Big Offseason Moves in the Western Conference of the ELF - Part 1
Offseason is well under way after over 600 players have been announced by ELF franchises these last few months. It is time to have a look and see how rosters are shaping up and getting ready for the upcoming season. Let’s start with the Western Conference.
RHEIN FIRE
DEPARTURES
Somehow unexpectedly, the reigning champs have seen the departure of quite a few key players. Joachim Christensen (Center) and Leander Wiegand (Guard) will no longer be part of that dominant Offensive Line that held Jadrian Clark unscratched in most matches last season. The center has taken the decision to retire from football and Wiegand has moved to the Munich Ravens looking for a new role and challenges.
The receivers corps have also been affected by departures. The franchise has surprisingly let USA receivers Nathaniel Robitaille and Willie Patterson leave. This has come somehow as a shock as both Americans performed at a high level last season. At least one of them was expected to be extended but it looks like the team had other plans in mind. French star receiver, Anthony Mahoungou, is leaving the team too, and joining the Musketeers ranks.
The defensive side of the trenches will have some casualties as well, with the departure of top Edge Rusher Alejandro Fernandez to the Madrid Bravos and the retirement of Eric Adam (Defensive Line). To add salt to the wound, important rotational defensive backs Richard Grooten and Lasse Meyer have decided to leave the team in search of more snaps and prominent roles elsewhere.
EXTENSIONS
Does all these departures mean that the team is no longer a contender? Not quite, dear reader. The team was so loaded with talent last season plus some new exciting signings will for sure make Rhein Fire the team to beat again next season.
Well known top Offensive line players like Holierhoek, Wiens, Breidenbach and Raji are back to protect Quarterback Jadrian Clark again. At Running back, the team has renewed ELF star Glen Toonga and competent back up Sergej Kendus. Harlan Kwofie (Wide Receiver) is also returning.
On the defensive side of the ball, we can find quite a few more nice extensions in players like Linebackers Simon, Kensey, and Pinter, USA Defensive Back and ELF star, Omari Williams, Defensive lineman Jason Chikere, Safety Max Richter, and Cornerbacks Till Janssen and Jannik Seibel.
NEW SIGNINGS
And what about new signings? Some exciting news here for Fire fans. 29 year old German Edge Rusher Aaron Donkor comes back to Europe after spending two seasons in the NFL Seattle Seahawks practice squad as part of the NFL international IPP program, and a short stint in the XFL.
The Defensive Backs corps are being heavily reloaded with the signings of American Darrius Nash from XFL Las Vegas Vipers and former Frankfurt Galaxy french Safety Tony Anderson.
Young and promising German Linebackers Lennart Weitz and Tim Steins are also joining the Fire this year. Weitz comes from the Cologne Centurions and has been selected to be part of the CFL International Draft in 2024. Tim comes back to Europe after his stay at Minot State University in NCAA Division II.
FRANKFURT GALAXY
DEPARTURES
It has been an intriguing offseason in Frankfurt so far, with a mix of difficult management decisions and unexpected departures.
No move has a bigger impact on the franchise than the decision of letting Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan go after three seasons with the team. He will be replaced by former Milano Seamen star Luke Zahradka. This move is viewed as an attempt from the franchise to reinvent themselves. In another shocking move, we will see Zahradka reunite with ELF 2023 Offensive Player award winner and ELF Touchdowns and Recieving Yards leader from last season, former Munich Ravens Wide Receiber Markell Castle. This duo already played together in Italy some years ago, and they hope to regain the chemistry they had developed back then.
However, some bad news has impacted Frankfurt this offseason too. The Offensive Line has taken a hit with the retirement of Lars Hampel, Nils Hampel, and Tim Hirsch, combined with the departure of Sven Fischer to the Surge and Paul Kolter to the Centurions.
The Linebacker corps will take a toll as well, with the retirement of Silva Gomez and the signing of Wael Nasri for the Ravens. Key homegrown Wide Receiver Lorenz Regler is going to Munich, Tight End Kevin Mwamba signed with the Musketeers, Defensive Back Tony Anderson to Rhein Fire and Fullback Leon Helm moves to Stuttgart Surge to complete a set of key starters leaving Frankfurt this season.
EXTENSIONS
In terms of player extensions, the team has made an effort to keep some quality players around. To name some: Offensive linemen Frank Atunlese, Yannic Kiehl, and Matej Bencek, Wide receiver Nico Strahmann, Defensive Linemen Karlis Brauns and Marc Anthony Hor, Linebackers Sebastian Gauthier and Louis Achaintre, top USA Cornerback Jamalcolm Liggins, and Defensive Back Joshua Poznanski.
NEW SIGNINGS
To strengthen the Offensive Line, from the Tirol Raiders is Danish lineman Steven Nielsen, well known for his time with the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars and two seasons as starter in the CFL. Quite surprisingly, the team has signed an impressive total of thirteen Offensive linemen players to the roster. None, apart from Nielsen and the few contract renewals, come with ELF experience, which looks from the outside like a strategy to run some sort of pre-season audition to as many Offensive linemen candidates as possible.
Another flashy addition from Tirol Raiders is USA Defensive Back Divine Buckrham, who has XFL experience before joining ELF last season. ELF Defensive Rookie award nominee Darren Okoeguale (Linebacker) from the Centurions is another very interesting signing along with Swedish Linebacker Hugo Dyrendahl who had a strong 2023 season in the GFL. Homegrown receivers Paul Kavadia Lenhardt from the Centurions and Benjamin Mau from the Sea Devils, should give depth to the receivers corps.
PARIS MUSKETEERS
DEPARTURES
The French franchise has not announced a lot of players yet. Lots of work pending to be done. However, some interesting moves can already be commented on.
The three biggest player losses are receiver Kyle Sweet (who retired from Football), Spanish Tight End Adria Botella, and British Offensive lineman Keanu Ebanks. Botella and Ebanks are both moving to the Wroclaw Panthers.
The Offensive Line is the unit that has had more changes this far into the offseason. With the departure of Ebanks, the team has let go Spaniards Edu Sanchez and Celestin Ngimbi. These players will be replaced by well known ELF veterans like the British Lewis Thomas and Frenchman Thomas Fileccia both from the Milano Seamen.
EXTENSIONS
Brazilian Pollys Sacramento extends his contract with the team and homegrown Elyes Saoui signs from the 2023 GFL champs, Potsdam Royals.
Quite a few important contract extensions too. The likes of Quarterback Zach Edwards, Wid Receivers Bertellin and Larose, Defensive linemen Loew, Zeregbe, and Elio, Linebacker Gomis,and Defensive backs Said and Kilani. All of them are crucial returns to the team.
NEW SIGNINGS
However, the highlight of the offseason for Paris so far is some top level signings that the franchise has already announced. To replace Sweet, comes fellow American Wide Receiver, Austin Mitchell, after a stellar season in the GFL with the Dresden Monarchs. The Wide Receiver corps got even stronger with the top signing of ELF First Team All Star in 2021 and 2023, Anthony Mahoungou.
ELF Defensive Player award winner, Maceo Beard joins the Parisians as well, after breaking the all time ELF record for Interceptions in a season. To add more firepower to the team, Tight End Kevin Mwamba and Defensive Lineman Jordan Avissey join the team. Very promising outlook for the french franchise.
CONCLUSION
As the offseason unfolds in the Western Conference of the ELF, teams like Rhein Fire, Frankfurt Galaxy, and Paris Musketeers are undergoing significant roster changes. Despite departures, key extensions, new signings, and the reemergence of formidable talent signal an exciting and competitive season ahead. With revamped rosters and strategic acquisitions, these teams are poised to vie for the conference championship and a shot at the ELF league title.
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