Evaluating the Atlantic City Phantoms 2031 Draft

ACI entered the draft with the 5th overall pick and seven picks total. The focus was on another year of stockpiling young talent as the team looks to be competitive in the near future (although I think we say that every year).

Mike Hipp
DE – Miami, OH – 5’ 10”, 237 lbs.
1st round. Pick #1-5. #5 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 6.90
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 7.60
Actuals: 53/71

ACI entered the draft in desperate need of some offensive firepower. With the fifth pick in the draft, the hope was to get a QB or WR or could provide some much needed punch to the passing game. When the draft list was released by the league, it quickly was apparent that adding this player would be tough to do. Louie Hopkins was a the best WR in the draft but there were no QB’s worth a top 5 pick (and probably not worth a first round grade. As it turned out, Hopkins was selected third overall so the Phantoms decided to go add more talent to their improving defense. In this case, the best offense may be a good defense. Hipp was ACI’s top rated player in the draft so he is definitely not a consolation pick. At the combine, Hipp was one of the few players who excelled in all the tests


Monty Dunlap
C – Central Michigan – 6’3” – 290 lbs
2nd Round. Pick #2-4, #36 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 6.30
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.40
Actuals: 24/72

Dunlap adds more talent to the improving Phantoms offensive line. The issue here is what will ACI do now that Dunlap joins Jimmie Mathews and Roosevelt Shepard at center. Dunlap appears to be prototype center so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mathews move to guard.


Alex McDaniel
TE – Wisconsin – 6’4 – 256 lbs
3rd Round. Pick #3-3, #67 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 5.10
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.40
Actuals: 22/51

While the 2031 draft class may not have a lot of quarterback talent, it does appear to have very good tight ends. According to the pre-draft grades, McDaniel was a step below the top four tight ends but still appears to be excellent value in the third round. McDaniel had an excellent showing at the combine with great marks in four tests. ACI still needs wide receiver help but McDaniel is a nice addition.


Leon Newsome
WR – Stanford – 5/10” – 187 lbs.
4th Round. Pick #4-2. #98 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 3.90
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.00
Actuals: 16/35

ACI finally attempted to get some wide receiver help in the fourth round with the selection of Newsome. This pick was definitely a need pick, and not best player available. Excellent agility and position drill scores at the combine point to a classic west coast offense receiver: good avoid drops and getting downfield. A big reason why the Phantoms reached for Newsome at this point was for his special teams ability, both on coverage and for returns.


Claude Ripple
QB – Delaware – 5’10” – 200 lbs.
5th Round. Pick #5-7. #135 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 4.50
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 5.10
Actuals: 20/54

The search for a quarterback continues with the selection of Ripple. Ripple was the top rated west coast quarterback on the ACI draft board but as mentioned earlier, this appears to be a weak draft for signal callers. Excellent agility and position drill scores give the Phantoms hope. However, not many fifth round quarterbacks become difference makers.


Austin Dodgens
RB – Pennsylvania – 5’9” – 208 lbs.
6th Round. Pick #6-6. #166 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 4.40
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 4.70
Actuals: 20/40

In past seasons, the Phantoms have user the later round picks to take flyers on players based on positional bar ratings. This year, the philosophy changed a bit and they looked for combine scores / bars that point to special teams’ abilities. Like Newsome, Dodgens appears to be a very good returner who is also excellent in coverage.


Leroy McLaughlin
WR – California – 6’2” – 210 lbs.
7th Round. Pick #7-5. #197 Overall
Pre-Draft Grade: 3.20
Pre-Draft Adjusted Grade: 3.30
Actuals: 19/44

With their seventh round pick, ACI went back to taking a flyer pick. McLaughlin was rated pre-draft as a player that would not be drafted but may be a free agent signee. With wide receivers needed and McLaughlin rating high in the position drill at the combine, the Phantoms decided they didn’t want to change not getting him in free agency and used their final draft pick.


Once the players report to Atlantic City, we will update this report with the actual ratings.

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McDaniel was a guy I had my eye on if I kept the 2.30 pick. I think he was great value in the third.

Indeed. Once I saw him slide a bit I was hoping he might slip to me in the third. Alas.

And I really like Hipp, he's gonna be good. Can we nickname him "Childbearing"?

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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

As long as his nickname is not "broken."

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How about Degenerative.