By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
We are back covering the 2018 CFSL Draft. Quick reminder: No, the Pro League isn’t coming back, and don’t bug Mike about it. However, the draft is here to stay. We saw plenty of trades, steals, and reaches in the first round and I promise you there is more of the same here in the second and third rounds.
There is so much talent left on the big board, so without further ado, let’s dive into the action!
Round 2, Pick 1
Team Selecting: Carolina Panthers
GM Selecting: DanielGunn
Pick: WR, Steven Rodriguez, Boise State
You’ll remember that Gunn traded away his first-round pick and still got JT Cass Jr at sixth overall. Well, he isn’t done grabbing WRs. Steven Rodriguez is a homerun threat WR that can stretch the field. He will be a great pairing next to Cass and give Young another weapon.
Interestingly enough, this won’t be the first time Cass and Rod were teammates, as both played for Oklahoma State before transferring out.
Round 2, Pick 2
Team Selecting: New York Giants
GM Selecting: Syrok
Pick: WR, Matthew Cherry, Georgia
The Giants got their new franchise QB with their first picks and now they have a weapon for him to throw to. The Cherry Bomb is headed to the Big Apple to play alongside former rival Cece Range.
The Giants are a team that needs a lot and still has a ways to go to call themselves a contender, but this is a great start to something special.
Round 2, Pick 3
Team Selecting: Baltimore Ravens (via New England)
GM Selecting: Jacobb02
Pick: HB, John Paul Smith, West Virginia
The Ravens traded out of the first round (and netted themselves great draft capital), but were still able to land the best HB in the class. The combo of Lamar Jackson’s speed and agility with JPS’ power and grit should make the Ravens’ offense even more dynamic in the run game.
Not only is John Paul Smith the first running back taken, but he is also the first Mountaineer to hear his name called.
Round 2, Pick 4
Team Selecting: Arizona Cardinals
GM Selecting: Logan
Pick: DE/DT, Ezra Rogalski
Logan might have left some folks scratching their head in the first round, but there is no doubt he knocked it out of the park with this pick. Rogalski is one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the CFSL.
This was the steal of the draft so far. Arizona has a tough division to win right now, but having a game-changer like Rogalski will help.
Round 2, Pick 5
Team Selecting: Chicago Bears
GM Selecting: jmel
Pick: OLB, JW Eibeck, Illinois
The Bears already have their QB of the future, not it is time to bolster the defense. Chicago already has an amazing LB corp, but adding JW Eibeck is a game-changer.
Needless to say, the LB room in the Windy City will be one of the best for the foreseeable future.
Round 2, Pick 6
Team Selecting: Tennessee Titans
GM Selecting: Ryan Moreland
Pick: FS, Tyrone Wysinger, Florida
The Titans once again pass on taking a wideout. However, they do get the best free safety in the class to replace the recently traded Kevin Byard. Wysinger has the same ball-hawking skills that made Byard an All-Pro for Tennesseee
This was an absolute still of a pick. As Cole pointed out in his preview articles, Wysinger had first-round talent written all over him.
Round 2, Pick 7
Team Selecting: Miami Dolphins (via Atlanta)
GM Selecting: Ware
Pick: HB, William Tree, Florida
Back-to-back Gators come off the board as the Dolphins find their bellcow back. Given Tree’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, he is a natural fit for the Miami offense.
You will once again notice that this is yet another trade by Ware. I am beginning to think he saw the movie Draft Day one too many times. All joking aside, Tree is a great fit for Miami.
Round 2, Pick 8
Team Selecting: Carolina Panthers (via Tampa Bay, New Orleans)
GM Selecting: DanielGunn
Pick: DE, George Yost, Toledo
Not to be outdone by Ware, Gunn trades up to get another early second-round pick. This time he is getting a pass rusher to pair with Brian Burns. The Burns/Yost duo is a terrifying combination and Carolina is all of a sudden turning things around.
Also worth noting, Yost is the first MAC player to come off the board. Congrats.
Round 2, Pick 9
Team Selecting: Arizona Cardinals (via New York Jets)
GM Selecting: Logan
Pick: WR, Quinn James, Florida State
And the trades just keep on coming. Logan traded back up after a trade with the Jets that included seven total picks. This time it is to get a pass catcher for his new QB.
Quinn James had an excellent career at Texas before transferring to Florida State for his senior season. However, it was that senior year that pushed him this high in the draft.
Round 2, Pick 10
Team Selecting: Denver Broncos
GM Selecting: Skyballr
Pick: OLB, Blake Grant, Texas
We finally have a pick that wasn’t traded. Instead, Denver will stay put and snag an LB that is good on every level.
Grant had 35 TFLs and seven interceptions in his four seasons at Texas. If that converts to the pro level the Broncos have a linebacker to build a defense around.
Round 2, Pick 11
Team Selecting: Los Angeles Chargers
GM Selecting: Stephens
Pick: DT, Mo Hart, Boise State
The Chargers decided to take a WR with their first pick and wait on defense. They are rewarded for that choice with a fantastic interior defensive lineman.
Hart is the second Bronco to be drafted and will be calling somewhere other than Idaho home for the first time in his life.
Round 2, Pick 12
Team Selecting: Cincinnati Bengals
GM Selecting: Greg Cooksey
Pick: TE, Steven Eastridge, Georgia
I know Tony Papol will condemn this pick in his article (that will drop on Thursday), but this is a great pick. Eastridge will give Joe Burrow another prolific target on a talented offense.
Some might question this selection with other great TEs still on the board, but Eastridge’s redzone ability pushes him over the top (just look at his 15 touchdowns).
Round 2, Pick 13
Team Selecting: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via New Orleans)
GM Selecting: Cole Mantell
Pick: CB, Darian Conner, Texas
Cole traded back five spots to get himself an extra third-rounder. And even after he traded back the guy he wanted all along fell right to him.
Darian Conner had a stellar career at Texas and should make an immediate impact on the Buccaneers’ defense. This makes two straight defensive players picked for the Buccaneers.
Round 2, Pick 14
Team Selecting: Pittsburgh Steelers
GM Selecting: Beatitdownb
Pick: DT, Hiro Nakajima, Alabama
This is another pick that feels like a Steeler pick. Nakajima is a gap swallower that can be a menace to a rush attack. He also had 63 sacks in his college career, so you know he isn’t a stranger to getting after the QB either.
Pittsburgh’s defensive front gets even better. That is a scary thought.
Round 2, Pick 15
Team Selecting: Dallas Cowboys
GM Selecting: Wookie
Pick: DT, Shane Lloyd, Notre Dame
The Cowboys’ defensive front is solid already, but you don’t keep a unit great by not improving it. In comes Shane Lloyd. Lloyd is a great run stuffer with some pass-rush ability as well.
It will be interesting how playtime is divided at DT for the Cowboys now, but no question they will have one of the deepest defensive lines in the league.
Round 2, Pick 16
Team Selecting: Cleveland Brown
GM Selecting: VinnyTrill
Pick: WR, Smoke Orleans, Texas
Didn’t think you’d see the former AD of Oklahoma pick a Texas player, did you? Orleans may have never had the breakout season like a few names left on this board, but he was consistently dependable his entire career.
After getting Jay Gates to improve an already great pass rush, the Browns get another weapon on offense. Now they just need their expensive QB to actually play.
Round 2, Pick 17
Team Selecting: Atlanta Falcons (via Miami)
GM Selecting: Tankasaursrex
Pick: DE, Valentino Villarreal, West Virginia
The Falcons haven’t been able to get a lot of pressure on opposing QBs. That is about to change. Villarreal is much faster than you’d expect from his size and has the ability to torch tackles.
Even though Tank traded back to this pick, he still lands a great player that fits a big need.
Round 2, Pick 18
Team Selecting: Seattle Seahawks
GM Selecting: Bradenb
Pick: MLB, Ryder Mears, Auburn
You wouldn’t have suspected a player as great as Mears to drop this far, but he is only the second MLB to be taken. But you won’t hear Braden complain about that. He lands another great defensive piece here.
Bobby Wagner is getting older, and Mears is the perfect replacement for him. Seattle shouldn’t miss a beat in this transition.
Round 2, Pick 19
Team Selecting: San Francisco 49ers
GM Selecting: SGEasty
Pick: SS, Damelo Butler, Clemson
This was an interesting selection. While Butler is a great player, he didn’t have the prolific career of Georgia’s Zach Knight (who is still available). However, the 49ers secondary gets their second player in this draft class.
Butler is the first Clemson player taken. For those keeping track, Loki Gunderson has shockingly STILL hasn’t been taken.
Round 2, Pick 20
Team Selecting: Tennessee Titans (via
GM Selecting: Ryan Moreland
Pick: WR, Alex Morris, Notre Dame
Alright, I have given people grief for their trades so it is only fair I point out my own hypocrisy. I love the movie Draft Day too.
The Titans finally get the WR they need and they were lucky that Alex Morris fell this far. Morris is coming off a 1,000+ yard season and should be able to learn a lot from DeAndre Hopkins.
Round 2, Pick 21
Team Selecting: Philadelphia Eagles
GM Selecting: Stmac
Pick: MLB, Maverick Rivers, Kent State
Middle linebackers have not been a focus for teams in this draft, so the teams needing a difference-maker at the position have lucked out. Getting Rivers with the last pick of the second round is an absolute steal.
The Eagles once again stay put and get great value. This defense is about to be lethal.
Round 3, Pick 1
Team Selecting: New Orleans (via Carolina)
GM Selecting: Cody.Smith
Pick: WR, Josiah Mosley, West Virginia
Gunn traded away this pick so he could go get George Yost in the second round. Cody.Smith took this (and two seventh-rounders) as compensation. The Saints take Mosley to pair with new QB Ayden Martinez.
Mosley might not be a household name in the CFSL, but he had consistent production with inconsistent quarterback play. This is a sneaky good pick.
Round 3, Pick 2
Team Selecting: New York Giants
GM Selecting: Syrok
Pick: DT, Collin McDowell, Texas
The Giants’ first two picks focused on the offense, so no it is time to help the defense out. McDowell had a great career at Texas and had a knack for knocking the ball loose. Turnovers will win you games at every level, so this is a great skill to have.
With that said, I think there were better picks to be made at this spot.
Round 3, Pick 3
Team Selecting: Carolina Panthers (via New England)
GM Selecting: DanielGunn
Pick: CB, Alexander Kirsch, Alabama
This pick was part of the compensation that Gunn got for trading out of the first overall pick. And he can’t be upset about the way things worked out.
Kirsch is an excellent corner. He is one of only two players to ever have 16 or more interceptions and 40 or more pass breakups. Getting him in the third round is a steal.
Round 3, Pick 4
Team Selecting: New York Jets (via Arizona)
GM Selecting: SilentxNinja
Pick: QB, Dylan Shumate, Illinois
The second pick of the draft for the Jets is going to be a QB and it is not going to be Loki Gunderson. Silent instead opts for Shumate to come and learn from Rodgers until he retires.
Shumate had a great career at Illinois and is pretty close to Gunderson stat-wise. This honestly might be a preference pick rather than a mistake. Either way, Gunderson’s slide continues.
Round 3, Pick 5
Team Selecting: Chicago Bears
GM Selecting: jmel
Pick: DE, Cillian MacBride, Eastern Michigan
Another MAC player is off the board and this one took WAY longer than expected. MacBride finished his career with the 10th most sacks by any player to ever play in the CFSL.
Jeff gets away with an absolute steal that should bolster a lackluster Bears pass rush. Great pick.
Round 3, Pick 6
Team Selecting: Tennessee Titans
GM Selecting: Ryan Moreland
Pick: TE, Sayler Sage, Alabama
Sage bounced around the CFSL, but she has a new home now in the CFSL. The Titans are in need of a reliable TE who can both block and make plays in the passing game. Sage is exactly that.
Sage becomes the third woman taken in the draft behind Laci White and Tatiana Hoops.
Round 3, Pick 7
Team Selecting: Atlanta Falcons
GM Selecting: Tankasaursrex
Pick: FS, Ed Lott, North Carolina
Ed Lott might not be as well known as some of the other safeties still on the board, but he did have a strong career at North Carolina. Lott is an asset against the run and a reliable tackler.
You can make the argument that this wasn’t the strongest FS left, but Lott is still a solid choice in the third round.
Round 3, Pick 8
Team Selecting: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
GM Selecting: Cole Mantell
Pick: SS, Zach Knight, Georgia
It shocked me that Knight stayed on the board this long. Cole swooped in to make a great steal with this pick.
Cole and the Buccaneers also stay dedicated to improving defensively. All three of their selections have been on the defensive side of the ball.
Round 3, Pick 9
Team Selecting: Arizona Cardinals (via New York Jets)
GM Selecting: Logan
Pick: HB, Derek Eldridge, Pittsburgh
The running back position just isn’t valued the way it once was. 30 years ago Eldridge might have been a top 10 selection. However, this still feels like a steal.
Eldridge will join Shaker Mayflower and Quinn James on the new-look Cardinals offense.
Round 3, Pick 10
Team Selecting: Denver Broncos
GM Selecting: Skyballr
Pick: CB, Gerald Pope, Ohio State
Pope might lack the insane interception numbers of some of the earlier CBs taken, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better all-around corner. Pope can make plays against the pass, in the running game, and is a great returner as well.
This gives Denver Pat Surtain on one side and Pope on the other. Good luck passing the ball against them.
Round 3, Pick 11
Team Selecting: Los Angeles Chargers
GM Selecting: Stephens
Pick: DE, Houston Kai, Illinois
The Chargers have made a real effort to improve their defensive front. This makes two consecutive picks on the defensive line (Mo Hart).
Having Hart, Kai, Joey Bosa, and Khalil Mack to contend with will be a challenge for even the best offenses.
Round 3, Pick 12
Team Selecting: Cincinnati Bengals
GM Selecting: Greg Cooksey
Pick: OLB, Tyrell Kross, Notre Dame
This was an interesting selection. It will help the team (Kross is a good player) but he wasn’t the best OLB left. He wasn’t even the best OLB left from his own team. Thomas Schultz had nearly 100 more career tackles.
It may not have been the best pick, but it will help the defense out.
Round 3, Pick 13
Team Selecting: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via New Orleans)
GM Selecting: Cole Mantell
Pick: HB, Ricky Hammer, Oklahoma State
Cole proves that he isn’t allergic to offensive players by taking a running back with his second pick of the round.
Hammer is one of the best-receiving backs in this draft class. Having spent time at WR, he is a polished route runner. He should make an immediate impact on the Buccaneers.
Round 3, Pick 14
Team Selecting: Pittsburgh Steelers
GM Selecting: Beatitdownb
Pick: WR, Nate Hayes, Alabama
Hayes had over 1,000 receiving yards last season, which is why I thought we’d see him a lot sooner than this. Beatit once again shows his patience and makes a great value pick.
I am starting to think he could take over as the Steelers GM and no one would notice.
Round 3, Pick 15
Team Selecting: Dallas Cowboys
GM Selecting: Wookie
Pick: SS, Jakoby Cobb, West Virginia
This was a sneaky good pick. Cobb never had crazy interception numbers so he never became a household name. However, he was a unit against the pass and the run.
Cobb will provide an immediate boost to an already talented Cowboys secondary.
Round 3, Pick 16
Team Selecting: Cleveland Browns
GM Selecting: Vinny Trill
Pick: MLB, JayCee Newton, Florida State
Newton has always been a productive player, but his senior season was something else. He had over 100 tackles in Season 18 and also added a pair of interceptions.
He and JOK playing beside each other should make for a great LB corps no matter who the third is.
Round 3, Pick 17
Team Selecting: Baltimore Ravens (via Miami, Tennesee)
GM Selecting: Jacobb02
Pick: DT, Daniel Winston, Miami
Winston had a slow start to his college career but finished with a bang. He is constantly overshadowed since he played on the same line as Laci White and Jay Gates, but he is a unit.
Jacob was content trading back a couple of times in this draft. He was able to do that and still get a great player once again.
Round 3, Pick 18
Team Selecting: Seattle Seahawks
GM Selecting: Bradenb
Pick: FS, Jordan Lyall, Pittsburgh
Lyall becomes the third Panther off the board (Mayflower and Eldridge). Branden is hoping to bring back the Legion of Boom days. All three of his picks have been on the defensive side of the ball.
Is there something in the water at Auburn that makes you hate offense? Either way, a great value pick here.
Round 3, Pick 19
Team Selecting: San Francisco 49ers
GM Selecting: SGEasty
Pick: WR, Cortez Largent, Boise State
There isn’t much work that needs to be done on this 49ers roster. They can just sit back and stockpile weapons. And while Largent may not have been my first pick here, he is a great player.
I hope you like winning Cortez. This team is about to do a lot of it.
Round 3, Pick 20
Team Selecting: New York Jets (via Baltimore)
GM Selecting: SilentxNinja
Pick: CB, Wrangler Brown, Oklahoma State
The Jets traded up in the draft to find another piece for their defense. They land Brown, who is coming off his best season. Brown had 12 PBUs last season and was great in coverage.
The Brown/Sauce duo will not be easy to throw against.
Round 3, Pick 21
Team Selecting: Philadelphia Eagles
GM Selecting: Stmac
Pick: FS, Kaz Allen, Pittsburgh
The Kazmanian Devil has a new home in Philadelphia. He will immediately put pressure on Reed Blankenship and will be the long-term answer at FS for the Eagles.
The Eagles are another team that doesn’t need much, but they show great foresight here to get a great safety.
Rounds 2 and 3 Wrap Up
There is still a lot of talent left on the board. Big names like Loki Gunderson, Silas Riggs, and Justin Duke are still on the board. We will be back tomorrow to cover the final four rounds of the CFSL Season 18 Draft. Congrats to all the draftees!
