Lauren, yesterday: "remember that this year you have a baby so fantasy football can't take up all your time"

Me, today: <reading Blingaleague rulebook for literally no reason>

- Mike R.

2025 Draft Recap

Scott

Scott made a splash a few days prior to the draft, trading away the first overall pick and Jayden Daniels (keeper, 8th) for Bijan Robinson (keeper, 1st) and pick 6.01. He didn't wait long to replace Daniels, taking Baker Mayfield at 4.14, and then added a slew of rookies: Kaleb Johnson (5.01), Emeka Egbuka (7.01), Jayden Higgins (11.01), Mason Taylor (14.14), and Jack Bech (14.14).

Derrek

The last time D drafted Christian McCaffrey (2.01), he convincingly won the Sanderson Cup. If he wants to do that again, he'll need TreVeyon Henderson (2.13) to perform right away as a rookie, and at least two of the four straight veteran WRs he drafted - DK Metcalf (3.02), Jakobi Meyers (4.13), Jerry Jeudy (5.02), and Cooper Kupp (6.13) - to have good years.

Pulley

Pulley didn't stray far from expectations, taking proven performers Amon-Ra St. Brown (1.03) and Terry McLaurin (2.12) with his first two picks. He then dipped into the Chiefs well, nabbing Isiah Pacheco (3.03) and Patrick Mahomes II (4.12) with his next two picks. If this is the year Kyle Pitts (8.12) finally lives up to his potential, Pulley's team could be scary.

Kevin

Having the two best keepers (Ja'Marr Chase (1st) and Jahmyr Gibbs (2nd)) meant that Kevin didn't get in on any live drafting action until pick 3.04, where he took Mark Andrews. Kevin will rely heavily on his top three acquisitions to start the season, as Jordan Addison (6.11) and Chris Godwin (7.04) aren't expected to see the field for the first several weeks.

Ed

Ed grabbed veteran RBs Alvin Kamara and Kenneth Walker III at picks 2.10 and 3.05, then turned around and added unproven WRs Rome Odunze and Travis Hunter with 4.10 and 5.05. That's all nice, but he'll probably only go as far as his stack of CeeDee Lamb (keeper, 1st) and Dak Prescott (7.05) take him.

Schertz

Schertz seemed happy to take Nico Collins at 1.06 and added promising rookie Omarion Hampton at 2.09. He wasn't afraid to take TE T.J. Hockenson (4.09) or Kyler Murray (5.06) when he had the chance, either.

Pat

Pat drafted two recent first overall picks in the real NFL draft in Caleb Williams (7.07) and Trevor Lawrence (9.07); surely one of them will live up to the hype this year, right? Outside of that, he took a couple of guys guaranteed to get touches in Mike Evans (2.08) and D'Andre Swift (4.08).

Rabbit

Rabs took Jonathan Taylor (1.08) while he was en route to Derrek's house, then took Jalen Hurts at 2.07 once he got there in person. He nabbed rookie TE Tyler Warren (8.07) and the first "who?" player of the day, Bhaysul Tuten (10.07), a little later.

Matt

Matt broke the QB seal in round one, deeming Lamar Jackson the best choice among his options at 1.09. He followed that up with Davante Adams (2.06). He also took Jacory (or is that Bill?) Croskey-Merritt (15.09) before the Washington RB became the trendy pick following the weekend's games.

Richie

Richie didn't do anything bold in the first, taking veteran WR A.J. Brown at 1.10. The boldness came in round two, where he traded his pick (2.05) for second-year TE Brock Bowers (keeper, 7th). By virtue of auto-drafting, he wound up with Breece Hall (3.10) and two Chiefs WRs: Xavier Worthy (4.05) and Rashee Rice (6.05). Joe Mixon (5.10).

Babel

Fun fact of the day: Babel's first three live picks - veterans Josh Jacobs (1.11), Tyreek Hill (2.04), and D.J. Moore (4.04) - were all drafted by Babel in their rookie seasons!

Mike R.

Mike went with James Cook at 1.12, fresh off signing his new extension with the Bills. Chuba Hubbard (3.12) will also return to the Bullies.

Rob

Rob had an elaborate system of notifications - and notifiers - to avoid auto-drafting as best as possible. He wound up with Josh Allen at 2.02; Marvin Harrison, Jr. at 2.05; Tetairoa McMillan at 3.13; and R.J. Harvey at 4.02 before he, like Rabs, physically arrived at D's house. He also, notably, was the last team to take a TE when he drafted Brenton Strange at 13.13.

Dave

Our defending champ, predictably, took Ashton Jeanty with the 1.01 pick acquired from Scott. He pulled the trigger on the still-unsigned-but-not-being-prosecuted Quinshon Judkins (5.14) later, after adding solid, if unexciting, producers DeVonta Smith (3.14) and Sam LaPorta (4.01)

Looking ahead two years: Blingaleague XX Draft weekend trip

(this section was also sent as an email earlier this week)

Derrek had a great idea that a lot of us were talking about post-draft... in two years (2027), we'll have our 20th Blingaleague Draft, and we should do something special like rent a house for the weekend and all hang out and do the draft there.

I think this would be the most fun if everyone came - which is why I'm throwing this out there almost two full years in advance. So it would be great if everyone could work with their families, jobs, etc., in advance so that we can pick a date (likely one of the weekends of August 13th, 20th, or 27th, 2027) where we can all attend and book a place. Also, let me know what kind of budget you think would work, any ideas you have for locations (the initial thought was Lake Geneva, but really anywhere within 3-4 hours of everyone would be great), and other logistical things.

This could be an awesome way to celebrate the 20th year of the league - hope you're all into it!

Rule Change Proposal Results

The rule change to eliminate the option to keep two first round players passed by a large margin. Teams who kept a player in the first three rounds this year will be allowed to use two firsts on keepers next year, provided one of them is a repeat keeper, but after that, no one will be allowed to.

Closing Thoughts

Another year, another fun draft in the books! Expect another Gazette before the first week of the season, of course.

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