SFL 
SFL Season 27 Rookie Draft Official Announcement
SFL Season 27 Rookie Draft Officially Set for June 23rd
The next generation of SFL talent is preparing to take its first step onto football’s biggest stage.
The Simulation Football League has officially announced that the Season 27 Rookie Draft will take place on June 23rd at 8PM EST, featuring a unique and strategically layered draft system that places equal emphasis on roster building, financial management, and long-term franchise planning.
With 23 draft-eligible rookies entering the pool and 21 SFL franchises preparing their draft boards, organizations across the league now face a difficult question:
Do you invest in the future, or cash in on the present?
Whether teams are searching for an immediate impact player, a future franchise cornerstone, or financial flexibility to support long-term goals, the Season 27 Rookie Draft promises to be one of the most fascinating events of the offseason.
Broadcast details, panel announcements, and additional draft coverage information will be revealed in the coming days.
More Than Just a Draft
Unlike traditional draft systems, the SFL Rookie Draft operates under a hybrid value-based model designed to encourage strategic team management and meaningful organizational decision-making.
Each draft position carries a designated monetary value tied directly to Team Bank finances. Franchises may choose to:
Select a rookie player
Sell their pick to another organization
Swap positions with another team
Or receive the pick’s listed value directly into Team Bank
The result is a draft environment where every selection carries weight far beyond the player attached to it.
Some teams may aggressively pursue elite prospects at the top of the board. Others may prioritize financial flexibility, future planning, or roster sustainability.
Every pick has value. The question is how each franchise intends to use it.
Official Draft Order
| Pick | Team | Pick Value | Sell Value |
|---|
| 1 | MIA | $3,000,000 | $4,500,000 |
| 2 | CAR | $2,600,000 | $3,900,000 |
| 3 | OKC | $2,200,000 | $3,300,000 |
| 4 | LEX | $1,800,000 | $2,700,000 |
| 5 | CHI | $1,700,000 | $2,550,000 |
| 6 | PIT | $1,600,000 | $2,400,000 |
| 7 | LAL | $1,500,000 | $2,250,000 |
| 8 | FTW | $1,400,000 | $2,100,000 |
| 9 | ABQ | $1,350,000 | $2,025,000 |
| 10 | PHI | $1,300,000 | $1,950,000 |
| 11 | ARI | $1,250,000 | $1,875,000 |
| 12 | BCS | $1,200,000 | $1,800,000 |
| 13 | HOU | $1,150,000 | $1,725,000 |
| 14 | MIN | $1,100,000 | $1,650,000 |
| 15 | WAS | $1,050,000 | $1,575,000 |
| 16 | ANC | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
| 17 | DCD | $950,000 | $1,425,000 |
| 18 | MXC | $900,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 19 | BHM | $875,000 | $1,312,500 |
| 20 | DET | $850,000 | $1,275,000 |
| 21 | VAN | $800,000 | $1,200,000 |
Trading, Swapping & Selling Picks
Organizations may negotiate draft-position swaps prior to the draft.
When swapping selections, the team moving upward must pay the difference between the two picks' values from Team Bank.
For example, if Pittsburgh (#6, $1.6M) wishes to acquire Carolina's #2 overall pick ($2.6M), Pittsburgh must pay the $1M difference to Carolina.
Teams may also elect to sell their draft selection entirely.
Purchasing organizations must pay the pick's value plus a 50% acquisition premium.
This creates opportunities for teams seeking additional draft capital while providing financial flexibility to organizations looking to strengthen their Team Bank.
To preserve competitive balance:
- Teams may only purchase one additional draft pick.
- Purchased picks cannot be re-sold.
- Future draft selections cannot be traded.
- Multi-team transactions are prohibited.
- All transactions must be finalized at least 72 hours before the draft.
Once the draft begins, all selections are locked.
Owner & Exempt Staff Player Protection
Season 27 also introduces the Owner & Exempt Staff Player Protection Amendment.
This amendment allows qualifying organizations to retain a draft-eligible Owner or Exempt Staff Member's player rather than entering them into the draft pool.
To utilize this protection:
- The organization's draft selection is automatically forfeited.
- The team cannot draft a player.
- The team cannot take the pick value.
- The team cannot sell or swap the pick.
The forfeited pick remains in the draft order for positioning purposes but provides no financial or player-acquisition benefit.
Protected players receive a reduced signing bonus of $500,000, compared to:
- $2,000,000 for drafted rookies.
- $1,000,000 for traditional undrafted rookies.
Eligibility Requirements
Protected players must:
- Hold an Owner, GM, Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, or Director of Content role.
- Be publicly announced in that role before the conclusion of the SFLm Regular Season.
- Meet all draft eligibility requirements.
Additional Restrictions
- A franchise may only utilize Staff Protection once per calendar year.
- Purchased draft selections cannot be used for Staff Protection.
- Teams must notify SFLm leadership before the conclusion of the SFLm Playoffs.
The amendment is designed to provide organizational continuity while preserving meaningful draft consequences.
League leadership also continues to explore additional player retention mechanisms that may provide certain players with pathways to remain with their current organization while preserving draft integrity. No formal proposal has been adopted at this time.
Rookie Eligibility Explained
Following concerns surrounding shallow draft classes in previous seasons, the SFL and SFLm implemented updated eligibility requirements designed to strengthen the overall rookie pool and ensure a healthier draft ecosystem moving forward.
For Season 27:
Any rookie with 10 or more games played was required to make their name available for the draft
Rookies with 5-9 games played were permitted to opt in or opt out
Any rookie with fewer than 5 games played will automatically return to the SFLm next season
This adjustment helped expand the draft class to 23 total players while maintaining flexibility for developing prospects.
Player Overall Ratings may vary significantly due to:
differing progression plans
varying time spent in the league
developmental archetypes
position value
unique build structures
In short: lower overall does not necessarily mean lower potential.
Names to Watch
Every draft class has its headliners.
Season 27 may have several.
DE Carlos Carter — Philadelphia — 100 OVR
The most dominant overall player entering the draft pool, Carter immediately projects as a franchise-changing defensive force. Pass rushers of this calibre rarely become available, and while several organizations are expected to explore moving up the board for a shot at him, Carter has made history as the first player to be protected by the new Owner/Staff Protection clause with the Philadelphia Cougars publicly declaring him as their GM.
ILB Mike Alberts — New York — 98 OVR
A true centrepiece defender capable of anchoring the middle of a defence from Day One. Alberts combines elite rating value with one of the safest projections in the class.
OLB J.C. Wallace Jr. — Oregon — 96 OVR
One of the most explosive hybrid defenders available. Wallace’s versatility and athletic upside make him an intriguing fit for multiple defensive schemes.
K Matty Maniac — Boston — 96 OVR
Special teams players rarely generate major draft buzz — but Matty Maniac is not a typical prospect. His value immediately changes the conversation for any franchise looking to stabilize the kicking game long-term.
FS Tony Tomlinson — San Diego — 86 OVR
A smart, rangy safety with strong upside and positional value in the modern defensive landscape.
QB Eden Lovelace — San Diego — 78 OVR
Quarterbacks always draw attention, and Lovelace may quietly become one of the more fascinating developmental prospects in the class.
QB C.J. Hagood — San Jose — 79 OVR
A poised signal caller with solid fundamentals and room to grow, Hagood represents the type of long-term investment many franchises may prioritize later in the board.
WR Nick Popovich — New York — 79 OVR
Reliable hands, offensive flexibility, and developmental potential make Popovich a sleeper prospect worth watching closely.
Full Rookie Class
Boston
QB Doc Holliday — 75 OVR
DE Rodney Smith — 85 OVR
K Matty Maniac — 96 OVR
New York
HB Elbrynn Jaxx — 63 OVR
WR Nick Popovich — 79 OVR
ILB Mike Alberts — 98 OVR
Oregon
QB Joe Ingels — 66 OVR
HB Jim Hood — 82 OVR
TE Mat Fenech Jr. — 64 OVR
OLB J.C. Wallace Jr. — 96 OVR
CB Matthew Lee Jr. — 70 OVR (Opted In)
SS JoJo Vazquez — 73 OVR
Philadelphia
QB Thomas Ramen — 78 OVR
HB Michael Reno — 72 OVR
DT Fregly Ramen — 71 OVR
DE Carlos Carter — 100 OVR
CB Chris Britton Jr. — 82 OVR
San Diego
QB Eden Lovelace — 78 OVR
ILB Horizon Breeze — 87 OVR
FS Tony Tomlinson — 86 OVR
San Jose
QB C.J. Hagood — 79 OVR
WR Nick Finch Jr. — 79 OVR
CB Malik Rivers — 90 OVR
The Countdown Begins
With elite defensive talent available at the top of the class, developmental quarterbacks waiting deeper in the board, and financial strategy now playing as large a role as player evaluation itself, the Season 27 Rookie Draft is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent league history.
Some teams will chase immediate impact.
Others will prioritize long-term flexibility.
And somewhere in between, franchise futures will be decided.
The road to Season 27 officially begins on June 23rd.
It's time to #MakeAnImpact! - E.D.