2020 Rookie Corral Rankings

The 2020 MFFL Draft is in the books. Rookie Corrals have been supplemented and plans for the future have been outlined.

The strength of a Rookie Corral is a fluid concept. Quantity is an important factor, but it’s certainly not the only one. Are these rookies future stars, or at least contributors? Is there a path to their eventual ascension to the active roster? Or are they purely developmental options taking up space?

The following are the league’s 12 Rookie Corrals, ranked as of this moment. Obviously, there will be some player movement before the season begins which will have an effect on each Corral’s strength.

1. Bangkok Blitz

The rebuilding project has reached the next phase. After clearing out the dead weight last season and acquiring young, affordable players with upside, the Blitz used their wealth of draft capital to supply their Rookie Corral with the next wave of talent. The Blitz drafted five rookie running backs in last week’s draft and now have an abundance at the league’s most important position. Several of these players will see upward movement; it’s just a matter of when.

  1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB/KC
  2. Jonathan Taylor, RB/IND
  3. J.K. Dobbins, RB/BAL
  4. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB/TB
  5. Antonio Gibson, RB/WAS
  6. Mecole Hardman, WR/KC
  7. N’Keal Harry, WR/NE
  8. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR/PHI
  9. Darwin Thompson, RB/KC

2. Russia Renegades

The Renegades maxed out their Rookie Corral in last week’s draft with several promising wide receiver prospects. In what is considered one of the deepest receiver drafts in recent memory, the Renegades nabbed five of the top ones. The Renegades also used their three third-round picks to snag quarterbacks, who will sit and develop behind Lamar Jackson. The one clear disadvantage the Renegades have in their Corral is the lack of an up-and-coming running back.

  1. CeeDee Lamb, WR/DAL
  2. Jerry Jeudy, WR/DEN
  3. Justin Jefferson, WR/MIN
  4. Michael Pittman, WR/IND
  5. Tee Higgins, WR/CIN
  6. Tua Tagovailoa, QB/MIA
  7. Justin Herbert, QB/LAC
  8. Jordan Love, QB/GB
  9. Tre’Quan Smith, WR/NO

3. Ukraine Grainers

Between its Active Roster and the Rookie Corral, the Grainers have one of the deepest rosters in the MFFL. With most of their starting lineup and bench already figured out, the Grainers had the luxury of picking the best available rookies instead of addressing specific position groups. The Grainers drafted three wide receivers and two running backs, a few of whom might have seen upward mobility had they landed on other rosters in the league. In Ukraine, they might have to sit and wait their turn.

  1. Cam Akers, RB/LAR
  2. Henry Ruggs, WR/LV
  3. Brandon Aiyuk, WR/SF
  4. Denzel Mims, WR/NYJ
  5. Damien Harris, RB/NE
  6. Parris Campbell, WR/IND
  7. Lynn Bowden, RB/LV
  8. Hakeem Butler, WR/ARI

4. Nagasaki Kamikazes

Nagasaki made a flurry of draft-day moves to empty their Corral of “yesterday’s news” and make room for new and promising prospects. They drafted one running back in Joshua Kelley, who is fighting for a considerable role this year, and added four other wide receivers — joining second-year pro Diontae Johnson, who could be ready for a sophomore surge. They also snagged sleeper tight end Adam Trautman, who landed in a fortuitous situation as long as he can make the leap to big-boy football.

  1. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR/WAS
  2. Diontae Johnson, WR/PIT
  3. Chase Claypool, WR/PIT
  4. Devin Duvernay, WR/BAL
  5. Van Jefferson, WR/LAR
  6. Joshua Kelley, RB/LAC
  7. Adam Trautman, TE/NO
  8. Justin Watson, WR/TB
  9. Tony Pollard, RB/DAL

5. Christmas Island Crabs

The Crabs had just three picks in this year’s draft, but grabbed some potential playmakers with them. For the second straight draft, the team picked a running back with the third overall selection and are hoping for similar returns from D’Andre Swift as they got from Miles Sanders. Bryan Edwards in the second round was a terrific value pick, as was KJ Hamler in the third. The team acquired Deebo Samuel this offseason, and while he’s recovering from an injury, he’ll get the call-up at some point this year.

  1. D’Andre Swift, RB/DET
  2. Deebo Samuel, WR/SF
  3. Bryan Edwards, WR/LV
  4. K.J. Hamler, WR/DEN
  5. Jordan Wilkins, RB/IND
  6. Deon Cain, WR/PIT

6. San Juan Scorpions

The Scorpions have a deep Rookie Corral and added some intriguing options with their three selections. The first, Jalen Reagor, might see a significant role right away. San Juan then selected two running backs in the second round, A.J. Dillon and Darrynton Evans, who likely will have specific roles carved out for them early on with a chance at expanded playing time later. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins and tight end Irv Smith are two players who could get a call-up sometime this season.

  1. Jalen Reagor, WR/PHI
  2. Dwayne Haskins, QB/WAS
  3. Irv Smith, TE/MIN
  4. A.J. Dillon, RB/GB
  5. Darrynton Evans, RB/TEN
  6. Andy Isabella, WR/ARI
  7. Jalen Hurd, WR/SF
  8. Josh Rosen, QB/MIA

7. Jamaica Jerks

Jamaica traded down from the second overall pick early this offseason for several lower draft choices. And then they traded four of those picks. Thus, the Jerks were not as active on Draft Day this year as once expected. The team acquired running back Rashaad Penny, who they’re hoping will resuscitate his career, or at least serve as a handcuff to Transition Tagged Chris Carson. The team used its two draft picks on quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Laviska Shenault, both of whom likely will get promoted at some point this season and have active roles.

  1. Joe Burrow, QB/CIN
  2. Laviska Shenault, WR/JAX
  3. Rashaad Penny, RB/SEA
  4. Alexander Mattison, RB/MIN

8. Ecuador Ewoks

The Ewoks have some young up-and-comers who are not long for the Corral. Second-year quarterback Drew Lock is one of the projected sleepers of the year and could be activated soon to compete for playing time. Third-year pro Anthony Miller is also expected to break out this year and he could give that Ewok receiving corps a big boost. The Ewoks used their lone draft pick to select the top tight end in the draft in Cole Kmet. He’s likely to be activated at some point this season.

  1. Anthony Miller, WR/CHI
  2. Drew Lock, QB/DEN
  3. Cole Kmet, TE/CHI
  4. Justice Hill, RB/BAL

9. Switzerland Squirrels

Switzerland used its only draft pick, Pick 16, to select Buffalo running back Zack Moss, who will certainly get his fair share of playing time as a rookie. Likewise, the Squirrels also have second-year pro Darrell Henderson sitting in the Corral. He could wind up splitting carries this season. The Squirrels’ only other body in the Corral is Benny Snell, who is more of a handcuff to their restricted free agent, James Conner.

  1. Zack Moss, RB/BUF
  2. Darrell Henderson, RB/LAR
  3. Benny Snell, RB/PIT

10. Turkey Jerky

Turkey had the 13th overall selection at one point this offseason and traded it for third-year tight end Hayden Hurst, who is almost guaranteed to get called up to the active roster. The Jerky traded the RFA rights to Cooper Kupp for Pick 25 in this year’s draft, but then swung that pick for little-used KeeSean Johnson and a future 3rd round pick. The Jerky have quarterback Mason Rudolph waiting in the wings, but he might not ever leave the Corral. One other potential bright spot is second-year pro Miles Boykin who is competing for a starting job this year. He might get promoted from the Corral at some point this season.

  1. Hayden Hurst, TE/ATL
  2. Miles Boykin, WR/BAL
  3. Mason Rudolph, QB/PIT
  4. KeeSean Johnson, WR/ARI

11. Egypt Pharaohs

The Pharaohs used their two third-round draft choices on running backs La’Mical Perine and Anthony McFarland. They also acquired second-year pro Bryce Love, who missed last season with a knee injury. The three backs all could see minimal playing time early this year, but are dark horses to see significant usage in the future. Receiver Riley Ridley has a long way to go before he sees the field as a regular. Meanwhile, Antonio Callaway played in the short-lived XFL this past spring.

  1. Anthony McFarland, RB/PIT
  2. La’Mical Perine, RB/NYJ
  3. Bryce Love, RB/WAS
  4. Riley Ridley, WR/CHI
  5. Antonio Callaway, WR/FA

12. Wake Island Wookiees

The Wookiees are clearly in win-now mode. They have 15 players on their active roster who are on one-year contracts. And they have just one player in their Rookie Corral, second-year quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones is likely to be activated from the Corral prior to the season, leaving the cupboard completely bare for 2020.

  1. Daniel Jones, QB/NYG