Mock Drafts

[TecnoGenius]

There is not enough knowledge about the signed Olinemen to say we are set at that position.

You can say that again.  However, he's always pulled off an OL miracle in the past, so odds say he can do it again.  We do have a decent amount of ammo in the hopper in terms of dev guys, new scouting finds, and the upcoming draft.

But we are WPG and our QB is Zach and Zach requires a lot more protection that almost every other QB (maybe on par with T.Harris?) and has become one of the least mobile (in terms of running past the LoS).  By design and necessity we must have a top-3 OL, if not top-1.

Pete's right: we could sure use better OL retention than the 1-2 OL we lose every season to retirement and FA.  I don't see any other team losing so many to attrition... it's usually the opposite: where they are actively trying to get rid of guys.

[Blue In BC]

Seems to be a good group of talented OL in the 1st 10 -20 spots. That would suggest we draft one with our 1st pick.

No idea what we do with our next 3 picks but good chance we get another good prospect in that group.

Bigger question is do we / can we trade up within the next 3 picks? If we do does that happen before we get to the 2nd pick or before the draft all together?

[Pigskin]

We have 3 picks in the first 2 rounds. #8, 17 and 20. With the draft so deep in OLs, I don't think we need to. We also have picks 28,37, 40 and 46 in the middle rounds. Could take a flyer on a player heading to the NFL for a couple of years.

[Blue In BC]

We have 3 picks in the first 2 rounds. #8, 17 and 20. With the draft so deep in OLs, I don't think we need to. We also have picks 28,37, 40 and 46 in the middle rounds. Could take a flyer on a player heading to the NFL for a couple of years.

In theory the chance of getting a better player is at # 8 than at # 17 or later. I'm of the opinion I'd like to see us moving up in our 2 selections. How we do that and at what cost is the question. Picks in the 2nd round are so close together I wouldn't be opposed to trading one.

I think I mentioned trading # 8 and # 17 to possibly moving up in the top 4 picks. Now that's just a rhetorical statement since I haven't even looked to see which teams have those picks or whether a 2 for 1 would be of value.

A team that is stacked with Canadians might have less interest in high 1st round picks and be looking at more development guys etc.

[CrazyCanuck89]

In theory the chance of getting a better player is at # 8 than at # 17 or later. I'm of the opinion I'd like to see us moving up in our 2 selections. How we do that and at what cost is the question. Picks in the 2nd round are so close together I wouldn't be opposed to trading one.

I think I mentioned trading # 8 and # 17 to possibly moving up in the top 4 picks. Now that's just a rhetorical statement since I haven't even looked to see which teams have those picks or whether a 2 for 1 would be of value.

A team that is stacked with Canadians might have less interest in high 1st round picks and be looking at more development guys etc.

Yes and no.  Drafting isn't an exact science. We've seen first round busts and seventh round starters.

[Pete]

Yes and no.  Drafting isn't an exact science. We've seen first round busts and seventh round starters.

if you look at the last 4 drafts there are extremely few that are starters that were drafted beyond even the 2nd round.
As some have noted when they've looked at some of our picks that haven't turned out, there was slim pickings of players that would have been any better.

[theaardvark]

It's not the starting ratio that causes the need for a backup WR, it's to have enough injury backups at WR/RB.

"A Designated American (DA) is a non-Starting American player who may play on all special teams.  During regular offensive or defensive possessions, he may only replace an American player on the field."

Which means if a NAT leaves the field, he can only be replaced by another NAT, not a DA.  (We can argue how this changes with a non-DA extra-IMP due to 8-9 starting NATs, but my read is NAT can only be replaced by NAT (or "NA" FAKENAT in 2023+ and only *if* it's an injury situation).

Back to the point, since we start 3 NAT at WR/RB, we surely need to have 2 (or more) WR/RB-type NAT players dressed as backup.  One more a RB than WR: Johnny.  One more a WR than RB, but could be a McCrae type who can do both (ya, he was an IMP, but his type is perfect in this example).

BOO was that guy.  He's gonno, and whoever is next man up (you guys mentioned Murphy) has to be at least around BOO level (is he??), otherwise we need to start eyeing WR DP.

If both Brady and Woli go down in the same game, things will suck bad if we field Johnny + a not-ready or weak young'n NAT WR.

That rule doers not apply if you are starting more than the required 7 NATS. 

If you specify that you are starting 5 Nats on O and 2 on D, and you actually start 6 NATs on O and one NAT goes down, you can bring in a DA, because you are still playing 5 NATs on O. 

3 OL, 2 WR and an RB is 6, if one of the WR goes down, you can put in a DA, and still meet the required 5 NATs on O.

[Blue In BC]

Yes and no.  Drafting isn't an exact science. We've seen first round busts and seventh round starters.

Of course that's true but the odds are a bit better picking in the 1st couple of rounds. Lots of opinions in pre draft rankings besides those of any given team. It will depend on which specific players the team has in their wish list and whether they feel it's in their interest to move up etc. Obviously that takes a willing team to make such a trade. Like any trade, that doesn't always work out as a win win.

[CrazyCanuck89]

if you look at the last 4 drafts there are extremely few that are starters that were drafted beyond even the 2nd round.
As some have noted when they've looked at some of our picks that haven't turned out, there was slim pickings of players that would have been any better.

Starters beyond the first round

Bombers:
Kramdi SLB
Eli LG (yes he was drafted earlier than 2020)
Ford CB (maybe)
Olivera RB
Wolitarsky WR
Lawson DT


Ti-Cats:
Katsantonis S
Smith WR
Hakunavannu WR(drafted by the Stamps in round 5)

Stamps:
Bell RT
Barnes SB
Raynham (Maybe,now that Wiggans is gone)


Argos
Metchie S
Smith DE
Adeleke DHB (maybe)

Redblacks
Hogan-Saidon C
Addae DHB (Maybe)
Onyeka DE (Maybe)

Roughriders
Ferland LG
Ford or Danke S (Maybe)
Schaffer-Baker WR
Lenius SB (Maybe)

Allouettes
Lestage LG
Lawrence C
Dequoy S
Antwi RB

Lions
Hladik MLB
Knevel LG
Couture C
Greene S (Maybe)

Elks
Curtis DE (Maybe)
Pelley DT (Maybe)
Cobb WR (Maybe)
Boyko RT
Grohovak LG (Maybe)

Don't forget most teams roate 7-8 defensive linemen.  Runningback picked later will also get reps.

The Maybes are where teams might play a Canadian, depending how camp works out.

[Pete]

Of these 21 have been actual starters and maybe 10 have been drafted after the 2nd round.
Over the last 4 years 216 players have been selected in rds 3-8
Not great odds

[theaardvark]

Later round picks that translate into starters may also be players that may never come to the CFL, but are drafted "just in case".

[Blue In BC]

Starters beyond the first round

Bombers:
Kramdi SLB
Eli LG (yes he was drafted earlier than 2020)
Ford CB (maybe)
Olivera RB
Wolitarsky WR
Lawson DT


Ti-Cats:
Katsantonis S
Smith WR
Hakunavannu WR(drafted by the Stamps in round 5)

Stamps:
Bell RT
Barnes SB
Raynham (Maybe,now that Wiggans is gone)


Argos
Metchie S
Smith DE
Adeleke DHB (maybe)

Redblacks
Hogan-Saidon C
Addae DHB (Maybe)
Onyeka DE (Maybe)

Roughriders
Ferland LG
Ford or Danke S (Maybe)
Schaffer-Baker WR
Lenius SB (Maybe)

Allouettes
Lestage LG
Lawrence C
Dequoy S
Antwi RB

Lions
Hladik MLB
Knevel LG
Couture C
Greene S (Maybe)

Elks
Curtis DE (Maybe)
Pelley DT (Maybe)
Cobb WR (Maybe)
Boyko RT
Grohovak LG (Maybe)

Don't forget most teams roate 7-8 defensive linemen.  Runningback picked later will also get reps.

The Maybes are where teams might play a Canadian, depending how camp works out.

Teams need 7 Canadian starters. You don't sustain that by only 1st round picks. Obviously players picked in later rounds also become starters.

The question is that because they actually earned that designation or were forced to start in order to have 7 starters.

Some on those on your list became very good starters. Others not so much.

[ModAdmin]

Report from the Combine as we head into the CFL Draft...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/03/24/theres-a-good-deep-group-of-football-players/

[Pete]

I don't know why we don't extend some of our nationals so as to help clarify what our needs are going into the draft. For example Dobson, if we have him signed for 2 more years that means we really only need to draft one oline, or Ford which would reduce our db needs
It beats waiting til the last minute when you're competing on free agency.
Sask just extended Emilus which is a great move for them.(and also reduces the inseason chatter about it)

[Blue In BC]

I don't know why we don't extend some of our nationals so as to help clarify what our needs are going into the draft. For example Dobson, if we have him signed for 2 more years that means we really only need to draft one oline, or Jones which would reduce our db needs
It beats waiting til the last minute when you're competing on free agency.
Sask just extended Emilus which is a great move for them.(and also reduces the inseason chatter about it)

Lots of reasons potentially. SMS available at the moment. A player that is willing to extend or re-sign is always up for a question.

If Dobson wins a starting spot on the OL or plays a significant time this year and does well, his value could go up heading to free agency etc.

We may draft a better candidate on an ELC. Rosters are fluid and choices are made across the spectrum.

You said Jones. Did you mean Ford? He may opt for another NFL shot next off season. He decide to move to Edmonton  and play with his brother.