interstate ripping through a far west ghost town. Here, the object remains to hoard as much talent as possible, but we’re collecting players that will cause the most damage to their soon-to-be former teams. What’s the best way for a new team to make the playoffs --- well if you’re Vegas, you just target teams with inept executives and scouting departments and have former execs come over and hand you a list of sleepers rotting on their current teams. But otherwise, that option isn’t likely, so the next best option to wreck team’s roster balance and structure enough to where their ceiling is dropped low enough to where the playoff race looks like the NSFC. The second part to this plan involves actually hitting the marks in the regular draft and free agency where the gap can be shrunken the best, but for now we’re just throwing wrenches at every other team’s engine.
So, as we progress through this list, there are three rules we will follow:
- 1. Inflict as much damage as possible to the roster
- 2. Avoid players on expiring deals, we want to hurt them, not us. If we draft them and they leave, we wasted a pick. If we take a different player and the other player STILL leaves, we just inflicted double damage. If the player says one thing and does another, make sure we have it on record so we can hit them with those collusion charges.
- 3. Be wary of S18 players and older, they are all hitting regression (or again) this offseason and we might be doing teams a favor by taking a rotting corpse off their depth chart


First player taken: Joe Petrongolo, RB, S23, 544 TPE, 2 yrs/2 mil
I already know what you’re asking, let’s get right to it. Saba is regressing and causes a logjam with the younger receivers such as Veqauin, who is a free agent himself and might not want to wait around any longer. Arizona had the best point differential, then lost Baby Yoda to Chicago. This season they have the 11th best rushing attack and despite the aerial arsenal, are still struggling to take advantage of a peak TPE QB as they are tied with 2 other teams for third place in the ASFC, one starting a rookie QB, the other a sophomore.So we’re going to sweep that leg, if Arizona can’t punish teams with Petrongolo, imagine how bad they’ll be without him? Petronoglo himself is a highly active, high earning RB that should become a breakout player in the near future and having a quality RB tandem is essential to consistency. Looking at the rest of Arizona’s roster, I can assume they’ll protect Keppler after this but we cant predict that as fact, so let’s rank the top three players that would cause the most damage if taken afterwards.
- 1. Zed Keppler, RB, S22, 416 TPE, 4 yrs/8 mil (MO in S26/S27)
- 2. Thomas Passman, WR, S22, 678 TPE, 4 yrs/ 14.5 mil
- 3. Calvin Golladay, OL, S22, 531 TPE, 4 yrs/ 8 mil


First Player Taken: Easton Cole, QB, S16, 1059 TPE, 2 yrs/9 mil
Yeah, we’re breaking a rule already, but this is a case where the damage of losing said player is too great not to pass over. Now, Austin has a solid braintrust and I think their unprotected list is a lot of smoke and mirrors. For one, they don’t have a natural successor for Cole yet and there aren’t any available DSFL QB’s. I know they have a plan, but let’s accelerate that timetable and see who they plan of pulling a Daxter Banks II with or what ghost QB is out there that they’re dropping in as a temporary placeholder? On the flipside, having a QB, even if old, over 800 TPE for two seasons buys enough time to develop your own QB and still manage to be competitive with the right pieces around him. Cole isn’t the only attractive old player on this team, but he stands levels above the others for varying reasons.
- 1. Net Gaines, WR, S18, 919 TPE, 3 yrs/12 mil
- 2. Dermot Lavelle Jr., CB, S16, 1079 TPE, 3 yrs/15 mil (S25, S26 MO)
- 3. Kichwa Jones, RB, S22, 545 TPE, 4 yrs/11 mil (S27 MO)


First Player Taken: Byron Dolls, OL, S22, 525 TPE, 4 yr/ 15.5 mil
Of the four players unprotected and under contract past this season, Dolls is the easiest choice. Not very active, but has enough TPE to make an impact around other human OL. Also Baltimore’s only offensive lineman which means Chika will be in trouble next season as Baltimore waits at least one season for one of the S25 offensive linemen to collect enough TPE to be called up unless they can snag someone in free agency. Coming off a disappointing season may scare veteran players away after appearing to shake the losing last season. Aside from Dolls, there’s no other true gems to steal without risking getting burned immediately. Guess it’s fitting that Baltimore can only lose one extra player, but in the event, ruining their o-line isn’t your cup of tea, there are other options.- 1. Datsum Phastbawls, K/P, S23, 421 TPE, 2 yr /4 mil
- 2. Gregor McGregor, S, S21, 570 TPE, 1 yr/4 mil
- 3. Nunniq Annastesia, DT, S22, 390 TPE, 4 yr/ 9 mil


First Player Taken: Sean O’Leary, WR, S19, 1136 TPE, 2 yrs/8 mil
Taking any player with this much TPE is a big blow, regardless the squad. O’Leary has been the face of the Butchers the past few seasons and has hard-carried them through some rough seasons. He’s also still highly active unlike Bender. Bender is also a year older, thus a year closer to regression. O’Leary is Chicago’s best player and Chicago will need big numbers from their young stable of WR’s to replace his production. Otherwise, Chicago’s offense has enough depth withstand the blow(for now), which is why we’re attacking the defense after O’Leary goes.- 1. Hingle McCringleberry, LB, S23, 459 TPE, 2 yr/4 mil
- 2. Mario Van Peebles, DE, S22, 646 TPE, 3 yr/6 mil (S26 MO)
- 3. Griff Oberwald, WR, S23, 427 TPE, 2 yr/5 mil
Some might argue that taking a tight end would hurt too, which would ring true if the tight ends had as much of an impact in their natural positions as the wide receivers did. If choosing between equally standing receivers and tight ends, receivers are the optimal choice every time.


First Player Taken: Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff McDummy, QB, S16, 1062 TPE, retiring after S25
Like Easton Cole, having a veteran QB, for the first season or two gives a window to get the QB situation under control, versus making a rash decision or having an inexperienced or underdeveloped QB baptized by eternal flames. As for Colorado, that defense better be legendary next season to keep them in the upper echelon on contenders. Caliban --- you’re up. On an aside, what are the odds McDummy does Woelkers a solid and finishes out in New York with his long time teammate?
If borrowing McDummy for one season, incites flashbacks of McNabb in D.C. and not Warner in AZ, then there are some other options to consider.- 1. Earl Sauce, TE, S18, 1035 TPE, 2 yr/ 9.5 mil
- 2. Leeroy Jenkins, WR, S22, 600 TPE, 4 yr/8.5 mil (S27 MO)
- 3. Jackson Kingston, WR, S23, 552 TPE, 2 yr/2 mil


First Player Taken: Jack Banks, LB, S22, 560 TPE, 4 yrs/14 mil (S27 MO)
Banks has the best combination of youth, TPE, and activity. Plus his contract is long enough to be safe with the player. Losing Banks ruins the vision of him and Kackpoo commanding the middle of the Honolulu defense and takes away a vital active player from a lacking roster. There are other players that can hurt their depth more, but they have murky contract situations and suspicious activity trends that would hurt the new team more than Honolulu. There aren’t many other options to choose from aside from Banks:- 1. Venus Powers, K/P, S20, 1021 TPE, 9 yr/36 mil
- 2. Will Alexander, WR, S22, 594 TPE, 4 yr/12 mil
- 3. Mark Arianlacher, LB, S19, 720 TPE, 1 yr/3 mil


First Player Taken: Giveussafare Rubbe, OL, S18, TPE 1264, 2 yr/8 mil
Active, high earner, position of need, still will get one year out of the player and will still be quality well past regression sets in. However, stripping Rubbe from New Orleans puts a huge dent in their offensive line. A team predicated on power runs and conservative playcalling needs all the blocking it can get. Currently second in the league in total pancakes, losing Rubbe will cause a sharp decrescendo to the loud cajun brass. Taking a receiver would be expected, but we’re going for the 10 count, not the 8 count which explains the list:- 1. Hank Steel, DT, S22, 535 TPE, 4 yr/12 mil
- 2. Ed Barker, WR, S21, 767 TPE, 3 yr/9 mil
- 3. Sean Snyder, WR, S22, 520 TPE, 4 yr/12 mil


Well, well, well, the almighty Lutrinae of Los Angeles. Many an opponent, whether directly or subliminally, have wished for the downfall of the Orange Oligarch and their strangle on the rest of the league. If they aren’t winning titles, they are losing them in historic fashion. Expansion might be the extra push other teams need to level the playing field with these titans. Orange County hit a rough spot with drafting between S20 and S22 which kills their overall depth. As a result, I expect them to be big players in free agency to replenish their roster after the mass exodus of retirees they will have over the course the upcoming seasons.
First Player Taken: Lord Beerus, CB, S19 1011 TPE, 4 yr/18 mil (S27 MO)
The second most obvious choice behind Sean O’Leary, Beerus has been a stable in OCO for seemingly an eternity. The fame duo of him and Abernathy will be cut short after expansion. There’s not much else to add because this is such a surefire selection and 11 other teams cant wait for the breakup. Otherwise, Orange County should pray that the inactivity of their other role players keeps them safe from expansion.- 1. A. Jeffrey Phillips, TE, S22, 700 TPE, 2 yr/6 mil
- 1. B. Garfield Despacito Jr., WR, S22, 575 TPE, 4 yr/10.5
- 3. Rapid Eagle/Carl Wheezer*
*If either of these two updated in the last month, they would be worth selecting, but taking away active players will always hurt more than inactives, unless they are solidly built with years to spare before regression at a low demand position.


I’m not going to spend much time on the Liberty because there isn’t much to talk about. They have a roster that needs to be freed of their contracts and start anew. Trying to find young, active, decent earning players that were unprotected presented a challenge itself. There are several inactive players that probably hurt Philly’s win rate more than help. They have a running back stable equivalent to current day Marshawn Lynch and Jay Ajayi --- yeah, they still have juice, but both are on their last legs as feature backs. And somehow, these guys still have an outside shot at the playoffs.
- 1. Spike Suzuki, LB, S22, 429 TPE, 4 yr/10 mil
- 2. Kamichael Hunt, K/P, S23, 415 TPE, 2 yr/ 2mil (PO both seasons)


First Player Taken: Yuuto Kira Cloudera, DT, S23, 395 TPE, 2yr/2 mil
With the sudden retirement of Walter Chestnut III, taking Cloudera becomes the obvious choice. Otis Allen will be on an island for at least two seasons until they find proper defensive line replacements. Cloudera is a great earner for a d-line player, so the Cats awesome defense will take a huge dent with this pick. San Jose has replacements ready for Brackenridge and their inactive corners, which is why we avoid them, we want to hit them where they aren’t prepared to lose players.- 1. Rando Cardissian, RB, S21, 694 TPE, 3yr/9 mil
- 2. Leon McDavid, TE, S21, 884 TPE, 3yr/9 mil
- 3. Brendan Lanier, S, S22, 450 TPE, 1 yr/ 2 mil


First Player Taken: Big Edd, DT, S22, 482 TPE, 4 yr/18 mil
Imagine losing a guy you just traded for less than a season ago? If Edd helps open up holes for Panda to win LBoTY and get the Marlins to a title game, losing him won’t hurt as bad. But he’s a key cog on that d-line with good activity and a great contract. If Son Goku didn’t have a PO next season, that would have been the obvious choice.- 1. Mike Karpaasi, DE, S23, 433 TPE, 2 yr/2 mil
- 2. Son Goku, DE, S23, 570 TPE, 2 yr/8 mil (PO S25)
- 3. Eric Richards, S, S23, 489 TPE, 2 yr/4 mil


First Player Taken: Magnus Valdyr, S, S22, 538 TPE, 4yr/12 mil
In a secondary that seems to be taking the ghost nickname a bit too close to heart, Valdyr has been a bright spot for the Wraiths and the only trustworthy DB aside from Hellzapoppin and Leonard. Losing him forcing Yellowknife to put some ghastly inefficient players in his place.- 1. L’Carpetron Dookmarriot, S, S23, 395 TPE, 2 yr/4 mil
- 2. Susan Cash Jr, WR, S22, 578 TPE, 4 yr/12 mil
- 3. Mathias Haynandi, RB, S18, 1192 TPE, 4 yr/19 mil**
**Despite what I said earlier, thrusting Skyline into a feature role with no backfield mate would force some major reconstruction of the Wraiths offense.
After completing this, I would have to briefly summarize that Sarasota is the one team built to withstand any losses. Arizona and Chicago will lose the most talent by virtue of having the most talent to choose from, but Arizona could end up losing a crucial running back on a team that’s not good at running the ball.
Orange County and Chicago for sure will lose the two highest TPE players. Honolulu, Baltimore, and Philly will lose the least amount of talent due to not having much to offer. There’s ton of linebackers, receivers, and defensive linemen to pluck. Safety, Cornerback, and running back is very hollow.
S25 currently has: 2 QB, 8 RB, 11 WR, 5 TE, 10 OL, 8 DE, 7 DT, 13 LB, 13 CB, 12 S, 2 K/P
Unless people start running the real strats(Vert, 34, Dime), might need two more teams before the start of S25 anyway to pre-empt this boon of players.
WC: 4855