Your wait is over as it is time for the annual Phantoms draft report. After yet another poor season this team needs some help. Let’s see if the draft will bring some of that help.


TRADE!!!

SLB Edwin Stoner to Omaha for CB Carlton Hucke and pick 1-15

Before ACI had even made their first selection, a huge trade was compelted that would change the draft strategy. Stoner, a top 3 linebacker in the CFL and the face of the Atlantic City organization, was franchised before the season started but let it known to the front office that he wanted to play for a winning franchise. Omaha has been after Stoner for a couple years now and the decision was made to finally pull the trigger. Hucke (6th year – 65/65) gives the defense a top flight cornerback who can also step in for the aging Dennis Porter in a year or two. The addition of a top 15 pick will hopefully give the Phantoms two highly regarded starters for the price of one. Time will tell if that is the case.



Dominic Castillo


OLB – Standord – 6’ 1” – 235 lbs

1st round. Pick #1-6. #6 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 6.60

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 6.40

Key Combine Scores: Solecismic 38, 40 Time 4.60, Bench Reps 23, Agility 7.14, Broad Jump 10’ 0”, Position Drill 42

Actuals: 33/70

The top selections ahead of ACI made this an easy choice. WR Goodwin was #1 on the Phantoms draft board but there was no way he was going to make it to the 6th pick. Both offensive tackles were next on the list but also were snapped up early (Maxwell at #1 and Eisner at #5). Castillo will join 2034 1-3 pick Corey Fisher at linebacker for the Phantoms and will hope to make the loss of Stoner a bit easier to swallow for ACI fans.



Carlos Urbanchek


C – Tenn. – Chattanooga – 6’ 3” – 298 lbs.

1st round. Pick 1-15. #15 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 7.20

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 6.20

Key Combine Scores: 40 Time 4.95, Bench Reps 34, Agility 7.59, Broad Jump 8’ 10”

Actuals: 51/89

With the pick acquired in the Stoner deal, ACI selected the best player available. Centers are not a popular first round pick in the CFL but ACI feels that Urbanchek was easily the top talent available. There is a very strong possibility that Urbanchek will be moved to another spot on the offensive line as Center is pretty well manned by Roosevelt Shepard. How this selection pans out will go a long way in determining if the Stoner deal was a win, push or a loss.



Trevor Heneghan


WR – Tulsa – 6’ 2” – 219 lbs.

2nd round. Pick 2-7. #39 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 4.70

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.90

Key Combine Scores: Solecismic 25, 40 Time 4.43, Agility 7.04, Position Drill 52

Actuals: 15/25

Atlantic City is in desperate need of wide receiver help so they took a huge risk at this pick and selected Heneghan. The bars don’t look particularly great but the combine numbers were excellent. In addition, Heneghan was listed as underrated to very underrated by numerous scouts. This may be a boom or bust selection.



TRADE

ACI sent pick 3-6 to Tennessee for picks 3-22, 4-7 and 5-6.

Tennessee wanted to move up in the draft while Atlantic City was hopeful the player they wanted would drop to pick 3-22. The addition of a couple additional picks in the middle of the draft would make the odds of getting a few useful players a bit better.



Brock Bauer


TE – Iowa State – 6’ 0” – 240 lbs.

3rd Round. Pick #3-22. #86 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 5.40

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.70

Key Combine Scores: Broad Jump 9’ 5”, Position Drill 43

Actuals: 26/51

Bauer did indeed drop to pick 3-22 and will hopefully fill at least part of the hole at the #2 TE spot with the departure of Alex McDaniel to Omaha in free agency. Depending on the scout, Bauer was the top TE in the draft (although it was a down year for TE’s).




Thomas Hanks


WR – Michigan – 6’ 0” – 194 lbs.

4th Round. Pick #4-7. #103 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 4.50

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.70

Key Combine Scores: none

Actuals: 14/29

The Phantoms took another shot at getting a WR with the selection of Hanks. Hanks didn’t have a great combine as his numbers were pretty much par for the course at WR. However, he did show some potential as a big play receiver with the ability to get downfield. Even an average rating would make him one of the better WR’s on the ACI roster.



Kent Kampman


QB – Davidson – 6’ 4” – 236 lbs.

4th Round. Pick #4-21. #117 Overall

Pre-Draft Grade: 4.80

Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.50

Key Combine Scores: 40 Time 4.57, Agility 7.56, Position Drill 80

Actuals: 12/57

Kampman put up huge numbers at Davidson but scouts were skeptical as he doesn’t have a strong arm and is a major project. ACI figured this was a good chance to grab a backup QB after Claude Ripple signed with Durham in free agency. Kampman’s position score of 80 was one of the top in the draft and the 40 time / agility scores show he is an excellent athlete who needs time to develop.

Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon

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