Cfl draft

[Pigskin]

I can't see the Bombers trading Wallace. I also can't us trying to move up 3 spots to get the first overall pick. We are sitting pretty good with picks 4/13/20/24/33 with our first 5 picks.

[Blue In BC]

with Wallace, I sure hope if he is on our plans going forward that we sign him to an extension prior to the draft. If we don't we then risk losing him next year This really increases the pressure to use our first pick as an Oline men even if we really like a player like Elad.
  A huge factor has been the increase of the practice roster size in the nfl. Marginal players that would have been of interest to cfl teams are retained.
 It seems a rule of thumb is: if the player hasn't been offered a significant signing bonus then cfl teams are more likely to draft him higher.
  in terms of getting the number 1 pick, the only way I see that happening is if we trade the number 4 pick plus one of our second round picks. I don't see any scenario where we retain our pick and also get Ottawas.
Btw i think every team that has had a number one pick says they are open to offers. Whether they are or not is a matter for debate as often the price is way beyond what anyone will offer.

It's an interesting conversation. I'd prefer to find out that Wallace is a better player than any import competing to start at LG. The other 2 Canadian backups are unknowns ( experience wise ) but may have good upside.

Perhaps the team is considering an import at center? It still presents the question about who is in the plans to start, back up or be possible trade commodities.

We've had lots of opinions that we look to be headed towards 3 starting Canadian receivers and 3 import OL. That be ruled out or in at the moment. TC throws lots of curves at roster decisions.

I jokingly asked what do we do if we find the next Lawler in TC and can't keep him off the field?

Obviously all of this was only a series of questions about whether Wallace is bumped to back up and is thereby a trade commodity.

I can't think of any other Canadian that might have a significant value that we might consider trading in a bid to get the # 1 pick. 

Realistically I doubt we make a trade for the 1st pick but it's fun to come up with some alternative scenarios.

Beyond asking the Redblacks what they want in trade is about all I can suggest at the moment. It may be a very short call done on draft day that goes no where.

You made a fair point that we might have to give up a 2nd round as well as our 1st round to move up . I mostly agree but I wouldn't rule our the bonus 2nd round pick used to move up with our 1st round pick.

Some have suggested using the bonus pick on a " flyer " as we did last year drafting Elgersma. OTOH, we may keep it and pick a player that will make the roster in 2026. 

Teams will make trades on draft day as players are picked and teams will go off the board and not pick as expected.

We can only speak in generics until teams start making picks. The brain trust has lists at each position that they might consider.

[Blue In BC]

Has anyone seen a list of the ranked global players? With only 2 rounds only 18 players get drafted. History has shown about half are punters or kickers. We draft 4th and 13th.

I won't be surprised if one of our choices is some sort of kicker but no idea whether that's our 1st or 2nd pick. Chances are we add another DL or DB since those are ratio friendly to how we put together our roster.

We only have 2 on our current roster so 2 new faces probably headed for the PR to start the season.

[DM83]

Walter's selected a bunch of free agents that seemed to address positions we needed help with. Last year we picked a bunch of not so good players. As usual, We seem to need some Canadians on the O line.

Receivers, nah... translation punt cover guys.
Safety- we don't appear to like anyone back there on the current roster.this. Is a weak link at this time.
D- line? We seemEd to pick up one guy, and the young guys that played sparingly did ok.  No need this year but if someone they like is available......That would be good.

[Blue In BC]

Walter's selected a bunch of free agents that seemed to address positions we needed help with. Last year we picked a bunch of not so good players. As usual, We seem to need some Canadians on the O line.

Receivers, nah... translation punt cover guys.
Safety- we don't appear to like anyone back there on the current roster.this. Is a weak link at this time.
D- line? We seemEd to pick up one guy, and the young guys that played sparingly did ok.  No need this year but if someone they like is available......That would be good.

Because we appear to be going with 3 Canadian receivers starting, we MIGHT need to reconsider drafting one. A couple of the ranked receivers are getting good reviews. So I can see us taking one in our 1st 3 picks. Generally you're right that we don't need more punt cover guys. Those picks need to have a future beyond that.

Obviously an OL is at the top of everyone's list. Which one is available becomes a BPA choice but I think that is a choice of OL and not BPA overall. At least for our 1st 2 picks.

Our # 20 is where I think we could draft a DB or receiver. This then falls into BPA overall. It seems that there are some good players but it's unclear who gets NFL chances as UDFA etc. That becomes a risk analysis at that time.

[theaardvark]

OL choices are tough. 

The best ones may never come to the CFL, OL are the most likely to get NFL deals.

So, do you take a lesser player counting on them not getting an NFL look, a better player that will get a look but may end up here in a couple years, or the best player that may never come north?

You might get lucky and find a guy that is very good but knows he's the wrong measureables for a legit NFL look, and WANTS to play and be a part of a team long term.

Walters has been pretty good at identifying guys that will stick with us.  We did lose a few that "went home", but they also got ridiculous money to do so.

[Blue In BC]

OL choices are tough. 

The best ones may never come to the CFL, OL are the most likely to get NFL deals.

So, do you take a lesser player counting on them not getting an NFL look, a better player that will get a look but may end up here in a couple years, or the best player that may never come north?

You might get lucky and find a guy that is very good but knows he's the wrong measureables for a legit NFL look, and WANTS to play and be a part of a team long term.

Walters has been pretty good at identifying guys that will stick with us.  We did lose a few that "went home", but they also got ridiculous money to do so.

The NFL draft happens before us and players are also added as UDFA's. So we should have a pretty good idea which are going to stay in the CFL. Teams will also have talks with players which is useful as well.

I don't think teams draft many players in the 1st couple of rounds that they don't expect to see immediately.

The " flyers " are taken in the following rounds where those get NFL chances.

I think have the luxury with current Canadian depth to take a chance on someone. OTOH, I expect to see a couple of 2026 draft choices return to school.

We can't add everybody to this year's AR. Last year we added 6. This year I only expect 2 or 3 to be immediate. Maybe a couple see time on PR.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

OL choices are tough. 

The best ones may never come to the CFL, OL are the most likely to get NFL deals.

So, do you take a lesser player counting on them not getting an NFL look, a better player that will get a look but may end up here in a couple years, or the best player that may never come north?

You might get lucky and find a guy that is very good but knows he's the wrong measureables for a legit NFL look, and WANTS to play and be a part of a team long term.

Walters has been pretty good at identifying guys that will stick with us.  We did lose a few that "went home", but they also got ridiculous money to do so.

That's why they hold onto Wallace and make sure he re-signs for another 3 years, he's a proven commodity with great physical assets, every unproven draft pick is a gamble.

[Blue In BC]

That's why they hold onto Wallace and make sure he re-signs for another 3 years, he's a proven commodity with great physical assets, every unproven draft pick is a gamble.

In theory all of that is true. OTOH we may see the LG bumped to an import starting with Wallace bumped to 6th OL. How is that going to encourage him to sign an extension? Even a good back up is going to earn less than a starting Canadian.

It's somewhat ironic that a starting import OL might be working on an ELC deal. Wallace might already be earning more than ELC playing to earn that big bump as a starter.

We've got the option to move to an import LG but that isn't happening automatically. One of the bigger questions we'll see resolved during TC.

Obvious preference is to see a Canadian starting so there needs to be a distinct advantage to switch to an import.

EDIT: I float the idea we should consider trading Elgersma if he's showing no signs of reporting to TC this year. He might be more willing if his destination was Hamilton or Toronto but either way his trade value is low.

Clock is ticking on his future in football in any league.

[Pigskin]

If his trade value

In theory all of that is true. OTOH we may see the LG bumped to an import starting with Wallace bumped to 6th OL. How is that going to encourage him to sign an extension? Even a good back up is going to earn less than a starting Canadian.

It's somewhat ironic that a starting import OL might be working on an ELC deal. Wallace might already be earning more than ELC playing to earn that big bump as a starter.

We've got the option to move to an import LG but that isn't happening automatically. One of the bigger questions we'll see resolved during TC.

Obvious preference is to see a Canadian starting so there needs to be a distinct advantage to switch to an import.

EDIT: I float the idea we should consider trading Elgersma if he's showing no signs of reporting to TC this year. He might be more willing if his destination was Hamilton or Toronto but either way his trade value is low.

Clock is ticking on his future in football in any league.

In theory all of that is true. OTOH we may see the LG bumped to an import starting with Wallace bumped to 6th OL. How is that going to encourage him to sign an extension? Even a good back up is going to earn less than a starting Canadian.

It's somewhat ironic that a starting import OL might be working on an ELC deal. Wallace might already be earning more than ELC playing to earn that big bump as a starter.

We've got the option to move to an import LG but that isn't happening automatically. One of the bigger questions we'll see resolved during TC.

Obvious preference is to see a Canadian starting so there needs to be a distinct advantage to switch to an import.

EDIT: I float the idea we should consider trading Elgersma if he's showing no signs of reporting to TC this year. He might be more willing if his destination was Hamilton or Toronto but either way his trade value is low.

Clock is ticking on his future in football in any league.

If his trade value is low??? I would just hold on to him. Let him figure it out. Sooner or later he will be playing in the CFL.

[Blue In BC]

If his trade value
If his trade value is low??? I would just hold on to him. Let him figure it out. Sooner or later he will be playing in the CFL.

Every trade requires two teams willing to make a specific trade. What either want or are willing to take in return is always the question.

I have no idea of whether an eastern team is of interest although he might prefer an eastern team to the Bombers.

It's all guesswork but he isn't jumping towards the Bombers at the moment, so it's just a random thought. He isn't going to automatically become a starter or even the # 2 anywhere at the moment. Does he have a better chance elsewhere in his mind?

In that sense I wouldn't be upset if the Bombers looked into a possible trade. OTOH I wouldn't be upset if we signed him tomorrow. Keeping in mind I'm not sure his UFL contract is actually valid ( no pay / no consideration ).