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Before getting into the picks it's important to note that now-SLC LG Andy Kelso was tops on our board (of expected players to realistically have a chance to be available at #15) going into the draft and when the Stallions nabbed him at #5 we were thrown into panic mode for the first time in quite a while as we didn't expect to have to think until at least pick #10. We originally had 5 picks in the first 35 of the draft and a player we felt that we had a realistic chance to get at each pick, concluding with now-NWK WR Jamie Williams at #35. Doh! 
The result of Kelso going #5 was us not getting a single player that we projected before the draft but instead ending up with a bounty of talent that more than made up for it.
1.9 = RJ "The Leash" Kley, MLB (63/81)
Due simply to the fact that RJ plays a premium position and might possibly be the most IFL ready defensive rookie to ever enter the league we thought he'd be a top five pick. It was entertaining for a few slots to see him fall but when the 8th pick went by without Kley's name being called we recognized the time to make a move and quickly got on the phone with Lansing GM morellomre, who we've had many a trade talk with in the past, a quickly negotiated a deal to bring RJ to Lawrence.
"The Leash", as he's quickly becoming known locally for his ability to seemingly be attached to the opposing ballcarrier on any given play, has unlimited potential as a run-stopper and not just coincidentally we have "C Money", the greatest runner the world has ever seen, in our division. RJ will start from day 1 and barring injury is a lock for DROY - That's right!
1.15 = Raymond Ellis, LDT (33/73)
When Little Rock's pick came up at 1.14 it's rumored that there were two players at the top of their board: OLB Kim Cortez and LDT Raymond Ellis. Fact is, Lawrence was sitting at 1.15 with the exact same two players tied for the top of our board so in essence the Toads made this pick for us when they selected Cortez with the 14th overall pick.
Raymond will come in as a backup behind All-World DT Edmund Peacock and the very talented Johnny Ortiz. Hopefully by his 3rd season, with a little tutoring from Marcel Wells, he should be playing at a Pro Bowl level and be ready to take over for Peacock whenever he decides to hang 'em up. We feel that you can't have enough quality defensive linemen and Ellis just adds to our stable.
1.21 = Ike Jordan, QB (24/69)
QB's with potential like Ike shouldn't be available at the 21st pick in a draft! Ike was projected to go in the top 13 picks on our board and when he slid to #21 we eschewed our draft strategy and quickly got our card in to commissioner Cringer bringing Jordan to the Phantoms and giving us an extremely talented backup and eventual bargaining chip for when Tobias Stanfield's contract runs up in two seasons. Ike has pinpoint accuracy on short-to-medium passes and, once IFL-ready, shows the discipline to keep from turning the ball over.
1.27 = Skip Browning, LG (26/73)
While Skip is still entertaining himself making $0 and telling all his friends that he's an IFL offensive guard for the Lawrence Phantoms, we're entering the regular season and are wondering when we'll be able to evaluate our last 1st round pick. The good news is that Skip is showing even more potential than when he came out of Syracuse, the bad news is that all that is just potential until he gets his ass into practice and gets some coaching up!
Be that as it may, Skip is a tremendous talent and could concievably be just as good a player in the future as Andy Kelso, our original target.
We got a kicker and punter too...
...along with some others who will never be signed. I'll spare you the details.
The result of Kelso going #5 was us not getting a single player that we projected before the draft but instead ending up with a bounty of talent that more than made up for it.1.9 = RJ "The Leash" Kley, MLB (63/81)
Due simply to the fact that RJ plays a premium position and might possibly be the most IFL ready defensive rookie to ever enter the league we thought he'd be a top five pick. It was entertaining for a few slots to see him fall but when the 8th pick went by without Kley's name being called we recognized the time to make a move and quickly got on the phone with Lansing GM morellomre, who we've had many a trade talk with in the past, a quickly negotiated a deal to bring RJ to Lawrence.
"The Leash", as he's quickly becoming known locally for his ability to seemingly be attached to the opposing ballcarrier on any given play, has unlimited potential as a run-stopper and not just coincidentally we have "C Money", the greatest runner the world has ever seen, in our division. RJ will start from day 1 and barring injury is a lock for DROY - That's right!
1.15 = Raymond Ellis, LDT (33/73)
When Little Rock's pick came up at 1.14 it's rumored that there were two players at the top of their board: OLB Kim Cortez and LDT Raymond Ellis. Fact is, Lawrence was sitting at 1.15 with the exact same two players tied for the top of our board so in essence the Toads made this pick for us when they selected Cortez with the 14th overall pick.
Raymond will come in as a backup behind All-World DT Edmund Peacock and the very talented Johnny Ortiz. Hopefully by his 3rd season, with a little tutoring from Marcel Wells, he should be playing at a Pro Bowl level and be ready to take over for Peacock whenever he decides to hang 'em up. We feel that you can't have enough quality defensive linemen and Ellis just adds to our stable.
1.21 = Ike Jordan, QB (24/69)
QB's with potential like Ike shouldn't be available at the 21st pick in a draft! Ike was projected to go in the top 13 picks on our board and when he slid to #21 we eschewed our draft strategy and quickly got our card in to commissioner Cringer bringing Jordan to the Phantoms and giving us an extremely talented backup and eventual bargaining chip for when Tobias Stanfield's contract runs up in two seasons. Ike has pinpoint accuracy on short-to-medium passes and, once IFL-ready, shows the discipline to keep from turning the ball over.
1.27 = Skip Browning, LG (26/73)
While Skip is still entertaining himself making $0 and telling all his friends that he's an IFL offensive guard for the Lawrence Phantoms, we're entering the regular season and are wondering when we'll be able to evaluate our last 1st round pick. The good news is that Skip is showing even more potential than when he came out of Syracuse, the bad news is that all that is just potential until he gets his ass into practice and gets some coaching up!
Be that as it may, Skip is a tremendous talent and could concievably be just as good a player in the future as Andy Kelso, our original target.
We got a kicker and punter too...
...along with some others who will never be signed. I'll spare you the details.
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