Updated to reflect Training Camp changes. Sadly, it still looks like a mediocre draft for me. Hopefully I can get my @#$% together when we move to FOF7!

After just over a season on the job, the St. Louis front office no longer qualifies as a new regime, but it's fair to say that they're still in a honeymoon period with Torpedoes' fans after drafting local QB Richard McCormick out of Mizzou in the first round last season. How McCormick progresses this year after a summer in Europe, and how this season's draft class performs on the field over the next couple years will go a long way in determining whether St. Louis management is in for a long and happy marriage with their loyal fans, or headed for a quick divorce.

St. Louis received a middling B+ grade from most prognosticators for their 2038 draft. Management reportedly views the draft similarly, believing that they just missed on a few players who were selected right before St. Louis was on the clock. One thing's for sure - after 14 straight losing seasons, Torpedoes' fans are desperate for a winner, and the team needs to begin showing progress on the gridiron this fall.

1-10 Joseph Westphal, DE, Tulane (36/58) +3/0 to 39/58

Westphal was one of the more polarizing prospects heading into the draft, with some observers believing he would go #1 overall, and others viewing him as a second round talent. The St. Louis front office reportedly also gave the undersized defensive lineman mixed reviews, and it has been stated off the record that Westphal was a compromise selection after several players management ranked much higher came off the board right before he was selected. At just 6-3, 253, Westphal doesn't seem built to withstand the rigors of playing on the defensive line, and there have reportedly already been discussions with the player and his agent about moving to OLB. Positively, the worst case scenario for a player with Westphal's strong combine performance and current ratings profile seems to be a solid starter for a decade. Negatively, unless he is a creeper, he seems unlikely to turn into a true difference maker, which is what a team is typically hoping for with the tenth overall selection.

2-9 Morris Larsen, DT, Georgia Southern (20/62) +5/-7 to 25/55

St. Louis was reportedly anxious to add players at the skill positions to aid in McCormick's development at QB, but when Larsen dropped to #41 overall, management felt his potential upside was too tempting to pass up. Although Larsen, like Westphal, is viewed as a bit small, his performance on the field was dominant last season. Larsen was named the Sun Belt Conference's defensive player of the year with 73 solo tackles, eight sacks, 23 tackles for a loss (including a pair of safeties), five forced fumbles, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. With Christian Robbins and Daryl Rogers ahead of him on the depth chart, Larsen will be allowed to break in slowly this year, but is expected to ultimately develop into a three down DT in the Torpedoes 4-3 defense.

3-10 Darnell Torres, T, Syracuse (22/54) +2/-1 to 24/53

The Torpedoes appear set at LT for the long term after Joseph Bradford signed a staggering 6-year, $130mm deal earlier this week, but Torres is expected to see some time at RT this year. Longtime starter Sam Couture is expected to retire after this season, his 13th in the CFL, and four year veteran Tim Richard appears best suited as a quality backup, so the team is counting on Torres to get some experience in 2038 with the hope of being a full-time starter in 2039. Torres impressed the scouts at the combine with his strength, and has superior agility given his massive size (6-6, 329). Given his consistent improvement as a four-year starter for The Orange and his extremely low volatility, management is confident that Torres will develop into a solid starter over time.

4-9 Wayne Pearson, G, Mississippi (18/49) +4/-1 to 22/48

Like Torres, Pearson excelled at the agility drill in Indianapolis, but at 6-3, 316 the Ole Miss product is a bit small compared to the top guards in the league. Pearson started for only one season in college, and while he was dominant in several games in 2037, he had little impact in a few others. That inconsistency contributed to him falling to the fourth round. Pearson is widely viewed as a project, but given the dearth of talent St. Louis has at G, he will likely be given some playing time this fall.

5-10 Mickey O'Neill, TE, Oregon (28/52) +3/-6 to 31/46

Although he slipped to the fifth round, St. Louis management is cautiously optimistic that O'Neill can help solve a long-standing problem for the team at TE. While the 6-3, 248 Oregon product was not much of a factor in the running game for the Ducks, he was extremely effective as a receiver. O'Neill caught 173 passes for 2,026 yards and 23 TD in his four years at Oregon, two of which were spent as a starter. The Torpedoes currently have five TE under contract, but the Academic All-American, who also excelled in the position drill at the combine, is expected to see immediate playing time in passing situations.

6-9 Traded to Albany for 6th and 7th round selections in 2039

7-10 Dan Bullock, K, Ohio State (37/68) -1/-9 to 36/59

Although undrafted K Bobby Talley recently signed a two-year extension, he was mediocre as a rookie last year, missing six of 25 field goal attempts. With just $20k in bonus money tied up in Talley, the team could easily cut him if Bullock impresses the team in camp. Bullock nailed 23 of 28 FG attempts for the Buckeyes last year, including a long of 53 yards, and on paper he appears to be the favorite to emerge as the Torpedoes' kicker.

Neat