The Alliance of American Football is doing something really interesting to start the league. Players were initially assigned to teams based on region, using where they played ball in college, then the pros. But to make the play of the most important position on the field more competitive, they are instituting a “Pick or Protect” QB draft. In the first round of this draft, teams will chose whether they want to protect a QB that was assigned to them, or chose to pick from the pool of QBs (after each team has had the chance to protect). It will then move through 3 more rounds in a snake draft. I love this concept as it gives teams the chance to keep the regionalism, but protects the league from being lopsided. Now it hasn’t been released if the draft pool will only be players that have already signed, or if teams will be able to draft the rights to “free agents.” I went with the assumption that it will just be the players that are already signed and put a list of all the QBs together and had myself a mock draft. I’m starting with just the 1st round, but am hoping to do a full 4 round mock once I get a chance to fully evaluate the pool of players.

Team Player College San Diego Fleet **pick** Birmingham Iron Blake Sims Alabama

Arizona Hotshots **pick** Orlando Apollos Stephen Morris Miami Atlanta Legends **pick** Salt Lake Stallions Tommy Armstrong Nebraska Memphis Express Zach Mettenberger LSU San Antonio Commanders Trevor Knight Texas A&M No protect picks San Diego Fleet Luis Perez Texas A&M-Commerce Arizona Hotshots BJ Daniels USF Atlanta Legends Josh Johnson San Diego

If I’m the Fleet, I’m choosing to pick rather than protect regardless. They have the first pick in the draft and will have the first chance to chose after each team has had the chance to protect. I could easily see them keeping someone like Josh Johnson, but I think the smart move is the chose to pick and wait to select from the entire pool of QBs left over.

The Birmingham pick is an easy one for me. Despite having 6 QBs to chose from, I think they’ve known from the beginning they want to go forward with Blake Sims.

The Hotshots only have 2 QBs that were regionally assigned to them so I think its safe to assume they will chose to pick, especially if Birmingham protects Sims giving Arizona the 2nd choice in the remaining pool.

The Apollos were tough because they have a good selection to chose from to protect. Ultimately I think they’ll chose to keep Stephen Morris. He has recent NFL experience and could look good in the Fun N Gun.

With the amount of talent available, I think Childress will chose to wait and pick fro the Legends.

The Stallions also have a good crop of QBs to chose from. Looks like they are losing one of their options, as Garrett Grayson was just signed to the Broncos practice squad. Ultimately I think they go with Tommy Armstrong.

Memphis has the biggest pool of QBs to chose from with 8, which is why I believe they will chose to protect one of them. Zach Mettenberger has the most NFL experience of the group, which I think Singletary likes.

Last pick of the protection round goes to San Antonio, and I think this is another no-brainer. Trevor Knight would shine in that region.

Now we move on to the teams how chose to pick rather than protect. We start off with the San Diego Fleet. Now having their choice of the entire QB pool, I think they go with the QB that I think is most talented out of the bunch, Luis Perez from Texas A&M-Commerce. Perez is a former Harlon Hill Trophy winner for the best player in D2. He was most recently in camp with the Rams. Coach Sean McVay raved about Perez’ work ethic. I think he could step in and shine for the Fleet.

This was the toughest pick for me. In part because Neuheusel and Freeze don’t have the NFL connections like some of the other HCs and OCs, but also because I think their #1 choice hasn’t signed with the league (yet). After getting cut by the Broncos and clearing waivers, I think the AAF may be the last shot for Chad Kelly. Given Freeze was his college head coach, I think its an obvious pairing. Since he’s not in the league yet, I chose BJ Daniels. He is one of the most experienced QBs and could fit into Freeze’s spread/read offense.

Our final pick of the first round goes to the Atlanta Legends and I have them picking Josh Johnson. Johnson played for the Browns in 2012 when Childress was the offensive coordinator. He could also fit into the offense spread/west coast offense that I believe Childress and Vick will put into place.