MKJ's 2186 Draft Preview - Updated

Deep Secondary Prospects Define Field
By "Mel Kiper, Jr."

Pre-Season 2186 (The Great Beyond) - Howdy, folks! I'm back once again to highlight the field of potential draftees for the 2186 season! The top end of this field is loaded, just like Minnesota Viking party boats!

As a reminder, my ratings are based off the league founder's ratings per area as compared to an average draft prospect.

On to the big board...

#1 - T Louie White, New Mexico State. This is a beast of a man. In my opinion, you have to go back to C Joel Brenna in the 2173 draft to find a better offensive line prospect. While his lateral movement isn't what you'd hope for, he more than makes up for it with brute strength. Combined with the speed he can manage, he'll generate enormous force on defenses. He can step in and start from day one, and he will anchor somebody's line for over a decade.

. Drafted #1 in the first round by Oakland.

#2 - CB Archie McCall, Syracuse University. McCall is to defensive backs what White is to offensive linemen. Simply, he may be the best defensive back prospect since CB Mark Moxley in 2110. While he'll need to study a lot to learn USAFL defenses and hit the weight room a little, McCall is a rare talent that can start immediately for the lucky team that lands him. He'll be a perennial all-star.

. Drafted #3 in the first round by New York.

#3 - DT Brad Hagan, University of Mississippi. In almost any other year, Hagan would rate as the best player on the board. The National Defensive Player of the Year, he has good speed and shows flashes of an initial thrust off the line. If he can develop that quick-start motor a bit more, he'll be a terror to opposing quarterbacks for years to come. Outside of some lateral movement issues, Hagan is ready for the USAFL and will only get better.

. Drafted #2 in the first round by New Orleans.

#4 - C John Grooms, University of Mississippi. Hagan may get publicity and notoriety, but John Grooms has a lot to do with Hagan's development. These two have been going after each other at practice their entire college careers, and the reward was a trip to the National Championship game. While strong and quick, he needs to work on lateral quickness to get in front of USAFL defensive tackles consistently. Also, he'll need to hit the books, as some mental miscues crop up, as evidenced by his infamous fourth-down blown blocking assignment in the championship game. Still there is a lot to love here, and with the right coaching, he'll be a top end lineman.

. Drafted #4 in the first round by Houston.

#5 - CB Brian Reese, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. While not coming from a Division I school, Reese is a raw talent with a mind for the game. After acing the Wonderlic test at the combine, Reese had a mixed showing in his sprint. His top end speed was great, but apparently his small-school approach focused more on endurance than bursting out of the blocks. Many scouts think this is entirely correctable in one training camp, and they like his chances to play nickle-back right away. He may even challenge for a starting role. Regardless, Reese is a fine athlete who will be a cornerstone in someone's secondary.

. Drafted #8 in the first round by Baltimore.

#6 - S Carlos Long, Texas A&M. Three defensive backs in the top six? You bet, as Carlos Long displays the same top-end speed that McCall and Reese do. While all the physical skills are there, he rates just behind Reese due to his over-reliance on his physical abilities; he's been known to take bad angles and run through receivers when attacking the ball. Still, he's an impressive specimen that will be a sure-fire starter in this league, and a definite steal at number six in the draft.

. Drafted #6 in the first round by Miami.

#7 - LB Bill Williams, University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Williams dominated the Mountain West Conference all four years that he was there. Williams is the prototype for a middle linebacker. He's fast, strong, and smart. He'll need to work on his conditioning and acceleration into the line to keep pace with the pros. That being said, scouts are very encouraged by his build and his willingness to do what's necessary. A solid pick for front end of the first round, Williams will be manning the middle of defenses for a long time.

. Drafted #12 in the first round by Dallas.

#8 - QB John Crafts, University of Nebraska. This Cornhusker is a quarterback prospect that makes scouts both excited and nervous. His physical skills are unparalleled at his position; he'll immediately be the most athletic quarterback in the league. That being said, his college offense featured a dominate run game that rarely required that he air it out. As a result, his throwing arm and pocket discipline are underdeveloped, as is his ability to recognize coverages. Should he show an aptitude for all those things at the next level, he could be one of the all-time greats, but a lot of things have to go right. Still, I can't deny the talent, and have him at number eight.

. Drafted #8 in the third round by Baltimore.

#9 - DE Bill Hill, University of Arkansas. A two-year starter, Hill is relatively new to football. He was a walk-on player after his roommate suggested he try out for the team. He's a great athlete for a player his size, but he definitely needs to work on his strength and conditioning to be effective as a pro. History suggests that it's likely he'll succeed and have a long USAFL career.

. Drafted #14 in the first round by Philadelphia.

#10 - QB Brian Shelton, Boston College. Shelton is a bit of the inverse of QB Crafts. A three-year starter in a pass-first offense, Shelton has displayed a strong arm and a sixth sense for moving around in the pocket. While he reads defenses well, he sometimes over-estimates his ability and makes ill-advised throws. He doesn't have the risk/reward factor that Crafts has, but is a safe bet to be a top quarterback in this league.

. Drafted #4 in the second round by Houston.

Well that does it for this year! This is Mel Kiper Jr. signing off!

Back