1.02 Pittsburgh BIG PAPAS — QB Andrew Luck

	In the real world: Luck takes over as the Indianapolis Colts' franchise QB. Many draft experts believe him to be the best QB prospect to come along since Peyton Manning. There are only two possible issues with him: Luck had the luxury of being able to fall back on Stanford's effective running attack, and According to KC Joyner, Luck made eight times as many bad decisions in the final six games of 2011 as he did in the previous six games. (Note: That article is only available to ESPN.com Insider subscribers; it also appears in ESPN The Magazine, March 5, 2012 issue, page 77.) But safety Rahim Moore—who played against him as a UCLA Bruin, and is now with the Denver Broncos—told ESPN The Magazine in 2010: "Luck puts the ball where you can't imagine. I broke on a route, knowing exactly where the ball would be. He still fit it in somehow."
	In the TUFF world: In 2007, the BIG PAPAS won their first AFC Championship. At various points between then and last season, they had Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Mario Manningham, Peyton Manning, Vernon Davis and Reggie Wayne and Greg Jennings, but today, they all play for other TUFF teams. On top of that, both of their 2011 first-round picks, RB Delone Carter and QB Blaine Gabbert, struggled as rookies. Now, the BIG PAPAS are looking to rebuild in earnest after a few "win-now mode" trades that backfired (WR Roy E. Williams back in 2007, RB Steve Slaton in 2009 and RB Pierre Thomas in 2010; all three of those players are also no longer with Pittsburgh).  That rebuilding process begins with a new starting QB in Luck. Matt Cassel took a step back last year; apparently he isn't the same without Charlie Weis mentoring him. And Blaine Gabbert (one of the BIG PAPAS' first-round picks last year) had a terrible rookie year, leading some writers to wonder if the Jacksonville Jaguars should consider him a "sunk cost."
	TUFF trivia: Like the Manning brothers, Luck also has NFL bloodlines; his father is former Houston Oilers quarterback Oliver Luck.

1.11 Houston Tethered Swimmers — TE Coby Fleener

In the real world: A reunion with Andrew Luck could make him the Colts' #2 receiving target (behind only Reggie Wayne). He was Luck's #1 receiver at Stanford and could be his safety valve in Indy. He rose up above Dwayne Allen and Orson Charles to be the top-rated TE in the draft, due mainly to his speed, but he's not much of a blocker. The Colts drafted Allen a round later.

In the TUFF world: One thing that has frustrated the Tethered Swimmers for years is their inability to get consistent production out of the tight end position, despite spending early second-rounders on Heath Miller (2005) and Jared Cook (2009). And it's a good pick when you consider the potential of Fleener's job situation. Also, Fleener has gone at or around this spot in most rookie drafts, with Allen generally going more than a round later, so the feeling is that Allen will not siphon away a lot of receptions and TDs from Fleener. But Jeff Rathburn had told me prior to the draft that he was looking at WRs at 1.11, and in my opinion, that should have been the way to go (so Stephen Hill, A.J. Jenkins or Alshon Jeffery). Why? His WR corps is in a really bad way. Out of the wideouts he had going into the draft, the three most productive in 2011 were Davone Bess, Jason Avant and Andre Caldwell. None of them produced as many fantasy points as either of Houston's top two TEs (Cook and Ed Dickson). Ugh.

3.01 Houston Tethered Swimmers — WR T.Y. Hilton

In the real world: Hilton's explosive performance in Florida International University's upset of Louisville on September 9 put him on my radar (7 receptions for 201 yards and 2 TDs). He can be dangerous on punt and kick returns, too. He could be the Colts' 3rd wide receiver (after Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie), although he might be the 4th or 5th option once you factor in the two tight ends the Colts took earlier in the draft (Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen). He's got great speed (he ran a 4.36 40 at his Pro Day). Durability has been an issue (most recently, a sore hamstring in rookie minicamp; he also had hamstring, thigh and quad injuries last year).

In the TUFF world: I really like this pick—I was hoping he'd drop to 3.06. Houston really needed help at the wide receiver position and Hilton is better than most of the motley crew the Swimmers have at the moment. And when you see one player change a game like he did against Louisville, that's what you dream about, having players in your lineup who can change the game in your favor. It's a handcuff of sorts too; they also have Donnie Avery, signed by the Colts as a free agent after he did not stick with the Titans last year.

3.06 Detroit Vipers — TE Dwayne Allen

	In the real world: Todd McShay said last October: "Allen has burst on the scene with good production this season. He has legit size for an inline tight end, and his speed and body control could help him become the top tight end on the board." His is an example where talent and job situation don't seem to meet very well; he has the talent and tools to be an every-down starting tight end, but not with the Colts, who took Coby Fleener a round earlier. (Then again, I thought Brandon Pettigrew's job situation got messed-up after the Lions picked up Tony Scheffler, but Pettigrew's been getting his share of receptions and TDs.) While it is assumed that Coby Fleener will get more looks from Andrew Luck by virtue of 1) being drafted earlier than Allen and 2) having worked with Luck at Stanford, last time I checked, the head coach's name is not Andrew Luck. It is Chuck Pagano, who says that the Colts' new offense will feature more two-TE sets. Besides, draft position goes out the window once the season starts (just ask WR Bryant Johnson, who was drafted a round earlier than Anquan Boldin in 2003, and we all know how that turned out).
	In the TUFF world: To be fair, the ESPN.com article that quoted Pagano came out two days after I made this pick. Even though I don't need a tight end—I already have Jason Witten and I plucked Zach Miller out of the Dallas Junglehawgs' garbage last year—Allen was the most talented player on the board and his job situation was as good as or better than anyone still on the board. It all depends on how well he and the other players fit Bruce Arians' new offense. I may need depth at wide receiver more, and one can never have too many running backs. But I just couldn't pass up this talent.
	Trophy Mania: This is the second time that a TUFF team has drafted the previous year's winners of the Fred Biletnikoff Award (awarded to college football's most outstanding wide receiver) and the John Mackey Award (which goes to college football's most outstanding tight end). The first to do so was the Houston Tethered Swimmers, who drafted Braylon Edwards and Heath Miller in 2005.

3.07 Arizona Outlaws — RB Vick Ballard

	In the real world: Ballard went to the Colts in Round 5. He will compete with recent waiver wire claim Deji Karim and Darren Evans to be the #3 back in Indy, behind Donald Brown and Delone Carter.
	In the TUFF world: Arizona needed depth at RB because they hardly had any of it beyond Matt Forte and Daniel Thomas (both of whom are stuck in timeshares at the moment). Ballard may be #5 on the Outlaws' fantasy depth chart at RB.

4.12 San Diego Slewage — WR LaVon Brazill

In the real world: Ohio University's career leader in receptions and receiving yards, Brazill was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in Round 6. Undersized at 5'10.5", 192, and while some reports claim he has blazing 4.3 speed, his official time of 40 time of 4.48 isn't fast enough to compensate for that lack of size. And the Colts already drafted a better slot receiver/kick returner in T.Y. Hilton (Round 3, 92nd pick).

In the TUFF world: Maybe it's because I wasted a 2nd-rounder two years ago on Brazill's predecessor at Ohio, Taylor Price. Maybe it's because the name reminds me of that hurdler the Bengals picked in 2006, Benny Brazell. But I could name two receivers I would easily have picked over Brazill: Todd, you like Vikings so much, why not take Jarius Wright to handcuff to Greg Childs? And as far as undersized slot receiver/kick returner types go, a number of different sources (USA Today, NFLDraftScout, Pro Football Weekly, National Football Post, Sports Illustrated, Scouts, Inc.) like Joe Adams (Panthers) even better.