Draft a gamble as top Canadians head for NFL
Grey Cup-champion Argonauts have eighth pick
All signs point to some general managers gambling with their first picks in Monday’s CFL draft, now expanded from six to seven rounds.
The only certainty is that No. 1ranked Bo Lokombo won’t be taken first overall by the Hamilton TigerCats. The 6-foot-3, 233-pound linebacker intends to return to the University of Oregon for another year and is expected to be NFL bound via next season’s draft.
The defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts have the eighth pick. The expansion Ottawa team, expected to be named the Red Blacks, pick ninth, although they can only select four Canadian undergraduate players returning to school in the U.S. for their team that will begin play in 2014.
With Lokombo, for all intents and purposes, off the board, at least for the first round, the big question is whether the Ticats will choose homebrew Matt Sewell, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive lineman from McMaster, with their pick? Hamilton could also trade their pick for some immediate help.
In fact, the same argument can be made for many of the top players. Sewell, currently ranked No. 4, recently signed with the Tennessee Titans along with No. 2-ranked Regina defensive lineman Stefan Charles, a 6-foot-4, 324-pounder from Oshawa, who would have been the top pick for sure had he not signed with the NFL team. With the top two-ranked players not automatic picks, University of Calgary Dino defensive lineman Linden Gaydosh, a 6-foot-4, 314pounder, could move from his third-spot ranking to No. 1. He has the potential to become a very important player with the Ticats. No. 5-ranked defensive lineman Andy Mulumba, who played at Eastern Michigan, also signed a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers and No. 6-ranked offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan has already indicated that he intends to return to Iowa. McMaster defensive lineman Ben D’Aguilar is also targeting some NFL camps, so who knows if the No. 7-ranked player will have a deal before Monday’s draft? CFL GMs could still pick them because none are considered locks to play down south, so they could be seeking employment north of the border during the season. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers pick second unless GM Joe Mack accepts one of several offers he’s reported to have received for the high draft pick.
Most GMs hate to trade Canadian picks, never mind high picks, because they become very valuable in a ratio-roster driven league that requires teams to start at least seven non-imports and have 20 on their 42-player roster.
With so many questions, Brampton’s Mike Edem, a 6-foot-1, 200pound linebacker with special team promise, could move up considerably from his current No. 10 ranking. He’s considered a future CFL starter and a big-time ratio buster.
The current No. 8-ranked player — the Argos’ draft position — is 6foot-2, 310-pound Regina offensive lineman Brett Jones.
After the Bombers and before the Argos, the other first-round selections will be made by Montreal (3), Saskatchewan (4), Montreal (5), B.C. (6), Calgary (7). Edmonton has the first pick in the second round.