The Richmond Rampage open their inaugural draft from a position that demands patience and conviction. Drawn at No. 26 in the 36-round startup, the John Harbaugh-inspired CGL coaching model says the slot is “a workable spot” — not the first crack, but still close enough to land “a real difference-maker if you stay disciplined.”
That word, disciplined, runs through the whole Rampage approach. In the interview, the model returned again and again to one idea: build a complete team, not a collection of names. The goal is a roster that can “hold up every week,” offer flexibility, and survive the demands of a long season with depth, dependable roles, and toughness.
That framing shapes how Richmond will weigh value at the top of the draft. The coaching model said it starts with the best player on the board, but “through our lens that usually means the positions that hold the whole team together.” The positions it emphasized most were safety, linebacker, tight end, quarterback, and edge, with kicker in the plan later. The preference is less about forcing a script than about recognizing where the roster can be steadied early.
The model also made clear that the Rampage will not be chasing one trait at the expense of the rest of the team. “Immediate production matters, but so does keeping the whole team strong for the long haul,” it said. That balance, in its view, is the heart of startup drafting: get players who can help now, grow with the roster, and carry real positional value.
There is no mystery about the kind of football Richmond wants to play. The coaching model described a team that prepares well, plays smart, and does not lean on one phase to carry everything. It wants to win with depth, field position, and dependable play across the board. In practical terms, that means players who know their job, stay available, and can handle real football situations without needing the whole structure bent around them.
The model pointed to versatility as a major separator. A player who can contribute on third down, in the red zone, or in game management gives the Rampage more value than a one-trick option. It also stressed toughness, communication, and enough discipline to keep the unit connected. For a team drafting from the middle of the first turn, those are the kinds of traits that can make the board work rather than fight it.
The preseason reference point offered a small window into how the staff is filtering early football evidence. After the Aug. 6 Hall of Fame Game, the model said Haynes King showed “dual-threat value and poise,” while Carson Beck’s efficiency stood out. But it was careful not to overstate the meaning of one game. “It’s still one preseason game — it can confirm traits, not rewrite a board,” the model said.
That caution fits the broader tone of the Rampage’s draft build. The No. 26 slot gives them room to wait, but not to drift. It invites flexibility without surrendering intent. And for a new franchise trying to establish identity before the first snap of the season, that may be the point: a roster built to last, not just to flash.
“We’re building a complete team, not a highlight reel,” the coaching model said. If Richmond gets the draft right, that line could become more than a philosophy. It could become the shape of the franchise.