2025 CFL Draft (Blue Bombers)

[Blue In BC]

Jaylen Smith might be listed as a linebacker but if he is one he's going to be in that sam spot. He played some corner last year. Think Kramdi not Biggie.

It's probably more accurate to say we drafted a linebacker, slot corner and QB with our first three.

One of the mock drafts said Smith was not fluid enough to play SAM but could be a guy that could play at WIL. If he isn't fluid enough to play at SAM then I wouldn't expect him see any time at CB either. OTOH that was just what the mock draft suggested. I don't think I've seen him play or what other mock drafts suggested.

Regardless, SAM or WIL are not areas of need, so he must have been a BPA.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

One of the mock drafts said Smith was not fluid enough to play SAM but could be a guy that could play at WIL. If he isn't fluid enough to play at SAM then I wouldn't expect him see any time at CB either. OTOH that was just what the mock draft suggested. I don't think I've seen him play or what other mock drafts suggested.

Regardless, SAM or WIL are not areas of need, so he must have been a BPA.

What you read is wrong. He's an 5 foot 11 coverage linebacker. He's not going to play will at the pro level.

He might have a shot at playing sam which is slot coverage in the US which is what we did a lot in college: 

All-AAC selection last season after recording 106 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and one interception. He played a hybrid linebacker role and saw significant snaps covering the slot.

[Blue In BC]

What you read is wrong. He's an 5 foot 11 coverage linebacker. He's not going to play will at the pro level.

He might have a shot at playing sam which is slot coverage in the US which is what we did a lot in college: 

All-AAC selection last season after recording 106 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and one interception. He played a hybrid linebacker role and saw significant snaps covering the slot.

This is the info I read from the mock draft. What I read wasn't wrong, it was just their opinion about this potential in the CFL. You've stated that you differ from what they said.

A former walk-on who developed into a 100-tackle starter for the Mean Green, Smith is not quite fluid enough to play SAM but well-suited to play weak-side linebacker in the CFL after excelling over the slot in college. Even if the five-foot-11, 224-pounder never finds the consistency needed to become a starter, his history as an elite collegiate special teams player makes him one of the safest projections in the draft.
This is the info from the mock draft I read about Smith.

[Blue In BC]

Another pick at LB: Lane Novak. Then a DB pick Ethan Ball.

[TecnoGenius]

O'Shea picks Shay has a nice ring. I think the hope is he's immediately a blue chip special teams contributer and probably is more of a weakside linebacker in year two but who knows.

Could be.  However, it seems clear we now like to aim for finding a legit starter at strange NAT positions, especially on D.  Shay or Smith could turn into the next Kramdi.  Imagine a D with 2 good NATs starting in the LB corps.

We certainly don't need to dress 5-6 NAT backup LB (really just STers) like we used to.  Hopefully we found a year-2 starter!

[Sir Blue and Gold]

This is the info I read from the mock draft. What I read wasn't wrong, it was just their opinion about this potential in the CFL. You've stated that you differ from what they said.

A former walk-on who developed into a 100-tackle starter for the Mean Green, Smith is not quite fluid enough to play SAM but well-suited to play weak-side linebacker in the CFL after excelling over the slot in college. Even if the five-foot-11, 224-pounder never finds the consistency needed to become a starter, his history as an elite collegiate special teams player makes him one of the safest projections in the draft.
This is the info from the mock draft I read about Smith.

Read some stuff and watched some highlights and you could be right on this one -- but I wonder if his comparable might be Michael Griffin. Sort of that special teams guy who can do a bit of everything on defense. We listed Griffin as a SAM last year but he sort of dropped and did a bunch of stuff especially when  we had 9 back.

[TecnoGenius]

CFL one is kinda broken tonight. Use TSN.

Why does TSN schedule the draft for 2hr and then run it for > 2.25 hr?  My PVR only got up to the Elgersma pick.

I think that happened last year, too.  Argh, should have remembered.

[TecnoGenius]

Watched the first hour of the TSN CFL draft show on YouTube and it was very well done, LaPo, Marshal Ferguson and Duane Ford did a really good job filling in the blanks on the drafted players.

Ya, the draft show is always pretty good.  New Commish did ok too.

TSN sometimes showed the pick on the chyron before Commish announced it though... lol.

[TecnoGenius]

Regardless, SAM or WIL are not areas of need, so he must have been a BPA.

Smith could backup Kramdi at SAM, obviating the need for a DI SAM backup.  What might this mean for Griffin?

[TecnoGenius]

Another pick at LB: Lane Novak. Then a DB pick Ethan Ball.

Are we making any effort to solve the FS puzzle?  BA37 gone.  I'm pretty sure Hallett-The-Healthy can't handle it full time.

Boy it would be nice to draft the next Dequoy.  What round did he originally go in?  If he was anything less than 1st round he was a steal.

[Pete]

I think we got some good players in Shay, Smith and Elgersma. Still I feel we missed out on Findlay who was a steal as a late second round pick. Smiths measurables are impressive but we seemed to have stocked up already on tweeners (LB and db) with Hagerty and Makonzo already signed.
With Elgersma if he does come available this year what do we do on the roster? With Collaros as qb1, and Streveler as short yardage, how does Elgersma fit in with an already crowded qb room
Do we risk losing him on the pr? that could be fodder for years to come. 

The other question marks are at receiver where we really have only Cobbs and Gassama.both being undersized and at Oline, both positions weren't really addressed in this draft.

[Blueforlife]

Thanks for the analysis everyone! Good banter

[Blue In BC]

Smith could backup Kramdi at SAM, obviating the need for a DI SAM backup.  What might this mean for Griffin?

I already mentioned that he was not viewed as a candidate at SAM due to lack of fluidity. Now obviously that might be something he can improve. Regardless I thought Makonzo would be a back up at SAM as far as Canadian depth for 2025.

Not every draft choice is an obvious fit, but that doesn't mean any of them are bad choices.

I don't know if any of these choices have university time left, so not everyone may be fighting for a roster spot in 2025.  I think they put some thought into the direction of the roster going into 2026 as well. ST and rotational players this year and possibly fighting to start or get more time as strong rotational players.

Gauthier might be in his last season so we might be developing his replacement?

I wasn't opposed to drafting a QB but considering who we passed over to do that might have been a surprise as to when we choose him.

It may be a crowded QB room in TC or we may see someone deleted quickly.

[Blue In BC]

Read some stuff and watched some highlights and you could be right on this one -- but I wonder if his comparable might be Michael Griffin. Sort of that special teams guy who can do a bit of everything on defense. We listed Griffin as a SAM last year but he sort of dropped and did a bunch of stuff especially when  we had 9 back.

I don't know that I'm right as I was just quoting that mock draft. They voiced an opinion but players can improve too. So we'll see how they use him in TC and what his strengths and weaknesses might be.

[CrazyCanuck89]

Jaylen Smith might be listed as a linebacker but if he is one he's going to be in that sam spot. He played some corner last year. Think Kramdi not Biggie.

It's probably more accurate to say we drafted a linebacker, slot corner and QB with our first three.

SAM is one of the linebacker positions.  Just like how Nick Cross was drafted as linebacker, because he played SAM in college.