CFL Combine - March 21 to 23, 2025

[blue_gold_84]

Gabe Wallace was in the 2nd round last year.

17th overall. I'm pretty sure 17 falls right in between 16 and 18.

[Pigskin]

Bombers will pickup a VG player at #7. (OL) Andersen or Fortin, (DE) OJO, (DB) Findlay or Cumberbatch, (LB) Veresuk. Or maybe Rourke falls to #7.

[Blue In BC]

Bombers will pickup a VG player at #7. (OL) Andersen or Fortin, (DE) OJO, (DB) Findlay or Cumberbatch, (LB) Veresuk. Or maybe Rourke falls to #7.

Rourke is going to get some sort of NFL deal. It would be a waste to use a high draft pick on him in the CFL. Maybe use a late pick on him 6 or higher IMO.

[CrazyCanuck89]

Rourke is going to get some sort of NFL deal. It would be a waste to use a high draft pick on him in the CFL. Maybe use a late pick on him 6 or higher IMO.

I think you guys take Veresuk and draft a developmental guy later.  Tiger Shanks maybe.

[theaardvark]

We traded down to get Clercius and Chris-Ike (who were guys that upped their value at the combine). 

The fact that we got Wallace at 17 had to have Walters jumping up and down.

We do draft really well, the fact that we lose NAT players every year to other teams in FA proves we brought in good ones. 

It will be interesting to see what players the WFC has identified as being special after this combine, we took Clercius well ahead of his January ranking (20), and Chris-Ike who wasn't even ranked, but managed to snag Wallace (ranked 12th) at 17...

[dd]

The CFL draft is always a crap shoot on whether the player drafted comes to the CFL or pursues things south, but this is Walters strength, he has a very, very good handle on the Canadian talent.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The CFL draft is always a crap shoot on whether the player drafted comes to the CFL or pursues things south, but this is Walters strength, he has a very, very good handle on the Canadian talent.

Smartest thing is to interview the players they're interested in before the draft and ask them directly, comes down to trusting their response or not.

[LXTSN]

Rourke is going to get some sort of NFL deal. It would be a waste to use a high draft pick on him in the CFL. Maybe use a late pick on him 6 or higher IMO.

Is there a point in drafting a Canadian QB? It doesn't count towards a starting Canadian anyway, does it?

[Blue In BC]

Is there a point in drafting a Canadian QB? It doesn't count towards a starting Canadian anyway, does it?

Yes if there is a reasonable chance he may end up in the CFL at some time. Yes he counts as a Canadian starter if he's starting but not against the ratio count. That falls into the QB having a separate status designation etc.

Obviously if he's as good as his brother in Vancouver he'd be worth trying to get him north. Some analysts believe he's better than Nathan but that may mean he sticks in the NFL for a longer time frame. I've heard he has less of a running skill set but may be a better stronger passer.

Either way, I don't see any team trying to draft him in the early rounds. A given team that currently has good Canadian depth might use a later pick this year. Fifth round maybe? Otherwise it's like drafting any player that might be getting an NFL look. Some might be back by TC and some may be gone for a couple of years.

We're seeing more and more Canadians drafted in the NFL or signed as NDFA.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes if there is a reasonable chance he may end up in the CFL at some time. Yes he counts as a Canadian starter if he's starting but not against the ratio count. That falls into the QB having a separate status designation etc.

Obviously if he's as good as his brother in Vancouver he'd be worth trying to get him north. Some analysts believe he's better than Nathan but that may mean he sticks in the NFL for a longer time frame. I've heard he has less of a running skill set but may be a better stronger passer.

Either way, I don't see any team trying to draft him in the early rounds. A given team that currently has good Canadian depth might use a later pick this year. Fifth round maybe? Otherwise it's like drafting any player that might be getting an NFL look. Some might be back by TC and some may be gone for a couple of years.

We're seeing more and more Canadians drafted in the NFL or signed as NDFA.

Certainly worth taking a flyer on, maybe 3rd or 4th round, most Canadian players never make it in the NFL, especially in high skilled positions like QB. If he wants to play football at all, he'll eventually come back to the CFL to play against his brother.

[theaardvark]

Yes, one of the best NAT Rec's was drafted/signed as a QB.  QB's tend to be exceptional athletes and very intelligent, and can adapt when should the QB option not materialize.

Rourke, late round flyer because he's gonna want to be a QB.

Tachinski, should go earlier than Rourke because he'll be drafted as a REC, not a QB.  Might get a sniff in camp as a QB, but it sounds like he knows that's a longshot, and if he wants to play, REC it is...

[TBURGESS]

I doubt that Rourke lasts to the late rounds. I also doubt that he'll be in the NFL for very long. I'd take a flyer on him using our extra pick we got. 

[Blue In BC]

I doubt that Rourke lasts to the late rounds. I also doubt that he'll be in the NFL for very long. I'd take a flyer on him using our extra pick we got.

I'm a little risk cautious and think 4th round tops but I could be thinking too conservatively. He might be taken much earlier.

Just a thought. It would be hilarious if the Stamps take him with their extra early pick. Then he comes to TC beats out Adams to start. His head would explode being beaten out by two brothers and having it result from the Lions losing their pick to the Stamps.

[Blue In BC]

Yes, one of the best NAT Rec's was drafted/signed as a QB.  QB's tend to be exceptional athletes and very intelligent, and can adapt when should the QB option not materialize.

Rourke, late round flyer because he's gonna want to be a QB.

Tachinski, should go earlier than Rourke because he'll be drafted as a REC, not a QB.  Might get a sniff in camp as a QB, but it sounds like he knows that's a longshot, and if he wants to play, REC it is...

Some of the QB's in the CFL are not exceptional athletes. They are good passing QB's but few are good at both.

Have you ever watch MBT RUN? lol

In the case of the Bombers we have some that can run but not great passers ( Strev ). Some that might be better passers but have feet of stone and lack great mobility ( Patterson ).

Anyway it's been mentioned that Rourke is less mobile than his brother but possibly a better passer. Whether that makes him a better QB will be a TBD. Even if he's not the better of the two he could be a very good fit in the CFL.

Just a guess but I think he waits out the entire 2025 season trying to land an NFL gig. That may in fact be day 1 on a PR at the worst. That may keep him floating around for several seasons in the NFL in some capacity.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes, one of the best NAT Rec's was drafted/signed as a QB.  QB's tend to be exceptional athletes and very intelligent, and can adapt when should the QB option not materialize.

Rourke, late round flyer because he's gonna want to be a QB.

Tachinski, should go earlier than Rourke because he'll be drafted as a REC, not a QB.  Might get a sniff in camp as a QB, but it sounds like he knows that's a longshot, and if he wants to play, REC it is...

I think you're thinking maybe a decade or two behind the times, the quality of positional players now drafted has improved and teams are looking for more than just a good athlete they can mold. Last player to go that route was probably Jordan Reaves and that's only because Jones thought of himself as a football genius.