First and Goal: Draft Prep - Ed TaitSeldom has a week passed during this Canadian Football League offseason without there being some sort of narrative/discussion/rant unfolding across the media - and, by extension, the diehard fan base - about the ratio.
We're not here today to revisit any of that, because while those various ratio machinations are being proposed general managers and coaches must tune out all that noise circulating and prepare for the annual CFL Draft over the next 10 days. And, make no mistake, homegrown players remain the lifeblood of his league.
Consider, for example, your back-to-back Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their Canadian content: five of the projected seven starters in 2022 - centre Michael Couture, running back Brady Oliveira, defensive tackle Jake Thomas and guard Geoff Gray, along with receiver Drew Wolitarsky, a supplemental draft pick, were all selected by the club. The sixth and seventh, slotback Nic Demski and guard Pat Neufeld, were both first-round draft picks by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the former arriving here via free agency and the latter in a trade.
There are more numbers here to reinforce how successful the club's drafting has been since the current Kyle Walters/Mike O'Shea regime began in 2014. Consider that of the 28 Canadians who suited up for at least one game for the team, 18 were Blue Bombers draft picks. In addition to those listed above that crew also included Jesse Briggs, Shayne Gauthier, Nick and Noah Hallett, Drew Desjarlais, Jonathan Kongbo, Redha Kramdi, Tanner Cadwallader, Brendan O?Leary-Orange, Marc Liegghio, Tui Eli, Robbie Lowes and Nick Dheilly.
Interestingly, of the eight other Canadians only three - offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski and linebacker Nakas Onyeka (Toronto) and kicker Tyler Crapgina (Calgary) - were drafted, while the others were all undrafted. That list includes Andrew Harris, Johnny Augustine, Mike Miller, Mike Benson and James Tyrrell, with Harris now in Toronto and Tyrrell having been released last year.
All of this is a long-winded way of reminding everyone of how important the May 3rd talent grab will be for the Bombers, who have seven selections in the eight-round draft ? 9th, 18th, 38th, 47th, 56th, 65th and 74th. Their third-round selection, 29th overall, now belongs to the B.C. Lions courtesy the Sergio Castillo trade last October.
The Blue Bombers have some holes to fill, too, with Desjarlais (New England Patriots) and Kongbo (Denver Broncos) in the NFL, with Harris now in Toronto with Eli still a free agent and the club having moved on from Crapigna, Onyeka, Dheilly and Tyrrell.
The team will have two of its previous draft picks back in camp - running back Kyle Borsa, drafted in the 5th round in 2021, and offensive lineman Ben Koczwara, selected in the 8th round in 2018 - while two other selections from last year, offensive lineman Liam Dobson and defensive back Patrice Rene are not currently in the picture with Dobson in the USFL and Rene unsigned.
Three other Canadians not drafted by the team will be in camp - former Stampeder/Argonaut linebacker Eric Mezzalira, Western linebacker Antonio Valvano and former Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Malcolm Thompson, who suited up for two games last year with the Ticats. More draft stuff and other notes in this week's edition of 1st & Goal...
https://www.bluebombers.com/2022/04/23/first-and-goal-draft-prep/
