1957 AFL Draft

 

Round 1
1 - Cleveland - DL Hank Jonas - Western Tennessee - DireBear
2 - Philadelphia - QB Raymond Oram - Nebraska State - DireBear
3 - Pittsburgh - OL Victor Gallagher - Maine State - Darknes
4 - New York - RB Felix Philipow - Michigan A&M - Wallflower
5 - Tri-Cities - OL Jerry Wineberg - McTyeire - Wallflower
6 - Detroit - S Roger Cedrick - Oklahoma - DireBear
7 - Buffalo - RB Duke Cooper - Alabama State - TheEnigmaticOne
8 - Pittsburgh (From CHI) - WR John Waterloo - Georgia A&M - idm
9 - St Louis - DB Julian Morgan - Georgia A&M - Kingsfan11
10 - Boston - DB Chris Hockenson - Ohio - Jayhawk
11 - Cleveland (From CIN) - TE Zebulon Jackson - Central Tennessee - QCS
12 - Washington - RB Rick Goldberg - University of the Bronx - joho42x

The draft returned back to Chicago after two years away, and the Cleveland Crows spent almost no time making their selection, taking DL Hank Jonas out of Western Tennessee as the first overall pick. Jonas is expected to fill the shoes of the recently-departed Fergus Prenderghast, and fits quite the same mold as a powerful rusher. He was frequently double teamed in high school and college, but Jonas still managed to break through to take down whoever was in the backfield. Philadelphia would also not take much time to make their pick, selecting QB Raymond Oram to be their first long-term starting quarterback. Oram arrived on the scene out of nowhere last year in college, narrowly winning the Bernheim Trophy with his ability to throw a perfect pass nearly anywhere in the backfield. He is expected to spend some time behind the newly-acquired Roy Woodward, but he should help the Rattlesnakes in the coming years when he eventually gets the starting gig. Pittsburgh would play it safe with their selection, taking physical OL Victor Gallagher from Maine State to bolster their offensive line. The Shamrocks are in a transitional phase of sorts, and just getting a big man that will help anchor their young backfield is a step in the right direction. RB Felix Philipow would go to New York with the fourth pick, bringing some much needed speed to an ailing Lions backfield. He was quite evasive when in open space, but has good eyes to find holes to break through the line. That was mainly why the Lions took him, as they’re still building up their offensive line and a back that is able to create his own lanes is what they need to have a decent run game again. Tri-Cities lost about half of their offensive line for various reasons, and would take the best available lineman in McTyeire’s Jerry Wineberg. The Hawks favored him for his pass protection and will probably place him on the outside to best compliment his abilities. Detroit would draft their replacement for a departed player as well, drafting S Roger Cedrick out of Oklahoma. They had not been impressed with the development of Charlie Fischer since drafting him, dealing him away to Chicago and drafting Cedrick as his replacement. Cedrick is somewhat similar to Fischer in that regard, able to fly across the field to take down pretty much anyone anywhere. Buffalo would do the same, drafting RB Duke Cooper as their potential next starting running back. Calvin Townsend’s retirement left a fairly gaping hole for their running back position, and Cooper seems to fit in the same mold. He’s not the fastest back in the world but gets going with a head of steam and being a good blocker in a pinch. Pittsburgh used its second pick this round to continue bolstering their offense, selecting WR John Waterloo out of Georgia A&M. Waterloo will finally give the Shamrocks another decent option at wideout, with decent enough hands for a receiver and a knack for getting open when his quarterback gets into trouble. Georgia A&M would get two players selected back-to-back, as St Louis took DB Julian Morgan with the next pick. The Stallions’ secondary had looked suspect at times last year, and Morgan’s ability to close in on receivers and make the interception will give them just what they need to get their secondary to compete with the top of their division. Boston would follow suit, bringing some youth to their secondary with their selection of Ohio DB Chris Hockenson. Hockenson has flashed his athletic ability in college, breaking his school’s record for most interceptions in a season despite his average size. Cleveland would use its second pick in the first round to take Central Tennessee TE Zebulon Jackson. Their tight end room could use an upgrade, and Jackson’s size and blocking ability made him too good for the Crows to pass up on. The Federals would continue to try and find a good complimentary back to Rip Rooney, and finished the round by selecting RB Rick Goldberg from the Bronx. Goldberg was primarily used as an all-around back in college, utilized effectively in the run and pass games with great speed to turn short gains into long plays. 

 

Round 2
13 - Cleveland - S Sam Salmon - ULA - idm
14 - Philadelphia - OL Harold Blackmon - Miami Valley* - Wallflower
15 - Pittsburgh - TE Corky Jones - Michigan - Wallflower
16 - New York - LB Hugo Hoelgebaum - Wisconsin State - Dan O’Mac
17 - Tri-Cities - LB Howie Weinmaster - Colorado State - Dan O’Mac
18 - Detroit - DL John Milk - Calvert - idm
19 - Buffalo - OL Miles Carter - Alabama A&M - Kingsfan11
20 - Detroit (From CHI) - OL Harry Hogg - Chicago Christian - idm
21 - St Louis - WR Darius King - California State - Darknes
22 - Tri-Cities (From BOS) - WR Elliott Branson - Chicago Christian - Kingsfan11
23 - Cincinnati - OL Pete Peterson - Michigan A&M - Dan O’Mac
24 - Washington - WR Gene Cockburn - Superior State* - Dan O’Mac

The first half of the second round would be focused on the defense, starting out with Cleveland taking speedy S Sam Salmon. Philadelphia selected the first player from the Lower Division one pick later at 14, taking the big run blocking Harold Blackmon out of Miami Valley. There usually has been a few linebackers selected in the first, but they had to wait until pick 16 to be the first one selected. Both New York and Tri-Cities took fairly similar linebackers back-to-back, as Hugo Hoelgebaum and Howie Weinmaster are both hard-hitters that are sorely needed on the rebuilding cores. After Detroit took DL John Milk with pick 18, the rest of the round was either used for either offensive linemen or wide receivers. The end of the round would see a run on wide receivers, starting with St Louis taking Darius King to develop as their future #2. The Hawks would take the speedy Elliott Branson to become a future top option for QB Rocco Vanthourenhout after controversially trading their top option to St Louis. Washington had practically no depth behind either of their top two receivers, and took a risk on Gene Cockburn to develop for the future.

Round 3
25 - Cleveland - DB Fred Alliston - Louisville State - Wallflower
26 - Philadelphia - LB Joel Grimes - Rockefeller - Dan O’Mac
27 - Pittsburgh - LB Tebucky Hambrick - Pittsburgh State - Wallflower
28 - New York - OL Adam Moore - West Virginia - Dan O’Mac
29 - Tri-Cities - QB Dalton Dart - Chicago Christian - Stickman
30 - Detroit - LB Sean Hitchcock - Massachusetts State - Jayhawk
31 - Buffalo - DB Pavel Nesbit - Nebraska State - Dan O’Mac
32 - Chicago - DB Dirk Wishell - Minnesota State - JamHeronArk
33 - St Louis - TE Clem Carter - Vermont - Dan O’Mac
34 - Boston - QB Jasper Grimmes - Georgia - TheEnigmaticOne
35 - Cincinnati - S Erik Forrest - Northern Oregon - Darknes
36 - Washington - QB Chad Golden - Los Angeles State - Darknes

After two total rounds where only a single quarterback was drafted, teams finally took their need for the position in the middle of the third. Tri-Cities drafted Dalton Dart from Chicago Christian to fight for the backup position, or be ready to start if Vanthourenhout doesn’t develop like he should. Boston selected Jasper Grimmes from Georgia to develop in the ASPFL, as current starter Salvatore Saab is expected to compete for the backup job for the Dragons. Washington made the same move, drafting Chad Golden out of LA State to fill a similar role, though the Federals let go of their current ASPFL starter Cornelius Cobb so Golden could develop in that role and eventually become the backup. Defensive backs also started going off the board, with three being taken in the third after the top two were taken late in the first round. Cleveland needed to help their aging secondary, taking the quick Fred Alliston to inject some youth into the team. Pavel Nesbit should be a depth piece for the Hammers for the time being, but could carve some playing time within a few seasons. Chicago is still working out who else to put in their secondary besides Clarence Newman, so they made their first selection of the draft by taking Dirk Wishell, who is part of their plan to find the best DB for the job. 

Round 4
37 - Cleveland - RB Billy Eagle - Ohio - QCS
38 - Philadelphia - DL Carlton Fleischhaker - New York State - Wallflower
39 - Pittsburgh - DL Brockton Doolittle - Iowa A&M - Wallflower
40 - New York - OL E.J. Bostick - Nebraska State - Dan O’Mac
41 - Tri-Cities - S Bud Langway - Alabama State - DireBear
42 - Detroit - OL Russell van der Walle - Pittsburgh State - Dan O’Mac
43 - Buffalo - WR Dalton Shaw - Oklahoma - Jayhawk
44 - Chicago - WR Earl Barrington - Calvert - Wallflower
45 - St Louis - LB Derek Granger - ULA - Darknes
46 - Tri-Cities (From BOS) - DB Emmanuel Lazare - Louisiana - Darknes
47 - Cincinnati - LB Damian Rivers - Pittsburgh State - Kingsfan11
48 - Washington - WR Devin Wood - Central Illinois - Dan O’Mac

The second round of wide receivers would go late in the fourth round, starting with Buffalo selecting Dalton Shaw out of Oklahoma as a potential replacement to the recently-retired Bernard Clarke. Chicago has been having trouble developing another receiver outside of Ciarán Murphy, so Calvert’s Earl Barrington will be just one of several receivers fighting for the number two position. Washington was doing the same as it was in the second round, taking Devin Wood out of Central Illinois to fill out their receiving room. The Hawks would use both of their picks this round to replenish their secondary, taking S Bud Langway out of Alabama State at 41 and using their pick from Boston to select DB Emmanuel Lazare from Louisiana at 46.
 
Round 5
49 - Cleveland - QB Christopher Wilke - Ohio - joho42x
50 - Philadelphia - DB Ronnie McNulty - South Dakota - Dan O’Mac
51 - Pittsburgh - DL Enzo D’Allesandro - Las Vegas State - Darknes
52 - New York - OL Kingsley Haumiller - Florida - Dan O’Mac
53 - Tri-Cities - LB Mark Commonbottom - New York State - Stickman
54 - Detroit - TE Lukas Luszczyszyn - Rockefeller - idm
55 - Buffalo - QB Richard Cohen - Maryland State - MitchSwanson94
56 - Chicago - RB Wesley Niles - Kentucky Commonwealth - Sevsdast
57 - Pittsburgh (From STL) - S Kenneth Alarie - Worcester State - Wallflower
58 - Boston - TE Steven Quincy - Wisconsin State - Dan O’Mac
59 - Cleveland (From CIN) - QB Cameron Cole - Palmer* - Dan O’Mac
60 - Washington - RB Terry Lessort - Vermont - Wallflower

The final round of the draft saw the last quarterbacks being taken, though Cleveland scooped up two out of the remaining three. Christopher Wilke and Cameron Cole are expected to fight for the now-vacant ASPFL starting job in Hartford, with the potential of getting on the pro roster in a year or so given the now-uncertain status of their quarterback room. Buffalo made a similar move, taking Richard Cohen from Maryland State as their third stringer for now, but if he’ll want to start he’ll have to move down to Rochester. The Federals would make the final pick of the draft, selecting speedy RB Terry Lessort out of Vermont.

 
Undrafted:
DL Gael Sabo - Central Iowa* - Dan O’Mac  -> Pittsburgh
DL Ethan Stemkowski - Minnesota State - Wallflower -> Cleveland
K Arthur Diehl - Armitage - idm -> Tri-Cities
P Hank Forrest - Macatawa State* - Dan O'Mac -> Chicago
RB Walter Allen - Illinois State - Wallflower -> Washington
RB Walt Johnson - McFarlin - DireBear -> Boston
RB Dakota McDonald - UKC - Dan O’Mac -> St Louis
S Ron Wheelwright - Central Iowa* - Dan O’Mac -> Detroit
TE Nimrod Abernathy - Deseret - DireBear -> Philadelphia
TE Parker Stowell - Fargo* - Dan O’Mac -> Buffalo
TE Nate Coleman - Ohio - Kingsfan11 -> Boston