[MIJB#19]

Merchantmen bolster defense in 2086 draft
The trading has returned in Maassluis. The first round of the 2086 draft ended with a delay caused by negotiating representations of the Hanalei Dragons and the Maassluis Merchantmen, resulting in the later moving up from the late second to the last pick of the first round, with cornerback Lee Hancock joining linebacker Daquan Espino as the 2086 first round picks for the Merchantmen.

The first round started with the Toronto Lake Monsters grabbing excentric Arizona quarterback Shane Shelton. Offensive players kept flying off the board, but the Merchantmen had different plans and enjoyed the show. Despite their openly advertised desire to draft a wide receiver, instead they added highest graded linebacker Espino through the 29 overall pick. A fast, agile, presumably top-notch pass defender.

The blockbusterish trade followed shortly after. The Merchantmen sent their 2087 first round pick together with their second, third and fifth through seventh round picks in this draft to the Hanalei Dragons for their second and fifth round picks in 2087 and the #32 overall pick in this draft. Second highest graded cornerback Lee Hancock was the player of choice. The Merchantmen staff fully expects him to work well alongside Kirk Hitchcock and puts pressure on Tre Poloski to stop thinking he's irreplaceable as the CB2.