One draft obsessed scout's thoughts on the upcoming DLE draft from pick one to ten

Altdorf Thunderbolts – Coach SeventyOne (Record 1-2-13)
Needs – Lineman, Thrower, Blitzer, Offensive Catcher
Altdorf set their stall out early in this draft process and have a few holes all over their roster so while normally the first overall pick is a slam dunk easy decision, they will have been given pause by the variety of top level talent in the upper echelons on this draft. Eventually though, their scouts will make the smart decision and choose the once in a generational talent in Arnold Miyers.

Miyers will give them a cornerstone to build on and will cause headaches for their rivals, including of course the Patriots. Interestingly, Miyers earned his stripes and his lofty draft status through the DLE College 7s program, coached by none other than the Patriots coach, bghandras. Miyers will be looking to prove his worth to his old coach at least two times a season for the rest of his career.

Pick: Arnold Miyers – Blitzer - +ST/+AG/Frenzy/Juggernaut/Stand Firm

Wolfenburg Wolfskins – Coach Danish_Dan (Record 7-5-4)
Needs – ST4 Lineman or Blitzer
There’s something in the water in Wolfenburg, league officials might even want to test the purity levels of the H20 flowing through the taps in the Wolfskins Physical Improvement Centre but whatever it is, this team can’t stop recruiting hulking strong man archetypes. Their domination of the strength scene is joked about in league circles but a real pain to deal with on the pitch. Leaning in to this perceived addiction, I predict the Wolfskins will select Todd Nathanson, another DLE 7s graduate.

Nathanson is this scouting columnist’s top rated player, all things considered but the Wolfskins might be the only team capable of taking him so high and protecting him from killer blitzers looking to add another notch to their belt, and his all round utility will see them catapulted to the next level of the DLE, namely, the play offs.

Pick: Todd Nathanson – Lineman - +ST/+AG/Guard/Dodge

Remas Eagles – Coach Asteflix (Record 6-4-6)
Needs – Thrower, Defensive Catcher, Lineman, Blitzer
Remas come in to this draft a little roughed up and lacking in a few areas after a number of changes in coaching staff since the start of Season 2. New coach, Asteflix, has aggressively sought out trading opportunities and has found a way in to the top 5 of this talented draft and for good reason.

I fully expect when Remas are on the clock that they will make talented Lineman, Sheldon Richardson. This guy has strength, reliability, team work and a nimbleness that is perfect for a team looking for a core to build on. He is the most sound lineman in this draft and Remas would be remiss if they pass up the chance to add him to the roster

Pick: Sheldon Richardson – Lineman - +ST/Block/Guard/Side Step

Brionne Buccaneers – Coach Meanandugl (Record 9-3-4)
Needs – Lineman, Catcher
Brionne are yet another team who made big moves in the trade market, moving up and around the draft to eventually find a deal with Middenheim to jump in to the top 5. At this point, we’ve already seen top players from two position groups be swept up by the three teams ahead of them but there is still elite talent left for them to snatch up.

Brionne would be wise to pick up the best receiving threat this draft has to offer in the pro ready DeAndre Hopkins. “Nuke” has all the body control and hand eye co-ordination of an elf while being fully capable of holding his own when things get hairy in close quarters. They fill one of their roster gaps with this pick and make a major upgrade to their playing staff by picking Hopkins now, the archetypal player that usually gets drafted in the top 5 of any DLE draft, he’ll fit right in.

Pick: DeAndre Hopkins – Catcher - +ST/+AG/Block

San Luis 49ers – Coach Neubau (Record 3-5-8)
Needs – Catcher (defense), Lineman, Blitzer
With Hopkins off the board and two of the best linemen gone, Neubau could be in a pickle right here. That’s if he doesn’t look far enough in to this draft and pluck out yet another AAA talent. The 49ers are a hard hitting team after the new coach steadied the ship and the superstar receiving vampire they harbour on their roster needs some superstar company.

I wager that Neubau doesn’t pass up the opportunity to spend the first of his two Top 15 draft picks on Siffridus Draken, another DLE College 7s talent coming from the Ostland Black Knights. Siffridus will be a household name in no time, his brute strength, nimble footwork and hard hitting ability makes him a special and rare talent. Neubau will also have noted his short college career of just 7 games was littered with touchdowns and casualties caused. Can’t miss prospect and a no-brainer.

Pick – Siffridus Draken – Blitzer - +ST/Dodge/Mighty Blow

Emsk Cardinals – Coach Calthor (Record 4-2-10)
Needs – Blitzer++, Thrower
This is the first pick of this mock draft that had me scrambling for the right answer. Emsk were strengthened when Coach Calthor came on board towards the middle of the season but while they picked up some results, their roster is in desperate need of some key improvements. With two of the top blitzers already gone and only one stand out quarterback prospect in this draft, I had to go with the later.

Ken Stabler is the most reliable passer you will find in this draft, with more than average arm talent, this stubborn and ballsy passer has the range and accuracy to challenge defences on the ground and through the air. He is purely a pocket passer, needing the assistance of his linemen to protect him but that’s one of the areas that the Cardinals can be proud of what they have. Zack Johnson needs someone to get him the ball consistently and Stabler and he should be a dynamite combination that few will be able to handle.

Pick: Ken Stabler – Thrower - +AG/+MA/Accurate/Nerves of Steel

Bilbali Rangers – Coach Croixfer (Record 4-4-8)
Needs – Blitzer x 3, Defensive Catcher
A franchise has never limped in to the end of the season as the poor Rangers. A proud team has taken one too many unlucky injuries and have forced management to take measures in to their own hands, torn up the roots they had laid down in Deadwood and moved to Bilbali. This move will also include a restructure of the whole team which will give coach Croixfer the opportunity to once again mould the team to his liking. From the off, I expect him to fill up on skilled Blitzers but also will look to pick up a solid option in the draft.

When Croixfer submits his ballot, I firmly expect another DLE 7s graduate to come off the board, with teams at 8, 9 and 10 kicking themselves. With 8 touchdowns and 5 casualties, graduate of Broekwater Royal College, Jed Tomkin may have matured in the shadow of Arnold Miyers but he’s ready for the bright lights of the full DLE now. All round ability underpins this player’s skillset and he will be the Swiss army knife that the Rangers need to get moving in the right direction.

Pick: Jed Tomkin – Blitzer – Dodge/Guard/Mighty Blow/Tackle

Nuln Gunners – Coach Horekim (Record 6-4-6)
Needs – Ogre, Catcher, Lineman
Nuln are yet another team who have recently hired a new coach but may not be in as bad a position as the rest. Pokrjax had left the Gunners with a decent level of talent coming off a close to .500 season They sit with a freedom to take this pick in many different directions but also are seeking to drive excitement in a fan base who has become unenthused over time. The owner is looking to inject the fun factor and the DLE 7s program has once again thrown up another player which fits the bill perfectly.

Drakenhof Lineman Chuck Evans (or as James Bond mega fan and ex college coach, Zhraia, calls him: Evans, Chuck… Evans) embodied the biggest part of college bloodbowl. The ability to be an all rounder. Evans clearly had much more talent that his fellow lineman, surprising his coach and his fans as he went on to notch up 7 touchdowns over 18 games while being named player of the game by his fans on 3 occasions. His ability as runner can’t be question and he can even work in a pinch as a make shift thrower (4 passes for 15 yards). I can see Nuln pinning their hopes on this guy and watch the shirt sales rocket!

Pick: Chuck Evans – Lineman - +AG/Block/Dodge/Sure Hands

Talabheim Sluggers – Coach c9805222 (Record 5-3-8)
Needs – Lineman, Blitzer, Catcher
Coach “cBen” will look up at his board at this point and probably see that there are no perfect players left but at this point might need to gamble that whatever he chooses to do works out. With 7 out of 9 selections so far coming from the college talent pool, that well is pretty dry also and I think this is when coaches will begin to look outside of the 7s program until much later in the first round. The Sluggers are not unique in what they need to recruit and from what I see on their roster, they need to turn more of their losses in to draws and draws in to wins. The only way to do this is to play good defense and turn over the ball.

This is why they opt to take a risk here and pick up the ultra entertaining Travis Kelce. The Sluggers will need to make room for him on their roster but Kelce comes hardwired to breakdown heavily fortified cages. His leaping ability is up there with the likes of the Universe’s Mike Evans but it is backed up with the hard hitting traits of a great sacker. Don’t expect opponents to forget about Kelce, he will be in every coach’s film study before games and will be a nightmare trying to stop him when the coach sends in the flying blitz.

Pick: Travis Kelce – Blitzer - +AG/Leap/Mighty Blow/Tackle

Remas Eagles – Coach Asteflix (Record 6-4-6)
Needs – Thrower, Catcher, Blitzer
Remas continue the rebuild with their second first round pick of the draft. They picked up super talented lineman Sheldon Richardson in the top three and look to add more grit in this top ten selection.

Kenny Vaccaro could be the pick here as Asteflix matches his need at Catcher with the hardest hitting one in this draft. Vaccaro really fits an aggressive style of play and will play close to the line of scrimmage, looking to thin the ranks of his opponents. His ability to cover ground in an instant will put pressure on teams unable to knock off this undersized but overpowered headhunter leading to panic, blood and turnovers.

Pick: Kenny Vaccaro – Catcher - +ST/Block/Mighty Blow