2026 Soldiers Offseason Report

The Chicago Soldiers are announcing their first round draft pick early.

[b956bdfa][size=18956bdfa]The Draft[/size956bdfa][/b956bdfa]

[b956bdfa][size=12956bdfa][color=darkblue956bdfa]1.1. DE Mercury Emmons, Penn State[/color956bdfa][/size956bdfa][/b956bdfa]
6-4 281 lbs.
Very low volatility
Interviewed, results not in yet.


[img956bdfa]http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/7549/mercuryemmons2.jpg[/img956bdfa]


Blue bars all look excellent ingame, and the combine numbers are off the charts. Stelmack loves this guy, and so do I. A Big 10 (12) monster will play in Chicago, the heart of Big 10 country.

[img956bdfa]http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/1962/mercuryemmons1.jpg[/img956bdfa]

Emmons will be moved to left defensive end, and eleven year pro Todd Doyle will be moved to the right side. Well liked by fans, Doyle will be counted to help anchor the defensive rebuilding effort by the Hitmen. The strong affinity between the rookie and the veteran defensive end will only help our defense develop.

[img956bdfa]http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/8143/mercuryemmons3.jpg[/img956bdfa]

[img9548290]http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3425/bluntn.jpg[/img9548290]



Putting it bluntly, Chicago's Offensive Coordinator gets a second shot with the Soldiers. "Our record under "Tokin" Blunt hasn't been all that solid, but his work at Huntington Beach is still a standard we'd like to reach." G.M. "Hoosier" Owens.

The 44 year old Blunt and his wife, Anita Blunt, weren't available for comment.

[baa5fdc2][size=18aa5fdc2]2.1. DT Blaine Conley, Arizona[/sizeaa5fdc2][/baa5fdc2]
6-3, 309 lbs.
Did Not Interview/very high volatility

[imgaa5fdc2]http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/83/arizonadt.jpg[/imgaa5fdc2]


Our second straight defensive pick and the Soldiers grab a defensive tackle. We only had one on roster, so it was important to grab a good one early.

The guys combine scores are good. Solevision, 40 time, and agility are all very good, and Bench and Broadjump are average for pro work. Stelmack loves the guy. Could hit somewhere with a future around mid sixties, might even boom to a low seventies.

Bar wise, I loved his endurance, pass rush technique, pass rush strength, and his run defense.

Should be an anchor to our d line for years to come.

3.1. LB J.C. Cessario, SMU
Did Not Interview


[imgac734f3]http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4057/smulb.jpg[/imgac734f3]

Cessario had a strong combine. Outstanding scores in Solevision and Forty time and average scores in all but Broadjump, which is only slightly below average and not a deal breaker. With the big run on defense, especially linebackers (seven taken in the first two rounds) I felt it necessary to fill a need with the best linebacker left.

He will switch to SLB since I'm not entirely sold on is zone coverage skills, and in the defense I use, I need a solid zone defender out there on the weakside. His Punishing Hitter bars, Play Recognition Bars, Run D, Pass Rush Technique, and Endurance all point to a solid Strong Linebacker.

Better than we have now, which is nothing!

4.1. RCB Julio Varitek, Indiana University
6-0, 200 lbs.
Did Not interview, average volatility

[img3b51ffb]http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3883/indianacorner.jpg[/img3b51ffb]



Julio should hit the roster somewhere with a future of mid to late fifties, and I'll take that now.

He's tall for a corner, and could lose a pound or two, and to be honest he's a need based pick and a homer one at that, he is a Hoosier after all.

But his bars are pretty damn solid in everything but run defense, and his combine results look okay. His agility score is problematic, but I'm wondering if he'll improve with a diet.

He'll give me another piece of the puzzle as a special teamer and kick returner, and he's better than the empty slot in the depth chart I have now.

5.1. C Brandon Torricelli, North Carolina
6-3, 301 lbs.
Did Not Interview, high volatility

[imgbadedea]http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1552/nccenter.jpg[/imgbadedea]


Here's hoping he's the Soldiers' Jeff Saturday. I made a mistake in free agency and lost a solid center, so this is that atonement pick.

He's a pretty solid center, and great long snapper. Stelmack likes him, and I think he'll hit on the roster with better futures than most people expect. An affinity with our team leader can only help.

Kind of nice that his hometown is Elgin, Illinois. Could help in negotations.