Redblacks wheel and deal in first CFL draft
TORONTO — It was a frenzied and unpredictable CFL draft.
Five trades highlighted a busy opening round — including expansion Ottawa dealing the No. 1 pick to Calgary just 30 minutes before the proceedings began. The flurry of activity was surprising for even Toronto Argonauts GM Jim Barker, a seasoned draft veteran.
“It was very wild,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Everyone was trying to manoeuvre because there weren’t as many top players.”
Calgary dealt starting offensive lineman Jon Gott, a five-year CFL veteran, to Ottawa for the top pick, then used it to take Laval centre Pierre Lavertu, a player regarded as one of the most pro-ready prospects in the draft. Gott played previously for Redblacks offensive coordinator Mike Gibson with the Stampeders.
Calgary also landed the rights to veteran centre Marwan Hage, who played 10 seasons with Hamilton before going to Ottawa in the CFL expansion draft in December. Hage retired last month.
Ottawa will also receive a conditional pick if Calgary trades Hage’s rights to another team.
Calgary’s selection of the six-foot-three, 300-pound Lavertu was surprising because starting centre Brett Jones was the CFL’s top rookie last year after being a 2013 second-round pick. That could force Lavertu to play guard, something he’s fine with.
“If they want to put me at right guard, I am going to do it,” he said during a conference call. “I’m going to go all out, do the best I can and play to my full potential and maybe have a starting spot.”
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as expected, selected Simon Fraser centre Matthias Goossen second overall. Like Lavertu, Goossen is regarded as a pro-ready prospect and addresses a need with veteran Justin Sorensen signing this off-season with Edmonton as a free agent.
Toronto acquired the No. 3 spot from the Edmonton Eskimos, using it on versatile Manitoba running back Anthony Coombs. Not only is Coombs an effective runner, but a solid receiver who could also be returning kicks.
“It was important for us to make this trade and move up in the draft to get the guy we wanted,” Barker said. “We needed to be proactive and go after him.
“We believe he’ll fit very well into what we do on the field.”
Ottawa dealt its way back into the first round at No. 4. First, the Redblacks sent disgruntled quarterback Kevin Glenn to the B.C. Lions for the fifth pick, then swapped selections with the Montreal Alouettes, who held the fourth spot. With that, the first-ever Redblacks’ pick was versatile Montreal Carabins defensive back Antoine Pruneau.
Lions GM Wally Buono dealt for Glenn after trying unsuccessfully to move up. With incumbent Travis Lulay coming off shoulder surgery and backup Thomas DeMarco now with Ottawa, the 34-year-old Glenn is a reliable insurance policy.
“He’s a proven winner wherever he’s been,” Buono said of Glenn. “He’s been a tremendous quarterback, he’s a great locker-room guy.
Montreal followed at No. 5 and selected David Foucault of the Montreal Carabins, a six-foot-seven, 320-pound offensive tackle. Foucault is attending the Carolina Panthers rookie mini-camp this week, but hasn’t signed an NFL deal and is regarded as an athletic prospect with tremendous potential.
Edmonton, taking Toronto’s pick at No. 6, then picked St. Francis Xavier receiver Devon Bailey, a physical sixfoot-five, 202-pound player who competes effectively for the football.
Calgary, with its second first-round pick, took Concordia defensive lineman Quinn Smith at No. 7. The six- foot- two, 305- pound Smith impressed at the CFL combine on both sides of the ball but last week announced he’d tested positive for Stanozolol, a synthetic anabolic steroid.
Fittingly, the first ended as it began — with a deal — as the Tiger-Cats acquired Saskatchewan’s No. 8 selection to go with the ninth overall pick. The Ticats capped the opening round by taking Western Mustangs linebacker Bo Landry, then Manitoba defensive lineman Evan Gill.
The defending Grey Cup champions made their first selection in the second round, 11th overall, taking Western defensive end Dylan Ainsworth.
McGill offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif came in as its top-ranked draft prospect. After being taken in the sixth round of the NFL draft by Kansas City on Saturday, the sixfoot-315-pound native of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., lasted until the third round Tuesday before going to Calgary.