Leaderboard

This past weekend should have been a big slice of humble pie for him - first Heisman finalist since 2014 to not get drafted. He one-upped that by not even getting signed as an UDFA so it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to all this.

His lack of dominant measurable athleticism is gonna kill any chance for him to run around in the NFL. Imo, he is gonna be rookie camp fodder for them. For the toxicity, I'll say he reminds me a whole hell of a lot of young BLM. AC, and a bunch of other top-tier CFL QBs. If he were 6'-6'1, this kid would've been drafted and gotten millions guaranteed. He did everything he possibly could, was maybe the best qb in college football over the last 2 years, and no team even wants to give him a contract for camp. He's got a chip on each shoulder the size of hardrick. And his ego got punched right in the mouth. So I get why he's getting the rep and the red flag claim, but honestly, I think it's the same as every other QB in college who played remotely at that level. It's been what 14 years since the last Heisman finalist didn't get drafted? And that was prio fa signing. How he bounces back from that adversity will speak volumes. If he puts his head down and focuses on outworking, everyone takes it in stride and keeps going. He isn't gonna be a headspace problem. He isn't Manziel, its kind of funny that he's working with him and all that, but this kid isn't that. Manziel was a party animal who loved winning but not enough to put in the work. Pavia is a chess player to Manziels ' poor checkers player. The thing I see that I don't like is his wind-up/release speed. Now, on play action and a few plays where he has to get it out fast, he does that much better. You coach him to lose the pause/hitch in his throwing motion full-time, and he's the best you could ever hope for in a CFL QB prospect. I would've been pretty open to trading the rights to Elgersma, Id be far more reluctant to swap Pavia away. A team would have to really break the bank with an offer. This is the kind of Canadian draft where a team could offer that level of value, though. There's more online to watch this kid than every QB prospect we'll see in over a decade combined. And right now, I'd say the chances are very good he won't be in an NFL TC. Sounds like every youngish player on every team in pro sports tbh.

Really like the looks of this Pavia kid...You can tell this guy has the goods to make the grade wherever he ends up...He's got that spunk and talent that'll make him a winner... Seems he's got a chip on his shoulder after the NFL draft didn't go his way...I sure wouldn't mind trying to turn that chip into blue chip Bomber stock..Dreamin' I know but never say never I always say,,,,

Yeah, pretty heady move to have him on the NL for a while. Sure can, if a guy like this takes the humble pie right look out. I really don't think he's the type of kid to sit around for a year hoping for a tryout or a shot, too. The UFL winding down really plays into our hands with him. Guys who excel at throwing downfield 50/50 balls tend to do well in the CFL. Guys who can use superior placement/touch to turn 50/50 match-ups into 60/40 or better are extremely valuable. I see potential to be a better than guy.

I hope we address the lines early in this draft. One of the reasons I didn't like Ferguson's last mock was he had us going linebacker with the 4th pick. That makes no sense with other needs and having Shay and Smith needing rotational reps.

Yeah this is an interesting case for sure. I hope we maintain his neg rights intil he either shows up...or makes it 100% apparent the CFL is not and will not be on his radar Humble pie can be a huge accelerator for guy to switch gears and actually improve his standing, and just based on how/what a QB with his kind of skillset can do up in Canada with the right grooming....could really turn him into something that could have success up here for yr....All depends on whats between his ears and if he is willing to make that decision and use the CFL as a long term career thing. There have been a lot of QB's over the decades who have tuned his similar attributes into really good careers As for NFL...never gonna happen...mini camp invites I doubt turn into anything tangible and a yr of that...and staggering around in the wilderness for a giy who if he wants to actually play...I bet translates to a venture up North

also sounds a lot like the Riders

Moose Advance!

Think we need another receiver, OL and defensive player who can play out of this draft. DB pool in this one is pretty deep. There's a couple high end guys for CFL who aren't getting much NFL attention. There's some LB's too. I think we're really prepared to play 3 import OL so OL in general is less of a need early. Like there's no point in drafting a guy who isn't a player early. Vaccaro is a slam dunk if there's an opportunity. I could see us taking Henning. Not sure Cline has ever been in Canada, not sure Taylor or Reese will ever play up here. So the OL pool gets shallow pretty quick into projects and guys coming off a couple years of severe injuries who maybe would have rated higher otherwise....including Henning although I think he's an interesting guy as a 7th OL potentially as he develops. Most of the rest of the good U Sports guys will be moving inside from tackle, which isn't always easy or immediate. DL crew is kind of similar with NFL guys vs guys who went NCAA but barely played or finally got to play at a low level, low end athleticism, no explosiveness looking ahead to CFL. Charlie Parks is one guy out of Sask who is a major PITA. He will be a good pro, situational, maybe gains 15- 20 pounds and can take reps at 3 spots, special teams. There's a lot of receivers who will be solid CFL players/prospects and in training camp. Would not be shocked if there's a run on them in the first 10-15 picks. Ojutalayo from Laurier is a guy to watch early. Football player, no Jade Etienne bullshit. DeMontagnac, Ulm, Boutin, Meiga will go first couple rounds too. I would not be shocked if our first couple picks are receiver or DB/LB. Ethan Stuart is a guy I could see Walters/MOS loving early.

Yeah I mean I hope so. This is a great draft class to restock the lines on in the first 2-3 rounds. Also, I'd love to see us draft a DB who has the potential to run and cover at half/corner etc. Not just a teams guy, but someone who can be a rotational piece. Snafu for the national cfl "media"

Yeah that was a dumbass take by Ferguson. Its not a team need by any stretch, and taking any LB at 4th overall would be a huge reach.

Ottawa clearly didn't get value for that spending.

About 4800 for games 2 & 3. Went to game 2. Was a very entertaining game.

It's not a strong class at all for WRS, but it does have a fair few projects. Because it is otherwise a strong, deep draft, we can probably go after WRS in the 3rd/4th range, and still get someone worth trying to develop. Some guys like Meiga, Jack, and Djete have the athletic tools to try to polish. Others like Owen, Udoh, Houde, Britton, and Sibley have game day tangibles that could see them useful early on. I always expect the athletic kids and the NCAA kids to be in a rookie camp. So you might draft 2 of those guys and have 1 in camp, then 1 late preseason. For our need at WR, I'd be fine with that while spending 2 mid to back half picks. Maybe you go after the one you really like with the 24th pick then wait and see who is available in the 4th-6th round of the rest. With 4 picks in the top 24, I could see us going 2DL even. Our need at DL is that big. As long as we get a top ol and dl that we target, the rest of the draft should be pretty easy to fill up on wants, projects, and lotto tickets.

He does not have an NFL arm. He is great at maximizing the abilities he has but he just can't make every throw needed. Add to that he is small, and a head case and it's no surprise really. That being said if im Walter's im picking up the phone and giving his agent my best pitch to come to us (he's on our neg list). His velocity of throws wouldn't be as big an issue in the CFL. His deep ball would be below average but acceptable, and his accuracy is top notch. Delivering balls with velocity in tight windows is his biggest flaw and the bigger field of the CFL would give him that extra time and space needed for his lack of a big arm.

Really interesting watching his highlight package. That is a mid arm if I've ever seen one. But nearly all his throws are tight spirals and on time. Seems to know where the defense is going to be, and doesn't telegraph where he's going with the ball, which is enough sometimes to feather in some passes in the zones. At the pro level? I have no idea. Looks like a really savvy player...almost like a point guard out there. I like that he finds the forgotten man once he starts to scramble.

O'd be shocked if of those picks we don't go 3 lineman in first 4 picks..be it 2 on D...or 2 on O...The easiest and most likely to make more immediate impacts on the roster via rotation or actually starting...And if we hit the jackpot and get Manu up here..Eli pans out...which I dont doubt he will...Wallace takes that next step and Vibert pushes to be in lineup...We may just find ourselves with a glut of Oline guys again and be in a real good position again like 2019 to 2022...with guys all in prime and relatively young as lineman...and depending on who we get via the draft....a 2027 line with Broxton...Wallace...Eli...Say either Vibert (or a 2026 draft class guy) and Manu would be a real good brawling line who would definitely control the l.o.s like our 2 cup days and be a bonus for the defense with that extra import being able to take unlimited reps on defense... This is gonna be a key draft for us moving onto 2027 and if Smith and Shay also get the chance to step forward and show they belong...which also I doubt they will disappoint....we could really be in a nice spot ratiowise and able to do some interesting things

Henning agrees to attend 2 mini camps. Colts and Raiders.

3DownNationCould CFL be next for Diego Pavia after NFL draft snub? -...It doesn’t seem unrealistic that Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia could end up in the CFL in the relatively near future. The highly-touted collegiate quarterback went unselected in the recent 2026Pavias rights have become significantly more interesting. Passed on in the draft and not in the first wave of priority free agents yet. Hard to imagine him not getting a camp invite atleast. surprised no one is talking a shot on him

Sportsnet.caReports: Four Canadians sign NFL deals after draft

As mentioned it's all about health.... If Ceresna and Collaros, in particular, stay healthy... We'll be more than okay. I keep worrying about demski every year, too. Not getting any younger... Hoping he can continue to stay relatively healthy.

If we manage to get 2nd/3rd de/pass rusher worth a damn we are easily top. That is assuming we play the best players on d, which I think we are well set up to do reasonably well.

Cocoran had terrible testing numbers at the combine and looked slow as molasses when he got in. Rudy is a great movie but not as a real life member of a team.

https://3downnation.com/2026/04/24/ottawa-redblacks-fined-for-exceeding-2025-cfl-salary-cap/