Shop Tickets
pll_web_editorial_421-2

The best player at every draft slot since 2018

By Miles Jordan | Apr 23, 2025

Ahead of the 2025 College Draft presented by Q-Collar, I took a look back at the best players selected at every draft spot since 2018. From Championship MVPs found deep in the second round to a Rookie of the Year who slipped into the third, there is value to be found everywhere from picks No. 1-32.

Here's a look at the top selections from each draft position — proof that talent can come from anywhere on the board:

No. 1: Jeff Teat (2021, New York Atlas)

Jeff Teat’s jaw-dropping vision, surgical passing and elite scoring touch is redefining what it means to be a generational talent in pro lacrosse.

The 2024 MVP and Attackman of the Year led the league in points (64), goals (28) and assists (36), nearly lapping the rest of the competition. Teat recorded 25 more points than Asher Nolting (39), who ranked second. 

After entering the league, he quickly began to dominate, earning the 2021 Rookie of the Year award and a First Team All-Pro nod. 

No. 2: Michael Sowers (2021, Philadelphia Waterdogs)

Michael Sowers guided the Waterdogs to their first championship and earned 2022 Cash App Championship MVP honors in front of his hometown crowd.

Sowers scored 37 points (18G, 19A) in 2024, tying him with Rookie of the Year TJ Malone for third-most in the league. His 19 assists set a career high and were also the third-most in the league.

No. 3: Connor Fields (2018, Charlotte Hounds)

Connor Fields is a two-time First Team All-Pro (2019, 2023) and a back-to-back champion with the Archers (2023, 2024). 

Outside of his evident talent on the field, notching three seasons with 30-plus points, Fields has made a name for himself with his flashy scoring ability. Whether it's a behind-the-back rocket to the cage or a wicked between-the-legs finish against the Whipsnakes, Fields knows how to score with style.  

No. 4: Matt Moore (2022, Utah Archers)

Matt Moore has had an electrifying three years with the Archers, helping them secure two league titles. He has notched 60 points (37G, 1T, 22A), and will be in search of more in 2025 as the Archers chase a third consecutive Cash App Championship.  

“Matt gives us a dynamic presence below goal line,” Archers head coach Chris Bates said. “He’s demonstrated he can get to the front of the cage and put the ball in the back of the net. He’s a really good feeder and makes his teammates better. He’s one of us. We drafted him. He’s one of our core guys.”

No. 5: Liam Entenmann (2024, New York Atlas)

As a rookie, Liam Entenmann finished second in the league in save percentage (58.7%), compiling 71 saves over six games played. He racked up a career-high 17 saves against the Waterdogs in just his fourth career start, saving 68% of Philadelphia’s shots. 

He was a brick wall in the 2025 Lexus Championship Series against the Whipsnakes, tallying 15 saves and conceding just four goals in the second half.

No. 6: Mac O’Keefe (2021, Carolina Chaos)

O’Keefe is a three-time champion (2021, 2023, 2024) who is no stranger to winning. O’Keefe and the Chaos eliminated the Archers from the playoffs in back-to-back years (2021, 2022). 

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result,” Archers assistant coach Brian Kavanagh said. “It got to a point where a change was necessary for us to feel good about rolling the dice again the next year.”

Needing a change, the Archers signed O’Keefe in 2023, and he erupted in a breakout season. His 35-point (26G, 4T, 5G) season propelled the Archers to the first of their back-to-back titles.

No. 7: Jack Rowlett (2019, Carolina Chaos)

A finalist for the 2019 Rookie of the Year, Rowlett wasted no time becoming a force in the PLL.

“Jack’s the type of guy that wears it on his sleeve,” Ohio State head coach Nick Myers said. “He’s such a great competitor.”

In 2020, he earned his first of three First Team All-Pro selections. In 2021, Rowlett’s career-high 14 caused turnovers set the tone for the title-winning Chaos to be branded as the league’s most aggressive defense. 

No. 8: Mason Woodward (2024, Utah Archers)

The Archers had one goal in mind entering 2024: win back-to-back championships. Woodward was a key pickup in the 2024 College Draft, adding some young blood to Utah’s defense. 

“He picks up ground balls like nobody I’ve ever seen,” Archers head coach Chris Bates marveled when asked about drafting Woodward.

In his rookie season, Woodward tallied 19 ground balls, eight caused turnovers and five points en route to the 2024 Cash App Championship Game, where he and his club hoisted the hardware, completing the Archers' title defense.

No. 9: Matt Campbell (2023, Boston Cannons)

After a commanding rookie season (17P, 12G, 4A), Campbell set career highs in points (25), two-point goals (5) and assists (6) in 2024. 

The 25-year-old found his breakout moment in the 2024 Lexus Championship Series, where he excelled in Sixes and showcased his accuracy shooting from long range. In his first two games, Campbell tallied 17 points (10G, 5T, 2A), shooting a combined 47.8% from the field. 

“Matt Campbell, I think, is the best midfielder in the PLL outside of Tom Schreiber,” Kyle Hartzell said on the Over-the-Head Podcast. “He’s a killer. He’s got that killer instinct.” 

He one-upped his debut Championship Series performance in 2025, when he capped off the Lexus Championship Series with 23 scoring points, earning the Golden Stick Award and propelling Boston to a series championship.

No. 10: Asher Nolting (2022, Boston Cannons)

Nolting is deservedly a two-time First Team All-Pro (2023, 2024) and has combined for 80 total points (32G, 48A) over the past two seasons. He is a facilitator who always looks to make the best play for his team and was second in the league in assists (28) in 2024.

Think of Nikola Jokic on a basketball court, or Lionel Messi on the soccer pitch, but throw a short stick in their hands. That is Nolting’s play style. With flashes of scoring and passing, Nolting’s dual-threat attack style constantly leaves defenders on their heels. 

No. 11: Tyler Warner (2018, Florida Launch)

Warner played a crucial role in the Whipsnakes' back-to-back title run in 2019 and 2020.

He had his best season in 2020, earning the George Boiardi Hard Hat Award and helping the Whips win their second title. Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta credits Warner for contributing to the rise of lockdown defensive midfielders in the league. 

“I think (Warner) defined the position,” Stagnitta said. “Before Danny Logan and Ryan Terefenko, he was the first one that I’ve seen that was as dominant as he was. And I think he made people realize the value in that position because he was so versatile. He could do so many things.”

No. 12: Brett Dobson (2022, Utah Archers)

Dobson has been the last line of defense for the Archers since 2023 and has led them to the top of the league, securing back-to-back Cash App Championships in 2023 and 2024. 

His efforts have earned him consecutive Second Team All-Pro honors, and he’s the league’s lone two-time Cash App Championship MVP, capped off with a 17-save performance against the Whipsnakes in 2024. 

“His personality, it's just perfect for that position,” Archers head coach Chris Bates said. “He's upbeat, he's a leader, he's got a commanding presence, but he's also just got a way about him that … he's not stressed, and I think that helps lead a defense.”

No. 13: Tre Leclaire (2021, Utah Archers)

Leclaire is a scoring machine. He had a breakout season in 2023, racking up 15 scoring points, matching his production from his first two seasons combined. 

In 2024, he took an even bigger leap, notching a career-high 23 points (21G, 2T), en route to the Archers’ second title in two years. His efforts earned him a Second Team All-Pro nod and his first All-Star appearance.

No. 14: Jack Hannah (2022, Philadelphia Waterdogs)

Hannah immediately made an impact on the PLL. In his rookie year, he tallied 14 points (11G, 3A), helping lead the Waterdogs to a championship in 2022. 

In 2023, he followed that up with career highs in points (19) and assists (4). Hannah’s scoring is effective and timely. The 25-year-old has shown up in clutch moments, like in 2023 when buried a two-pointer with under 30 seconds to play the Archers.

No. 15: Bryce Young (2018, Ohio Machine)

Young played a pivotal role on defense in his five-year stint with the Whipsnakes, helping the club win back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020. 

He is a menace on defense and racked up career highs in ground balls (34) and caused turnovers (12) en route to the Whips capturing the PLL’s inaugural championship. 

“If I had to go with one word, it’d be ‘dangerous.’ Bryce has a confrontational style of play,” former Whipsnakes teammate Matt Dunn said. “He’s about his business, he’s fundamental, and he’s appropriately aggressive. He's imposing. Other teams feel Bryce on the field, and with his presence, they think twice about cutting to certain spots, or dodging in certain areas. There’s a lot of value in that. He does a lot of things well technically, but intangibly I think his greatest strength is what an imposing presence on the field.”

No. 16: Michael Rexrode (2018, Florida Launch)

Rexrode earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2022 when he recorded a dominant season on the Atlas’ defense (22GB, 6CT).

Rexrode is now a staple in New York, and rightfully so. 

No. 17: TJ Malone (2024, Maryland Whipsnakes)

Malone has defied the odds in all stages of his lacrosse career. From suffering two torn labrums at Penn State and being told he might never play lacrosse again, to winning the 2024 Rookie of the Year as a third-round draft pick, Malone’s journey has been far from conventional. Yet he has managed to succeed despite the odds against him.

As a rookie with Maryland, he ranked third in the league with 37 points (19G, 18A) behind only Teat and Nolting, earning him Second Team All-Pro recognition. 

No. 18: John Sexton (2018, Dallas Rattlers)

In 51 games as a pro, Sexton racked up 89 ground balls and 34 caused turnovers. He was a menace as a long-stick midfielder, known for his traditional stringing to help him grab ground balls off the carpet after stripping opponents.

Just take a look at this ridiculous check against from 2020:

​​

No. 19: Nakeie Montgomery (2022, California Redwoods)

A 2023 All-Star, Montgomery has been a staple in the Redwoods midfield. In his All-Star year, he scooped up a career-high 17 ground balls and tallied nine points (3G, 1T, 5A).

Outside of his play, his energy is infectious on the field. When his teammates score, he is the first to celebrate with them, and when he scores, his energy is too contagious not to smile a little. Montgomery is one of those “glue guys” who can pull a team together, and that is what he has done with the Redwoods.

No. 20: Justin Anderson (2021, Chrome LC)

Anderson had a breakout sophomore season with the Chrome in 2022 that propelled him to his first All-Star selection. He racked up a career-high 21 points (15G, 1T, 5A) that year.

No. 21: Piper Bond (2023, Utah Archers)

Since entering the league, Bond has known nothing but success. A two-time PLL champion (2023, 2024), Bond has been a force to be reckoned with in the Archers’ defensive midfield. 

He is a defensive attack dog, and his relentless energy on the field earned him an All-Star nod in 2024, thanks to his 23 ground balls and three caused turnovers.

No. 22: Connor Farrell (2019, Chrome LC)

As a rookie, Farrell had a breakout season, finishing third in faceoff percentage (54.5%) and third in ground balls (84).

In his five seasons as the Chrome’s No. 1 faceoff man, Farrell won 55.4% of his draws, scooped up 350 ground balls and tallied eight points (6G, 2A).

No. 23: Colin Squires (2021, Maryland Whipsnakes)

In 2024, Squires tallied a career high in ground balls (39), nearly doubling his career average. 

Over his four-year career, he has forced 27 caused turnovers and made massive stops. Most recently, Squires locked down Dox Aitken in overtime of the semifinals, helping Maryland advance to the Cash App Championship Game.

No. 24: Colin Kirst (2022, Boston Cannons)

Since Kirst became the Cannons’ starting goalie, he has racked up 242 saves and a 55.2% save percentage. 

Kirst tallied 15 saves (55.6%) in the 2025 Lexus Championship Series title game as the Cannons secured back-to-back series victories.

No. 25: Luke Wierman (2024, Denver Outlaws)

Wierman made his mark on the league in his first professional game. He won a career-high 66.7% of his faceoffs (18-for-27) and scooped up 10 ground balls. 

He tallied six points (5G, 1A) as a rookie while grabbing 65 ground balls and winning 49.6% of his draws.

No. 26: Tyler Carpenter (2024, New York Atlas)

Carpenter had a standout rookie season with the Atlas. His 41 ground balls and six caused turnovers earned him the Brodie Merrill Long-Stick Midfielder of the Year Award.

No. 27: Troy Reh (2018, New York Lizards)

Reh is a 2021 league champion and a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023). As a rookie with the Lizards, he scooped a career-high 27 ground balls. 

In 2024, Reh matched his career high in caused turnovers (10).

No. 28: Jackson Morrill (2021, Chrome LC)

As a rookie, Morrill tallied 22 points (16G, 6A) with the Chrome, and set a career high 23 points (11G, 12A) and assists in 2023.

No. 29: Cam Wyers (2023, Utah Archers)

In 2024, Wyers set career highs in ground balls (20) and caused turnovers (6), helping to propel the Archers to their second straight championship. 

He is a two-time league champion (2023, 2024) and was a staple in Utah’s defense in 2024, playing in all 10 regular-season games and causing a turnover in the Cash App Championship Game. 

No. 30: Ryan Smith (2021, Carolina Chaos)

Smith earned a ring in his first year as a pro, helping Chaos dethrone the back-to-back champion Whipsnakes in 2021.

No. 31: Nick Grill (2021, Maryland Whipsnakes)

Grill’s breakout season came with the Denver Outlaws in 2024, when he tallied career highs in ground balls (14) and caused turnovers (7).

No. 32: Christian Cuccinello (2018, Atlanta Blaze)

As a rookie with the Blaze, Cuccinello racked up 28 points (17G, 11A) in nine games at attack. His nose for the net and quick first step made it hard for defenders to keep up with him, especially when playing from X.

You May Also Like