CFL hopefuls gear up for draft
Teams generate a flurry of trade activity heading into Thursday’s event
Mark Chapman shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called at the CFL draft Thursday night.
The speedy Central Michigan receiver is one of a handful of players the Montreal Alouettes are considering to take first overall once the draft begins. Even if Chapman doesn’t go No. 1, he’s projected as a early selection.
“I have a lot of faith in my game and I know I’m one of the top guys out there so I do anticipate (going) high,” he said. “But whether it’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter much to me. On Monday, Alouettes GM Kavis Reed identified Chapman as one of five players he was considering to take first overall. Reed also included Trey Rutherford, of Markham, Ont., an offensive lineman at UConn, in that group. Two CFL sources said Wednesday that Laurier defensive back Godfrey Onyeka is also a player of interest for Montreal.
Then again, there’s no guarantee Montreal will make the first selection. Reed said he’s fielded inquiries about the pick and is open to trading it for the right price.
The dealing began Wednesday with Winnipeg sending its 2018 first- and second-round selections — the seventh and 16th overall picks — to B.C. for the Lions’ 2019 first-round pick and ‘18 second-round choice (No. 12 overall). The Hamilton TigerCats acquired the sixth overall pick and a fifth-round selection (No. 37 overall) from the Edmonton Eskimos for 2018 second- and third-round picks (the 10th and 20th overall, respectively). That gives Hamilton nine picks in this year’s draft, including two in the first round (second and sixth).
The draft will go eight rounds with 69 players to be selected.
Dakoda Shepley of Windsor, Ont., a six-foot-five, 315-pound offensive lineman at the University of British Columbia, was projected as a first-overall selection. But the native of Windsor, Ont., joined the NFL’s New York Jets as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Ryan Hunter of North Bay, Ont., a six-foot-five, 318-pound offensive lineman at Bowling Green University, was another highly regarded draft prospect. However, he agreed to terms with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent Saturday.