via the league’s web site – All photography courtesy of Pretty Instant: https://www.prettyinstant.com/  

Author’s Note:  I’ll be writing up the Florida Launch draft preview early next week!  Also note that Chris Marshall’s 2.0 already did broadcast for those who are subscribers.  For those who are not, trust me, it’s worth subscribing, even just for the #WatchTheTommyShirt segments!

  The MLL Collegiate Draft presented by Cascade is a seminal event on the MLL calendar. Teams have the opportunity to supplement their roster with ready-to-go talent from the college ranks and transform their lineups. The Florida Launch went 2-3 in their first five games last season, including a 19-7 drubbing at Ohio the day before the draft. Then, they made four of the first 10 picks in the draft and used the newly-acquired pieces to go 6-3 down the stretch and qualify for the postseason for the first time in franchise history. We preview this year’s draft with MLL analyst Chris Marshall from LSN, who identifies the biggest need of each team in order of their first-round picks. Marshall will reveal version 2.0 of his mock draft on Lacrosse Now on Thursday (no subscription required, 9 p.m. ET).      1. Boston Cannons

• 2017 Record/Result: 3-11/Did not qualify for postseason
• Draft Picks: 1, 19, 26, 46, 55
• Key Additions: Kyle Denhoff (M), Ryan Walsh (A), Scott Firman (D), Benny Pugh (G)
• Key Losses: Josh Hawkins (M)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Boston needs a QB attackman. They bolstered their midfield via trade but still need someone to run the offense.”

    2. Atlanta Blaze

• 2017 Record/Result: 6-8/Did not qualify for postseason
• Draft Picks: 2, 10, 20, 32, 38, 40, 47, 51, 56
• Key Additions: Matt Gibson (A), Tommy Palasek (A), Liam Byrnes (M)
• Key Losses: James Pannell (A), Chris Bocklet (A)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Atlanta needs help in the midfield. If they have some big shooters up top it will open things up for their new and improved attack.”

    3. Charlotte Hounds

• 2017 Record/Result: 6-8/Did not qualify for postseason
• Draft Picks: 3, 12, 14, 21, 28, 30, 39, 48, 57
• Key Additions: Jake Richard (M), Adam Osika (M)
• Key Losses: Brendan Fowler (FO)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Charlotte needs to add a solid cover defender and address the faceoff X.”

    4. Chesapeake Bayhawks

• 2017 Record/Result: 7-7/Did not qualify for postseason
• Draft Picks: 4, 13, 49, 58
• Key Additions: Luke Duprey (M), Matt Rees (M)
• Key Losses: None
• Chris Marshall’s take: “The Bayhawks did well in the supplemental draft but could use another pole.”

    5. New York Lizards

• 2017 Record/Result: 7-7/Did not qualify for postseason
• Draft Picks: 5, 27, 41, 50, 59
• Key Additions: Brendan Fowler (FO), Matt Landis (D), Mike Bocklet (A)
• Key Losses: Matt Gibson (A), Tommy Palasek (A), Ryan Walsh (A), Scott Firman (D)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “It’s going to be tough to crack the lineup for anyone in the draft but they need to add some midfield depth after raiding the cupboard in trades this offseason.”

    6. Dallas Rattlers

• 2017 Record/Result: 8-6/Lost to Denver in MLL Semi-Finals
• Draft Picks: 6, 15, 33, 37, 42, 60, 63
• Key Additions: Chris Bocklet (A)
• Key Losses: Kyle Denhoff (M)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Dallas could really use a versatile midfielder. There will be holes to fill early in the season but the O will be tough to crack after the indoor guys show up.”

    7. Florida Launch

• 2017 Record/Result: 8-6/Lost to Ohio in MLL Semi-Finals
• Draft Picks: 7, 11, 16, 24, 34, 43, 52, 61
• Key Additions: Shane Doss (G)
• Key Losses: Liam Byrnes (M)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Florida needs to add depth on defense. They have some great individual players but were one of only three teams to give up 200+ goals in 2017.”

    8. Denver Outlaws

• 2017 Record/Result: 9-5/Lost to Ohio in MLL Championship
• Draft Picks: 8, 17, 25, 29, 35, 44, 53, 62
• Key Additions: Josh Hawkins (M)
• Key Losses: Chris Bocklet (A), Greg Downing (M)
• Chris Marshall’s take: “Denver is absolutely stacked. I’d like to see them add an athletic pole to run in transition with Hawkins and Brent Adams. That’s scary to think about!”

    9. Ohio Machine

• 2017 Record/Result: 9-5/Beat Denver in MLL Championship
• Draft Picks: 8, 17, 25, 29, 35, 44, 53, 62
• Key Additions: Garrett Thul (A), Mark Matthews (A)
• Key Losses: None
• Chris Marshall’s take: “The only real hole on this team has been at the faceoff X. That should be the top priority.”

  ***** Here is Mock Draft 1.0 from Marshall (version 2.0 will be revealed on LSN’s Lacrosse Now at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday).

1. BOS – Connor Fields – A – Albany
2. ATL – Connor Kelly – M – Maryland
3. CHA – Trevor Baptiste – FO – Denver
4. CHE – Justin Guterding – A – Duke
5. NYL – Ben Reeves – A – Yale
6. DAL – Joel Tinney – M – Johns Hopkins
7. FLA – Ben Randall – D – Ohio State
8. DEN – John Sexton – LSM – Notre Dame
9. OHM – Austin Sims – M – Princeton