Evaluating the Atlantic City Phantoms 2030 Draft

ACI entered the draft with the 2nd overall pick and four picks in the top 66. The focus was on another year of stockpiling young talent as the team looks to be a playoff contender in 2031.


Edwin Stoner
OLB – Washington – 5’ 10”, 237 lbs.
1st round. Pick #1-2. #2 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 7.20
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 6.90
Actuals: 62/82

ACI had numerous needs entering the draft and we could have gone in many directions with the #2 overall pick. RB Junior Wolfe, WR Emmitt Upshaw and QB Isaac Burgess would all have been great selections and appear to have All Pro abilities. Passing on Burgess and Wolfe could come back to haunt the team in the future. In the end, OLB was just too great of a need and Stoner appears to be a future All Pro himself. Hopefully an anemic Atlantic City offense will be helped by a top 10 defense (which is the team goal for 2030).


Zack Koethe
ILB – Washington St. – 6’ 2”, 248 lbs.
2nd Round. Pick #2-2, #33 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 5.80
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.60
Actuals: 34/66

Koethe, who most experts expected to be off the board in the 20’s, adds more talent to the improving Phantoms defense. With current ILB Lyon approaching the end of his career, a replacement was needed and Koethe is a very good option.


Todd Nelson
QB – SE Oklahoma St. – 6’4 - 2227
3rd Round. Pick #3-1, #65 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 5.00
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.70
Actuals: 14/56

The third round was the point that ACI finally made an attempt to address their quarterback issue. Dillon was resigned as a free agent to be the starter for a year or two more while 2nd year player Rico Firth is on the roster. Nelson, who appears to fit the west coast offense mold with high bars at screen, short and timing, will be added to the mix.


Bryant Corbett
WR – Iowa – 6’ 11” – 177 lbs.
3rd Round. Pick #3-2. #66 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 4.50
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.70
Actuals: 19/50

With only two wide receivers currently on the roster, and one of those a return specialist only, many will question why it took until the 3rd round to get a receiver. Like Nelson, Corbett fits the west coast offense with high bars in getting downfield and avoid drops. Add in excellent bars in route running, big play receiving, adjust to ball and endurance and the hope is that we got a 3rd round steal.


Graham Philip
TE – Michigan – 6’5 – 261 lbs.
4th Round. Pick #4-1. #97 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 5.50
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.80
Actuals: 39/50

For the third pick in a row, Atlantic City drafted an offensive player. Tight end was another of the numerous holes on the roster. Philip was another player targeted for his west coast offense skills. These include excellent bars in getting downfield, avoid drops, blocking strength and route running.


Curtis Babinchak
G – Pennsylvania – 6’6 – 323 lbs.
5th Round. Pick #5-2. #130 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 5.20
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.90
Actuals: 36/63

The help for the offense keeps coming with the drafting of Babinchak. The former Pennsylvania guard has great bars for run blocking, pass blocking and blocking strength. Endurance may be an issue but in a guard rotation, he appears to be a definite asset.


Chuck Hanson
RB – Brigham Young – 5’ 11” – 227 lbs.
6th Round. Pick #6-1. #161 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 4.80
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.10
Actuals: 28/36

The Phantoms are very happy with the development of running back Mario Hall, last year’s 3rd round pick, but needed a 3rd down back to give him some rest. Based on his bars, Hanson appears to fit that spot perfectly. He has bars in the 90s for third down running, blitz pickup, avoid drops, getting downfield and route running.



Everett Shepherd
DE – Georgia – 6’ 1” – 258 lbs.
7th Round. Pick #7-1. #194 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 3.90
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.30
Actuals: 19/60

The plan going into the draft was to select at least one defensive lineman. It took until the 7th round but it finally happened with the selection of Shepherd. Shepherd has very good bars in all areas and hopefully he can fit in a defensive line rotation.


Overall, this appears to be another excellent draft for ACI. With the numerous additions made in free agency, Atlantic City should be able to be competitive in 2030.

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Awesome write up man..

Stoner could become the New WELBORN

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omaha arrowheads

JJ Smitty's Record
Atlantic Division Champions - 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2028, 2035, 2037, 2039, 2044, 2046, 2047
Eastern Conference Champions - 2008, 2039, 2047
CFL Champions - 2008, 2039, 2047

Stoner is a beast and I can't fault anyone for taking a stud LB. most may say take the WR but I won't say that.

Stoner will be great, but it would've been very hard for me to pass on Burgess at 1-2.

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Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

Blasphemer!

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ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062