TFL Insider’s 2019 1st Round Mock
Pick 1.1 - Motor City Madmen – Baker Mayfield - QB
The wails from the Assylum have been quelled the last couple of years and the fans need something to go insane over. Baker Mayfield is that accurate type of quarterback that Strat rewards with a dominant card. Selecting Mayfield with the number 1 overall pick gives the Madmen franchise a QB they can build around for the next 15 years. The Assylum will have to go on lock down after this selection, I can hear the ruckus already.
Pick 1.2 - St. Paul Saints – Derwin James – S – 6,5
St. Paul is a well-rounded team with a couple of major needs. MLB and Safety being 2 of the biggest. This draft doesn’t really address MLB, but Derwin James has All Pro potential year in and out at the Safety position. It’s not often a rookie scores a near perfect card (6, 5). If St. Paul is comfortable with his injury history and wants to bet on talent, Derwin James is a cornerstone in the secondary for years to come.
Pick 1.3 – Southern Gray - Forfeited
Due to violating the leagues over utilization rules with Sam Bradford, the Southern Gray have forfeited their 1st round pick in 2019.
Pick 1.4 – Alta Loma Beagles – Quentin Nelson – G – 7,6
A guard 3rd overall? Your damn right, Nelson isn’t just any Guard, he is a 7,6-perfect card for the next 10 years type of Guard! Beagle fans will love watching Melvin Gordon run off tackle and racking up great impact SG’s for 20 yards. Against a 3-4 defense Quentin will be the man picking up the opposing teams #1 rushing OLB. Don’t underestimate his importance in pass protection. This is a cornerstone player with durability and arguably the second most talented player of this rookie class. There aren’t many sure-fire rookies, Quentin Nelson is 1 of them!
Pick 1.5 – Goose Bay Raiders – Darius Leonard – OLB (10 5,5)
Strat made a change in linebacker pass coverage last year lowering the overall LB coverage ratings. Finding an LB that can cover is extremely rare since that change. With the flat pass as a run rule, coverage linebackers in the flat became more important than ever. Darius Leonard proved to be a gem in his rookie year. He brings pressure, coverage and the ability to stuff the run. Another multi-year pro-bowler in a crucial defensive position. Goose Bay lands a unicorn at the position with this pick and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rated a 6 in coverage in future seasons.
Pick 1.6 – Tampa Cubans – Saquon Barkley – HB
Barkley is the highest graded rookie of this class. He falls to 1.6 because smart rebuilding teams realize that a HB too soon can sabotage your rebuilding plans. The Cubans were the first team where need meet with value! They land a LG machine that should be fun to hand the ball off to throughout the season. He will be a great running back for the next 7-10 years. It’s not often you get to land a HB of this quality and the Cubans could make a push for the playoffs with him running the ball.
Pick 1.7 – Providence Chiefs – Sam Darnold – QB
Providence finds themselves at the precipice of a rebuild. Tom Brady is finally showing the effects of father time and his carded seasons are numbered. The Chiefs have a chance to trade Brady while he still has value and land a new signal caller to take lead the team into the future. TFL Insider rates Darnold as their number two QB and projects a strong sophomore season for the Jets gunslinger. He has all the talent and tools to be a successful quarterback in this league and herald the next Providence Dynasty.
Pick 1.8 – Golden State Rooks – Bradley Chubb – 12*6 0-4
The draft doesn’t align with any of the Rooks needs! As such Eric Morgan does the wise thing and goes with the best available approach. Bradley Chubb is a game wrecker! He would add more value to Morgan’s 4-3 defense if he was an end, but he’ll fit into a stable of strong OLB that the Rooks can work in as a rotation. This is a steal at the 7th overall pick and may be looked back on in the same light as when the Air Raid selected Aaron Donald.
Pick 1.9 – St Louis Lions – Leighton Vander-Esch – OLB 0 5-5
Leighton Vander-Esch is a linebacker that can defend the flat pass as well as stuff the run. He outplayed his NFL draft position last year and looks poised to be a stud LB for seasons to come. It’s not hard to imagine those 5 ratings flipping to 6’s soon. St. Louis has had the talent on offense capable of winning the title for years, this pick starts investing on the side that needs new talent the most and fills an unmanned spot of the Lions defense.
Pick 1.10 – Flagstaff Savages – Denzel Ward – LCB – 5
Boo Boo Butler was carded a disappointing 4 and Eli Apple’s continued struggles have the Savages dipping back into the CB pool with their first overall pick. In the TFL’s pass happy league no other position may be as important as a team’s starting outside cornerbacks! Denzel Ward looked like a stud in the making and adds to the depth of Flagstaff’s air defense. This was a team that looked destined for the playoffs early last season. Could Ward be the missing piece?
Pick 1.11 – St Paul Saints – Jaire Alexander – LCB - 5
St Paul with their 2nd pick in the first 11 of this draft get the other stud corner from this draft and start the run on this crucial position. St. Paul landed a stud safety earlier and now continue to bolster their defense against the pass. These two picks alone should have opposing coaches nervous about dropping back to pass. Two cornerstones at defense have the Saints well on their way in their rebuilding process.
Pick 1.12 – Pittsburgh Punishers – Levi Wallace – RCB – 5
Pittsburgh has a glaring hole in when it comes to defending the pass. As such they continue the run on a strong cornerback class. Levi Wallace didn’t have the pedigree or grade of the two corners taken before him, but still proved to be just as skilled. The Punishers take the value pick in Wallace and start to solidify a very porous secondary!
Pick 1.13 – Southern Gray – Josh Allen – QB
The Gray need a quarterback! With the top two selected already, The Southern Gray turn to Josh Allen. Allen has the widest range of outcomes long term as a QB, his intangibles have the ceiling set sky high. Allen’s lack of production, time to develop as a passer and his woeful inaccuracies with the ball set his floor two levels below the basement. To say his first NFL season wasn’t great, is an understatement. His long-term prospect is looking up though, as the talent around him is on the rise and he’s posted a good preseason and camp. Southern gambles on upside here and hopes to hit a homerun long term at a position of dire need for the franchise.
Pick 1.14 – Goose Bay Raiders – Phillip Lindsay – HB
With the well running dry at cornerback and having already selected an outside linebacker, Goose Bay takes an upgrade at halfback. Isaiah Crowell isn’t a long-term solution, but the Raiders gamble Lindsay is. Lindsay’s third best ranked HB card gives Russ a legitimate threat running out of the backfield, while Phillip’s B rated YAC consistently challenges the flat. The Raiders take the sexy pick and give the Goosebay fans something to be excited about.
Pick 1.15 – Cleveland Rams – Gus Edwards – HB
For the second year in a row the Rams find themselves spending a first-round pick on a halfback. Leonard Fournette turned in an abysmal 2018 season and as such his card this year won’t cut it. Gus Edwards’ top rated HB card puts the Rams right back where they were last season. Running over teams with a great HB card and O-Line, in low scoring games thanks to their brutal defense. This formula equated to the TFL’s best record last year and allotted for giving up the fewest points to opposing offenses. Look for the Rams to repeat last years masterpiece and make another deep run into the playoffs on Gus Edwards’ legs.
Pick 1.16 – Dunedin Spartans – Malik Hooker – S – 5,5
Dunedin is at the beginning of their rebuild process and find ball hawking safety Malik Hooker to defend opposing tight ends and contain the flat pass on third downs. Malik Hooker has proved to have a nose for the ball in his first two years in the league and if the interceptions continue, it’s not hard to imagine 6 rated coverage cards in future seasons. He has been prone to injury, missing a major portion of his rookie season. The talent and value outweigh the risks of injury at this point and the Spartans are happy to add him to their ranks.
Pick 1.17 – Georgia Rebels – Orlando Brown Jr. – OT – 5,4
Georgia has needs everywhere, so they must start somewhere. TFL Insider believes there are a few key positions to fill first (QB, OT, DE and CB). With Phillip Rivers still quarterbacking the team, and depth at DE and CB depleted in this year’s draft the Rebels turn to offensive tackle. Orlando Brown has the leg up on McGlinchey in pass blocking and the TFL is a passing league first. Georgia does the right thing and goes with the most unsexy of first picks as their introduction into the league, selecting Orlando Brown Jr.
Pick 1.18 – Oakville Hoosiers – Justin Reid – S – 5,5
Oakville had a strong run into the playoffs last year as evident by selecting in the 1.18 position. They are a well-rounded team. Their Achilles heel this season is a secondary littered with 4’s. With the CB run depleting the draft pool, John continues the run on safeties and gets a steal in Justin Reid. It was criminal how far Reid fell in the NFL draft, Vuch doesn’t make that mistake in the TFL draft. The Hoosiers no longer need to worry about tight ends running free in their secondary, and Justin Reid has containment on the flat pass covered as well.
Pick 1.19 – Erie Silence – Lamar Jackson – QB
The Silence made the TFL Championship the last two years on the legs of Tyrod Taylor. It’s hard to imagine a Silence team without Taylor at the helm. Identifying a near perfect replacement for his style of play Erie tags Lamar Jackson with their 1st overall pick. There may not be a more physically gifted player with the ball in his hands then Jackson. If Lamar can refine his passing skills Erie will have a deadly weapon at the helm for years to come!
Pick 1.20 – Dunedin Spartans – Mike McGlinchey – OT – 4,5
As stated earlier the Spartans are at the beginning of their rebuild journey. TFL Insider believes one of the key components to a successful team is countering the pass rush of opposing team’s defensive ends with bookend offensive tackles. McGlinchey proved last year he has what it takes to be a long-term starter in the NFL and his card should only grade better year over year. Dunedin grabs the remaining long-term tackle to build their offensive line around in Mike McGlinchey.
Round 1 Recap | ||||
Pick | Team | Player Name | POS | NFL |
1 | Motor City Madmen | Baker Mayfield | QB | CLE |
2 | Saint Paul Saints | Derwin James | S | SD |
3 | Forfeited | |||
4 | Alta Loma Beagles | Quentin Nelson | G | IND |
5 | Goose Bay Raiders | Darius Leonard | OLB | IND |
6 | Tampa Cubans | Saquon Barkley | HB | NYG |
7 | Providence Chiefs | Sam Darnold | QB | NYJ |
8 | Golden State Rooks | Bradley Chubb | OLB | DEN |
9 | St. Louis Lions | Leighton Vander-Esch | OLB | DAL |
10 | Flagstaff Savages | Denzel Ward | CB | CLE |
11 | Saint Paul Saints | Jaire Alexander | CB | GB |
12 | Pittsburgh Punishers | Levi Wallace | CB | BUF |
13 | Southern Gray | Josh Allen | QB | BUF |
14 | Goose Bay Raiders | Phillip Lindsay | HB | DEN |
15 | Cleveland Rams | Gus Edwards | HB | BAL |
16 | Dunedin Spartans | Malik Hooker | S | IND |
17 | Georgia Rebels | Orlando Brown Jr. | OT | BAL |
18 | Oakville Hoosiers | Justin Reid | S | HOU |
19 | Erie Silence | Lamar Jackson | QB | BAL |
20 | Dunedin Spartans | Mike McGlinchey | OT | SF |
