2023 Mock Draft

[ukpatfan]

UKPatfan's 2023 IFL Mock Draft

Welcome IFL'ers new and old....and Jave, to my 2023 mock draft special.
With the Outlaws having no draft picks until laaate in this years draft, I guess I am ideally placed to say it how it is without fear or favor.
So, through the lead up to Dakota's card going in, open a beer, grab some pizza and watch this space for the most impartial mock this side of Mike Mayock.

:suicanesmunchies:

1.1 Dakota Spirit: RB Rich STAVROS. Hawaii.

EDIT: Pick traded to Tulsa Tomahawks.
Tusla to take Stavros no1 overall.

DakotaGeorge and his Spirit are no stranger to picking high in the draft after an 11th straight year without a winning record.
2022 saw Dakota plummet to new depths as they became the first ever IFL franchise to post a 0 - 16 record.
Not since West Virginia registered just one measly tie in 2007 has a team gone a whole season without a single win.

Well, out of despair comes hope as the 'reward' for sucking the most on the field is the top draft spot....numero uno.
Pre draft class, every GM picking first overall hopes and prays for that stud QB who can lead them to the promised land or maybe an elite receiver who can hit a home run from anywhere on the field.

Unfortunately for Dakota, that QB - WR stud will have to wait as the 2023 class looks a little thin on elite offensive talent.
Not a fact lost on DG as he very quickly put the 1.1 pick on the trade block.
Whether he finds a taker remains to be seen but don't be surprised to see Dakota moving down from the top spot.

Edit: As thought, Dakota have traded out and Tulsa will pick first.

Whatever happens, whether DG sticks or switches, I expect RB Rich Stavros to go first.

Edit: Tulsa have declared Stavros will be their pick. He was always going no1 overall.

He is just head and shoulders the best offensive playmaker available this year.

Stavros really is the complete back.
He has jaw dropping speed (4.41 dash), strength (20 bench press) and posted a 6.90 agility drill.
Throw in a heckuva football brain (40 sol score) and a 40 position drill score and it's clear why he's had the scouts raving since the combines.
That superb athletic ability has been evident on the field of play, Stavros was the leading rusher in each of the last two college seasons and he is a dangerous receiver out of the back field.
Able to pound between the tackles or juke it outside, Stavros has the speed to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.
With an excellent motor, the 'Flyin' Hawaiian' will play all day at an elite level and just in case you were wondering....he can pass block too!
Hell, he's even had a go at kick and punt return duties. Not fair!

This young man is a well developed footballer and perhaps the only slight blemish is an 85 vol score.
But have no doubt, Stavros is a one man offense and whichever team drafts this guy will be picking up potentially the best RB in the IFL.
Even if DG passes this guy up, someone is gonna move up for him.

[JesterBlaze]

Stavros is Reggie Bush to this year's Mario Williams, Bennie Milnes. I can see a team jumping into the #1 spot to take Milnes due to the ol' fact that RBs fumbling potential is a complete mask until they play.

Milnes is a more guaranteed player at a position that will likely play longer.

[ukpatfan]

1.2 Chicago Crusaders: CB Gerald LAROCQUE. Manchester.



Iceman has some solid players on his Chicago Crusaders roster and needs to inject some superstar quality in there to bump start a Chicago resurgence.
Last year they went with defense and DE Randal Meyer with the fourth pick.
Meyer looks a beast in the making but an offensive stud would do wonders for the franchise.

Diminutive RB Gerald Johnstone is a little light weight to carry the load and last years starting QB Tyrus Clark already has the fans on his back after a poor rookie showing.
LT Shaun Cunningham is a bone fide elite talent but there is no receiving threat to make a defense panic.
Picking at no2, Chicago were another team who might have hoped for a QB / WR but that isn't to be.

Iceman may well consider moving up one slot for Stavros, but with Johnstone signed up to a nice contract, I don't expect there to be a new face in the Crusaders backfield in 2023.
This GM has shown ability to move up and down the draft board and Chicago might aquire additional picks if they drop a little.
Edit: Pick is being shopped.
If not, the talent is on defense again and it's tough to pass up on an elite CB as Gerald Larocque is a true shutdown corner.

The Manchester alumni has blistering speed, strength and endurance.
Able to play the run and any coverage, Larocque has great hands an an eye for a pick.
His endurance keeps him on the field for every snap and he was a solid special teams guy too.
In one swoop, Chicago lock down one half of their defensive backfield for years to come and their defense takes another step towards top drawer.

[ukpatfan]

Thanks for the post Jester.
It'd be fun to see some discussion in this thread.
Feel free anyone to jump in with comments.

[SteveBsFan]

Stavros is Reggie Bush to this year's Mario Williams, Bennie Milnes. I can see a team jumping into the #1 spot to take Milnes due to the ol' fact that RBs fumbling potential is a complete mask until they play.

Milnes is a more guaranteed player at a position that will likely play longer.

First thing I thought of this draft class was Bush/Williams lol.

[ukpatfan]

1.3 Texas Trojans: DE Bennie MILNES. Illinois.



TimG runs his Texas Trojans quietly but they don't look too far off making a noise on the field sometime very soon.
Last draft they grabbed a receiver who is already established as the best wideout talent in the league.
Dwayne Mathis is not of this planet.
After a rookie season finding his feet, Mathis looks ready to be unleshed upon the world. He has a skillset an OC can only dream off and his KR/PR skills are fast becoming legendary.
All Mathis needs is a QB to get him the ball....unfortunately this draft won't be where he finds one.

The Trojans will probably work out Dallas, TX local boy Dan Lester.
Lester will be a 1st rd choice but he doesn't look like a 1.3 pick to me.
So TimG will be the third GM to bemoan the lack of a truely elite playcaller in this class.

Top LT Wally Guthrie may get a glance but in the end, I see Texas following Chicago's lead and turning to defense.
DE Bennie Milnes is the top rated defender in the class and he will be the bane of QB's in the NC South for a decade.
Strong, quick, agile and tireless, the Illinois QB killer is a fire and forget pass rusher.
I can almost hear Matt Sanford's groans!!

[JesterBlaze]

Laroque would be good in CHI.

However I also think DAK, CHI, and other teams at the top who need a QB might be better served to drop down to 10-15, pick up a 2nd rounder in a package deal, and go QB in the mid 1st and WR in the 2nd.

[ukpatfan]

That's all for this evening.....hopefully more to come if the mock gets some chatter going.

[Argot]

Aww...I was looking forward to the next pick

[JesterBlaze]

1.4 Chicago Catfish: DE Matthew Hardy. Arizona State.

After a long, deliberate, mostly hopeful look at OT Wally Guthrie, Argot knows despite his desperate need at LT the pass-rushing skills of the 6'6" monster from Arizona State can't be denied. The combo of Cheung and Hardy would easily be the best in the league at a time when a double pass-rushing DE/DE tandem is in vogue.

Other possible moves include dropping back to the bottom of the top 10 and taking OLB Vince Champion... but it's hard to see Chicago letting Hardy slip out of their grasp.

[Argot]

It has crossed my mind....But there is another that is also still available in this scenario.

Just wish there would be a couple WR's in the top 5.

[Matt]

that RB is an absolute stud.

interesting read thus far also.

[markc]

Carolina already has Cheung so I don't see them going for DE. They might try to trade up for Stavros. IF they stay put I would guess CB McGee or WR Abrams, but OT Guthrie would also be a good fit as JB noted.

[SteveBsFan]

I think Dakota will trade down but the pick should be the same.

[BuddaKINGII]

Awesome write-ups by the way. imp: