TOM’s Inaugural 2021 'National College Wrestling League' Draft
by Christopher Miller

Photo Credit: Rich Kane/Getty Images.

In honor of the Round One of the NFL Draft later this evening, TOM decided to hypothetically conduct the first round of the "National College Wrestling League (NCWL)" Draft as well.

See where your favorite NCAA Division I stars landed in the inaugural  NCWL Draft! 

All weights listed are based on the weight class that the draftee last participated in. 

 

NCWL Round 1

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Spencer Lee, Iowa, 125 pounds
  2. New York Jets – Gable Steveson, Minnesota, 285 pounds
  3. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans) – Mason Parris, Michigan, 285
  4. Atlanta Falcons – Yianni Diakomihalis, Cornell, 141
  5. Cincinnati Bengals – Ryan Deakin, Northwestern, 157
  6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles) – David Carr, Iowa State, 157
  7. Detroit Lions – Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State, 133
  8. Carolina Panthers – Aaron Brooks, Penn State, 184
  9. Denver Broncos – AJ Ferrari, Oklahoma State, 197
  10. Dallas Cowboys – Nick Suriano Rutgers/Stevan Micic, Michigan, 133* 
  11. New York Giants – Daton Fix Oklahoma State, 133
  12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers) – Nick Lee, Penn State, 141
  13. Los Angeles Chargers – Michael Kemerer, Iowa, 174 
  14. Minnesota Vikings – Carter Starocci, Penn State, 174
  15. New England Patriots – Jaydin Eierman, Iowa, 141
  16. Arizona Cardinals – Sammy Sasso, Ohio State, 149
  17. Las Vegas Raiders – Sebastian Rivera, Rutgers, 141
  18. Miami Dolphins – Nino Bonaccorsi, Pitt, 197
  19. Washington Football Team – Austin O'Connor, North Carolina, 149
  20. Chicago Bears – Shane Griffith, Stanford, 165
  21. Indianapolis Colts – Alex Marinelli, Iowa, 165
  22. Tennessee Titans – Tony Cassioppi, Iowa, 285
  23. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks) 
  24. Pittsburgh Steelers –Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech, 165
  25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams) –  Myles Anime, Michigan, 197
  26. Cleveland Browns – Trent Hidlay NC State, 184
  27. Baltimore Ravens – Vito Arajua, Cornell, 125
  28. New Orleans Saints – Mikey Labriola, Nebraska,  174
  29. Green Bay Packers – Hayden Hidlay, NC State, 157
  30. Buffalo Bills – Pat Glory, Princeton, 125
  31. Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City Chiefs) – Austin DeSanto, Iowa, 133
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa, 184

Even in an entirely fictitious draft, I could not resist selecting numerous 133-pounders from what was supposed to be an incredibly loaded weight class in 2021, but it never came to fruition.

Additionally, Suriano and Micic were listed as one entry due to the growing skepticism of if/where the duo will be returning to NCAA wrestling next season.  

On a side note, this was far harder to do than I anticipated. Tell me what I got right and what I got wrong. There are no correct or incorrect answers. Comments are encouraged. 



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